Over the last few weeks I’ve been discussing how to eat healthy at BBQs and providing you with a selection of healthy recipes and low calorie alcoholic drinks that you can use to keep the weight off this summer. However, staying healthy isn’t just about eating the right foods, it’s also about avoiding the wrong ones. Today I’m going to help you avoid the foods and drinks that can seriously sabotage your weight loss efforts by listing the Top 10 High Calorie Foods & Drinks To Avoid At BBQs.
1) Mud Slide Cocktail = 783 Calories
If you’re heading to a late evening barbecue, you may be offered a thick, creamy Mud Slide cocktail as a nightcap. However, if you’re serious about losing weight this summer, it’s something you definitely need to decline. Just one 300ml (10 oz.) glass of this cocktail contains a whopping 783 calories which is around 30% of your recommended daily total. The good news is that by getting a little creative you can cut over 500 calories from this cocktail while still maintaining the classic creamy taste. Simply follow this low calorie Mud Slide recipe and you’ll be sipping on a delicious cocktail that packs just 248 calories per 300ml glass.
2) Double Bacon Cheeseburger = 750 Calories
Double bacon cheeseburgers may look tempting but at 750 calories per serving, they’re definitely something you want to avoid if you’re trying to stay slim this summer. Instead, try one of these healthy and natural burgers. Each one contains less than 350 calories, is super simple to prepare and is made using only natural ingredients.
3) Chicken Burger With Bacon & Cheese = 500 Calories
Chicken burgers are seen by many as a healthy alternative to beef burgers. However, the truth is that fried, breaded chicken still isn’t that great for you and when you add bacon, bread and cheese to the mix, the amount of calories in the burger soon adds up. To keep the calories low without missing out on your chicken burger give this healthy and natural spicy chicken burger recipe a try. Each one packs just 244 calories and tastes every bit as good as the high calorie, processed alternatives.
4) Jumbo Hot Dog With Tomato Ketchup = 400 Calories
Like burgers, hot dogs are another BBQ favourite. However, they pack a serious caloric punch with just one jumbo hot dog and a couple of tablespoons of ketchup adding over 400 calories to your daily intake. The good news is that by making one of these healthy, natural sausages, you can cut out over 100 calories, remove all the unnatural ingredients and enjoy an even better tasting sausage.
5) Pringles & Sour Cream Dip = 363 Calories
Pringles are a popular, highly addictive snack and when you combine them with sour cream dip, they taste even better. However, when you consider that a 50g serving of Pringles contains 263 calories and a 50g serving of sour cream dip contains 100 calories, this small snack can have a very large impact on your waistline. For a healthy, natural and low calorie alternative, try carrot sticks with home made salsa. Carrot sticks pack just 18 calories per 50g serving while salsa contains just 17 calories per 50g serving which brings the total calorie count to a much lighter 35 calories per snack.
6) Potato Salad = 350 Calories
Potato salad is one of the most common side dishes at BBQs. However, when you consider that most regular potato salads are loaded with mayonnaise, provide very little in terms of nutritional value and pack 350 calories per serving, they’re something you need to avoid if you need to skip if you want to stay lean this summer. The good news is that making a tasty, healthy, low calorie alternative to potato salad isn’t difficult. This healthy and natural sweet potato salad recipe contains over 50% fewer calories than regular potato salad, is loaded with vitamins and minerals and takes just a few minutes to prepare.
7) WKD = 220 Calories
Alcopops are many people’s favourite alcoholic drink. Unfortunately, with the high sugar content and the excess calories, they’re a very bad choice if you’re trying to lose weight. For example, just one 275ml bottle of WKD contains a significant 220 calories. To replicate the taste of alcopops without loading up on sugar, try mixing together 135ml of fruit juice, 135ml of sparkling water and 30ml of vodka for a light but sweet alternative that contains just 130 calories per 300ml glass.
8) Stella Artois = 149 Calories
Stella Artois is a popular premium lager that many people buy for barbecues. While there’s no denying that it’s relaxing, refreshing and has a clean, crisp taste, when it comes to weight loss, it’s one of the worst beers you can drink. Just one 330ml bottle packs a notable 149 calories and when you add all these calories up over the summer, it can have a huge impact on your weight loss success. The good news is that by switching to light beer you can still enjoy your beer and slash over 30% of these calories in the process. For example, Coors Light is a premium strength lager with a 4.5% ABV that contains just 106 calories per 330ml bottle.
9) Bread = 100 Calories
Bread’s something you probably don’t even think twice about when you attend or host barbecues. While it’s by no means the worst food on this list, it’s still not ideal if you’re trying to lose weight. Just one bread roll contains an average of 100 calories and provides very little in terms of nutritional value. If you have one with every burger or hot dog you eat, the calories can quite easily build up without giving you much nutritional benefit. So instead of enjoying your burgers or hot dogs with bread, try one of these healthy, natural salads. While some contain similar amounts of calories to bread, they’re much better for you nutritionally and will help you achieve long term weight loss success.
10) Caesar Dressing = 78 Calories
Caesar dressing is something that’s often served with salads and as a result, many people associate it with being healthy and low in calories. However, with a single tablespoon of this rich salad dressing packing a massive 78 calories, the exact opposite is true. The good news is that you can quite easily cut down the calories in this popular dressing. Simply follow the instructions in this healthy, natural Caesar salad recipe to create a lighter variation that contains just 20 calories per tablespoon.
Summary
As you can see, there’s a lot of foods and drinks on offer at barbecues that can sabotage your weight loss success. Some foods, such as the double bacon cheeseburger, are quite obviously loaded with calories. However, other foods, such as Caesar dressing, are deceptively high in calories. The good news is that if you follow the advice in this article, you can avoid them all and achieve your weight loss goals. So next time you head to a barbecue, make sure you keep an eye out for the foods on this list and go for the healthy alternatives instead.
Now I want to hear from you guys. What do you think are the worst barbecue foods when you are trying to lose weight? Do you have any other healthy alternatives that aren’t on this list? Let me know by leaving a comment in the section below.