This fall, fashionistas must become fluent in layering to step out in style. There are leggings, vests, belts at the waist, a mix of long and short necklaces and more.
But accessories can make or break a look; too many baubles, bangles and beads can ruin an outfit. And as fashion legend Coco Chanel smartly advised, “Get dressed and then remove one piece before leaving the house.”
The same goes for smartly dressing your dinner plate. For instance, think of blue cheese and bacon crumbles as accessories. They add flavor and flare to a dish, but too much just piles on unnecessary fat and calories.
When you’re dining out and want to stick to healthy lifestyle goals, you don’t have to cut out all the butter, gravy, cheese sauce and full-fat salad dressings; just learn to accessorize sensibly.
Look at the fat and calorie chart on this page to know what you’re getting into before you load up on toppings. If you cut back on toppings, you might notice the flavor of the main ingredient more. Fat-based sauces like tartar sauce can mask the true flavors of fish because the fat coats your tongue.
Cream- and butter-based sauces are what dietitians call “calorically dense”–they pack a lot of calories per ounce. On the other hand, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, tomato-based sauces, broths and salsas are nearly calorie-free and can be used liberally.
So if you’re looking to liven up a salad, grilled chicken or fish, learn to identify ingredients, sauces and sides that perk things up while keeping calorie counts down.
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– LEANER LOOKS
Use all you want
ITEM: Vinegars, lemon, lime juice
CALORIES, FAT: No calories or fat
ITEM: Salsa
CALORIES, FAT: 2 tablespoons equals 10 calories, no fat
ITEM: Picante sauce
CALORIES, FAT: 2 tablespoons equals 10 calories, no fat
ITEM: Red wine reduction sauce
CALORIES, FAT: 2 tablespoons equals 10 calories, no fat (made without butter)
ITEM: Horseradish
CALORIES, FAT: 2 tablespoons equals 10 calories, no fat
ITEM: Tomato-based sauces
CALORIES, FAT: 2 tablespoons equals 14 calories, no fat (without olive oil in recipe)
ITEM: Mustard
CALORIES, FAT: 2 tablespoons equals 15 calories, 1 gram fat
ITEM: Apple butter
CALORIES, FAT: 1 tablespoon equals 20 calories, no fat
ITEM: Chutney
CALORIES, FAT: 2 tablespoons equals 55 calories, no fat
– RICH ACCESSORIES
CALORIES, FAT: Use these sparingly
ITEM: Oils (including olive oil)
CALORIES, FAT: 2 tablespoons equals 240 calories and 28 grams fat
ITEM: Butter
CALORIES, FAT: 2 tablespoons equals 216 calories, 24 grams of fat
ITEM: Hollandaise sauce
CALORIES, FAT: 2 tablespoons equals 135 calories, 14 grams fat
ITEM: Mayonnaise
CALORIES, FAT: 2 tablespoons equals 200 calories, 22 grams of fat
ITEM: Pesto sauce
CALORIES, FAT: 2 tablespoons equals 155 calories, 15 grams fat
ITEM: Tartar sauce
CALORIES, FAT: 2 tablespoons equals 140 calories, 16 grams of fat
ITEM: Blue cheese crumbles
CALORIES, FAT: 2 tablespoons equals 60 calories, 5 grams fat
ITEM: Shredded cheese
CALORIES, FAT: 2 tablespoons equals 50 calories, 4 grams fat
ITEM: Bacon crumbles
CALORIES, FAT: 2 tablespoons equals 50 calories, 3 grams fat
