It’s finally Friday – and that means it’s time to let loose and meet up with friends for Happy Hour. Everyone knows that once the drinks start pouring, you need to order some bar snacks and appetizers for the table. But trainer Jonathan Ross says that you should steer clear of the fried foods and appetizers on the bar menu, as they’re “completely destructive to the body.” In fact, the worst thing you can order is actually the Spinach and Artichoke Dip! This popular appetizer seems healthy because its main ingredients are spinach and artichokes, but fitness experts say that’s not the case AT ALL.
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The ingredients that make Spinach and Artichoke Dip so delicious and creamy may surprise you. According to Livestrong, the classic app is made with whole sour cream, cream cheese, mayonnaise and other fatty oils. “It’s not heart-healthy because of the fat content and high calorie count,” says Livestrong nutrition expert Karen Curley. “A cup of whole milk sour cream has 45 grams of fat, 444 calories and 253 milligrams of calcium… A cup of regular cream cheese has 80 grams of fat, 793 calories and 227 milligrams of calcium.”
Plus, you’re often given fried tortilla chips with the dip, which aren’t good for your waistline either. Most bars and chain restaurants serve tortilla chips that are loaded with sodium and calories. And not to mention, there’s already a lot of that in the dip! You can find at least 1,600 calories, 100 grams of fat, and 2,500 milligrams of sodium in a typical order of Spinach and Artichoke Dip – and that’s just in the dip alone! Once you add the calories and other nutrition facts from the chips and the cocktails you’ve had, you could be looking at a seriously unhealthy happy hour.
Were you surprised to find that Spinach and Artichoke Dip is actually really bad for you? Let us know your thoughts and your other healthy Happy Hour tips in the comments below!
