It's easy to overeat during the holidays. After all, it's the season for parties where an abundance of decadent dishes, sweet deserts and salty snacks are served. All those party bites can add up to big gains in the calorie department and derail the hard work you did this year to take off—and keep off—the weight.
Instead of waiting until the after the holidays to get back on track, avoid—or limit—these 10 popular party foods to keep from gaining weight this holiday season.
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Don't be confused by the glorious greens in this dish. A mere 1/4 cup of dip will set you back 220 calories and 22 grams of fat. And that's just the dip. Add a small handful of fried tortilla chips to the mix and that will up the calorie count to 320. Stick to chips and salsa. They pack much less fat and calories.
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Vegetable Egg Rolls
Just one veggie roll can net 150 to 200 calories. If you eat three rolls, you'll have consumed a mid-sized meal. While veggie egg rolls may seem like good choices because they're loaded with veggies, don't forget that those veggies are slathered with oil, doused with salt, and fried. If you're craving vegetables, go for the veggie plate. Just be careful about what you use for dip.
More: Healthy Appetizer: Parmesan Zucchini
Tuna Tartare
Like sushi, tuna tartare can start out healthy and quickly end up unhealthy when you consider how it's prepared. Just one appetizer of tuna tartare may contain more than 350 calories and 12 grams of fat. If you want to indulge, cut calories by taking the tuna and toppings off the bread.
Potato Knish
While a potato knish isn't the most unhealthy of the bunch, with 100 calories and 8 grams of fat per serving, a handful of these treats can add up fast. Proceed with caution.
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Vegetable Quesadilla
Even with whole-wheat tortillas and a medley of vegetables, an entire quesadilla can easily reach 586 calories. Along with those calories, this cheesy appetizer can pack 33 grams of fat. Just one slice will still cost your diet about 146 calories and 11 grams of fat. With so many other options, it may be best to skip this one entirely.
