Healthy and Unhealthy Condiments

Condiments 

Condiments are already a part of our diet as most cuisines around the world have condiments on their dishes. These condiments are what we use to add flavor to the food that we eat. From salts, to pepper, ketchup and more variations of different kinds of sauces, condiments come in really handy for most of us.

We must admit that some of us have become so used to using condiments as it allows us to meet the taste that we want for our food. We can say that we use condiments out of habit but as enjoyable as our foods are when we use it, we have to be more conscious about the nutritional value that we get out of it or even the negative health effects that it has. We are aware that there are condiments that are unhealthy such as mayonnaise but you will be surprised with the other kinds of condiments that can actually be disastrous to our health.

What are Condiments?

Condiments are edible mixtures which are commonly seasoning, dips or sauces which we add to our food to enhance or complement a dish depending on our taste. Most condiments are sold in single sachets such as ketchup or mustard most especially in fast-food restaurants or take-out. Condiments are most of the time supplied by restaurants or diners that we eat at. There is a wide variety of condiments that each has different kinds of tastes and textures and some are even thick in mixture.

Condiments that have Healthy Benefits:

Condiments each have varying tastes and flavors. With the many types, it is not that surprising to find out that some are healthy and some are not but either way, we must be aware that although they are just part of the meal, they too can attribute largely to the calories we take in our meals. There are condiments that actually help in enhancing the taste of our food as some of them are high in fat and calories. But not to worry because there are condiments out there that are just as tasty but healthy and lets you enjoy your meals. For those who are consciously watching over their weight it would be best to go for condiments that are healthy.

Healthy condiments 

• Ketchup

The trick to getting your food to become much tasty is by choosing the right kind of ketchup. You’ll know that it’s the right one because you no longer have to add salt or sugar to your food. In looking for the right ketchup avoid those that have added salt or sugar to it instead go for those that are natural and is made mostly of pureed tomatoes and spices and compared to other ketchups they do not have as much salt like the others. Ketchups go best paired with lots of foods such as burgers and sandwiches. Sometimes, they are mixed with other condiments too such as mustard and mayonnaise.

• Mustard

heart healthy condiments 

Mustard actually comes from mustard seeds and is a great antioxidant. Mustards aren’t just for sandwiches but they are also great for dips and dressings. Mustard is a healthy condiment because not only is it fat-free but it is low in calories too. It comes in a variety of flavors such as honey, spicy and whole grain. The great thing about mustard is that you can eat your food and enjoy it without having to feel guilty about it. Instead of using mayo, you can use mustard instead. It gives an extra kick to the taste of your food plus you save yourself from the hundreds of calories and saturated fat.

• Salsa

Salsa is another condiment that happens to be low in calories and is rich in vitamin C. When looking for a salsa dip, it would be best to go for those that have low sodium content and is more filled with tomatoes and onions. Most salsa dips have peppers are jalapenos in them so if you love spicy food you will really love this sauce.

• Wasabi

Wasabi is condiment that hails from Japanese cuisine. It is a spicy condiment that is mostly paired with sushi. Because wasabi comes from a plant, it is clearly low in fat but can really make your food interesting. Wasabi is usually sold in paste form or powder form and all you need to do is add water to it. You may mix it with soy sauce or use it for a salad dressing by mixing wasabi with oil and soy sauce.

• Yogurt

Low calorie condiments 

Instead of using the typical salad dressing and mayonnaise you can try going for yogurt for your salad. Not only is yogurt low in fat and calories but it adds nutritional value to the food you’re eating. Yogurt is rich in protein and calcium and helps you feel more satisfied with your meals.

Unhealthy Condiments
Mayonnaise:

Keto condiments 

Is sauce unhealthy?

Most of us are no longer surprised that mayo came on top of our list for being one of the unhealthy condiments out there. In two tablespoons of mayo, expect to found around 200 calories and 22 grams of fat and 3 grams of which are saturated. So no matter how healthy the food is but when paired with mayo, it all gets ruined. But because there are times when mayo is what we really need, it is a good suggestion to go for Miracle Whip because for every two tablespoons it has 80 calories and 6 grams of fat.

• Cream Cheese

The Philadelphia Original Cream Cheese is loaded with quite an unhealthy line up of facts. Calorie-wise it has over a hundred, 10 grams of fat and 30 mg of cholesterol in it. Most people love pairing it with bagel which only makes it worse because the calories this time shoot up to over 450 and 21.5 grams of fat not to mention the 12.5 grams in it that is saturated and over 60 mg of cholesterol.

• Nutella

Zero calorie condiments 

It can be really frustrating for some people because lots of people love Nutella but unfortunately this hazelnut spread which is mostly used with crepes and lots more has 200 calories, 11 grams of fat and 20 grams of sugar for every two tablespoons.

• Cheese Whiz

We mostly see on television and even some people do it—spraying loads of cheese from a can to their mouths and food. This is a very unhealthy condiments habit because cream cheese has 91 calories, 541 mg of sodium and 7 grams of fat for every two tablespoons.

• Goober

Goober which is peanut butter and jelly in one jar may seem too good to be true because it’s getting two for the price of one but the real cost is not really on our pockets rather on how it affects our health. It is really high in calories which go over 240, 13 grams of fat and 21 grams of sugar. If you are a big fan of peanut butter and jelly then use natural peanut butter and jam that is sugar-free instead.

Food condiments 

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