How Many Calories Are At Your Summer BBQ?
There is very little that isn't glorious about a cookout. If the sun is shining, the grill is sizzling, and the cocktails are flowing, a barbecue doesn't need much else to be a total success. And of course, the best part of the entire experience is getting to cook and enjoy delicious food with your friends and family.
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The problem is, the delicious food comes in droves and it almost seems like the grill is just endlessly churning out items that are begging to be eaten. Naturally, you oblige, and not only do you enjoy a massive amount of barbecued goodies, you taken part in delicious sides and desserts. Come on, how could you resist the classic potato salad, or the sweet apple pie? Heck, even just the munchy chips and dip are tough to pass up! Whichever way you slice the proverbial cookout cake, the food is plentiful — too plentiful. Of course, that means there are also calories a-plenty.
It definitely isn't something we necessarily think of while enjoying a day out in the summer sun. But considering that a day of barbecue eating could amount to a potential total of 2,652 calories, it is probably time to start paying attention. To help you make smarter decisions at your next cookout, we broke down the entire event into common menu items that are at a typical cookout. From the cheese and crackers served at the beginning of the party, to the finishing cup of ice cream, we think we covered a grand plethora of menu items that could throw your day off-balance. We even took those options and rounded them up into the best and worst possible barbecue menus for you to try, so you can make better choices the day of your barbecue!
Snacks
These little snacks could be what completely throws your day off of the rails, especially if you consistently graze!
Potato Chips: 160 calories per 15 chips
Tortilla chips (baked): 75 calories per 10 chips
Pretzels: 108 calories per 1-ounce serving
Appetizers
Don't load up on the appetizers too much, your nibbles will add up quickly.
Deviled Eggs: 64 calories per ½ egg
Kraft Colby Jack Cheese: 100 calories per ounce
Kraft Reduced-Fat Mild Cheddar Cheese: 90 calories per ounce
Pepperoni: 10 calories per slice
Ritz Crackers: 79 calories per 5 crackers
Click here for more calorie information.
This post was originally published on June 20, 2014.