It’s just a few bites of food. How is it possible that eating appetizers and snacks can account for 25 percent of our daily calories?
The culprit? Fat.
From a culinary perspective, fat and other ingredients enhance flavor and provide a pleasant mouthfeel. This combination is especially appealing when hunger peaks right before a meal.
Imagine yourself at a restaurant, scanning the appetizer menu. What do you see but an assortment of dips and fried foods? All of them tend to be highly appetizing (hence the name, “appetizer”) and high fat.
In addition to flavor, fat gives us more than twice as many calories per gram (nine) than carbohydrates and protein (four).
For reference, a medium-sized paper clip weighs a gram. For better reference, six to nine chips with nacho cheese and ground beef provide roughly 25 grams of fat and 430 calories — 22 percent of the daily calories for a 2,000-calorie diet.
Don’t get me wrong. Snacks and appetizers can be a strategic approach to reaching your health goal.
Depending on your choice, it can become an opportunity to add nutrients into your diet and give your body the energy necessary to keep your hangry and ravenous self at bay.
I know, I know. The dip is the whole reason for eating the appetizer — it’s the best part. But, what if you made fruits or vegetables the vessel for the dip rather than chips or bread?
What if your chip scoops up a big bite of salsa (fruits and veggies) rather than a high-calorie dip?
What if you made dips with beans, herbs and vegetables rather than cheese and cream?
These are all just ideas of course. But with action, they hold potential and you reap the benefits.
This article was republished with permission from Nicole Clark, Colorado State University (CSU) Extension, La Plata County.
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Archuleta County Fair
Celebrate 74 years of “A Timeless Tradition” at the Archuleta County Fair July 31 through Aug. 3.
To learn more about the fair, to enter an item in the Open Class Exhibition and to volunteer, visit www.archuletacountyfair.com.
During the fair, make sure to visit the exhibit hall and Hughes Pavilion to view all the great work and dedication shown by our 4-H youth. The 4-H Chuckwagon Dinner, a fundraiser for the Archuleta County 4-H program, will be Aug. 2 at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are limited; purchase your ticket from a 4-H member or at the fair entrance.
CPR and first aid classes
CPR and first aid certification classes are offered every other month at the CSU Extension office, generally on the third Monday and Wednesday from 6 to 10 p.m. The cost for the classes is $80 for combined CPR/first aid and $55 for CPR, first aid or recertification. Call the Extension office at (970) 264-5931 to register.
Check out the online option on our website, https://archuleta.extension.colostate.edu/.
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