Why condiments are bad

It's high in saturated fat, too. Most of us associate flapjacks and waffles with maple syrup. But did you know most store-bought pancake syrup doesn't actually have maple in it? A dash of real maple syrup is best, but as with most foods, it should be consumed in moderation. Unlike its yellow counterpart, honey mustard contains sugar. It has honey in it, after all! It can also be high in fat.

Between the two, yellow mustard is the healthier choice, though it still contains quite a bit of salt. When shopping for jelly , read the nutrition labels carefully; many varieties largely consist of high fructose corn syrup. Store-bought salad dressings—especially the creamy varieties—are rarely healthy, explains Young.

And if you're looking for some better-for-you choices, don't miss The Best and Worst Condiments. By Amanda Norcross. Try organic ketchup made with real sugar. Or better yet, swap your ketchup for chopped sundried tomatoes. Bottled barbecue sauce , like ketchup, is mostly a vehicle for sugar —including high fructose corn syrup.

A 2 Tbsp serving has a whopping 12 g of sugar. What's more, many brands get their signature mahogany hue from artificial caramel coloring, which contains chemicals that research findings say could be carcinogenic. Next time you need a little something to slather on your chicken or ribs, consider making your own barbecue sauce so you can control the ingredients.

Or buy barbecue sauce made by a small-batch producer—it's more likely to be free of fake additives. You might save some calories by choosing light dressing over regular or try one of these healthy DIY salad dressing recipes. But you'll also be dousing your vegetables in sugar and other questionable ingredients.

Most light dressings are loaded with the sweet stuff to add flavor without the fat. And they get their rich, creamy texture from added thickeners and emulsifiers. Worst of all? You'll be missing out on most of your salad's nutrition , because your body actually needs some fat to absorb many of the vitamins found in vegetables, like fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. Makes plain old olive oil and vinegar seem a whole lot more appealing, huh? A 2 Tbsp serving of mayo will run you almost calories.

Which, yes, is a lot. But the bigger problem is the fact that most conventional mayonnaise is made with soybean oil, which is usually derived from genetically modified soybeans.

Homemade BBQ sauce with pureed blueberries, blackberries, peaches, mangoes, apricots and dates is all the rage, according to Gordon. Instead of using sugar for this version, try agave, coconut syrup, molasses, or unfiltered honey. Here's another healthier BBQ sauce alternative. A generous scoop adds unwanted fat and sodium to your otherwise healthy greens. Susan Albers, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at Cleveland Clinic, " New York Times" best-selling author and leading food and nutrition expert, suggests a creamy and tasty alternative with by replacing Blue cheese dressing with Greek yogurt, white vinegar, fresh lemon, garlic, salt and pepper mix.

Did you know this Greek yogurt snack combo can curb your cravings? For you. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options. Get the Insider App. Click here to learn more. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. Good Subscriber Account active since Shortcuts. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders.

It often indicates a user profile. Log out. US Markets Loading H M S In the news. Lisa Marie Conklin , Reader's Digest. Salad dressings and dipping sauces are some of the biggest offenders when it comes to calorie-filled condiments.

It's also smart to stray away from toppings like sour cream and Parmesan cheese. Honey mustard. Fat-free dressing. Hoisin sauce.