Sometimes nothing seems to hit the spot but a little bit of salty and a little bit of crunchy. For those of us who are watching calories and fat intake, we want an alternative to reaching towards chips, right?
Enter a snack we first encountered at a legendary Italian restaurant and bar, Lucca Grill in Bloomington, Illinois years ago--a plate of simple olives and celery sticks. We wish it was still part of their appetizer menu. At 4-8 calories, each olive delivers a whollop of salt in a tiny package. A couple of these may deliver 10-15% of the recommended amount of sodium you need each day, but that might be enough to satisfy a craving for salt.
Celery gives you the crunch, and at one calorie per "stick," according to Livestrong.com, you can eat a full cup of celery slices and take in only 17 calories. Seventeen!
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Lucca Grill, Bloomington, Illinois
(Lucca Grill photos by Brian Brakebill) |
In contrast,
tortilla chips deliver many more calories, and it is easier to eat QUITE a bit more than one standard "serving," right?
A serving of potato chips is 16 chips according to Livestrong.com (when's the last time you ate just 16?!?) and delivers 157 calories.
So here's a tip: when you're eating out, read the entire menu before ordering. You may be surprised by what you find...there may be some good options there for new dining or snacking alternatives!
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