Rejecting an appetizing yet fattening weight loss buster is as easy as saying no to a free $5000 shopping spree. With the shopping offer, we know that there are probably a few disingenuous ramifications associated with taking the cash. With appetizers and hors d’oeuvres, the caloric value is a mystery and may add up.

Use the following strategies to avoid a weight loss disaster:

Select foods that are low in caloric content. For example, when it comes to soups, the caloric difference may be amazing. Minestrone is a better choice than French Soup. The cheese and bread of the French onion soup can add up. Whereas, the minestrone on has less than 150 calories or 8 ounces. Obviously, the calories depend on how much pasta and parmesan cheese.

The same rule on reduced caloric intake is not always applicable. For instance, when choosing between New England clam chowder and crab cakes, the soup typically represents roughly 300 calories and the crab cakes are generally 220 calories (based on a three ounce serving). Evaluations on clam chowder have show that the clams lower overall caloric intake. While certain dining establishments serve ten-ounce servings, opposed to the standard eight ounce bowl, bear in mind there is a 100 caloric differential.

Just because it says vegetable does not mean that is a free for all. As healthy as Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese food may seem, there are a few areas of contention. For starters, many Asian themed restaurants use significant amounts of oil. Others use MSG (monosodium glutamate) and deep fry certain appetizers. Let’s use egg rolls and fried spring rolls as an example. For individuals following a diet, it is important to determine how much they plan to consume because steamed vegetable dumplings have approximately 80 calories per dumpling while a fried vegetable dumpling contains between 90 and 100 calories per roll. Always consider the caloric and fat consequences.