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Dips and spreads make for an excellent appetizer but because they are often high in calories, you need to be mindful of your portion sizes. Refer to the calorie calculator for your favorite dips and spreads to determine the calories and nutritional value.

Calorie Content

The calorie content of dips and spreads varies greatly depending on the type of ingredient used. Guacamole dip, for example, contains about 160 calories per ½-cup serving – it also contains nearly 18 grams of fat and 6 grams of protein. A particularly popular dip, spinach artichoke dip, contains closer to 300 calories per serving in addition to a significant amount of carbs and fats.

Minding Your Portions

Because dips and spreads are often used as an appetizer before a meal, you need to be mindful of your portions so you do not overindulge. As you have already learned, many dips and spreads are high in calories so eating too much of them on top of a meal could lead to a significant increase in your daily calorie intake and potential weight gain.

Though some dips and spreads are low in calories and rich in vitamins and minerals, others are high in calories and thus may contribute to weight gain. Refer to the calorie calculator for your favorite dips and spreads to determine the calories and nutritional value.

Nutritional Value

Some dips and spreads are fairly high in calories but some of them also provide good nutritional value. Guacamole, for example, contains a wide variety of vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, C, E and B6 as well as potassium. Hummus, another popular type of dip or spread, is rich in omega-3 fats as well as minerals such as iron and manganese. Salsa is primarily made from vegetables and thus is low in calories but rich in vitamins and minerals.

Potential for Weight Gain

While some dips and spreads are low in calories, many of them are not. If you are not careful, overindulgence in high-calorie dips and spreads may lead to potential weight gain. Dips and spreads are commonly used as an appetizer which means that the calories are additional to the calories you consume as part of your meal. If you overindulge in dips and spreads before your meal, then eat an entire meal, it could lead to a calorie excess which could contribute to weight gain.