Don’t let a salad undermine your wellness goals

So you’re trying to be good and eat well while over the road. Not easy is it?

There is plenty of fast food and tempting sweet and/or salty snacks waiting for you at every checkout counter and in the vending machines of driver lounges.

Not all salads are created equal. Some may look good but can actually undermine your healthy eating goals.Not all salads are created equal. Some may look good but can actually undermine your healthy eating goals.

Still, you stiffen your resolve and order a salad. Eat enough of them and you can lose that 11 pounds you added over the winter and you can put your Spanx back in the bottom drawer of your dresser at home.

But, wait! Not ever salad is a good salad. It may seem like the right thing to do when ordering and you may feel especially proud of yourself that you passed on the cheeseburger and fries.

The folks at WebMD.com say some salads can sabotage your healthy habits and actually put weight on instead of taking it off.  They say you should avoid salads with:

  • creamy dressing. Just two teaspoons of creamy blue cheese dressing adds150 calories and 15 grams of fat.
  • fat-free dressings. While they may not have fat, some of these dressings will add sugar and sodium.
  • crispy or crunchy chicken. Deep-fried foods are often loaded with calories.
  • croutons and cheese. Croutons and bacon bits can add sodium to your salad and some cheeses add extra calories.
  • dried fruits and candied nuts. While both add flavor, both also add sugar.

Fortunately, WebMD also offers smarter suggestions.