Lose Weight Fast With Our Condiment Picks
On your quest for weight loss and better health, you ditched all your favorite high-cal condiments in favor of plain veggies, grains and protein—and that's when you discovered the true definition of boring. While we commend you for your dedication, it's not necessary to forgo flavorful meals to reach your goal weight. In fact, that approach could backfire, as it leaves your taste buds craving more, increasing the odds you'll give in to cravings.
To keep mealtime interesting—without blowing your daily calorie limit—you just have to stock your kitchen with the right condiments. Below we share 10 options that will do just that. Whether you're craving a sandwich, pancakes, a Greek feast or a hearty bowl of stir-fry, we've got something that's sure to do the trick.
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Kraft Mayo with Olive Oil, 1 Tbsp, 15 g
| Calories | 35 |
| Fat | 3 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 95 mg |
| Carbs | 2 g |
BEST MAYO
Monounsaturated fatty acids might actually facilitate the breakdown of fat, a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition suggests. The olive oil used in this jar has more than three times as many monounsaturates as the soybean oil used in regular mayo, making it the best mayonnaise for your waistline.
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Wholly Guacamole Classic Dip, 2 Tbsp
| Calories | 60 |
| Fat | 5 g |
| Saturated Fat | 1 g |
| Sodium | 105 mg |
| Carbs | 3 g |
BEST ALTERNATIVE SANDWICH SPREAD
If you're not a fan of mayo, guac makes an excellent flavor addition to sandwiches and burger buns alike. Avocado, a fruit that's filled with hunger-quelling oleic acid, is the first ingredient on Wholly Guacamole's nutrition label, making it our go-to pick. For some perspective, some other brands use less than 2 percent real avocado in their guacamole.
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Annie's Naturals Organic Horseradish Mustard, 1 Tbsp
| Calories | 15 |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 180 mg |
| Carbs | 3 g |
BEST MUSTARD
Looking to add a quick kick of heat to sandwiches, burgers and hot dogs? Look no further than Annie's Naturals Organic Horseradish Mustard. This condiment is not only low in calories and sodium (a nutrient that can send blood pressure levels soaring if you down too much of it), but also made solely from wholesome ingredients—like mustard seed, cloves, apple cider vinegar and garlic—that you'd find right in your kitchen.
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Tessemae's All Natural Honey Mustard, 1 Tbsp
| Calories | 30 |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 270 mg |
| Carbs | 6 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
BEST HONEY MUSTARD
Though other honey mustards have slightly lower sugar counts, Tessemae's variety is the only one that can claim it's both low in calories and free of caramel coloring. The artificial dye has been proven to cause cancer in animals and is a possible carcinogen for humans. For that reason, we suggest keeping anything with the coloring out of your kitchen.
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Annie's Naturals Organic Ketchup, 1 Tbsp
| Calories | 15 |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 130 mg |
| Carbs | 5 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
BEST KETCHUP
It may be a bit pricier, but it pays to spring for organic in this case: This condiment is free of high fructose corn syrup (an additive shown to increase appetite), and research shows that organically raised tomatoes produce nearly twice as much cancer-fighting lycopene than conventional varieties.
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Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Original Sensuous Slathering, 2 Tbsp
| Calories | 25 |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 154 mg |
| Carbs | 6 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
BEST BARBECUE SAUCE
Two superfoods, tomatoes and yellow mustard, make up the base of this only slightly sweetened sauce. This is as healthy—and as tasty—as barbecue sauces get.
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San-J Tamari Lite 50% Less Sodium Soy Sauce, 1 Tbsp
| Calories | 10 |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 490 mg |
| Carbs | less than 1 g |
| Protein | 1 g |
BEST SOY SAUCE
A mere tablespoon of traditional soy sauce has almost half a day's worth of sodium, while the same amount of San-J Tamari's low-sodium variety has less than a quarter—a nutritional upgrade from which your entire body can benefit. Downing too much salt causes uncomfortable bloating and can lead to hypertension, a condition that restricts blood flow to various parts of the body, including the brain and genitals—not what you want if you're trying to focus on an important task or get the most out of your time in the sack.
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Tabasco Original Red Sauce, 1 tsp
| Calories | 0 |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 35 mg |
| Carbs | 0 g |
BEST HOT SAUCE
You've probably read that hot sauce can boost metabolism and suppress appetite — it can! But if you pick up the wrong bottle, the only thing you'll be boosting is your intake of sodium. Over time, if you continue to eat foods and condiments high in salt, your blood vessels can stiffen, which can cause high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke or heart failure. Tabasco Original Red Sauce is one of the lowest sodium options you'll find in the supermarket, so we suggest you make it your standard.
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Maple Grove Dark Amber Maple Syrup, 2 Tbsp
| Calories | 100 |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Carbs | 26.5 g |
| Sugar | 26.5 g |
BEST MAPLE SYRUP
Most low-cost syrups by famous brands like Aunt Jemima and Mrs. Butterworth are made with high fructose corn syrup and caramel coloring, two health-harming ingredients we're constantly telling readers to avoid. The best syrup for your taste buds and waistline is a Grade A Medium Amber pure maple syrup like the Maple Grove variety we suggest here. Grade A syrups have a concentrated sweet maple flavor, so a little bit goes a long way in terms of flavor. And the less you need to pour on, the fewer calories and teaspoons of sugar you'll take it.
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Cedar's Cucumber & Garlic Tzatziki, 2 Tbsp
| Calories | 30 |
| Fat | 2 g |
| Saturated Fat | 1 g |
| Sodium | 95 mg |
| Carbs | 2 g |
| Protein | 2 g |
BEST TZATZIKI
Out of all the tzatziki containers in the refrigerator section, this one is the lowest in calories, fat and sugar. The ingredients list is a dead giveaway; this variety is comprised solely of yogurt, cucumber, garlic, sea salt, dill and white vinegar. Use it as a sandwich, burger or pita spread, dip your veggies and grilled meats in it, or drizzle a bit on top of a Greek-inspired salad.
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