Nutrition Smack Down: Salsa, Guacamole and Queso - Health News Hub (2024)

FAQs

Which is healthier, salsa or queso? ›

Salsa is lower in calories, with no fat and has many beneficial vitamins. Our recommendation? Don't avoid queso or guacamole in moderation (they're delicious!), but if you want a flavorful, low-calorie snack you can fill up on without added guilt, grab some salsa.

It's all about the fat

Ultimately, this match-up comes down to fat – and because avocados contain the healthiest fats, guacamole is king. “Avocados are an excellent plant source of dietary fat,” Allers says.

Guac and chips is one of our all-time top go-tos for healthy snacking when it's done right. The combination of avocados with other fresh ingredients gives you plenty of healthy fat to fuel your muscles during intense workouts, and vitamins and minerals to help sustain the recovery process post exercise.

Most salsa contains salt, and some has added sugar. You don't want excess salt in your diet. Limiting to a few tablespoons of salsa a day is probably fine. There are some good micronutrients in the salsa which you can benefit from.

They are similar in terms of total fat and calories but guacamole has higher levels of mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). MUFAs may lower your cholesterol and help regulate your blood sugar levels. Hummus has a higher protein content, which may help you feel fuller for longer.

With all the vitamins, fiber, and healthy fat in avocados, it's hard to imagine guacamole being bad for you. But you should keep in mind what you're eating with the guacamole. Because guacamole is usually served as a dip, it can keep you reaching for more and more chips.

Carrots (and other raw veggies).

This is kind of a no brainer. Some of my favorites are carrots, radishes, and celery!

For comparison, avocado is about ½ the calories of mayo: two tablespoons of avocado contain 50 calories compared with 100 calories for the same amount of mayonnaise. Avocado also contains half the fat (4.5g to 9g) and is cholesterol free.

How much guacamole should you eat? The standard serving size for guacamole is about two tablespoons, which contains 45 calories. But even though the serving size is small, guacamole has an advantage over sour cream and mayo-based dips: it's a bit harder to overeat, since it contains more filling fiber.

Is sour cream healthy? ›

Sour cream doesn't provide the same nutritional value and is high in fat and calories. Still, it's a tasty garnish and healthy food. There's probably room in your diet for a tablespoon or two of sour cream, especially if you limit your overall intake of saturated fats.

While it can be high in calories and sodium, it can provide protein, essential vitamins, and minerals, and contribute to a well-rounded diet when consumed in moderation. By being mindful of portion sizes and considering ingredient choices, you can enjoy queso as part of a healthy lifestyle.

It's also low calorie, low carb, keto friendly and even gluten free. Eat it with crunchy tortilla chips or drizzle on nachos, tacos, taco salad, enchiladas, burritos, burrito bowls and more. It's also fabulous as a cheese dip for vegetables like carrots, bell pepper slices, cauliflower, broccoli and more. What is this?

Tostitos Salsa Con Queso

But popularity and even good taste do not a good dip choice make. This cheesy, mildly spiced dip gets 25 of its 40 per-serving calories from fat, it features multiple preservatives and artificial colors, and, as with most all of these dips, it's packed with sodium.

You don't have to avoid cheese if you have high cholesterol. Though cheese does contain cholesterol, it's the saturated fat that will have more of an impact on your blood cholesterol levels. Go ahead and eat cheese in moderation and with other nutrient-rich foods as part of a balanced diet.