6 Healthy Foods That Are Still Really High in Calories

Just because a food is nutritious doesn't mean it's low in calories. Unfair, but true! I'm Hungry Girl Lisa Lillien, and I'm here with six "healthy" foods that are surprisingly high in calories and fat.

Hummus

I love hummus, and it's definitely good for you. At first glance, the average nutritional price tag of 60 calories per serving doesn't seem bad at all. The problem? That serving is only two small tablespoons...

Has anyone anywhere ever stopped after just two tablespoons of hummus?! More than likely, you're consuming at least 1/3 cup of it (about 160 calories’ worth!). Factor in a single serving of pita chips, and you're looking at 300+ calories for a small snack. My advice? Measure out a serving of hummus, and mix it with a few tablespoons of low-calorie salsa. Then stick with carrot sticks for dipping!

Nuts 

Nuts are a good source of protein and fiber, which makes them a smart snack choice — yet the innocent-looking things can be a nutritional nightmare. If you're gonna eat nuts, you have to control those portions. Half a cup of mixed nuts — which can fit in the palm of your hand — has about 400 calories and 35 grams of fat. Look for 100-calorie packs of nuts, like the ones made by Emerald and Blue Diamond. Or stick with pistachios in the shell. (They take a little longer to eat!) Another great way to satisfy a nut craving is with powdered peanut butter – if you haven't tried it, there's no time like the present...

It’s awesome!

Granola

Truth time: A single cup of granola has about 600 calories and 30 grams of fat. Yep, you read that right. And that's before milk is added! Even low-fat granola typically has around 400 calories per cup. So why haven’t you seen these shocking numbers on the nutritional panels? The official serving size for most granola is a measly and unrealistic quarter cup.

Yikes! I try to avoid granola altogether – but if you've gotta have it, mix a small portion of the stuff with a low-calorie cereal like puffed wheat.

Greek Yogurt 

Supermarket shelves are loaded with containers of Greek yogurt, but not all of them are safe bets. A cup of the full-fat stuff has around 225 calories and up to 11 grams of fat. Sure, it's high in protein – but so is the nonfat version, which has way less calories and fat. I'm a big fan of using Greek yogurt as part of breakfast or as a snack, but be sure you stick to the fat-free kind. To make it more exciting, stir in some natural no-calorie sweetener and some fresh or thawed-from-frozen berries. Or use these creative mix-ins and toppings!

Kale Chips

Kale chips are one of those foods that have a “health halo” around them, meaning they sound super healthy, so they must be… right? Wrong. They're often fried in oil, which makes them just as caloric as conventional potato chips. For a crispy snack with all the nutrients of kale but none of the extra calories and fat, try my recipe for baked kale. So easy and completely delicious!

Smoothies

A smoothie sounds like a light, nutritious snack. In reality, it's typically the opposite.

When you order a smoothie, it's often packed with sugar and can easily clock in at more than 400 calories. Heavy add-ins like peanut butter, full-fat dairy, and flavored syrup are typically to blame. A better bet? Munch on whole fruit – you get the nutritional benefits without the inflated calorie count.

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