With luscious flavors wafting through the air and tantalizing treats visible in all directions, the boardwalk can easily feel like a diet disaster awaiting. Fortunately, with a little forethought and planning, you can choose some of the healthier alternatives like dry roasted nuts, a single serving of frozen yogurt, or even corn on the cob. Plan ahead, knowing what options your boardwalk has, and be sure to avoid these six worst calorie bombs:
1. funnel cake
With over 700 calories and 40 grams of fat in a single funnel cake, this popular boardwalk treat is nearly half the calories needed in an entire day. The deep-fried dough of funnel cake is a nightmare that clogs the arteries. While deep-frying everything from Oreos to Twinkies to butter (yes, deep-fried sticky butter is a real thing) remains a lingering trend on the boardwalk, it’s really best to avoid anything that ends up in the deep fryer.
Instead of reaching for a deep-fried, oil-filled dessert, try making your own healthier versions at home in the air fryer! Click the link below for some delicious recipes:
2. Pizza with toppings
Many people say there is nothing quite like the taste and smell of pizza on the boardwalk. But the classically oversized slices dotted around the boardwalk can have more than 250 calories – and the more toppings you add, the more that number increases. If pizza is your favorite treat on the boardwalk, skip any toppings or – even better – opt for a piece of veggie. You may be less inclined to indulge yourself knowing it takes a full half an hour of swimming just to burn a slice of pizza on the boardwalk.
3. Fudge
With every candy store on the boardwalk handing out delicious homemade fudge samples, it’s easy to fall in love. But of all the sweets on the boardwalk, fudge is one of the least healthy choices as it’s filled with not only sugar but also fatty ingredients like butter. When you need to pamper your sweet tooth, a stick or two of saltwater toffee is a better choice. You can also make your own frozen fudge at home using our simple guide below:
4. Chili cheese fries
Boardwalk fries get a lot worse if you eat them in high fat toppings like chili sauce and cheese. French fries are initially full of saturated fat and sodium, but smothering them with cheese seriously increases the fat and calories. If you’re indulging in some fries on the boardwalk, split an order with friends and skip the toppings (with the exception of ketchup). Make sure to avoid heavily chipped options like curly fries as well.
Pro tip: Can’t you crush your cravings for chili cheese frying? Use the Chilli with beans from Nutrisystem make this lightened recipe for Loaded Chili Cheese Fries at home! >
5. Cheese steaks
A typical cheesesteak sub sandwich has more than 700 calories even without all the toppings. If you’re on the boardwalk for lunch or dinner and fancy a sandwich, most grills have healthier options like grilled chicken or even a variety of wraps. A greasy cheesesteak might be tempting, but even an hour of jogging won’t burn off all of those calories.
Make a cheesesteak healthier with this delicious Nutrisystem-approved recipe! >
6. Sugary drinks
It’s important to note that drinks are some of the sneakiest diet breakers out there. It’s easy to sip the calories without even realizing the caloric intake – especially if you’re walking the boardwalk on a very hot day. While a small soft drink is around 150 calories, the monster sizes on the boardwalk tend to skew things a little. What is considered “small” can actually contain more than a single can of soda. Additionally, you can assume that a soda on the boardwalk has a lot more sugar in it than the one you drink at home.
It’s best to always drink water, but unsweetened iced tea or a real fruit smoothie can also quench your thirst without swallowing the calories. Before reaching for a drink, be sure to stop by These six rules that you must absolutely keep in mind when choosing your drinks! >
* Calorie estimates calculated from the US Department of Agriculture’s National Nutrient Database. Note that the types of boardwalks can vary in nutritional content.
