The 5 Healthiest Dips for Snacking - Muscle & Fitness (2024)

FAQs

What is the best dip when on a diet? ›

Dips can be good and healthy choices when they're made from whole food ingredients. Some of our favorite healthy dips are Hummus Dip made from chickpeas, Guacamole Dip made from avocados, Vegan Cheese Dip made from cashews and veggies, or Layered Greek Dip made from Greek yogurt, hummus, and veggies.

Salsa. Salsa is the lowest-calorie dip that actually contributes to your vegetable servings for the day. Plus, it's delicious. Look for varieties that list tomatoes as the first ingredient.

Best: Wholly Guacamole Avocado Verde

Spice up your Taco Tuesdays with Wholly Guacamole's Avocado Verde dip that's made with Hass avocados, tomatillos, onions, and jalapeños. "Its ingredient list is comprised of only whole foods, and this product contains minimal sodium and 0 grams of added sugar," Hill says.

As a general rule of thumb, dips that contain less than 10 per cent fat are a relatively good option. Even better is to make your own using vegetables or avocado, or legumes with a little extra virgin olive oil and seasoning, if you have the time.

What's the healthiest pick? You could opt for a drizzle of olive oil, mashed avocado, hummus, or even low-fat cottage cheese. But many people would prefer dairy butter, margarine, plant or vegan butter or spread, or nut butter.

When executed properly, dips are one of the best exercises for your upper body. As a compound exercise (targeting more than one muscle group), dips are great for challenging a number of your upper body muscles all at the same time.

Foods like chickpeas, apples, bananas, avocados, oatmeal, peanut butter, nuts, and seeds are all rich in fiber and can make for delicious snacks. Remember to drink plenty of fluids when increasing your fiber intake to support healthy digestion and prevent potential discomfort.

Are dips good for joints? ›

The shoulder muscles are used as stabilizers during the movement. As a result, performing dips will increase strength in the shoulder joint. If you have any type of shoulder issues or have a shoulder impingement, this should be a contraindicated exercise.

The bottom line

Yet, many store-bought condiments can be high in calories, sugar, salt, and other additives. There are many healthier alternatives, like salsa, tahini, guacamole, or balsamic vinegar. These condiments are minimally processed and made from wholesome, nutrient-dense ingredients.

Some companies might sell tobacco products that look like they might be healthier for you. But there is no safe level of tobacco consumption – every cigarette is doing you damage. Your best option is to quit smoking.

Be a Better Dipper

Instead, pair your dip with a 100% whole-grain pita. You'll add fiber and vitamins to your lunch. Even better: Serve your hummus with veggies like cucumber slices, carrot spears, and red pepper wedges. You'll get even more nutrition without adding as many calories as a bread, chip, or cracker.

Hummus is a healthy alternative to dips like ranch. Two tablespoons of hummus contain about 67 calories, 2 grams of protein, 5 grams of fat, 4 grams of carbs, and 1.5 grams of fiber.