How Many Calories ... in Nachos?

by Martha Edwards (Subscribe to Martha Edwards's posts)
Jan 30th 2008 6:00AM

Super Bowl is coming up this weekend, and chances are many of you will be at parties or pubs taking in more than the game; Not only is it the biggest football game of the year, but it's also a time to drink beer and eat greasy food. In fact, studies show that it is the second biggest eating day after Thanksgiving -- yikes!

When I get together with friends over beers, we always manage to order a big plate of nachos to share. Now, I'm not naive enough to think they're good for me -- there's no way cheese and meat on already-unhealthy nacho chips wouldn't be bad for the old waistline -- but I usually just pick away at them in rare conversation lulls so I never really consider the calorie count. But in honour of Super Bowl, let's consider just how much damage a few nachos will do to your diet.

The answer is 570 calories and 31 g of fat in 6 to 8 nachos. That's not such a crazy number, but I assumed it would cover at least 10 nachos. I mean, 6 to 8 is nothing when you're having a good time--I could easily eat double or three times that much without thinking about it. Yikes.

A better choice would be nachos and salsa (the cheese and beef is killer) or even better ... some veggies. But if you're crazy about football, I don't think it's a big deal if you go crazy just this once on the nachos.

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Comments (21)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Vishaal 1-30-2008 @ 12:43PM

OH DEAR! That's a LOT of calories...BAD, unhealthy, saturated FAT calories.

Thankfully, I hate football and never go to overly stocked superbowl parties. =)

Brenda 1-30-2008 @ 3:21PM

Yea,but if you only do it once a year .... but who only eats them once a year!!!!lol

Duuude 1-30-2008 @ 3:16PM

Not everyone cooks like this, ....even way they make nachos. This is another sensationalist food article based on the worst American cooking has to offer. Some people can actually make a fairly decent low calorie nachos with beef and cheese? What kind of cheese did you use Martha? Velveeta or Cheez-Wiz?

Ben 1-30-2008 @ 3:52PM

Nachos are so easy to make healthier.

Sub whole grain chips for tortilla chips.
Sub ground turkey/chicken for ground beef.
Sub 2% Milk shredded cheese for regular cheese.
Pile on the veggies (jalapenos, tomatoes, lettuce, olives, onions, cilantro)

I'll be that would cut the fat by about 60%.

Dan in Fort Lauderdale 1-30-2008 @ 3:55PM

Put your cooked ground beef in a strainer and rinse thoroughly with hot water to remove up to 60% of the fat. Use low or no fat cheese and sour cream with BAKED chips for healthy pigging out.

Bob 1-30-2008 @ 4:14PM

I thought they used Donkeys for that move btc

horrified 1-30-2008 @ 4:51PM

Vishall:
HOW COULD YOU HATE FOOTBALL?????!!!!????? :'o

nikkicookers 1-30-2008 @ 4:57PM

That is downright scary... In only 6 to 8 nachos? That's not even a filling serving. And most the time people stuff themselves (me included). Good to know Martha!

nikki cook
http://fitconnect.com/lilnicky1234

William 3-17-2008 @ 8:04PM

If you're really worried about fat, read the back of the box
on a Marie Callender's Chicken Pot Pie.

Mexi Melt 1-31-2008 @ 11:48AM

This is the biggest bunch of crap I have read in a while. What size nacho are you talking about? How much stuff on it? NOT very scientific, very alarmist/food police mentality going on here. Take your "low-cal" "low fat" tasteless nonsense and stick it where the sun don't shine. Por favor.

linda 1-30-2008 @ 5:39PM

Who would want fat-free nachoes anyway? If you're going to enjoy a party once a year, enjoy it. Get back on the healthy eating Monday.

jessie 1-30-2008 @ 5:42PM

Wow, I can think of a lot of other things I could eat and get much more bang for my buck for 570 calories.

I have about 10-15 pounds that I would like to lose and struggle with my weight every day. I love this column. I read recently about Pad Thai here. I am not an idiot and realized that it was not a low cal dish, but I was shocked to find out it was close to 1000 calories. I will still order it, but split it with a girlfriend and have a salad with it to fill me up.

It is all about moderation. Whether you eat a vat of pasta
or a vat of yogurt, it all depends on the number of calories. I rather
have one delicious truffle than 100 fat free tastless somethings.

I drink water, try to make smart food choices, control portion size
to get exercise whenever I can. I wear smartsole insoles
http://www.smartsole.com to increase the calories I burn with every
step. I also use an old school precor rowing machine which is great for the arms. http://www.precor.com

Elizabeth 1-30-2008 @ 5:45PM

u r such a racist person, that joke was not funny and you should not make those kinds of comments. FYI, mexican people do not really eat nachos a lot. there are other foods other than tacos and nachos.

Don Self 2-03-2008 @ 12:52PM

In the first place the nachos that I grew up with were made with JUST CORN CHIPS ,CHEESE & jALAPENO SLICES.They stayed this way for at least 50 yrs. until the Yankees got hold of them and decided that the peppers had to go,and put on a bunch of other junk instead ,.The original were low calorie ,But please dont blame the Mexicans for what you call nachos today.I am not Latino.

kernellangus 1-30-2008 @ 8:29PM

poopitty doop da loop ga coop !

cm 1-30-2008 @ 7:59PM

We use a variety of baked chips, like blue corn, baked tortilla, etc. whatever you like. Add yummy cheese, tomatoes, jalepenos, shredded lettuce, home-made salsa, with lots of fresh herbs and tomatoes (both full of antioxidents). They still might not be low fat but their good, and I can think of a lot worse food we could be choosing. I agree with the theory,everything in moderation. Happy Super Bowl all.

Mental Patient 1-30-2008 @ 8:32PM

poopitty voop ma cuup fa woop

Connie 1-30-2008 @ 9:34PM

It looks like "Mental Patient", and "Kernellangus" had the most intelligent responses!!! (take a look at the caloric content of anything that's ooey gooey, yummy ummy! It really shouldn't surprise anyone!)