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Amy's Kitchen: Country Cheddar Bowl

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:30:00 PDT

This Country Cheddar Bowl is my new favorite frozen entrée from Amy's Kitchen. It's in her line of Bowls (just like the Stuffed Pasta Shells), and this one is called Country Cheddar.

I would say it is a mature version of mac and cheese. The delicious cheesy sauce envelops the spiral noodles and healthy veggies – broccoli florets, carrots, red peppers, and potatoes. For added protein pieces of perfectly textured baked tofu have been added to the "bowl." The cheddar bowl meal is deliciously flavored, and the best part is that all the ingredients are organic.

The picture on the box looks great, but does it really look like that when you cook it? To find out

Serving Size	1 bowl
Calories	400
Total Fat	19g
Saturated Fat	6g
Cholesterol	20mg
Sodium	690mg
Carbs	41g
Fiber	4g
Sugar	3g
Protein	15g

On the looks front, the bowl looks close enough to the image on the box. I really liked the cheesy taste and all the veggies were cooked perfectly, and not at all mushy. This meal has only 400 calories and it was super filling. Plus I love that it has 14g of protein and 4g of fiber (although I thought it would have more than that). The sodium is a tad high, but not too bad considering you can have around 2,300mg a day. I'm sure some of you will think it has a lot of fat, but look at the saturated fat. It only has 6g, and since the recommended amount per day is around 20g, it doesn't sound so bad. For a quick, delicious, organic, and healthy meal, I'd definitely give this Country Cheddar Bowl a try.

Straight From Amy's Kitchen: Stuffed Pasta Shells

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 10:15:00 PDT

Skipping meals is a bad idea in general, so in those rushed times you often have to reach for a frozen entrée. This is why I like to stock up on healthy frozen meals by Amy's Kitchen. I loved the Vegetable Lasagna, so I decided to give her Stuffed Pasta Shells a try. They're made with whole grains, real vegetables, and no artificial ingredients, so I feel good about eating them.

The shells were even tastier than the lasagna. The pasta was tender - not too firm and not at all mushy. The tomato sauce was very flavorful and abundant (don't you hate when they skimp on the sauce?). The best part was the cheese filling inside. It was so creamy and perfectly blended with broccoli and spinach to give it a wonderful texture and flavor and nutrients.

Since it tasted so rich, I was afraid to take a look at the nutritional info. Want to see what I found? Then


Calories	310	310
Total Fat	13g	12g
Saturated Fat	7g	4.5g
Cholesterol	30mg	20mg
Sodium	740mg	680mg
Carbs	30g	35g
Fiber	5g	5g
Sugar	7g	5g
Protein	19g	16g
Vitamin A	40%	50%
Calcium	40%	25%

Well that isn't so bad. Only 310 calories and those 3 stuffed shells were really filling. While 740 mg of sodium sounds pretty high, when you consider the RDI of sodium is 2,300 mg a day, the amount of sodium seems reasonable. Here's another tempting photo.

Here's a close-up of the creamy cheesiness.

Now, doesn't that look tasty?

Heidi Klum Speaks Out About Her Split From Seal

Lauren Turner — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:35:25 PST

Heidi Klum thanks fans for their support - People
Channing Tatum pulls a funny penis prank on Rachel McAdams - Lainey Gossip
The most memorable Bachelor one-liners from last night - Huffington Post
How adorable is Joseph Gordon-Levitt on stage? - The Frisky
The latest on Halle Berry's family drama - D-Listed
Watch Robert De Niro audition for The Godfather - Next Movie
The 20 most effective Super Bowl ads - The Daily Beast
Minka Kelly gets gorgeous in a red dress - Hollywood Tuna
Zac Efron wears tiny Hawaiian print shorts - Pink Is the New Blog
Reese Witherspoon talks Justin Bieber - The Superficial
Selena Gomez shows skin on the cover of Cosmo - JustJared
Get to know Camille Grammer's hot new guy - TooFab
Will J Lo bring Casper Smart to the Oscars? - Amy Grindhouse
Adele will perform post-surgery at the Grammys - Hollywood Reporter

The Secrets of the World's Healthiest Women

Health — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:45:10 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

From pouring on the olive oil like the Greeks to slashing stress like the Scandinavians, what we
can learn from the happiest, slimmest, longest-living cultures around the globe.

The secret to a long, healthy life in America? According to longevity researchers, it may be to act like you live somewhere else.

It seems like every year another country's lifestyle is touted as the new magic bullet to cure us of obesity, heart disease, and premature death: for an unclogged heart, herd goats and down olive oil like a Mediterranean. Avoid breast cancer and live to 100 by dining on tofu, Japanese-style. Stay as happy as Norwegians by hunting elk and foraging for cowberries.

Health.com: Weight-Loss Secrets From Around the World

The places we're usually told to emulate are known as Blue Zones or Cold Spots. Blue Zones were pinpointed by explorer Dan Buettner and a team of longevity researchers and are described in his book The Blue Zones: Lessons For Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest. They're areas in Italy, Japan, Greece, California, and Costa Rica where the people have traditionally stayed healthy and active to age 100 or older.

Keep on reading for more great tips from around the globe.

Another Spice Girls Reunion in the Works?

Allie Merriam — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:55:05 PST

Will the Spice Girls reunite for the Olympics? - Huffington Post
Etta James has passed away at 73 - People
Anne Hathaway gets an outfit right in a major way - Lainey Gossip
The coolest Bond cars ever - The Daily Beast
Elton John's husband apologizes to Madonna after a Globes feud - The Insider
Why is Jessica Biel still hiding her ring? - Us Weekly
See Johnny Weir's new wedding ring - TooFab
Excited for a production from Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna? - Rotten Tomatoes
Get pumped for the premiere of Robert Pattinson's Bel Ami! - Hollywood Reporter
Halle Berry's stalker sentenced to jail time - Wonderwall
Steven Tyler and Carrie Underwood team up for a Super Bowl special - Lifeline Live
The latest Joshua Jackson action on Fringe - BuddyTV
Jude settles with News International over the phone hacking scandal - Zap2It
Have Johnny and Vanessa been over for a year? - Celebitchy

Our Favorite 5 of YouTube's Top 2011 Videos

Kelly Schwarze — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 04:21:53 PST

It's hard to go a couple days (or hours) without a friend, parent, or co-worker directing you to the "most amazing video EVER" on YouTube. Following the world's video sharing trends closely, YouTube unveiled the Top 10 YouTube videos of 2011. We'll admit we've watched videos one through 10 multiple times, but have our own list of top five favorites. While "Friday" was catchy, it didn't make our cut, which you can check out below.

Nyan Cat - Coffee break? Try a Nyan Cat break whenever a moment of zen is needed throughout the day. How many of the 56 million views made it through the whole video of the pop-tart cat, the meme that launched a thousand parodies, crafts, and costumes?
Talking Twin Babies - We may not know what they're saying, but these twin babies are in the midst of a heated discussion that'll likely go on the rest of their lives. Over 56 million views attempted to debunk their baby talk.
Cat Mom Hugs Baby Kitten - Imagine a world where everyone watched this video of a mother cat pulling her restless sleeping kitten into a hug daily. It would be rather sweet and cuddly; 39 million viewers agree.

Two more YouTube faves after the break.

26 Fresh Ways to Reuse an Old Yoga Mat

Health — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:06:03 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on FitSugar.

By Su Reid-St. John

If you’ve just eked your millionth sun salutation out of that thin, raggedy rectangle you call a mat, it might be time to spring for a new one. But what to do with the old? Certainly, you could recycle it or even donate it if it isn’t too far gone, or you could tap your inner Martha and try a little creative repurposing:

1. Hang it horizontally in your garage to keep car doors from scraping the walls.

2. Use it as a kitchen mat in front of the stove or sink.

3. Lay it under your sleeping bag on your next camping trip; it won’t provide much in the way of cushioning, but at least you won’t feel every rock and stick.

4. Scrub the heck out of it, then cut it up as liners for shelves and drawers.

5. Make it into floor covers for the backseat area so your kids’ muddy shoes and cleats won’t ruin your mats.

6. Carpet the tree house!

Health.com: Blast It Off With Yoga

7. Cut it into small circles and use them under furniture legs to protect the floor.

8. Wrap it around that attic beam or basement pole you keep running into.

9. Put it under the litter box so the cat won’t track stuff all over the floor.

10. Cut it to fit under slippery rugs to keep them in place.

There are 16 more things to do with that old mat, so keep reading.

Parks and Recreation's Ron Swanson: 10 Fun Facts About the Man Behind the Mustache

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:00:00 PDT

On Parks and Recreation, Nick Offerman plays one of the show's most fascinating characters: Ron Swanson. The curmudgeonly government official loves every kind of meat, barely tolerates people, and hates his same-named ex-wives. Over the course of three seasons, Offerman has managed to make Ron hilarious and surprisingly likable. He and series creator Mike Schur recently chatted with reporters about the upcoming season of the show, and Offerman revealed some details about himself that rival Ron's persona.

He Has a Secret Love For Ballet
Offerman responded to a question about which of his own personality traits he wants Ron to adopt by saying, "I have a penchant for the ballet, and I’ve been pitching the fellows for the whole time we’ve been in production for a Ron Swan Lake episode."
His Onscreen Ex Is His Real Wife
You may not know that Offerman is married to Parks and Recreation guest star Megan Mullally, who plays Ron's second wife, Tammy 2. He sang her praises, as well as Patricia Clarkson's, who will be on season four as his first wife, Tammy 1: "We’ve been incredibly fortunate with the selection of ladies that have graced our stage with their presence, talent, and beauty. I think what the audience will be surprised to learn is that Tammy 2, played by Megan Mullally, the gorgeous Megan Mullally, may turn out to be the most kitten-like, timid women of the Tammys. I am about as giggly as a schoolgirl to have landed in a position where I’m portraying a man who has made love to both Megan Mullally and Patricia Clarkson. That is a consummation devoutly to be wished."

To find out what other delightful details Offerman revealed about himself, just

He Really Plays the Sax Noting that Ron's wood shop is Offerman's wood shop in real life, Schur divulged another Offerman skill that has been integrated into the show. Schur said, "The Duke Silver saxophone playing is also a real-life Nick Offerman thing. Nick really plays the saxophone, that’s really him playing in the episode from season two. . . . There’s no end. We could probably just base episodes around Nick Offerman’s real-life skills and have a long and happy run."
He Thinks His Appeal Is in His Scent When Offerman was asked why he thought audiences had responded so well to Ron Swanson, Offerman credited his smell. "I usually assume it’s my musk that attracts people. I keep the dander to a minimum and I keep it clean, but I use just a little bit of hibiscus oil behind each shoulder. That would be my guess."
He May Be Patricia Clarkson's #1 Fan Offerman confessed his admiration of guest star Clarkson, admitting, "I’ve been such a huge fan of hers for many years, and it’s nothing short of a dream come true that I got to actually work in scenes with her. When the possibility arose, I couldn’t believe my lucky stars. And she even surpassed our expectations. Not only is she a gorgeous and an incredible actress, but she is insanely hilarious to boot. I think everybody on set was just bowled over with how funny she was on the show."
He's Not Starving Himself to Fit Hollywood's Ideals Offerman did a nude photo shoot with wife Mullally last year, and he joked (I think) about his unusual preparation method. "To prepare for that photo shoot, we took a three-week tour of Europe where I sampled the sausages of five nations, ending with a 16-inch long bratwurst in the town square of Prague, a mere 18 hours before that photo shoot. And if you look closely in the picture, you can make out a bulge that I think is representative of that particular pork sausage."
He Believes a Real Man Should Have Hair on His Chest Offerman's other tidbit about his photo shoot led to him decrying the trend of manscaping, declaring, "I can legitimately say that I insist on no shaving or waxing. I think that the emasculation of the modern man in popular culture is something that has weakened our society considerably. I don’t know why a heroic male these days has to have a hairless torso. You know, when I grew up admiring Joe Don Baker swinging a baseball bat and walking tall, he was a hairy son of a b*tch. And to me, that’s a hero. You know, I’m a big fan of your Brad Pitts and your Jude Laws, but I’d like to see a little hair on their chests if they’re going to be beating somebody up."
He Uses Spot-On Fish Metaphors Offerman offered up a little-heard analogy after he talked about his favorite things about playing Ron: "I love when I get to eat meat. I love when I get to dangerously make out with my wife to the point of destroying buildings and furniture. And I love everything about it. Every time I’m handed a new script, I feel like a large-mouth bass at a night crawler convention."
He Has a Hard Time Keeping a Straight Face . . . Offerman finds it a challenge to keep it together while filming the show, saying "One of the hardest things about the job, when you are working with a cast of 10 home-run hitters, is simply tolerating their skill without busting out laughing. For me especially, when Ron is supposed to be unmoved, which is quite frequently, especially in the face of Andy or Leslie just being the most amazing clown right up in my face, it can be really difficult. But at the same time, that’s what makes the job so fun - when we do have a moment to break out and laugh at each other, because we’re watching the funniest work going today."
In Fact, He's a Giggler Perhaps my favorite thing I learned about Offerman was something Schur let slip when he talked about how much the cast laughs on the set. Schur said: "I’m an uncontrollable giggler, as is Nick, as is Amy, as is Aziz. Everyone on our show loves to laugh and giggle. It makes for such a nicer, more-friendly environment."

Nuking Up Amy's Light and Lean Pasta and Veggies

Angelica Marden — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 03:05:21 PST

I try to eat fresh foods whenever possible, but when I need a quick microwavable meal fix, I typically turn to Amy's. The brand offers a range of vegetarian and lactose free options and is my go-to if I want to satisfy my marinara and pizza craving at home without eating pizza. The company recently put out a range of "Light and Lean" products so I decided to nuke up the Light and Lean Pasta and Veggies and try it out.

Was it as flavorful as the regular versions?

Morning Links - Camilla Parker Bowles Talks About Welcoming Kate Middleton to the Family

PopSugar — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 08:28:38 PDT

Camilla Parker Bowles says she's "lucky" to get Kate Middleton in the family - People
Rose McGowan nabs a sexy role - Huffington Post
Anna Wintour's biggest regret is putting the Spice Girls on the cover of Vogue - Lainey Gossip
Is Ashley Greene dating Chris Evans now?! - PopEater
See Justin Bieber prank Willow Smith on stage - Too Fab
Chris Brown apologizes for his morning TV freak-out - Us Weekly
Matthew McConaughey talks family and career in Esquire - Wonderwall
Renée Zellweger will be fine since she gets hit on all the time! - Celebitchy
Billy Ray Cyrus is trying to make everything right with Miley - Amy Grindhouse
Rebecca Black does The Tonight Show - Lifeline Live
Naomi Campbell treats herself to a Miami vacation - I'm Not Obsessed