FitSugar

Celebrity Guess Who: Who's Sipping on That Straw?

FitSugar — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 05:50:27 PDT

Judging by all the drinking going on, it must have been muggy in New York this week. Can you guess which stars kept it healthy as they beat the NYC heat?

Question 1 of 3

Can you guess which celeb was taking a break from filming with nature's sport drink?

Get Your Food Minus the Chemicals

FitSugar — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:00:19 PST

Last year I told you about a Consumer Reports study, which detected bisphenol A (BPA) in the inner lining of most canned goods. And while the FDA has yet to ban the use of BPA in food packaging, it did announce earlier this year that the industrial chemical may pose some concern. As a result, the government agency is investing $30 million into a more comprehensive study on the effects BPA has on infants and adults.

In the meantime, those of you who are worried about your exposure should make sure your to-go containers and water bottles are BPA-free. Unfortunately, most canned goods are still made using BPA. In these instances it might be best to seek out foods packaged in glass, paper, or freezer bags. As I said earlier, most canned goods are made with BPA, but not all of them! The eco-conscious folks at Treehugger were kind enough to round up a list of seven companies making BPA-free canned goods.

Eden Organic canned beans, grains, and chilis
Vital Choice Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) cerified salmon, albacore tuna, sardines, and mackerel
Oregon's Choice MSC certified albacore
Eco Fish albacore tuna
Wild Planet skipjack and albacore tunas
Trader Joe's canned corn, canned beans, canned fish, canned poultry, and canned beef
Edward & Sons Native Forest and Nature Factor goods of fruits, vegetables, chutneys, and coconut milk

Fittingly Green: BPA-Free Food Containers

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:00:00 PDT

Ever since the BPA/Nalgene scare of 2008 - in which we learned that bisphenol A could cause all sorts of health problems - manufacturers have been churning out BPA-free plastic water bottles and baby products. Now, BPA-free food storage is also becoming easier to find.

Since we know that bringing your lunch to work is a healthy habit, make it even healthier by packing food in BPA-free plastic containers. I love these fittingly green food storage containers from Preserve made from 100 percent recycled plastic. Buy two square containers for $5.99, a large round one for $2.99, or the smaller version for $2.79. Rubbermaid also has an extensive collection of BPA-free containers to help you go green.

Gear Review: Intak BPA Free Water Bottle

FitSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:30:00 PST

While I'm a fan of reusable bottles made by Sigg, Klean Kanteen, and Nalgene, they all requite two hands to open them, which can be annoying at times. If you can relate, then check out the Intak BPA Free Hydration Bottle with Meter ($11) made by Thermos.

To see how it works

read more. Unlike other water bottles, this one has a pop top. You just lower the metal ring to unlock it, and press the gray triangular button. The clear top pops off but remains attached since it's on a hinge. You can't loosen it - yay! It reveals a small opening that makes it easy to sip out of without pouring water all over your face. Once the top is locked, it's leak proof. I love the slender body that's easy to grip, and it holds 24 ounces of water. There's even a little rotating meter so you can monitor how much water you've had. One of the best features is that the black top unscrews so it's easy to clean the inside of the bottle. It's also dishwasher safe. If you're interested, this Intak bottle comes in green, blue, red, and purple and you can buy one directly from Thermos.

Did You Buy a BPA-Free Plastic Water Bottle?

FitSugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:00:00 PDT

When news about Nalgene bottles causing cancer broke, I ditched my old plastic bottle and bought a metal one. They're a lot heavier, though, and not the most ideal to take on hikes and walks. I just bought new BPA-free plastic water bottles for my hubby and me.

What about you . . .

The Buff Baby Dumbell Rattle: Kid-Friendly or Are You Kidding?

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:16:12 PST

You're never too young to start a fitness routine! Mama strove to keep up with her prebaby workout throughout her pregnancy, and now that the lil one's arrived, she's getting him gym-ready from the start!

Fred and Friends Buff Baby Dumbell Rattle ($7) is phthalate- and BPA-free dumbbell for tots - wait, a dumbbell for tots? Not really, it is actually a rattle for lil ones in the shape of dumbbell, making it the perfect gift for your expecting gym buddy or pregnant trainer, because body-building babies are just too cute in pictures.

Painless Ways to Add Fiber to Your Diet

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:26:16 PST

Whether you're a serious meat eater who considers a side salad enough greens for the day, or someone who just hates veggies, if one of your New Year's resolutions is to eat more fiber, here are some easy ways to increase your roughage without a disapproving peep from your taste buds.

Have a sweet tooth? Add spinach to homemade brownies, mash baked sweet potato into pancake mix, or add shredded carrots to banana bread.
Don't just grab any ol' box of cereal. Choose a cereal that has at least eight grams of fiber per serving.
Become a fan of flax. Sprinkle whole flaxseeds onto your bowl of cereal, or if the texture is a turnoff, use ground flaxmeal instead. You can also add flaxseed or flaxmeal to pizza dough, pancake batter, and cookie and muffin recipes.
Make a smoothie for breakfast (or even dessert) with tons of fresh or frozen fruit. Throw in a few spinach or kale leaves for added fiber. The sweetness of the fruit hides the taste of the greens and since it's blended so well, the texture is completely smooth - no chewing your veggies required.

Keep reading for more fiber-boosting tips.

3 BPA-Free Alternatives to Canned Beans

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:48:48 PST

BPA (bisphenol A) is bad news. Animal studies of this chemical, which used to be found in many reusable plastic water bottles, links high levels of BPA to cancer, heart disease, and early puberty. BPA-free bottles have replaced reusable plastic water bottles and baby bottles, but BPA is also used in the lining of canned foods. A recent Harvard study found that after participants ate a serving of canned foods once a day, five days in a row, their levels of BPA rose 10 times.

As a vegetarian, I've been living on canned beans since they're so convenient. But now I feel they're unsafe to eat, especially for my 1-year-old. If canned beans are a staple in your diet, here are three BPA-free alternatives.

Go with Eden: This brand of organic canned beans specifically says on the label, "bisphenol A-free can lining." Don't assume that all "healthy brands" are BPA-free. I emailed Westbrae, and at this time, the linings of their cans do contain BPA.

Continue reading for two more BPA-free alternatives to canned beans.

Stay Hydrated With Reusable Earth-Friendly Water Bottles

Heather Dale — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 13:36:53 PDT

This Friday marks the 41st anniversary of Earth Day. In honor of this important day dedicated to Mother Earth, we're striving to green our workouts and invest in workout gear that is created using sustainable methods and is made with eco-friendly materials. Plastic water bottles are filling up our landfills and taking a toll on our health, which is why it's important to have a reusable bottle. Here are some of my top favorites that are safe for the environment and are eco on the inside, too.

OnSugar Blog: Getting Ready For School

OnSugar Blog — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 03:19:05 PDT

Lots of moms like to think out loud, and House of Anaïs is one of them. Here is a recent post from her House of Anaïs blog.

School is starting on Monday for Miss Anaïs, and on Wednesday, our twins get to start in the 2-year-old group in the same place. For me, it obviously means running around like a headless chicken (with the kids in tow while trying to do some work, too), trying to find lunch bags, water bottles, thermal food containers (and without those bad BPAs and whatnots) - you name it. Then everything has to labeled for school - so add to the list blankets, sheets, clothes (I think I'll choose our home "uniforms" as I cannot label everything!) . . . and where do I find indoor slippers?

Luckily a friend pointed me to a cool site called Preschoolians where I can get custom-made indoor slippers based on my own design - that will be my project tonight. So here's what the twins ended up choosing - all safe, organic, and pretty cute, too:

All geared up with functional and safe stuff. These cool thermal lunch bags from California Innovations also come with reusable ice bags. First test proved that the bags work well, too, in addition to just looking pretty.

Some of those cute Preschoolian indoor slippers - their selection is huge!

Want to see more? Start following House of Anaïs or start your own OnSugar blog. It's easy, it's free, and we just may feature your content on our site!