FitSugar

Autumn-Inspired Foods: More or Less Than 200 Calories?

FitSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:00:20 -0800

There are so many tasty treats to enjoy this time of year, from apple cider donuts to mulled wine. You don't want to go overboard with the calories though, because you'll end up gaining holiday weight even before Thanksgiving arrives. Take this quiz to see if you know which autumnal drinks and foods are more or less than 200 cals.

Source: Flickr User megan.chromik

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Ring in the New Year With These Low-Cal Drinks

FitSugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:00:00 -0800

We're all looking forward to de-stressing from the holidays by kicking back with some friends this New Year's Eve. For many, that also means wining and dining. Those liquid calories from specialty drinks such as chocolate martinis and fruity cocktails can do some serious damage to all the hard work you've been doing to eat right and exercise, so here's a list of low-calorie beverages to choose.

Drink	Calories
Dry Champagne (4.1 oz.)	65
Champagne (4.1 oz.)	91
Gin and Tonic (5 oz.)	121
Vodka Tonic (5 oz.)	101
White wine (such as Reisling or Chardonnay (5 oz.) )	120
Red wine (such as Merlot) (5 oz.)	119
Red wine spritzer (5 oz.)	100
Mimosa (4 oz.)	100
Beck's Premier Light beer (12 oz.)	64
Mike's Hard Lemonade (11 oz.)	98

For a list of high-calorie drinks you want to avoid, read more.

Drink	Calories
Chocolate martini (4 oz.)	438
Pina Colada (6 oz.)	378
Hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps (8 oz.)	380
Hot Buttered Rum (8 oz.)	292
Long Island Iced Tea (8 oz.)	780
White Russian (made with cream) (4 oz.)	425
Godiva Chocolate Liqueur (3 oz.)	310
Mulled wine (5 oz.)	200
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot beer (12 oz.)	295

Enjoy that last night of 2008, but please drink responsibly. If you drink, don't drive.

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Know Your Liquid Calories

FitSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0800

When it comes to celebrating during the holidays, remember that drinks contain calories too. Mulled wine, hot apple cider, spiced rum, hot toddies, and eggnog are delicious, but these kinds of beverages can add hundreds of calories to your meal. Let's see just how many with this quiz.

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10 Healthiest Drinks

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:30:00 -0700

When the heat of Summer has you looking to quench your thirst, it's a good idea to do so with a healthy beverage. The question is: What are healthy beverages? Health.com is reporting on a new study that ranks 10 beverages by their levels of disease-fighting antioxidants. Here are the top 10 healthiest beverages.

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Sugar Content and Beverages

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:00:00 -0700

In my recent post about Vitamin Water, a few of you commented that it's loaded with sugar. Just how much though, and how does it and other beverages' sugar contents compare? Take this quiz to find out.

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Mooooove Over Cow's Milk: Soy and Rice Milk Explained

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 02:30:00 -0800

There are many beverage choices for people who are lactose intolerant. We're lucky enough in this day and age to be growing up with delicious and nutritious non-dairy, milk alternatives.

So the 2 main ones to choose from are soy milk and rice milk. What's the difference?

Soy milk originated in China and is made, obviously, using soybeans. They are soaked and then ground up with water.

Nutritionally, its protein content is naturally close to cow's milk. Most soy milk is enriched with added vitamins such as B12. Manufacturers also add calcium. Soy milk has very little saturated fat, making it a healthy chose for people watching their cholesterol.

Some popular brands are Silk and Edensoy.

Rice milk is mostly made with brown rice and sweetened with sugarcane syrup.

Compared to cow's milk, it contains more carbs, but not a significant amount of protein or calcium. It's a good alternative for people who are trying to avoid cholesterol, because rice milk has none. It is fortified with vitamins and minerals, including calcium, vitamin B12 and iron.

Rice Dream and Pacific Rice Milk are common brands.

Soy Milk is healthier for you, but rice milk is more like cow's milk in taste and consistency. It's really a matter of personal preference so give them both a try to see which one you like.

How Much Should You Drink? Beverage Guidance System

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 04:00:00 -0700

I am sure you know about the Food Pyramid, but did you know that there is a similar pyramid for beverages?

Well there is. The Beverage Guidance Panel (I know, there is a panel for everything) has developed guidelines for beverage classification and how much you should drink in a day. For individuals older than 6 years, the Panel recommends the following ranges of intake for beverages:

Level 1: (water), 20 to 50 fl oz/day
Level 2: (unsweetened tea and coffee), 0 to 40 fl oz/day (may replace water, but caffeine is a limiting factor, up to 400 mg/day, or ~32 fl oz coffee/day)
Level 3: (low-fat and skim milk and soy beverages), 0 to 16 fl oz/day
Level 4: (noncalorically sweetened beverages), 0 to 32 fl oz/day (may substitute for tea and coffee with the same limitations as for caffeine)
Level 5: (caloric beverages with some nutrients), 0 to 8 fl oz of 100% fruit juices/day, 0 to 1 alcoholic drink/day for women and 0 to 2 alcoholic drinks/day for men (one drink is ~12 fl oz of beer, 5 fl oz of wine, or 1.5 fl oz of distilled spirits) and 0 fl oz of whole milk/day
Level 6: (calorically sweetened beverages), 0 to 8 fl oz/day

Summer Beverage Breakdown: Alcoholic Edition

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:00:16 -0700

When it's sunny and warm and you're craving a crisp, cold beverage, sometimes an iced coffee or fresh-squeezed tangerine juice just doesn't satisfy your thirst. Sometimes, you're in the mood for something with a little kick.

To see a breakdown of your favorite Summer alcoholic beverages keep reading

Summer Beverage Breakdown

FitSugar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:30:00 -0700

Summer heat just screams fruity and cold beverages. Not only do they help you stay hydrated and cool, but with all the seasonal fruits being harvested, it's a great way to drink in the taste of Summer. Whether you prefer iced tea or fresh squeezed tangerine juice, if you're curious to know how some popular Summer beverages stack up nutritionally, then read more.

Drink	Calories	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Sugar (g)	Protein (g)
8 oz. iced coffee with cream and sugar	61	10	10.1	8.6	.5
8 oz. iced coffee with skim milk and sugar	41	13	10.7	9.6	1
8 oz. sweetened iced tea	71	5	18	18	0
8 oz. unsweetened iced tea	0	0	0	0	0
8 oz. lemonade	120	15	30	28	0
8 oz. limeade	120	15	31	28	0
8 oz. tangerine juice	98	2	23	22.5	1.1
8 oz. orange juice	107	2	24.7	20	1.7
8 oz. apple juice	110	10	27	27	0
8 oz. grapefruit juice	90	5	20	16	2
8 oz. cranberry juice (sweetened)	130	35	33	33	0
8 oz. white grape juice	160	20	39	37	0

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Which Beverage Contains More Calories?

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:30:00 -0800

Watching your caloric intake is a great way to lose weight, but we often forget - or don't realize - just how many calories are packed into the beverages we drink. Let's test your liquid calorie smarts with this quiz.

Question 1 of 5

Which caffeinated beverage contains more calories?