FitSugar

Breakdown of Eggnog Alternatives

FitSugar — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:46:52 PST

They may be loaded with cheer, but holiday drinks are also notoriously rich and calorie-heavy. Staples like eggnog are sure to show up at seasonal soirees, so it's helpful to do a little planning before you sip. One cup of eggnog contains about 350 calories along with 11 grams of saturated fat, but that doesn't stop 45 percent of FitSugar readers from enjoying it here and there. If you're looking for a wintry treat for a festive fete, you might try to serve or pack a lighter alternative like soy nog or rice nog. They both contain less fat and nearly half the calories of eggnog.

To see the full breakdown read more.

Calories in Summery Smoothies

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 13:34:23 PDT

It's a hot and humid Summer day and you head to your local smoothie joint for a cool, refreshing smoothie. It's made with mostly all-natural fruit, ice, and a little dairy, so what could be bad? That tall glass of thick, fruity goodness might taste like it's good for you, but the amount of calories you're consuming will most definitely stop you midslurp. Check out the breakdown below and see how your favorite smoothie stands.

Keep in mind that these calculations are based on 16-ounce servings, and many places serve up your smoothie in a much taller cup, which means even more calories and carbs consumed.

Smoothie (16 oz. serving)	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Sugars (g)	Protein (g)
Jamba Juice Banana Berry	270	1	64	3	57	3
Jamba Juice Aloha Pineapple	290	1	67	3	63	5
Jamba Juice Strawberry Surf Rider	300	1	72	2	64	2
Jamba Juice Apple 'n Greens	220	1	50	6	40	5

Not seeing your favorite smoothie? Keep reading to see the nutritional info for smoothies found at Starbucks, McDonald's, and Jack in the Box.

Feeling Snacky? Cracker Breakdown

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 11:09:57 PDT

When I'm craving something salty and crunchy, crackers can be a healthier choice than chips. I love nibbling them on their own, dipped in hummus, or topped with cheese and sliced apples. Not all crackers are created equally though. Some will make you drop your cracker when you find out how much sodium they contain. Then others might have you reaching for more when you discover they're a good source of protein. Check out the chart below to see how they all compare.

Cracker	Serving Size	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Barbara's Wheatines	4 squares	60	1	80	11	1	1
Pepperidge Farm's Heart Wheat	3 crackers	80	3.5	125	11	.5	1
Carr's Whole Wheat	2 crackers	80	3.5	100	10	1	1
Kashi TLC Original 7 Grain	15 crackers	120	3.5	160	21	2	3

Not seeing your favorite cracker? Keep reading to see the nutritional info for Ritz, Cheddar Bunnies (my daughter's fave), Triscuits, and more.

Lamb vs. Ham: a Calorie Showdown

Leta Shy — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 03:05:43 PDT

Besides the prevalence of candy and eggs, Easter's got meat covered as well. Like any big holiday, traditional Easter brunch includes a showstopping meat centerpiece.

Lamb and ham are both traditional choices for the meal, but which one is healthier for you? Whether you're roasting a leg of lamb or glazing a ham, check out our nutritional breakdown after the break.

Easter Candy Calories

FitSugar — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:56:39 PDT

With Easter coming this Sunday, your cravings for Cadbury Creme Eggs, marshmallow Peeps, and fruity jellybeans are probably on the rise. Before you dive mouth first into the chocolate bunny in your Easter basket, check out the calories and nutritional info for your favorite treats.

To see the caloric breakdown,

Everything You Need to Know About Nuts

Heather Dale — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:55:06 PDT

I'm a bit of a nut head. An entire shelf in my kitchen cupboard is dedicated to my nut collection, with each kind of nut having its own designated jar. I also keep snack sizes of mixed nuts to stash in my purse when I'm heading out the door. When enjoyed in their raw state and preferably organic, nuts are a great source of protein, fiber, and they even lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides level. Not all nuts are created equal, and not watching your nut serving size can often do more harm than good. Here's a primer on getting the most out of your own nut habit.

A Mini Nutritional Nut Breakdown: A look at popular nuts including pecans, macadamia nuts, almonds, pistachios, and peanuts. Analysis is based on a one-ounce serving of each nut and includes calorie, fat, saturated fat, and protein amounts.

Keep reading to learn more about your favorite nuts.

Calorie Count: Fat-Free Greek Yogurt With Fruit

Leta Shy — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 04:30:58 PDT

What's not to love about Greek yogurt? Packed with calcium and protein, the rich snack is as great for breakfast as it is as a healthier stand-in for decadent desserts. While we've long been fans of nonfat flavored Chobani and Oikos yogurts, Greek yogurt specialist Fage also recently released its own line of fruit-filled, fat-free options.

Fage Total 0%, Chobani 0%, and Oikos 0% all contain zero grams of fat and saturated fat as well as real natural ingredients like honey or whole berries. But how does your favorite brand stack up with its similarly flavored competitors? Check out the table after the break!

Pie vs. Cupcake: Which Trendy Dessert Is Healthier?

Leta Shy — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 10:02:23 PST

The cupcake craze seems to be reaching its peak, but there's a new trendy dessert poised to take its place - pie. The most traditional of baked goods has been enjoying a resurgence lately, with 12 million more slices sold last year than the year before.

With pie's popularity on the rise, chances are you'll be seeing the new bakeries pop up with over-the-top latticed creations ready to compete with those ubiquitous cupcakes. If you need a sugar fix, which baked good is better for you - a slice of pie (typically 1/8 of a nine-inch pie, or about three ounces) or a cupcake with frosting?

Check out the nutritional breakdown of what you're craving after the break.

Valentine's Day Candy Breakdown

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 03:05:37 PST

What's Valentine's Day without a sweet, decadent indulgence? We love it all, from delicately frosted sugar cookies with fancy pink icing to chocolate of all kinds. Whatever your passion is on this day of love, you don't want to overdo it and undo all the good you've been doing with your healthy diet and exercise.

The best way to prevent weight gain (and an awful sugar high) is to know the nutritional info of your favorite edible pleasures. I made a handy chart to help you out, so

Whole vs. Reduced vs. Low-Fat vs. Nonfat Milk

Michele Bell — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:15:29 PST

When you are doctoring up your coffee or tea at the sugar and milk stand, do you know how much of a difference those tall silver canisters can make in your hot drink? Some reach for the skim while others feel free to douse the cup with the heavier cream. And when it comes to choosing milk for cereals or as a beverage, it can make even more of a difference. If you're curious to see how the various types of milk compare, just

Candy	Calories	Fat (g)	Carbs (g)	Sugar (g)
4 Peeps Marshmallow Bunnies	130	0	33	29
1 Peeps Hollow Milk Chocolate Egg	420	24	54	52
5 Mars Mini Chocolate Eggs	179	10	20.4	17.6
1 Cadbury Solid Milk Chocolate Easter Bunny	890	48.6	101.2	97.1
1 Cadbury Creme Egg	150	6	24	20
12 Cadbury Chocolate Eggs	190	8	28	27
1 Dove Solid Chocolate Easter Bunny	230	13	25	24
1 Nestle's Crunch Nest Egg	180	9	25	20
1 Snickers Cream Sports Egg	140	6	18	16
1 Reese's Peanut Butter Egg	180	10	18	16
1 Reese's Reester Bunny	760	40	88	72
1 Brachs Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Egg	43	1.3	7.8	6
9 Brachs Malted Easter Eggs	200	8	32	23
35 Jelly Belly Assorted Jellybeans	140	0	35	32

Candy	Calories	Fat (g)	Sat Fat (g)	Carbs (g)	Sugars (g)	Protein (g)
Hershey's Kisses (9 pieces)	230	12	7	25	23	3
Hershey's Solid Milk Chocolate Be My Valentine Kiss (1/5 of 1.4 oz. package)	210	12	8	23	20	3
Hershey's Valentine Marshmallow Heart (2.2 oz.)	240	7	4.5	44	35	3
Hershey's Special Dark Hearts (5 pieces)	220	12	7	25	21	2
Reese's Peanut Butter Heart (snack size)	170	10	3.5	19	8	4
Dove Dark Chocolate Hearts (5 pieces)	210	13	8	24	19	2
Box of Godiva Chocolates (4 pieces)	210	12	7	24	21	3
Russell Stover Box of Chocolates (2 pieces)	150	6	4	24	20	1
Conversation Hearts (12 pieces)	60	0	0	15	14	0
Pink Candy Corns (26)	140	0	0	36	28	0
Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookie With Icing	139	6.7	4.1	18.7	12.8	1.9
Valentine's Day Cupcake (Vanilla With Buttercream Frosting)	202	9	5.4	28	16.8	2.9

	One cup Whole Milk	One cup Reduced Fat (2%) Milk	One cup Low-Fat (1%) Milk	One cup Nonfat (Skim) Milk
Calories	150	130	110	90
Total Fat (g)	8	5	2.5	0
Carbs (g)	12	12	12	12
Fiber (g)	0	0	0	0
Sugar (g)	11	11	12	12
Protein (g)	8	8	8	8