FitSugar

Breakfast Ideas Under 30 Grams of Sugar

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:29:39 PDT

I don't know how people do it, munching on sugary doughnuts, chocolate-filled croissants, or crumb-covered muffins. If I started off my day with that much sugar, then I'd feel sluggish and cranky all morning. I fuel myself in the a.m. with low-sugar foods that are full of fiber and protein. If you need some low-sugar breakfast ideas, then these meals all contain fewer than 30 grams of sugar. They're sure to fill you up, satisfy your taste buds, and keep you going strong until lunch.

Source: Flickr User anasararojas and Flickr User ccharmon

Easy Ways to Get More From Your Food Budget

LearnVest — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:15:48 PDT

Go the extra mile with your food budget with these tips from LearnVest.

For years, many people - my husband, mom, sister and even my son - told me to stop wasting so much food.

Throwing away half a piece of chicken here or a handful of grapes there never seemed like such a big deal to me. If I was full or no longer in the mood for that particular food, then I had no problem tossing it.

That is, until I experienced a bad case of sticker shock during a recent trip to the supermarket. The cost of bread, eggs, fish - basically everything I was purchasing - had increased. And, according to the USDA, we can expect prices to rise even higher this year.

As I forked over my money and left with only a handful of bags, I realized just how important it is for me to pay more attention to what I spend on food . . . and to confront how much of it I shove down the garbage disposal.

Unfortunately, I'm not the only one with wasteful ways. In 2010, 33 million tons of food was thrown away, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Obviously, wasted food means wasted money, but figuring out how to make your grocery budget go further can be a challenge.

To keep more food in your fridge (and more money in your pocket), try these expert tips.

1. Ward Against Freezer Burn

Those large bags or packages of frozen veggies or meat come in handy when you have a large family, but "each time you open a bag of frozen food, air gets in and will cause freezer burn within two to three weeks," says consumer saving expert Andrea Woroch. Freezer burn will dry out the meat and make it less tasty. Woroch suggests going small.

Read on for more.

What's in Your Grocery Cart? Test Your Nutrition Label Know-How

Lisa Horten — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:01:04 PDT

Anyone who's ever tried to decode a nutritional label at the grocery store is well aware that it can be an incredibly confusing task. And for those of us who think we've got it down pat . . . it turns out that the language used on those tricky lil labels is riddled with misleading terminology that may have you feeding your tot less healthy food than you think. Test your nutritional know-how, and find out how well you know what's in your family's kitchen.

Source: Flickr User dougww

Take the Quiz

How Much Fiber Is in That: Fruit

FitSugar — Sat, 05 May 2012 19:30:05 PDT

Fiber, fiber, fiber. We all know we should be getting enough. It's recommended that women eat 25 to 30 grams of fiber each day to decrease the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, as well as some types of cancer including breast cancer.

Eating plenty of fresh, luscious fruits in your diet is a great way to fill up on fiber, but which sources are the best? Keep reading to see a chart comparing the fiber content of your favorite fruits.

7 Drool-Worthy Food Apps to Download Now

GeekSugar — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:00:42 PDT

Food. It keeps us living, but when it's really good, it's a reason to live. When you find those tasty morsels that you just have to talk about, you could tweet it or post it on Facebook, but is there any better way to share in your foodie excitement than to take a photo? I think not. Here, seven foodie photo apps that are hot and ready to be served up on your smartphone.

Source: Instagram User kristykorcz

Mural Meals: Be Inspired by Beautiful Bento Boxes

Angelica Marden — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:38:57 PDT

Get ready to step up your sandwich skills with bento box lunches. These picturesque meal settings are a snazzy way to dress up leftovers, effective (and plastic bag free) way to pack lunch, and a smart way to encourage your children to eat healthier meals by making nutritious foods look more appealing (Jessica Seinfeld would be so proud). If you are as busy as most moms, you probably don't have time to bento everyday, but invest in $4 worth of bento tools and you'll be ready to add a small mural meal touch to your child's lunch on special days. Browse through these decadent boxes for inspiration.

Sweet Treats With a Hidden Source of Protein . . . Beans

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:05:31 PDT

Poor beans. Many people pass them up because they're not a fan of the squishy texture or their gaseous repercussions. But these inexpensive magical legumes are so healthy for you, between their fiber, protein, and iron content, everyone should include them in their diet. If you're having trouble stomaching a bowl of beans, you can still reap the healthy benefits without your taste buds even realizing it. Appeal to your sweet tooth and try out these dessert recipes, all made with the goodness of protein- and fiber-loaded beans.

Smarter Eats: Mix Veggies You Hate With Ones You Love

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:02:48 PDT

Even the most healthy of eaters can't love every single veggie. You could cover the broccoli you despise with melted cheese to make those florets more palatable, but of course that's not a superhealthy option. Here's a healthy trick to help those unfavorite veggies go down: mix them with veggies you love.

If it's mashed potatoes you crave, add chopped kale to your bowl, or grill peppers or zucchini with your beloved onions. If you're a huge pasta fan, toss mushrooms into the tomato sauce, or mix steamed carrots with cubes of sweet potato. When you eat veggies you don't care for with ones you can't live without, you can just focus on the flavors you love while still reaping the nutritional benefits from those unwanted veggies.

Source: Flickr User VirtualErn

Which Fruits Are Toxic to Dogs and Cats?

PetSugar — Wed, 02 May 2012 04:00:00 PDT

So many delicious fruits come into season during Spring and Summer, but if you're considering a tasty fruit salad for yourself, I hope you remember that some sweet treats are poison to pups! Before you serve up something unsettling, test your knowledge on different fruits and their toxicity to pets!

Source: Thinkstock

Question 1 of 12

Grapefruit?

Easy Ways to Get 5 Grams of Fiber

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:22:12 PDT

Are you getting enough fiber each day? The recommended daily quota of fiber for women is 25 to 30 grams, not only to keep the body regular, but also to help lower cholesterol and to prevent heart disease and certain cancers. If you're having a hard time eating enough fiber - or you have no idea how much you're getting - include one of these fiber-filled foods in your diet for an extra five grams each day.

One cup fresh raspberries: 8 grams
Half of an avocado: 6.7 grams
One Ginger Snap Larabar: 6 grams
One large sweet potato: 5.9 grams
Nine broccoli florets: 5.5 grams
Medium apple with the skin (4.4 grams) with one tablespoon all-natural peanut butter (1 gram): 5.4 grams
Medium pear with the skin: 5.1 grams
One cup of Barbara's Bakery Shredded Oats: 5 grams
15 almonds (2.1 grams) with two medium figs (2.9 grams): 5 grams
Two tablespoons of flaxseeds sprinkled on your cereal or salad: 5 grams
1/4 cup dried blueberries: 5 grams