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Healthy Recipe: Apple-Walnut Bread Pudding

FitSugar — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:00:00 -0800

When the weather turns cold, I love to bake. I don't necessarily think of dessert when I think of Runner's World, but this recipe I found in the running mag piqued my interest and I had to try it. I did substitute agave nectar for the sugar in the pudding, but I couldn't imagine a streusel topping without brown sugar. I also left out the optional booze and raisins (in my opinion raisins belong in trail mix, not baked goods).

My entire family liked this dessert, but I will tell you, it tasted healthy. It is not an indulgent dessert, but I ate a huge satisfying piece and still felt great afterward. Since the amount of sugar is low and the fiber is high, it is truly a remorseless dessert. I will be making it again, but not for a fancy dinner party.

To see the recipe, just read more.

Apple-Walnut Bread Pudding
Modified From Runner's World

Ingredients

4 cups whole-wheat bread, cut in 1/2 inch cubes
4 tablespoons agave nectar
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
2 Granny Smith apples, thinly sliced
1 cup Egg Beaters (or 1 egg and 3 egg whites)
1 can evaporated skim milk
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup bourbon or brandy (optional)
2 1/2 tablespoon light margarine, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
plain nonfat yogurt for topping

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a 2-quart Pyrex casserole dish with nonstick spray and spread half of the bread cubes over the bottom.
Mix 3 tablespoons agave nectar with cinnamon and nutmeg. Sprinkle two teaspoons of agave-spice mixture over bread in dish. Alternate layers of apple slices and raisins (if you're using them) with sprinklings of agave-spice mixture until all are used up. Arrange remaining bread cubes over apples.
Combine Egg Beaters, milk, water, remaining tablespoon agave nectar, and vanilla as well as bourbon (if you're using booze). Mix well, then pour over bread, moistening all the bread on top.
Cover dish with lid and cook in oven for 5 minutes. Then lower heat to 250 degrees and bake for 1 hour and 45 minutes.
While pudding is baking, mix margarine, brown sugar and walnuts.
At end of baking time, remove pudding from oven and set oven to 400 degrees. Sprinkle walnut and sugar mixture evenly over top of pudding and return it to the middle rack of the oven for 5 minutes or until sugar/walnut glaze is browned and crusted - be careful not to burn it!
Serve with a dollop of yogurt and enjoy.

Serves 6 with generous portions.

Print recipe with images | without images

Do you have a healthy snack or recipe to share? Then share it in the Lite'n It Up - Healthy Recipe Group and I might just post it on FitSugar.

Lessons From the White House Chef

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:00:07 -0800

Part of Michelle Obama's master plan to reform eating habits in this country includes the directive of a young chef named Sam Kass. Kass has been the Obamas' personal chef for several years now, and when the Obamas packed up and moved to the White House, he did too.

Kass, 29, plays more than cook at his current post: he is the first White House chef to have an actual desk in the East Wing and works alongside the rest of Ms. Obama's policy team with the title of "food initiative coordinator," meaning he's given the daunting task of getting the entire country to eat better.

To hear how Kass is trying to making the country healthier, read more.

How does one man do that in a country where the golden arches rule? In the latest editions of People and the Chicago Sun Times, Kass shares that moving past the obstacles won't be easy but "it's an unbelievable opportunity" that he couldn't turn his back on. In the last year, the chef has gotten closer to his goal by helping plant a garden on the White House lawn and educating children about the benefits of healthy eating. He's also discussing legislation with the Agriculture Department that would reform school lunch on a national level.

When it comes to feeding the first family, Kass and White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford serve up classic fare like burgers and tacos, but make healthy food swaps and use lean beef and low-sugar ketchup instead. As for dessert, it's a special treat served only on the weekends, and that order comes directly from Michelle herself.

Inspired by the Slow Food movement, Kass looks to the White House garden to inspire his menu, pushing forth the idea of eating local and by season. Right now, he's got his eyes on a bevy of sweet potato dishes and fresh salads, which should come in handy for the Obamas' first state dinner later this month.

Your Healthy Food Swaps

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:27 -0800

Since decadent foods like ice cream, baked treats, and fried foods tend to be high in the calorie department, it's good to have a few healthy food swap ideas up your sleeve. Here are some shared by fellow FitSugar readers.

"Avocado instead of mayo . . . sure it may have fat in it but it's healthy fat and tastes delicious. Hummus instead of cream in sauces and soups . . . adds a ton of flavor and protein." - mamasitamalita
"I use balsamic vinegar (not vinaigrette) on my salads without any oil. It gives the same powerful flavor kick but for a lot less calories." - laellavita
"Replace ranch dressing on my salad with cottage cheese." - genipher85

For more great ideas, keep reading

Healthy Eating Tip: Eat Calcium For Dessert

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Even when our willpower is at its peak performance, sweet treats after meals can be the hardest thing to give up. I don't know about you, but after a savory meal, I often crave just a tiny bite of dessert. If you're the same way, I have a tasty tip ensures that you get your RDI of calcium while satisfying your sweet tooth.

After dinner, eat a calcium chew, like the ones made by Viactiv. They taste just like candy - well, I guess they sort of are candy - but each piece has just 20 calories. They come in flavors such as chocolate, mint chocolate, and raspberry; my favorite is caramel, though I actually buy the Walgreens brand. One chew delivers 500 mg of calcium, which is half your RDI.

My only complaint is that they're made with corn syrup. But when the alternative is eating a sugary, high-fat candy bar or cookie, this calcium-rich treat is worth trying.

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10 Eating Tips For Avoiding the Freshman 15

FitSugar — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 05:50:12 -0700

The dorm dining hall can be dangerous - like a giant, all-you-can-eat buffet available all day, every day. It's no wonder most of us gain some weight when going off to college, though the infamous "freshman 15" is really more like 10 pounds.

Whether you're eating in a dining hall or cooking for yourself in your first apartment, a few simple strategies can help you avoid that first-year college weight gain. Here are my tips for eating healthy at the university level.

Don't skip meals, especially breakfast. Starting with a filling breakfast helps steady your metabolism throughout the day. Here are five ideas for quick but healthy starts.
Drink lots of water. At the dining hall, during lectures, throughout cram sessions, whenever! Skip the soda and carry a water bottle that you can refill throughout the day to prevent constipation and bloating.
Include at least three food groups in every meal. When choosing from the endless dining hall bounty, make an effort to get plenty of fresh fruits and veggies, lean protein, and calcium - not just pizza and chicken fingers.

For the rest of my top 10 healthy eating tips, read more.

Control your portions. Just because you can fill your plate every time doesn't mean you should. Familiarize yourself with what proper portions look like and stick to them.
Treat yourself once a day. From sundae bars to fresh baked cookies, desserts abound at the dining hall. Go ahead and indulge, but limit yourself to one treat a day. If you have a cookie after lunch, skip the ice cream after dinner.
Avoid a fourth meal. In my dorm-room days, there were always late-night pizzas being delivered or roommates making mac and cheese at midnight. It's OK to fortify yourself with the occasional snack while studying, but make sure it's actually a snack, not the equivalent of a second dinner or dessert.
Stock healthy snacks. For those late-night study sessions when you do get hungry, keep your dorm room full of healthy snacks, like nuts, pretzels, fruit, popcorn, and nutrition bars.
Pick your liquor carefully. Freshman aren't supposed to drink! But chances are, you will anyway. Remember: alcoholic beverages are full of empty calories, and sugary cocktails are the worst for both calories and hangovers.
Shop smart. If you live in an apartment, learn to shop for one person by choosing healthy foods that won't go bad before you can finish them: frozen vegetables and fruit, yogurt, low-fat string cheese, and healthy frozen meals are all great options.
Exercise! OK, this isn't really a healthy eating tip, but it's an essential part of keeping the pounds off in college. Walk or bike to class, frequent the school gym, or join an intramural team and get moving!

What are your tips for incoming freshmen looking to avoid the traditional weight gain?

Healthy Side Dishes and Desserts

FitSugar — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:30:46 -0700

Barbecues are a great way to chill out with your friends, but they can be a disaster for your waistline. Be proactive and bring side dishes and desserts you know are healthy and diet-friendly. This way you can spread the health while ensuring you have something to eat. Here are some ideas.

View Slideshow ›

How to Stay Healthy on Your Honeymoon

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Even for the most fitness-minded among us, honeymooning and exercising aren't necessarily a match made in heaven. It's hard to get motivated to exercise on vacation, especially after your wedding. But just because you're ditching your gym routine doesn't mean you can't balance your relaxation and indulgence with some sensible habits. Here are some tips for staying healthy even when you're over the moon.

Schedule active activities. Probably the most obvious tip, but not to be forgotten. When planning your itinerary, consider tourism that will get you moving, whether it's a scenic hike or a bike tour. Staying beach-bound? Bring along some props, such as a Frisbee or paddleball set, which will engage you and your new mate.
Explore on foot. If you're vacationing in a city, forgo taxis and transit for walking. As long as you make sure to stick to safe areas, walking is a calorie-burning way to feel good about your vacation indulgences, and it's a great way to see a city too.

To see five more ideas, read more.

Choose indulgences carefully. Just because it's your honeymoon doesn't mean you should throw all caution to the wind. Think about what you most want to indulge in, and allow yourself one or two a day rather than pigging out every meal. Try to keep things in balance: if you have an extra piña colada at lunch, skip dessert at dinner.
Walk it off. Even if you're not seeing a city on foot, consider taking a 45-minute walk after particularly indulgent meals. Research suggests that walking right after a high-fat meal can help reverse potential damage to your arteries.
Explore the local bounty. Whether you're staying on a tropical island or in a European city, do some shopping at the neighborhood food markets. Picking up local produce, seafood, and other fresh foods will help you snack sensibly while experiencing local flavor.
Share your suppers. It's tempting to eat everything on your plate while on vacation, since you can't take the leftovers home. So split an entrée with your newlywed to save both money and calories.
Dine al fresco. If you're vacationing in a hot climate, eating outside may help you eat less. As opposed to being in AC, dining al fresco can make you crave more liquids and less food.

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Host a Name Game Healthy Potluck

FitSugar — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Eating healthy has become my full-time job, and I'm not going to lie to you - I'm lacking in the creativity department. I mean, how many times a week can I make pasta primavera, tacos, and grilled chicken? If you're desperate for some healthy new meal ideas, why not tap into your friend's brains?

Invite your buddies over for a Name Game Healthy Potluck dinner. Everyone has to bring a healthy food or dish that begins with the first letter of their names. So Susi could bring grilled summer squash and salmon, Brian would bring tomato and basil bruschetta, and Jenny would bring juice smoothies for dessert. Make sure they know each dish needs to be made from scratch with real ingredients. It should be low fat, low in cholesterol, low in sodium, or low in sugar. Have people make copies of their healthy recipes, and not only will you leave with a tummy full of nutritious food, but you'll also have a stack of new ideas to add to you repertoire.

Weight problems and children

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:50:23 -0700

Illustrations

Childhood obesity

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Alternative Names

Children and weight problems

Information

In the U.S., at least one out of five kids is overweight. The number of overweight children continues to grow. Over the last two decades, this number has increased by more than 50% and the number of "extremely" overweight children has nearly doubled.

A doctor determines if children are overweight by measuring their height and weight. Although children have fewer weight-related health problems than adults, overweight children are at high risk of becoming overweight adolescents and adults. Overweight adults are at risk for a number of health problems including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure stroke, and some forms of cancer.

Did You Know That...

Obese children and adolescents have shown an alarming increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes.
Many obese children have high cholesterol and blood pressure levels, which are risk factors for heart disease.
One of the most severe problems for obese children is sleep apnea (interrupted breathing while sleeping). In some cases this can lead to problems with learning and memory.
Obese children have a high incidence of orthopedic problems, liver disease, and asthma.
Overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults.

Children become overweight for a variety of reasons. The most common causes are genetic factors, lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns, or a combination of these factors. In rare cases, a medical problem, such as an endocrine disorder, may cause a child to become overweight. Your doctor can perform a careful physical exam and some blood tests, if necessary, to rule out this type of problem.

Genetic Factors: Children whose parents or brothers or sisters are overweight may be at an increased risk of becoming overweight themselves. Although weight problems run in families, not all children with a family history of obesity will be overweight. Genetic factors play a role in increasing the likelihood that a child will be overweight, but shared family behaviors such as eating and activity habits also influence body weight.
Lifestyle: A child's total diet and his or her activity level both play an important role in determining a child's weight. The increasing popularity of television and computer and video games contributes to children's inactive lifestyles. The average American child spends approximately 24 hours each week watching television-time that could be spent in some sort of physical activity.

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR

If you think that your child is overweight, it is important to talk with your child's doctor. A doctor is the best person to determine whether your child has a weight problem. doctors will measure your child's weight and height to determine if your child's weight is within a healthy range. A doctor will also consider your child's age and growth patterns to determine whether your child is overweight. Assessing overweight in children is difficult because children grow in unpredictable spurts. Based on your child's height and weight, they will calculate a body mass index (BMI). If your child's BMI is greater than 95% of children their age and gender, they are considered to be overweight

For example, it is normal for boys to have a growth spurt in weight and catch up in height later. It is best to let your child's doctor determine whether your child will "grow into" a normal weight. If your doctor finds that your child is overweight, he or she may ask you to make some changes in your family's eating and activity habits.

BE SUPPORTIVE

One of the most important things you can do to help overweight children is to let them know that they are okay whatever their weight. Children's feelings about themselves often are based on their parents' feelings about them. If you accept your children at any weight, they will be more likely to accept and feel good about themselves. It is also important to talk to your children about weight, allowing them to share their concerns with you. Your child probably knows better than anyone else that he or she has a weight problem. For this reason, overweight children need support, acceptance, and encouragement from their parents.

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

Parents should try not to set children apart because of their weight, but focus on gradually changing their family's physical activity and eating habits. Family involvement helps to teach everyone healthful habits and does not single out the overweight child.

INCREASE YOUR FAMILY'S PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Regular physical activity, combined with healthy eating habits, is the most efficient and healthful way to control your weight. It is also an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Some simple ways to increase your family's physical activity include the following:

Be a role model for your children. If your children see that you are physically active and have fun, they are more likely to be active and stay active for the rest of their lives.
Plan family activities that provide everyone with exercise and enjoyment, like walking, dancing, biking, or swimming. For example, schedule a walk with your family after dinner instead of watching TV. Make sure that you plan activities that can be done in a safe environment.
Be sensitive to your child's needs. Overweight children may feel uncomfortable about participating in certain activities. It is important to help your child find physical activities that they enjoy and that aren't embarrassing or too difficult.
Reduce the amount of time you and your family spend in sedentary activities, such as watching TV or playing video games.
Become more active throughout your day and encourage your family to do so as well. For example, walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator, or do some activity during a work or school break-get up and stretch or walk around.

The point is not to make physical activity an unwelcome chore, but to make the most of the opportunities you and your family have to be active.

TEACH YOUR FAMILY HEALTHY EATING HABITS

Teaching healthy eating practices early will help children approach eating with the right attitude-that food should be enjoyed and is necessary for growth, development, and for energy to keep the body running. The best way to begin is to learn more about children's nutritional needs by reading or talking with a health professional and then to offer them some healthy options, allowing your children to choose what and how much they eat.

DON'T PLACE YOUR CHILD ON A RESTRICTIVE DIET

Children should never be placed on a restrictive diet to lose weight, unless a doctor supervises one for medical reasons. Limiting what children eat may be harmful to their health and interfere with their growth and development.

To promote proper growth and development and prevent overweight, parents should offer the whole family a wide variety of foods from each of the food groups.

Most of the foods in your diet should come from the grain products group (6-11 servings), the vegetable group (3-5 servings), and the fruit group (2-4 servings). (See chart for suggested serving sizes.)
Your diet should include moderate amounts of foods from the milk group (2-3 servings) and the meat and beans group (2-3 servings).
Foods that provide few nutrients and are high in fat and sugars should be used sparingly. Fat should not be restricted in the diets of children younger than 2 years of age.

EXAMPLES OF ONE SERVING

Bread, cereal, rice, pasta

1 slice of bread
1 ounce of ready to eat cereal
1/2 cup of cooked cereal, rice, or pasta

Milk, yogurt, cheese

1 cup of milk or yogurt
1 1/2 ounces of natural cheese
2 ounces of processed cheese

Vegetables

1 cup of raw vegetables or 1/2 cup of frozen leafy leafy vegetables (cooked)
1/2 cup of other vegetables - cooked or chopped raw
3/4 cup of vegetable juice

Meat, poulty, fish, beans, nuts

2-3 ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish
1/2 cup of cooked dry beans or 1 egg counts as 1 ounce of lean meat
2 tablespoons of peanut butter or 1/3 cup of nuts count as 1 ounce of meat

Fruits

1 medium apple, banana, or orange
1/2 cup of chopped, cooked, or canned fruit
3/4 cup of fruit juice

Serving sizes are for children and adults ages 2 years and older. A range of servings is given for each food group. The smaller number is for children who consume about 1,300 calories a day, such as 2-4 years of age. The larger number is for those who consume about 3,000 calories a day, such as boys 15-18 years of age.

CUT DOWN ON FAT

Reducing fat is a good way to cut calories without depriving your child of nutrients. Simple ways to cut the fat in your family's diet include eating lowfat or nonfat dairy products, poultry without skin and lean meats, and lowfat or fat-free breads and cereals.

Making small changes to the amount of fat in your family's diet is a good way to prevent excess weight gain in children: however, major efforts to change your child's diet should be supervised by a health professional.

In addition, fat should not be restricted in the diets of children younger than 2 years of age. After that age, children should gradually adopt a diet that contains no more than 30 percent of calories from fat by the time the child is about 5 years old.

DON'T OVERLY RESTRICT SWEETS OR TREATS

While it is important to be aware of the fat, salt, and sugar content of the foods you serve, all foods -- even those that are high in fat or sugar -- have a place in the diet (in moderation, of course). However, children should be taught to limit high-calorie soft drinks and foods such as candy and deserts, and salty snacks such as potato chips and french fries.

GUIDE CHOICES RATHER THAN DICTATE FOODS

Make a wide variety of healthful foods available in the house. This practice will help your children learn how to make healthy food choices.

ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO EAT SLOWLY

A child can detect hunger and fullness better when eating slowly.

EAT MEALS TOGETHER AS A FAMILY

Try to make mealtimes pleasant with conversation and sharing, not a time for scolding or arguing. If mealtimes are unpleasant, children may try to eat faster to leave the table as soon as possible. They then may learn to associate eating with stress.

INVOLVE CHILDREN IN FOOD SHOPPING AND PREPARING

These activities offer parents hints about children's food preferences, teach children about nutrition, and provide children with a feeling of accomplishment. In addition, children may be more willing to eat or try foods that they help prepare.

PLAN FOR SNACKS

Continuous snacking may lead to overeating, but snacks that are planned at specific times during the day can be part of a nutritious diet, without spoiling a child's appetite at mealtimes. You should make snacks as nutritious as possible, without depriving your child of occasional chips or cookies, especially at parties or other social events. Below are some ideas for healthy snacks.

EXAMPLES OF HEALTHY SNACKS

Fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables and fruit served either plain or with lowfat or fat-free cheese or yogurt
Dried fruit, served with nuts or sunflower or pumpkin seeds
Breads and crackers made with enriched flour and whole grains, served with fruit spread or fat-free cheese
Frozen desserts, such as nonfat or lowfat ice cream, frozen yogurt, fruit sorbet, popsicles, water ice, and fruit juice bars

Warning: Children of preschool age can easily choke on foods that are hard to chew, small and round, or sticky, such as hard vegetables, whole grapes, hard chunks of cheese, rasins, nuts, and seeds, and popcorn. It's important to carefully select snacks for children in this age group.

DISCOURAGE EATING WHILE WATCHING TV

Try to eat only in designated areas of your home, such as the dining room or kitchen. Eating in front of the TV may make it difficult to pay attention to feelings of fullness, and may lead to overeating.

DON'T USE FOOD TO PUNISH OR REWARD

Withholding food as a punishment may lead children to worry that they will not get enough food. For example, sending children to bed without any dinner may cause them to worry that they will go hungry. As a result, children may try to eat whenever they get a chance. Similarly, when foods, such as sweets, are used as a reward, children may assume that these foods are better or more valuable than other foods. For example, telling children that they will get dessert if they eat all of their vegetables sends the wrong message about vegetables.

MONITOR MEALS OUTSIDE THE HOME

Find out more about your school lunch program, or pack your child's lunch to include a variety of foods. Also, select healthier items when dining at restaurants.

SET A GOOD EXAMPLE

Children are good learners, and they learn best by example. Setting a good example for your kids by eating a variety of foods and being physically active will teach your children healthy lifestyle habits that they can follow for the rest of their lives.

ADDITIONAL HELP

If you need to make changes to your family's eating and exercise habits, but are finding it difficult, a registered dietitian (RD) may be able to help. Your doctor may be able to refer you to an RD, or you can call the National Center for Nutrition and Dietetics of The American Dietetic Association at 800-366-1655 and ask for the name of an RD in your area.

If your efforts at home are unsuccessful in helping your child reach a healthy weight and your doctor determines that your child's health is at risk unless he or she loses weight steadily, you may want to consider a formal treatment program. To locate a weight-control program for your child, you may want to contact a local university-based medical center.

Look for the following characteristics when choosing a weight-control program for your child. The program should:

Be staffed with a variety of health professionals. The best programs may include RDs, exercise physiologists, pediatricians or family doctors, and psychiatrists or psychologists.
Perform a medical evaluation of the child. Before being enrolled in a program, your child's weight, growth, and health should be reviewed by a doctor. During enrollment, your child's weight, growth, and health should be monitored by a health professional at regular intervals.
Focus on the whole family, not just the overweight child.
Be adapted to the specific age and capabilities of the child. Programs for 4-year-olds are different from those developed for children 8 or 12 years of age in terms of degree of responsibility of the child and parents.
Focus on behavioral changes.
Teach the child how to select a variety of foods in appropriate portions.
Encourage daily activity and limit sedentary activity, such as watching TV.
Include a maintenance program and other support and referral resources to reinforce the new behaviors and to deal with underlying issues that contributed to overweight.

The overall goal of a successful treatment program should be to help the whole family focus on making healthy changes to their eating and activity habits that they will be able to maintain throughout life.

Created by the National Institute of Health. NIH Publication No. 97-4096 and NIH Word on Health, June 2002

Review Date: 10/23/2007

Reviewed By: Daniel Rauch, M.D., FAAP., Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

A.D.A.M. Copyright

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2009 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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Healthy Habit: Indulge Your Sweet Tooth Daily

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:30:00 -0800

For many of us, the new year marked our recommitment to healthy eating. Nutritionist Alexa Fishback, author of The Daily Fix, feels indulging in a "sweet nothing" daily is a healthy habit. If that sounds like an adoptable habit to you, stay tuned for upcoming nutrition tips from Alexa and be sure to enter our Get Fit For 2009 giveaway for a chance to win a personalized nutrition plan created by Alexa, along with many other amazing goodies.

Here's what Alexa has to say about satisfying your sweet tooth:
"Sweet nothings" are your everyday zero to 150 calorie dessert "do." I have found that women who allow themselves a sweet indulgence every day do not have the cravings that lead to binge eating and don't feel deprived.

For some ideas of sweet snacks that are OK to enjoy every day, on top of your three meals and two snacks read more:

A skim cappuccino sprinkled with cinnamon and a small biscotti
Hot chocolate: try the 25-35 calorie packets mixed with hot water
One ounce dark chocolate or a mini-sized peppermint patty
Dressed up fruit: frozen grapes, a baked apple sprinkled with cinnamon, or a fresh peach diced into ½ cup of nonfat vanilla yogurt

Make sure to partake in the sweet life every day, and without sacrificing your figure or your health!

For more tips, check out all of Alexa’s Healthy Habits or pick up her book, The Daily Fix.

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