FitSugar

Healthy Recipe: Apple-Walnut Bread Pudding

FitSugar — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:00:00 PST

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

4 Lazy Moves That Boost Your Health

Prevention — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:05:16 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

You don’t have to go on a deprivation diet or spend hours exercising to ward off disease and be your healthiest self! Instead, try these supersimple tips
By the editors of Prevention

Staying healthy can feel like so much, well, work (think: logging hours at the gym and whipping up nutritious meals from scratch). However, there are plenty of small moves that you can make in your everyday life that will have big health benefits. We’ve rounded up 15 practically zero-effort ways to fight disease, whittle your waist, lower stress, and more. Bonus: many of these good-for-you moves feel good, too. So say sayonara to the old adage “no pain, no gain” and try these tips today.

Lazy Move No. 1: Protect Your Ticker by Snoozing
Need a good excuse to grab your comfiest set of pajamas and hit the sack? Skimping on shut-eye may do more than make you cranky or unproductive - it also boosts your risk of a heart attack. According to one Norwegian study, people who reported that they did not wake up feeling refreshed in the morning had a 27 percent higher risk of a heart attack, those who had trouble staying asleep almost every night in the last month had a 30 percent higher risk, and those who had trouble falling asleep almost every night in the last month had odds that jumped to 45 percent.

Twenty Ways to Sleep Better Every Night

Some researchers speculate that insomnia might trigger your body to release more of the stress hormone cortisol. High levels of cortisol have been linked with high blood pressure and diabetes, which are both risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Plus when you’re exhausted, you may be more likely to make unhealthy choices that up your heart disease risk, such as skipping your workout or reaching for fatty or sugary snacks for a quick energy fix.

Keep reading for three more lazy ways to improve your health.

Sugar Shout Out: Books to Get You Into the Holiday Spirit

Lauren Turner — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:55:53 PST

Sugar Shout Out: Recap the Best Books of 2011!

Katie Henry — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 23:55:27 PST

100-Calorie Sweet Treats to Satisfy PMS Cravings

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:51:25 PST

If decadent desserts are what you crave that time of the month, here are some sweet, low-calorie, healthy options you can feel good about indulging in.

One small apple (77 calories) drizzled with half a tablespoon of honey (32 calories): 109 calories
Six dried apricots: 100 calories
Yogurt and fruit: Half a container of vanilla Greek yogurt (60 calories) and half a cup of frozen organic blueberries (35 calories): 95 calories
One and a half Newman's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups: 90 calories
30 frozen grapes: 101 calories
One four-ounce cup of Santa Cruz Organic Applesauce (50 calories) topped with eight chopped peanuts (47 calories): 97 calories
One Julie's Organic Sorbet Bar: 60 calories
One So Delicious Mini Chocolate Sandwich: 90 calories
Two clementines (70 calories) and two pieces of Green & Black's Organic Dark Chocolate with Cherries (36 calories): 106 calories
Half a Cherry Pie Larabar: 80 calories

Source: Flickr User slgckgc

Celebrate World Vegan Day With These Tips

Leta Shy — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:39:54 PDT

Happy World Vegan Day! Just in time for candy-fueled post-Halloween remorse comes a day dedicated to celebrating the plant-based diet. Whether these top 10 signs you're a vegan describe you to a T or you're a vegan newbie, we've got a few resources for you. World Vegan Day marks the start of World Vegan Month in November; celebrate by checking out our vegan page for even more tips, recipes, and observations!

So You Wanna Be a Vegan
Ready to become an in-the-know vegan? Here are some tips on where to start:

Educate yourself and hone your vegetable cooking skills with these five cookbooks about veganism.
Don't do it for the weight loss - just because you're not eating meat or dairy doesn't mean you'll drop the pounds. Read on for why going vegan is a lifestyle change and may not help you lose weight.
Don't be caught with an empty pantry. Stock your fridge with fresh veggies and ready-made vegan products so you're not tempted to break your diet. Read more about essential foods you need to stock before going vegan.

Read more tips about veganism after the break.

A Reader Recipe: Chia Cranberry Apple Crisp

Fit Community — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:33:35 PDT

FitSugar reader For the Love of Fiber has a healthy recipe to satisfy sweet cravings. She shares it with us in our Healthy Recipe group in the Fit Community.

This dessert is really not all that guilt-inducing. Honest. It's loaded with fiber, thanks to just about every ingredient, and omega-3s, the essential fatty acids responsible for improving heart, brain, joint, skin, mental, bowel, and almost every other kind of health one could possibly imagine. And it tastes good. Total win-win.

Read on for the recipe!

Speak Up: Your Healthy Dessert Alternatives

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:32:01 PDT

It's been in the 80s all week, so after dinner last night, Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream was calling my name from the freezer. I'm all about indulging every once in a while, but I was worried my sweet tooth might cost me the entire pint! So I posted this on Facebook:

Fellow Facebookers posted some great suggestions like green apples with almond butter, frozen raspberries, and fruit salad with some fresh lemon juice sprinkled on top. Delish. I love fruit in the Summer!

I'm sure we could all use some new healthy dessert ideas so tell us what quenches your dessert cravings below.

6 Weekend Weight-Loss Tips to Slim Down

Shape — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 03:44:06 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

After a week of spartan lunches, rigorous workouts, and sleep-depriving presentations, it's easy to feel you've earned a happy hour margarita and a plate of cheesy nachos. But topping off a tough week in this way can undo all your hard work and even pack on the pounds. According to a study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, women consume about 115 more calories on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday than they do on weekdays. "Those extra 300 to 400 calories can leave you nine pounds heavier by the year's end," says Barry Popkin, Ph.D., the study's lead author. Fortunately, when armed with the right advice, it's possible to avoid the most common dietary traps while savoring that delicious downtime. And you may even wake up on Monday a little slimmer. Not a bad way to start the week!

FRIDAY

Overdoing It at Happy Hour
Alcohol isn't only high in calories, it also diminishes resolve - making it harder to keep your hands out of the pretzel bowl.

Keep reading to see the solution to this and many more weekend dilemmas!

5 Reasons Your Job Is Making You Fat

FitSugar — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 04:05:00 PDT

Considering that many of us spend 40 hours (or more) at a desk each week, it's no wonder that work is a major strike against a healthy lifestyle. It's bad enough that we're sitting all day, but there are other work-related factors that contribute to an expanding waistline. Curious? Keep reading to find out why your job may be your diet's worst enemy.

You Sit at Your Desk All Day - Going to the bathroom and grabbing lunch just doesn't cut it! Remember to get up from your desk often - this will help release your muscles while also giving your seated posture and eyes a break. Use this time to either walk around the office or stretch. Some other ideas to keep you moving: walk to a colleague's desk instead of sending an email; ask to have a "walking meeting" outside instead of in a conference room; and take the stairs over the elevator. We're also fond of quick workouts that you can do during your lunch break like going for a run, power walk, or 30-minute gym session.
Happy Hour (or TV Time) Is Your Go-To Post-Work Activity - After a long day at work, the call of happy hour or a Project Runway marathon may seem like all you can muster. Instead of going from sitting all day at your desk to sitting on a bar stool or your couch, make time for something active. Keep a gym bag stashed under your desk as a visual reminder to hit the elliptical after work, or make a date with a friend to go to a yoga class. And because everyone deserves the occasional happy hour, schedule it for after your workout and choose these diet-friendly cocktails.

See more reasons why your job is making you fat after the break!