FitSugar

When You're Stuck With a Bag of Holiday Cookies

FitSugar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:00:00 -0800

Choosing what to keep as leftovers is one way to help you survive the holidays, but sometimes an insistent host won't let you get away without a bag of holiday treats. Even if you volunteer to take home an alternative item, like leftover hummus, some hosts just won't take no for an answer! So what do you do with a tempting bag of cookies? Here are a few ideas.

Bring them to the office. Chances are your co-workers will snatch them up before you have the chance to be tempted.
Stash them in the freezer, instead of leaving them on the counter or in a cabinet where they'll tempt you everyday. When you have a true craving for a seasonal treat, warm up your cookie and savor your good sense!
I'm not typically a proponent of re-gifting, but I'm also not big on wasting food. If your next holiday party will be here before the cookies become stale, put them in a festive tin and bring them to the party for others to enjoy. If there's not quite enough, make a small batch of your own to round out what you already have.

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Healthy Holiday Recipe: Hazelnut Cookies

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:00:00 -0800

I love hazelnuts in my salads, in my chocolate, and in cookies. Christmas is a cookie event for me, and these hazelnut cookies have been in my family for generations. Since they contain no flour, I make them for my gluten-free friends every year for holiday gifts.

These cookies also contain no butter; all the fat comes from the nuts. The fat in hazelnuts, a.k.a. filbert nuts, is not saturated fat like butter, and these little nuts are considered a heart-healthy food. In addition to being cholesterol-free, hazelnuts are high in vitamin E and are a decent source of protein and fiber.

To see the recipe and nutritional facts, just read more.

Hazelnut Christmas Cookies
My Grandmother

Ingredients

2 eggs, well beaten
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups finely ground hazelnuts

Directions

Beat eggs with hand mixer for one minute on high.
Add sugar salt and vanilla beat until thick and lemon colored, about three minutes.
Stir in ground nuts.
Cover bowl and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or overnight.
Place balls of dough 1 inch in diameter on greased cookie sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes at 325 degrees.
Cool on rack and store in airtight container at room temperature. Cookies should last for about a week.

Makes 36 cookies (one cookie = one serving)

Print recipe with images | without images

I love these cookies, and even though they contain some protein and fiber, they are still cookies. But they sure do pair well with coffee early in the morning.

Recipe Review: Flourless Chocolate-Walnut Cookies From Self

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 03:30:00 -0800

Christmas is synonymous with so many things, one of them being cookies. Can you imagine Christmas without cookies? Well, now you can imagine a cookie that is relatively guilt-free. I saw a cookie recipe while flipping through the December issue of Self that I had to try: Flourless Chocolate-Walnut Cookies. As you can see by the photo, they look tasty. So I whipped up a batch. To see how these cookies turned out and if mine look as presentable as the ones in the magazine, read more.

These cookies are great and tasted a lot like brownies. The walnuts, aside from providing some healthy omega-3 fatty acids, give the cookies a rich flavor. They may not be the most attractive cookies, but my dinner guests, both kids and parents alike, loved them too.

For only 55 calories a cookie, these cookies are a guilt-free pleasure, plus they're easy to make. I didn't even have to get out my electric hand mixer. Like most baking, the secret is to use really good chocolate. I used a mixture of Valrhona and Green and Black's. I think these would be a perfect dessert for any holiday party or cookie exchange.

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.

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Holiday Survival: Go in With a Plan

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 03:00:00 -0800

The holidays offer plenty of opportunities for indulgence, which can be both a blessing and a curse for some of us. There's no need to deprive yourself during the festivities, but there's a way to enjoy the great food without going totally overboard. Create a plan of attack before attending parties or big dinners so that you don't eat too much of everything in sight.

There are two ways to approach your plan. Either select certain foods that you know you want to eat, or take a few bites of a bigger selection of treats. For example, if you're a die-hard fan of your mom's special Christmas cookies, but there will be other sweets offered, consider simply sticking to your favorite cookie so that you don't waste calories on something you like less. Another idea would be to choose a maximum number of cookies you'll eat, and then select whatever has your mouth watering. Make the decision ahead of time and stick to your guns when you're in the situation.

If you truly love to taste all the delights of the season, I have a tip for you when you read more.

If you're someone who truly loves it all, portion control is especially your best friend. After you've taken small samples of everything you want (and you're still hungry), choose the one thing that you loved most and take more of that one thing. The key is going in with a plan that certainly won't deprive you of holiday goodies, but will prevent you from having to unbutton your pants!

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Holiday Survival: Throw a Salad Potluck

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:00:00 -0800

From now through the New Year, parties abound - from cocktail parties to cookie exchanges. I have attended many a holiday potluck as well. My favorite though was the salad potluck for the moms in my babysitting co-op. Along with a white elephant gift we were asked to bring three of our favorite salad toppings. The host provided a large bowl of mixed greens, three salad dressings, and loaves of warm bread. The moms brought a wide variety of toppings from blue cheese to seared tuna, from roasted nuts to roasted chicken breast. We all ate a healthy dinner before indulging in a few cookies and exchanging gag gifts. If you're planning a casual party with friends this holiday season, try it. It is just another way to spread the gift of health.

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Give Your Host a Healthy, Homemade Gift Basket

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 03:30:00 -0800

Hostess gifts are often an afterthought when preparing for a stay away from home, so why not do things differently this holiday season? Give a thank-you gift that will be appreciated and remembered by creating a healthy gift basket for your host. The fact that you did it yourself, rather than purchasing a prepared fruit basket, will stand out as an extra-thoughtful gesture. Consideration toward your hostess gifts doesn't have to take a whole lot of time, just a little forethought.

Your instinct might be to get a basket before you go shopping for the contents, but you don't want to buy a basket too big or small for the items you want to include. Start by making a list of things you want to include and buy your basket after you've collected everything. This is your opportunity to be creative and have fun with giving. To see some ideas for what to include in your healthy gift basket, read more.

Organic coffee beans
Homemade granola
Dark chocolate
Bag of snack-size rice cakes
Energy bars like Lara, Clif, or Luna bars
Homemade, guiltless cookies, like flourless chocolate-walnut cookies
Green tea
Seasonal fruit, like pomegranates
Almonds or mixed nuts
If your host has a Christmas tree, consider including an ornament
If your host celebrates Hanukkah, add a package of beautiful menorah candles

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Find the Food Equivalent of What You Drank

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 09:00:38 -0800

The first words out of a host's welcoming mouth are often, "What would you like to drink?" with the expectation that you'll be enjoying an alcoholic beverage upon arrival. Indulging in moderation is just fine, but when we're not pouring our own beverages, moderation is a greater challenge.

The only beverage that can be measured in exact calories is a bottle of beer, but when we're being served glasses of wine, champagne, or mixed drink concoctions, the number of calories in our cups becomes cloudy. For some clarity, check out BBC's cheeky Alcohol Experiment. While it's not entirely accurate because you can't specify types of beer or hard alcohol, the tool gives you a rough idea of the liquid calories you consumed - as well as the junk food equivalent. To find out what it does, read more.

For example, if you drank a double mixed with tonic and a beer, the website calculates the calorie intake (345 calories) and shows the food equivalent: two jaffa cakes (must be a British cookie) and a hot dog. Although I have doubts about its accuracy, the website serves as a reminder that most alcoholic beverages are empty liquid calories, which can affect our waistlines as much as calories we eat. It's something to keep in mind this season when our holiday party hosts ask if we'd like a refill.

Healthy Dose Link Time

FitSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:00:00 -0800

Cookies made with tofu, sesame seeds, and olive oil. Oh my! - Vitamin G
Chock full of goodness, you can eat your bananas in so many ways - That's Fit
How to take care of your belly until Christmas - Vital Juice Daily
See what a registered dietitian and new mom ate all weekend long - Eat Like Me
Tips to slim down any holiday recipe - Shape
A new definition for "beer" belly - Elastic Waist
Even in the military! Photoshopping female four-star generals - Weighting Game

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Gossip Girl's Jessica Szohr Discusses Diet and Fitness

FitSugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 03:30:00 -0800

Jessica Szohr has it going on: Besides working as an actress on Gossip Girl (and snuggling up to Chace Crawford on-screen) and displaying enviable style, it seems she also has a relatable attitude toward health and fitness. PopSugar was lucky to attend the Juicy Couture 5th Avenue flagship store opening in NYC where Jessica spoke about how she stays fit during the holidays.

For me it’s just about balance because I’m not the greatest eater ever. I like my pizza and french fries with ranch sauce. But I also realize if I’m going to eat a lot then I have to work out a little bit. So I try to do yoga a couple times a week. And I’m trying to start to do cardio but it takes me like 30 minutes to run a mile so it’s not working out so well. I have been lately, more than normal, which is probably good because I’m going to eat a ton of cookies and stuff.

See what Jessica said when asked about avoiding temptation when you read more.

I think it’s balance. I try during the week not to eat whatever I want, kind of like, eat healthier. And on the weekend its like, you know what? I’m going to eat french fries.

When challenged with the question about what she does if she eats a lot of fries, Jessica smartly answered, "More yoga, maybe two miles." My kind of girl.

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A Week In Review: FitSugar Roundup

FitSugar — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 04:00:00 -0800

In case you missed it, here is what we've been talking about this week . . .

How well were you paying attention this week? Take my fun FitSugar pop quiz!

Here are five reasons you should be lifting weights.

Add walking lunges to your workout to improve your speed.

While we're on legs, here is a great hamstring stretch to do at your desk.

Got back pain? Take my tips for preventing it in the future.

Did you know that heart disease is affecting younger and younger women these days?

Here is a list for the top 20 highest calorie fast-food items.

Speaking of healthy, here is a list of so-called healthy foods that aren't so healthy.

Love the Starbucks holiday drinks? Here is how they measure up, nutritionally.

Here's another treat, Newman's Own Peanut Butter Cups.

I'm curious, do you have a fitness partner? Also, do you own a cardio machine?

Be sure to check out all my holiday gift ideas for everyone on your list so far.

The heat is on, so here are my tips for picking out a humidifier.

How do you feel about the cookie monster not being allowed to have cookies anymore?

Need a little extra motivation, check out these amazing weight-loss stories that were on Oprah.

All it takes is three minutes to a healthier you.

And the healthiest cities for women in the United States are . . .