FitSugar

Kind Fruit + Nut Bars

FitSugar — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 13:30:00 PDT

Walking through the health food store, I am always looking for new snacks to try. I look for ones that have few ingredients, so when I came upon KIND Fruit + Nut Bars, and I could see the whole nuts and pieces of dried fruit, I had to pick some up.

There are tons of flavors to choose from like Macadamia & Apricot, Walnut & Date, and Banana & Oat Bran. They are gluten-free, dairy-free, have no trans fat, no GMO, are a good source of fiber, and have no added preservatives, colors, or flavors.

How do they taste? So delicious! They're got a great chewy and crunchy texture that was very satisfying. All the natural ingredients make this bar so flavorful, and a great afternoon snack before or after a workout. Plus, they're conveniently wrapped, so you can stash them in your desk, purse, or gym bag.

They're made in Australia with all natural ingredients, and 5% of the profits go to OneVoice, a PeaceWorks foundation that fosters co-existence in the Middle East, so they're good for your body and for the world.

Want to see the nutritional info? Then

read more These bars reminded me a little of LARABARS, so here's a chart comparing the two:

1 Bar	Calories	Fat (g)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Sugars (g)	Protein (g)	Ingredients
KIND Bar (Almond & Coconut)	190	14	25	14	4	11	4	almonds, honey, shredded coconut, coconut chips, glucose, puffed rice, chicory fiber, soy lecithin
KIND Bar (Almond & Apricot)	170	11	25	16	5	13	3	almonds, apricots, honey, shredded coconut, coconut chips, glucose, puffed rice, chicory fiber, soy lecithin
LARABAR (cashew cookie)	210	12	0	23	3	14	6	cashews, dates
LARABAR (Key Lime Pie)	200	10	0	28	4	20	4	dates, cashews, almonds, unsweetened coconut, lime juice concentrate

I know at first glance it looks like these have a lot of fat, but keep in mind that the fat comes from the nuts, so it's healthy fat your body needs. Fit's Tips: If you want to see how these compare to other energy bars, then check out this Energy Bar Breakdown.

7 Gluten-Free Energy Bars

Heather Dale — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 03:07:30 PDT

With so many surprising food items containing gluten, you can only imagine how difficult it is to find the following commonly flour-filled snack, minus the gluten.

Energy bars can be a great way to get a quick nutritional boost while also making a quick, healthy snack. But just like anything else, you need to be careful you're choosing a kind that is packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals, rather than high fructose corn syrup or sugar. Here are my top choices for energy bars that are not only good for you, but safe for people with celiac disease or an intolerance or allergy to gluten.

Grey's Anatomy Rundown, "If/Then"

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:20:41 PST

Last year we had the Grey's Anatomy musical episode, and this season it's the alternate-reality episode. That's right: as Meredith ponders on the veracity of the phrase "meant to be," we get to see what could have been - or in this case, what was always destined to be. Though this is a filler episode if I ever saw one, it's still pretty fun to see the characters go down different paths (well, except for Jackson, who pretty much stays the same).

What we're treated to is a preppy-pink Meredith, a geeky Karev, and an even edgier Yang just to name a few. There are also plenty of shout-outs to characters from past seasons, like Izzie, George, and Burke. Ready to break down all of the differences? Just

If You're Craving Girl Scout Cookies, Try These Instead

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:13:50 PST

It's Girl Scout Cookie time! Noshing on these fund-raising treats seems like an American pastime, but it can be challenging to keep a snack session of these seasonal sweets in check. If you can enjoy your cookies in a reasonable manner, then good for you! But if you're looking for a way to scratch that sugary itch without killing your healthy eating agenda, here are some healthier alternatives.

Do-Si-Dos
Two-cookie serving: 120 calories, five grams of fat, seven grams of sugar

Quick Fix: The Larabar Peanut Butter Cookie is a perfect substitute since it's so filling - I usually only eat half of a bar at a time. One bar contains 220 calories, seven grams of protein, and four grams of fiber. Made out of dried dates, one bar equals one half serving of fruit. There are 18 grams of sugar in this bar, but the sugar content is not added; it naturally occurs in the dates. The other two ingredients in this bar are peanuts and salt.

DIY Fix: Make your own tasty peanut butter treat! Blend a little peanut butter, apple sauce, and raisins for a sweet, satisfying, and nutritious homemade spread. Two tablespoons of this peanut butter raisin spread offers almost five grams of protein and two grams of fiber.

Don't see your fave cookie? Keep on reading!

Win a Year of KIND Healthy Snacks and a Magimix Food Processor

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:30:23 PST

It's the New Year and time to get back on track, jump-start your January, and get fit for 2012. All month long, we're helping you set your path for the rest of the year by breaking down the different fundamentals of a healthy and fit lifestyle. Our focus for the next seven days is how to fuel your body.

We're giving away amazing prizes to help you meet your goals! This week's prize prepares you for a year of healthy eating. For starters, we are giving away a year's supply of KIND Healthy Snacks bars (that's 72 bars a month) - plus some KIND Healthy Grains, perfect for a superfood snack. We're also giving away a powerful food processor from Magimix. The amazing Magimix by Robot-Coupe 4200XL 14-Cup Food Processor, with a juice extractor and smoothie mix attachment, will help you prepare healthy meals, smoothies, and juices all year long.

Enter below and you could be one of two lucky winners to receive a year's supply of KIND Healthy Snacks and a Magimix by Robot-Coupe 4200XL 14-Cup Food Processor!

This giveaway has ended.

Check us out on Facebook, where we will be keeping our own fitness diary and providing tips, advice, recipes, and workouts for all of our fans. If you're craving more fitness gear and goodies, enter our Under Armour giveaway for $500 to spend on Under Armour and our Asics giveaway for a year's supply of Asics running shoes. Good luck!

Guy Fieri Hopes to Take Over the Wing World With New Sauces Out This Month

Susannah Chen — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:30:27 PST

Aside from his new show with Rachael Ray, what's Guy Fieri been up to lately? Besides shilling signature framed sunglasses, our favorite bleach-tipped babe is capitalizing on the Super Bowl snack craze with a brand-new line of chicken wing sauces, out in stores this month. Guy! Guy Fieri offers three flavors of chicken wing sauce to float your bar-snacking boat: Buffalo NY, Habañero Mustard, and Korean BBQ. We tried them all. Find out whether they flamed or fizzled when you keep reading.

Under 150 Calories: Veggie-Inspired Snacks

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:03:58 PST

It's easy to grab an apple and some cheese, or a banana and a handful of nuts, but fruit isn't the only food on the snack menu. Veggies make tasty and satisfying bites as well. Need some new ideas? Besides the old carrots with hummus standby, here are some delicious veggie-inspired snacks, all for around or under 150 calories. And if you're into healthy eating, be sure to enter to win a year's supply of KIND bars and a food processor by Magimix.

One slice of whole wheat bread (100 calories), smeared with one tablespoon whipped cream cheese (35 calories), topped with four slices of cucumber (11 calories): 146 calories
Baked sweet potato fries made with one small sweet potato (112 calories) and one teaspoon olive oil (39 calories): 151 calories

Continue reading for more veggie-inspired snack ideas.

3 Low-Carb Ideas For Evening Meals

Leta Shy — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:32:02 PST

Carbs may be needed to fuel your body and your brain, but if you're looking to drop a few pounds fast, cutting them out (especially in the evening, as celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson suggests) may help. Make sure to do it the right way with these low-carb snack and meal ideas, which will keep you full throughout the evening (and don't forget to enter to win a year of KIND bars and a juicer in our Get Fit For 2012 giveaway!)

At dinner: If pasta is your downfall, there are several ways you can trick taste buds into (almost) thinking they're tasting the real deal. Here are a few delicious low-carb pasta alternatives for your next pasta night.
Light meal: If your idea of the perfect light meal comes stacked between two slices of bread, you don't have to give up your love of a good sandwich when it's time for an evening snack. Stick to low-carb options that still give you the satisfaction of biting into a multilayered snack with these no-bread sandwich ideas.
Late-night snack: Made it through dinner without spooning heapfuls of rice on your plate? Keep your low-carb commitment when hunger strikes late at night with healthy and nutritious low-carb snacks. From fruit slices paired with prosciutto to a quick tuna salad heaped onto tomato halves, we've got 10 filling, fresh, and nutritious low-carb snack ideas that will help satisfy cravings.

Sources: Flickr User DannyNic, Jason Perlow/Off the Broiler

Drink Your Greens: Green Juice and Smoothie Recipes

Michele Foley — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:42:58 PST

Green juice and green smoothies are everywhere these days, and it's no wonder since they're such nutrient-dense beverages. If you've been wanting to join the green monster movement, try making your own: it's going to taste fresher, be less expensive, and will be made to your exact liking. Here are a handful of green juice and green smoothie recipes to get you started. And be sure to enter to win a Magimix Juicer and year's supply Kind Bars that we're giving away to help jump-start your January.

How Your Fridge Can Help You Lose Weight

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:32:54 PST

The LG fridge might have features to help you lose weight, but since it's not yet available (and its price tag is a bit steep), give the fridge you already own a little makeover. It can help you reach your 2012 weight loss goals with these tips.

Get Organized
Organizing your fridge will help you make healthier decisions when it comes to food, and being able to see all different ingredients might even inspire you to cook. A decluttered fridge also helps you keep track of staples so you never run out of healthy snacks like Greek yogurt or breakfast basics like eggs. Versatile plastic storage bins, like these from Crate and Barrel ($10 to $12), are clear and stackable, making it easy to see the array of healthy foods available at your fingertips.

Snack Center in the Fridge
Create a "snack center" in your fridge (one of those Crate and Barrel bins would be perfect for this), so you have a go-to spot to find healthy munchables when hunger strikes. Place the bin in front at eye level, and stock it with premade 150-calorie baggies of popcorn, cheese and crackers, trail mix, cereal, pretzels, fruit and nut bars, fruit leather, and other healthy faves.

Continue reading for more ways your fridge can help you lose weight.