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Speak Up: Healthy Foods You Force Yourself to Eat

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:00:00 -0800

You probably have a list of foods you try to avoid because you know they're not good for you (or your waistline). Wouldn't our lives would be much easier if the foods that were healthy for us were the decadent and savory foods we craved? Imagine lusting for steamed broccoli instead of a slice of chocolate cream pie! Unfortunately, it doesn't work out that way. So tell me, which foods do you hate, but force yourself to eat because you know they're nutritious?

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7 Steps to a Healthier Sandwich

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:00:04 -0800

Whether it's the recession or our increasing need for simplicity, sandwiches are having a moment. They're one of my favorite easy lunches and very healthy if you make them right. But it's important not to get stuck in an unhealthy or unimaginative sandwich rut.

Some healthy-sandwich strategies are obvious: avoid fried foods and super-oily sauces, opt for whole-grain bread instead of sliced white. But that's only the beginning. For my seven tips on making sandwiches that are both delicious and nutritious, read more.

Open it up! An open-faced sandwich made with one slice of wheat bread instead of two can save around 70 calories.
Go green. In place of empty iceberg lettuce, opt for iron-rich greens like spinach or romaine. Try pressing a cup of raw spinach into a hot panini.
Load up on veggies. Sneaking veggies into sandwiches is a great way to get your five a day. Think beyond tomatoes and add everything from roasted beets to cucumbers to carrots.
And don't forget fruit! Similarly, you can increase your fruit intake through your sandwiches. I suggest sliced apples and cheese or figs and nut butter.
Hold the mayo. I'm sure you know this, but here's a reminder: mustard is a much better choice. One ounce of yellow mustard has just 19 calories and one gram of fat, while the same amount of mayo packs 210 calories and 21 grams of fat.
Speaking of mayo, try swapping it out for nonfat yogurt to make a healthier tuna or chicken salad.
Don't say cheese. Rather than eliminating the creamy texture of cheese, replace it with sliced avocado. One ounce has just 45 calories and loads of healthy fat.

High Cost of Good Nutrition

FitSugar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 03:00:00 -0700

While the recession is affecting many wallets in America, did you know that cutting back on the cost of food doesn't necessarily mean cutting calories? Nutrient rich foods are generally more expensive. The LA Times reports that "sugar in fresh raspberries is 100 times more expensive per calorie than table sugar." There is no argument that raspberries, chock full of fiber, vitamins, and phytonutrients are healthier than table sugar. But as the price of cheap food declines, we buy more of it, and cheaper foods are generally higher in calories and lower in calories.

Here's another statistic to chew on: between 2004 and 2006, the prices of very-high-calorie foods dropped by an average of 1.8 percent, while the prices of very-low-calorie foods went up by an average of 19.5 percent. However, we are spending less on food than the previous year.

To see how our restaurant habits have changed, read more.

When it comes to eating out, we are changing our habits as well. A survey from September 2008 found that Americans are eating out less, ordering less when they do eat at a restaurant, and eating at less expensive restaurants. It is unsurprising that folks are also eating leftovers, packing lunches, and choosing tap water over soda, which is a healthy change I can support. For details on these stats, read this LA Times article. But before you do, tell me has the recession affected your nutrition?

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Gadgets to Inspire Healthy Eating

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:50:56 -0800

Healthy eating is the foundation of healthy living. If you don't fuel your body with nutritious foods, everyday activities and exercise can both feel like a challenge. Here are some gadgets to make eating the good stuff easier and more exciting.

View Slideshow ›

Get the Most Nutrition For Your Dollar

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:15:08 -0700

It can be hard to find healthy foods that don't break the bank - as I've mentioned before, nutrition often comes with a high price tag. A new tool may be what consumers need to find the biggest health bang for their buck.

The Affordable Nutrition Index (ANI) is a rating system that evaluates food based on its health and price value, and over 300 foods were evaluated and given a nutrition-value-per-dollar score. Basically the ANI is a list that lets consumers know what items are the most nutritious while also having the smallest price tag.

The food scores were based on the levels of nine essential nutrients - protein, fiber, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, and E - and what to avoid - saturated fat, added sugars, and sodium.

To see which foods ranked high on the ANI, read more.

Though the complete list has not been released, highlights of it were introduced at the American Dietetic Association's Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo:

Carrots, sweet potatoes, and broccoli are at the top of the ANI scale. Other veggies that rank high are peas, string beans, squash, and lettuce.
Oranges and bananas are the top fruits, while raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, grapes, nectarines, and apples also rank high.
Vegetable soups especially of the low-sodium variety are also seen as being good values.

What's the Deal With: The Lunch Box Diet?

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0700

If you're one of those people who feels the need to munch on something all day long, the Lunch Box Diet plan was made with you in mind. Fitness trainer Simon Lovell came up with the idea which began in the UK, but is catching on in the US. Even celebs like Cameron Diaz gave it a try.

Basically, you eat whatever you want for breakfast and dinner, and graze on a lunch box filled with 60 percent veggies, 30 percent protein, and 10 percent dressing in between those meals. Carbs like whole grains are limited unless you're exercising at some point during the day. This eating plan is meant to balance your blood sugar so you're less likely to ~~pig out~~ snack on unhealthy foods.

Want to see a video clip about the Lunch Box Diet and hear what critics have to say? Then read more.

Some critics think this diet doesn't supply adequate nutrition. There are also loose parameters when it comes to what and how much you should eat for breakfast and dinner, so it's great if you like flexibility, but not great if you have issues with proper portion sizes.

I'm all for a plan that encourages snacking on small amounts of healthy foods throughout the day, but this seems like a glorified Atkins diet, focusing on protein, veggies, and limited carbs. This diet may help someone lose weight and keep hunger at bay, but like most diets, this doesn't seem like a lifestyle you could sustain forever. I'd stick to eating healthy foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, monitor your portion sizes, and if you get hungry in between, munch on a nutritious snack.

Healthy Recipe: Roasted Beet, Goat Cheese, and Sweet Pecan Salad

FitSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:00:10 -0700

I was surfing the FitSugar community page, checking out the recipes in the Healthy Recipes Group and I saw this amazing salad delorganic added to the page.
It looks really tasty and is a great way to incorporate nutritious and colorful beets into your meal. Do you have a healthy recipe to share? Join the my recipe group, since healthy food is a cornerstone to living the fit life. To check out the recipe and possibly learn a new technique for roasting beets, just read more.

Roasted Beet, Goat Cheese, and Sweet Pecan Salad
Original Recipe

The sweet-salty contrast of the roasted beets, the tang of the goat cheese and crunch of the pecans is a delicious combination and the colors are absolutely beautiful.

Ingredients

2 beets, green cuts off, and skins trimmed
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/4 cup goat cheese crumbled
3 cups mixed greens
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
6 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and black pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Thinly slice the beets (about 1/4-inch thick slices) and toss with coconut oil and season with sea salt. Place on baking sheet in single layer, roast for 15 minutes, Remove pan from oven and turn beets over using a spatula. Return beets to oven and roast for another 10 minutes. Set aside and cool completely.

After beets are out of the oven, lower temperature to 250 degrees. Toss pecans with the maple syrup and spread out on a cooking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, stir and then bake another 15 minutes until pecans are dried and crispy. Set aside to cool.

In a small bowl whisk together balsamic vinegar and olive oil. In a large bowl toss mixed greens with 3/4 of the salad dressing. Season to taste with sea salt and pepper and add more dressing if needed. To assemble, divide salad greens on four plates. Divide the beets evenly and place on top of greens. Sprinkle with maple pecans and goat cheese. Serve immediately.

Print recipe with images | without images

If you would like to read up about coconut oil, my pals at Nutrition Data have some great information on the subject.

Label Able: Vegetable Glycerin

FitSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:30:50 -0700

I was going on a trip and picked up some Kashi TLC Trail Mix bars. I trust their products completely so don't feel it's necessary to read labels before buying them. While in the car, I happened to check out the list of ingredients and saw vegetable glycerin.

If you're curious to know what it is or why it's used keep reading

Lauren Conrad's Life Shapes Up Beyond The Hills

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:28:48 -0700

Lauren Conrad's tale proves that moving on and letting go make for a healthy life. The former star of The Hills has not only embraced love with the actor Kyle Howard, but healthy eating is a staple of her new life, too. Gone is the worry of what others think and the junk-food cravings. All good changes for the natural beauty, which she shares in the upcoming issue of Shape.

Once a calorie counter, LC is more flexible these days when it comes to food choices. Opting for fresh fare - fruit, organic salad greens, and lean proteins - she has tamed her cravings.

"I've found when all I'm eating is really fresh, healthy foods, I stop craving pizza and burgers," she says. Lauren's even switched to super-nutritious nibbles (what she calls "snack plates"): hummus, sliced turkey, cucumbers, and apples. "When I have these foods in front of me, I find it easier to avoid high-calorie binges," she says.

For more on her workouts and her new tattoo keep reading.

Fried Food Ban at Hospitals: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:35:15 -0700

If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, what does fried food bring? Ultimately a heart attack according to many cardiologists. This is why more than 250 hospitals across the country are participating in the Healthy Food Pledge, which not only involves serving healthier fare in hospitals but using locally grown food as well.

This pledge means no more fried food in one New Hampshire hospital cafeteria. Although the nursing staff is lamenting the lack of "chicken finger Monday," the staff is sympathetic to the nutritious cause since patient meals will be free of fried food as well. The only drawback is emotional: french fries, the ultimate fried food, are America's comfort food. Hanging out in a hospital usually implies stressful times, so this ban will be forcing patients, staff, and family members to seek new forms of comfort food, which is maybe not such a bad thing after all.

This healthy food initiative comes on the heels of the smoking ban imposed by many hospitals. What do you think?