FitSugar

Speak Up: What Foods Do You Insist on Being Organic?

FitSugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:47:00 -0700

Buying mostly organic foods was top on my priority list, that is until the economy took a nosedive. It's way too pricey now so for some foods, I buy the less-expensive, conventional variety. There are still a handful of foods I only buy organic though such leafy greens, root veggies (carrots), and fruits I don't peel (tomatoes, blueberries, and apples). Since these foods are often eaten raw, I'd rather they be exposed to the least amount of pesticides.

I'm OK with buying conventional cheeses, yogurt, and eggs, but as soon as the economy gets better, I'll be sure to place more organic foods in my cart. What about you? What foods do you insist on being organic?

How Often Do You Buy Organic Produce?

FitSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:30:00 -0700

Going grocery shopping feels like it can break your bank these days. Food costs have been rising steadily in the wake of rising fuel costs and many of us are experiencing sticker shock in the organic aisles.

As it happens, when you are trying to live on a budget or save some money, organic food can feel like, I hesitate to say this, a luxury.

What I want to know is . . .

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Who Owns Organic Food Brands?

FitSugar — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:45:00 -0700

When buying organic and natural-food brands, such as Kashi and Naked Juice, you may think you're supporting small, independent companies. But often these brands are actually owned by major conglomerates: Kellogg, in the case of Kashi, and Pepsi for Naked Juice.

I was excited to find this very cool chart in the latest issue of Good magazine, which breaks down most of the major natural brands by their corporate owners. For the details, read more.

Some of these definitely did not surprise me: I figured that Morningstar Farms had a corporate owner, and I've read before that Muir Glen is owned by General Mills. However, I had no idea that the Heinz subsidiary Hain Celestial owned so many small companies! Westsoy, Casbah, Shariann's, and more. Check out the entire chart here.

I'm not suggesting you should avoid these brands just because they have corporate owners. But it might help you decide where to put your money if there are certain companies whose policies you disagree with. I'm curious, does corporate ownership affect your buying habits?

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Living and Raw Foods Diet

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 03:30:00 -0700

I've been hearing a lot about people on a Raw Foods Diet. It's also called a Living Foods Diet, and many celebrities such as Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson, Bryan Adams, Alicia Silverstone and Robin Williams have reportedly been seen at raw food restaurants and have tried it. Designer Donna Karan and actor Jeremy Piven shed pounds eating raw foods. It was even featured on Oprah.

People following this diet (or you could also say "lifestyle", since there are a lot of folks that eat RAW not to lose weight but for the philosophy) eat only uncooked, unheated, unprocessed, and organic plant based foods. Well...food that has not been heated above a certain temperature. It varies within the different raw food philosophies, but the end range temperature is in between 92ºF to 118ºF (33°C to 48°C). Meals consist mainly of organic and raw fruits, vegetables, sprouted seeds and grains, sea vegetables, nuts, and seeds since they believe cooking destroys precious vitamins and minerals. For instance to eat grains, instead of cooking them, they are soaked. Raw foodies believe their uncooked foods contain essential enzymes, which the body needs to digest foods completely.

They drink only purified water (never tap water), freshly made juices (made with a juicer), and coconut milk. They avoid meat, dairy, sugar, alcohol, coffee (because you make it with boiling water), and all junk food. They only eat foods that are good for you, you know, the ones that are full of vitamins and nutrients.

Why eat just raw and living foods? It is said that you'll have more energy, think more clearly, have improved overall health, and lose excess body weight. Many people have also found relief from migraines, acne, asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression, heartburn, anxiety, and Type 2 diabetes.

Fit's Tips: If you want to learn more about it, check out Alissa Cohen's website all about The Raw Food Diet. She even includes recipes for burgers, pizza, cannolis, and chocolate cake - all made with raw foods and no animal products.

Want to see a video showing how to make a pasta dish with raw foods? Then read more

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Organic Food No Healthier Than Conventional?

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Everywhere you turn lately, it seems more and more foods are being labeled organic. It's definitely been a huge craze, although sales have fallen since the recession. Sales may fall even further after people hear about a new study published Wednesday that states organic doesn't mean healthier when it comes to nutrition

A review of 162 scientific studies carried out over the past 50 years found no significant difference between organic and conventional in regards to health benefits. Although, individual studies have found organic produce is higher in vitamin C than conventional produce. There have been similar findings when comparing the antioxidant levels of organic tomatoes with conventional, with the organic ones containing almost twice as many healthful nutrients.

So if your main concern is quality of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, then there's no need to spend the extra dough. However, if you're worried about ingesting chemical pesticides, or want to support farming practices that have the least negative impact on our planet, then continue to splurge on organic foods.

Tell me, will this news change your grocery shopping habits?

Source: Flickr User A.D.A. ~ Anna Duncan Art

Real Fast Food: Organic Food Bars

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 02:00:00 -0800

Looking for the healthiest fast food ever?

Organic Food Bars ($2.89 per bar) are the answer. This is the only line of organic bars "rich in phyto-nutrient dense sprouts and superfoods in a base of easy digestible, alkaline-forming vegetable protein for muscle and organ building, essential fats to promote a healthy cardiovascular and hormonal system, and complex carbohydrates for long lasting energy - without the 'crash' of most bars high in refined sugars." Technical, I know.

Basically, the bars are different from almost every other bar in that they actually taste good. Not good as compared to a chocolate sundae, but good as compared to the health bar world. They are perfect for people on the move. Ordinarily I would not recommend replacing a meal with just a bar but since they pack in a lot of calories (300+) and nutrients per bar, if you're going to do it, this would be a good option.

Look for them at your local health food store such as Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Wild Oats and Vitamin Shoppe. For more locations call 800-246-4685 for a listing nearest you.

When to Buy Organic

FitSugar — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 03:30:23 -0700

I like to think most of us would like to buy local and organic foods 100 percent of the time, but it means paying extra, which a lot of us can't always do. A good compromise is choosing organic when it makes the most sense for our health.

Here's our recommendation on foods to buy organic whenever possible due to high pesticide contamination, as well as those foods you can opt for conventional to be kind to your pocket book. I would like to add that you should try to buy local produce too - it'll taste fresher and have traveled many fewer miles to reach you.

View Slideshow ›

Food Review: Oskri Organics Quinoa Bar

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Quinoa is one of my favorite whole grains because it has a wonderfully fluffy texture, it's easy to cook, and it's high in fiber and protein. So when I saw this organic Quinoa Bar ($3), I had to give it a try. Theses bars are both gluten and lactose free, making them a bonus for people with food sensitivities.

When I read the list of ingredients, something surprised me. To learn the surprise as well as how the Quinoa Bar tastes, read more.

I was surprised that this bar contains only four ingredients: rice syrup, quinoa, sesame seeds, and date syrup. The crunchy texture and flavor are similar to toffee covered popcorn - really, it was that sweet - but in a peanut buttery way. I love that whole sesame seeds and quinoa are plainly visible in this bar. Plus there are three slices in each package, so I could savor each sweet and nutty bite. I actually couldn't eat the whole package though because it was so sweet, like candy, but as you can see from the nutritional info, it's pretty healthy for you. It may seem like it contains a lot of fat, but it's healthy fat that comes mostly from the sesame seeds. It also has a decent amount of fiber and protein too. If you're in the mood for something extremely sweet and crunchy, this would definitely satisfy your craving.

Serving Size	1 package (3 pieces)
Calories	230
Total Fat	12 g
Saturated Fat	0 g
Cholesterol	0 mg
Sodium	61 mg
Carbs	26 g
Fiber	3 g
Sugar	14 g
Protein	6 g

Food Review: Rising Moon Organics - Vegan Stuffed Shells

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:00:00 -0800

I'm a big fan of Italian foods like baked ziti, lasagna, and stuffed shells. The only problem is the ricotta and other cheeses make them high in artery-clogging saturated fat and cholesterol. When I came across a healthier version of stuffed shells by Rising Moon Organics, my interest was piqued. Made with primacotta soy ricotta, these shells are completely vegan.

To find out how they compared with the real deal after the jump when you read more.

I really wanted to love this dairy- and cholesterol-free frozen meal, but truthfully, it lacked flavor. The consistency of the soy filling was a little smoother and spongier than real ricotta, but I didn't mind that. It was the fact that these shells just tasted "blah." The tomato sauce was sweet, but had this odd slightly smokey aroma and taste.

Just to see how much healthier these vegan stuffed shells were, I compared them to nonvegan ones made by Amy's Kitchen. Now I don't feel so bad about choosing the ricotta-filled shells. Although Rising Moon Organics Shells have less saturated fat and cholesterol, they also have more calories, more carbs, and less protein than Amy's Kitchen shells. The choice is obvious for me. I'll go for real cheese and real flavor, but if you're avoiding dairy, give these vegan shells a whirl.

Serving Size: (3 stuffed shells)
Calories	370	310
Total Fat	10 g	13 g
Saturated Fat	1.5 g	7 g
Cholesterol	0 mg	30 g
Sodium	470 mg	740 mg
Carbs	54 g	30 g
Fiber	6 g	5 g
Sugar	4 g	7 g
Protein	16 g	19 g

Elizabeth Hurley: Unlikely Organic Farmer

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:00:59 -0800

Off the top of my head I can't remember the last time I've seen British bombshell Elizabeth Hurley on screen, but for good reason - she's packed everything up Green Acres style. The former actress has left the high life of London to live on a 400-acre organic farm in Gloucestershire where she shares space with cattle, poultry, sheep, and pigs.

She's not stopping there either. This week Hurley launched an organic snacks line in conjunction with Harrods using ingredients straight from her farm. All the organic snacks are low-calorie (100 or less), low-fat and include beef jerky, oat bars, and fruit snacks.

The 44 year old married mother of one couldn't be happier trudging through the mud in a pair of Wellingtons and says that leaving London was the only way to give her son a healthy upbringing free from paparazzi "I would be bursting into tears and just be so angry. There is something about motherhood that makes you very protective of anyone coming too near your child, and the paparazzi did things like take pictures of him nude on the beach and put them online. It was disgusting, disgraceful."

Hurley says that the inspiration for her organic line came from her own experiences with fad diets. “It’s compulsory portion control. I’ve never been able to chop a Jaffa Cake in half and just eat one piece,” she said.