FitSugar

Camping Can Do: Make Coffee Anywhere

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:00:47 -0700

A few weeks ago Starbucks sent us a sample of VIA, its new instant coffee. Being a bit of a coffee snob I was kind of grossed out but decided to try it on my upcoming climbing trip anyway.

The best thing VIA has going for it is its size - it's small. Normally when I pack for camping I bring the works: coffee beans, portable grinder, and a french press. I was so happy to have more space in my pack and I definitely noticed a lighter load on my back. Score one for VIA! Was it as good as the Blue Bottle coffee I normally bring with me? Uh, no. Not even close, but I didn't expect it to be.

I think the point of VIA is convenience - you can have a OK cup of coffee anywhere and it'll be easy. It's definitely the best instant coffee I've ever tried and it even tasted better than some drip coffee I've had. Although the Colombian blend I tried was a bit bitter at the end, it had a nice, mellow flavor too. For a touch of sweetness, I added another camping shortcut to the mix -shelf stable Horizon organic vanilla milk. My companion, who is no coffee snob, said it was the best cup of coffee he's ever had while camping.

Though I won't be using VIA at home, I think it's a good choice for backpacking, camping, or for traveling anywhere you need coffee quickly. From now on, I'll be bringing it with me on all of my climbing trips.

Food Review: Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:30:00 -0700

After packing lunch boxes for the girls this morning, I realized there was no time for me to eat breakfast at my kitchen table. I decided today was the morning to try an item from the Starbucks revamped breakfast menu. The morning was chilly, and being a big fan of hot cereals I decided to give the Perfect Oatmeal ($2.45) a try.

To see if I thought this oatmeal lived up to its name as well as nutritional information, just read more.

The server at Starbucks handed me my vented to-go bowl of oatmeal and told me to wait three minutes for it to "cook" and add milk if I needed. When I got to the office and opened my bowl, it became clear that more liquid was needed. However, I chose a little hot water from the water cooler over milk. The oatmeal comes with three mix-ins, conveniently labeled with their caloric content. There is a generous portion of brown sugar - 50 calories, a package of mixed nuts (walnuts, almonds and pecans) - 100 calories, and dried fruit (cranberries and raisins) - 100 calories. The unadulterated oatmeal is 140 calories, and goes up to 390 with all the mix-ins. Of course, the oatmeal is tastier with all the mix-ins; I particularly enjoyed the nuts.

Taste wise, this oatmeal is good, but not perfect. It was a little too thick, but the consistency was easily remedied at the office. If I were on the road or at an airport, it would have been a different story. I do like that the oatmeal is made from whole grains and it definitely kept me full until lunch. There was zero guilt factor or regret in this breakfast, unlike a pastry or apple fritter. I will definitely eat it again.

Have you tried the Perfect Oatmeal from Starbucks? Tell me what you thought about it in the comments section below.

Starbucks: Make Morning Good Again?

FitSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0700

You all know that I feel breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it looks like Starbucks agrees. The coffee chain is revamping its breakfast menu to bring you healthier fare. The decision to do so is twofold: a little trickle down health from the top of the coffee chain (Starbucks' CEO was told to lose weight, and changing to a healthier breakfast helped him do so), and the hope that healthier breakfast options will bring consumers back to the ailing company.

The new menu will debut on Sept. 3, and according to USA Today, here's what you can order to start your day off on a healthy foot:

Apple Bran Muffin: Made with whole-wheat flour, oats, wheat bran, apples, cherries, and honey.
Cost: $1.75
Calories: 330
Multi-Grain Roll: Made with seven seeds and grains, served with a side of almond butter or strawberry preserves.
Cost: $1.60
Calories: 280 calories
Chewy Fruit & Nut Bar: This energy bar is made with oats, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, and honey.
Cost: $1.75
Calories: 250

There are a few more healthy menu items, so read more.

Power Protein Plate: This healthy smorgasbord consists of a hard-boiled egg, a small whole-wheat bagel, a 70-calorie pack of peanut butter, a cheddar cheese wedge, apple slices, and grapes.
Cost: $4.95
Calories: 330
Baked Berry Stella: A whole-grain pastry featuring seasonal fruits.
Cost: $1.75
Calories: 280
Oatmeal: This whole-grain oatmeal will be served hot in a cardboard to-go bowl. The oatmeal comes with three "mix-ins" - dried fruit, nuts, or brown sugar.
Cost: $2.45
Calories: 140 with no toppings, 390 with all three toppings

The tag line for these healthy breakfast options is "Make morning good again." Just remember, there will be other not so healthy options, like the 490 calorie Apple Fritter that you will have to pass on by. I, for one, am happy to see another popular food chain adding more healthy options to menu. How about you?

Source

Top Healthy Fast Food Breakfast Choices

FitSugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 02:00:00 -0700

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, but should you skip it if there is nothing but fast food joints on the horizon? Not so much. The good news is that Yahoo Food has done the dirty work for us and come up with the best fast food breakfast items at some of the most notorious fast food joints. You may be pleasantly surprised, so here are highlights on a few healthy fast food breakfast ideas:

McDonald's:

Fruit n' Yogurt Parfait with Granola: 160 calories, 2g fat (1g saturated), 5mg cholesterol, 85mg sodium, 1g fiber, 4g protein
Snack Size Fruit and Walnut Salad: 210 calories, 8g fat (1.5g saturated), 5mg cholesterol, 60mg sodium, 2g fiber, 4g protein

Starbucks:

Spinach, Roasted Tomato, Feta, and Egg Wrap: (It's a little high in fat but compensates with lots of fiber and protein.) 240 calories, 10g fat (3.5g saturated), 140mg cholesterol, 730mg sodium, 7g fiber, 13g protein
A Skinny Latte and a package of SB's dried fruit and nut mix: Latte (12-oz. "tall"): 90 calories, 0g fat (0g saturated), 5mg cholesterol, 125mg sodium, 0g fiber, 0g protein, Fruit/nut packet: 150 calories, 9g fat (1g saturated), 0mg cholesterol, 100mg sodium, 2g fiber, 4g protein

There are more including choices from Jamba Juice and Dunkin' Donuts so read more.

Jamba Juice:

Any 16-oz. "Jamba Light" smoothie: 150-160 calories, 0-0.5g fat (0g saturated), 5mg cholesterol, 210-220mg sodium, 2-3g fiber, 6g protein
Any 16-oz. "All Fruit" smoothie: 200-220 calories, 0-0.5g fat (0g saturated), 0mg cholesterol, 5-20mg sodium, 4g fiber, 1-2g protein

Dunkin' Donuts: (Last resort only!)

Egg and Cheese English Muffin Sandwich: 280 calories, 9g fat (4.5g saturated), 140mg cholesterol, 1010mg sodium (yikes - that's why it's your last resort), 1g fiber, 15g protein
4 Powdered Cake doughnut holes: 260 calories, 15g fat, 7g saturated fat, 10mg cholesterol, 210mg sodium, 2g fiber, 3g protein

Source

Starbucks Is Getting Skinny

FitSugar — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 02:00:00 -0800

Realizing that people are willing to forgo the four dollars for a 700 calorie mocha for a dollar-fifty cup of coffee with milk that has much less calories, Starbucks will be adding a new beverage to their already long list of drinks. Welcome the “Skinny," a nonfat Latte made with sugar-free syrup. Starbucks is also adding a new sugar-free syrup flavor - Mocha - to the current selection of Vanilla, Hazelnut, Caramel, and Cinnamon Dolce.

Why is this cool? Well the tall (12 fl. oz.) Caffè Latte or Caffè Mocha ordered with sugar-free syrup, steamed nonfat milk, and foam contains only 90 calories. If customers replace their daily tall Starbucks Vanilla Latte with a Skinny Vanilla Latte they would save 700 calories and 35 grams of fat per week! Swapping out a daily, tall Caffè Mocha (made with 2% milk and no whip) for a Skinny Mocha would save 550 calories and 30 grams of fat per week. This means that Starbucks has finally taken the guess work out of figuring out how to get a yummy coffee without tons of calories. Look for the Skinny to be hitting Starbucks nationwide starting January 2008.

Source

Starbucks Holiday Drinks Breakdown

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:45:00 -0800

When you're out running holiday errands, do you stop at Starbucks for a little pick-me-up? Let me tell you: Those cups are full of more than holiday cheer; some of the drinks pack in an amazing amount of calories and fat into a 16 ounce cup. Not surprisingly, that Eggnog Latte is the worst offender, but thankfully it doesn't come with whipped cream. Even without the extra dollop of saturated fat, this holiday latte contains almost 25 percent of your daily caloric intake.

Want to see the caloric damage one holiday-themed Grande can do? Then read more

Flavor (Grande 16 oz.)	Calories	Fat calories	Total Fat (g)	Carbs (g)	Sugar (g)	Caffeine (mg)
Eggnog Latte – Non Fat, No Whip	450	170	18	53	49	150
Eggnog Latte – 2%, No Whip	470	190	21	53	48	150
Peppermint Mocha – Non Fat, No Whip	280	25	3	59	49	175
Peppermint Mocha –Non Fat, with Whip	350	90	10	61	50	175
Peppermint Mocha – 2%, No Whip	330	70	8	58	48	175
Gingerbread Latte – Non Fat, No Whip	200	0	0	38	35	150
Gingerbread Latte – Non Fat, with Whip	270	70	7	40	37	150
Gingerbread Latte – 2% No Whip	250	60	6	4	37	150

Fit's Tips: Of course, I think you should order your espresso drinks with non-fat milk and no whip, since this cuts a serious amount of calories off most drinks. If you are looking to cut back on caffeine avoid the Peppermint Mocha since it has an additional 25 mg of caffeine. If you are cutting back on sugar, you can order your Gingerbread Latte with sugar free syrup, or try it with a half pump of syrup.

A Week in Review: FitSugar Roundup

FitSugar — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 04:00:00 -0800

In cased you missed it, here is what we've been talking about.

Check out the latest in the Sugar sites, LilSugar!

Take the quiz to win a $100 gift card to Whole Foods!

A mommy wins the NYC marathon for the ladies while Katie Holmes and Lance Armstrong finish a bit later.

Speaking of marathons, do you think Oprah ruined the marathon's reputation?

If you're not into running, here is a great workout on the elliptical.

Julia Roberts knows the importance of good humor and good genes.

Eva Longoria paired up with Bebe Sport, but how sporty is it really?

When you're running, here is a great video for tying your shoes properly.

If you're thinking about Italian food anytime soon, you might want to check out this Romano's Macaroni Grill Breakdown.

And while we're at it, here is the breakdown of the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte.

Snowboarding season is coming soon, start training for it with these great exercises.

I'm curious, how often do you use fitness DVDs? Also, which snow sport are you most excited for? Finally, which cardio machine is your favorite?

Here are some ways to curb your nighttime snacking.

What does a serving size look like anyway?

And the healthiest state in the nation is...

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 07:30:00 -0800

'Tis the season of seasonal drinks, and coffee is no exception. Starbucks is now offering a Pumpkin Spice Latte, just in time for Thanksgiving. They explain the drink as "a delicious blend of pumpkin and traditional fall spice flavors combined with our signature espresso and freshly steamed milk, and topped with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spices."

I don't know about you, but I am not that interested in blending my latte with pumpkin spices. I would drink my coffee and have my pie on the side. Just in case you are headed to Starbucks to try this latte, you might want to know what you are about to get into calorie-wise.

Flavor (Grande 16 oz.)	Calories	Fat calories	Carbs (g)	Sugar (g)
Pumpkin Spice Latte, Non Fat, No Whip	260	5	50	48
Pumpkin Spice Latte Whole Milk Fat, With Whip	380	13	51	49
Caffe Latte, Non Fat, No Whip	130	0	19	18

I included a regular ol' non fat latte so you could see that the pumpkin spice flavoring adds 130 calories if you order the non fat version of the flavored drink. Not to mention there's an extra 30 grams of sugar added too. Of course, I think if you are going to try the seasonal drink you will order it with non fat milk and no whipped cream. Right?

Starbucks Star Breakdown

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:45:00 -0700

Celebrities love their Starbucks and, being FitSugar, I am a bit obsessed with how liquid calories often go unnoticed in our daily calorie intake. So, when it comes the the stars, I am always amazed at who's drinking what these days.

In light of this, I've taken a look at some of our favorite celebs drinking some of our favorite beverages and I've broken down who's making healthy choices and who's not. (One star is the worst choice, three stars is the best choice.)

Star	Starbucks Beverage	Calories	Star Rating
Britney Spears	Vanilla Bean Frappuccino (w/ caramel)	390	1/2 Star
Ashton Kutcher	Iced Soy Latte	85	Two Stars
Sophia Bush	Tazo Green Shaken Iced Tea	60	Three Stars
Ben Affleck	Tazo Passion Shaken Iced Tea	60	Three Stars
Lindsay Lohan	Iced Lemonade	162	One Star
Jennifer Garner	Iced Coffee (black)	60	Three Stars

All calculations are based on a tall or 12-ounce drink.

Pacific Coast News

A Week In Review: FitSugar Roundup

FitSugar — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 04:00:00 -0700

Here are 10 tips to keep you moving when it's hot outside.

Curious to know your fitness horoscope?

If you are dieting you should check out the foods that can bust your diet.

Catch up on your sleep this weekend - being tired can affect your athletic performance.

Since it is summer time and it is the weekend, why not try Sun Salutation B.

I am curious to know at what point of your life did you start working out? Take the poll and tell me.

Go to Starbucks much? You should check out this breakdown of the new Orange Frappuccino.

Learn what Jessica Simpson did to get in shape for her upcoming movie role.

Naomi Campbell and donuts: I want to know how you feel about slim celebs endorsing junk food.

The Butterfly Pose is great for stretching out your hips.

Looking for motivation? Check out how this guy lost 100s of pounds.