FitSugar

More LARABAR Love

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 14:30:00 PDT

You know what a huge fan I am of LARABARs. I love how they taste, but most importantly, I love that the ingredients are just fruit and nuts.

Another thing I love is that there are so many different flavors to choose from like Cashew Cookie and Chocolate. I recently tried Banana Cookie. Want to take a peek at the nutritional info? Then

Serving Size	1 bar
Calories	220
Total Fat	11g
Saturated Fat	1g
Cholesterol	0mg
Sodium	0mg
Potassium	460mg
Carbs	28g
Fiber	5g
Sugar	17g
Protein	6g
Ingredients	almonds dates unsweetened bananas

They could not have come up with a better name for this bar - it seriously tastes just like a homemade banana cookie. It's the perfect blend of chewiness from the dates and bananas, and a slight crunchiness from the almonds. This could be my new favorite flavor. Did you see there are only three, that's 3 ingredients listed. Which gives me peace of mind that there are no hidden ingredients. Fit's Tips: I know it may seem like the fat content in this bar is high, but the fat comes from nuts, which are healthy fats your body needs. If you want to see how a LARABAR compares to other energy bars, then check out this post.

5 Easy Ways to Eat More Fruit

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:57:13 PST

Luscious, juicy, sweet-as-candy fruit is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. It's full of vitamins, fiber to keep you full, water to keep you hydrated, and the natural sugars make it a healthier alternative to sugary treats. You should aim to eat three to six servings of fruit each day, but if that seems like a lot, here are some ways to sneak fruit into your diet.

Add fruit slices to sandwiches. Sliced pear, apple, and watermelon add a unique texture and unexpected flavor to run-of-the-mill sammies.
Mix pureed fruit into plain yogurt. When comparing six-ounce containers of Greek yogurt, plain offers 18 grams of protein for 100 calories, and strawberry is 140 calories with 14 grams of protein. Instead of buying the premade flavors, make your own by adding pureed fruit to plain yogurt. You'll save money, avoid added sugars, and be able to customize the flavor to wow your taste buds with distinct combos like blackberry peach or strawberry pear.
Add fruit to baked goods. We've all made banana bread, but that's not the only fruit-based treat you can whip up. Lower the fat in just about any recipe by replacing oil with applesauce, or get creative with muffin recipes by adding diced strawberries, or mix bits of dried apricots into cookie dough.
Cut up fruit and store it in the fridge. It takes effort to wash and cut fruit, enough to make you reach for something easier (and less healthy) instead. Make fruit as accessible as a bag of chips by storing cut up fruit in containers in the fridge.
Eat fruit for dessert. Save calories and skip the refined sugars by enjoying nature's dessert. Here are ways to make fruit even more decadent and enticing - the almond butter and granola filled dates are one of my faves.

5 Reasons to Love Peanut Butter

Camilla Salem — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:11:11 PST

It's creamy (and sometimes crunchy!), salty, and sweet. It goes really well in sandwiches and baked goods, with chocolate, and even in sauces. It's the ultimate comfort food. Today is National Peanut Butter Day and whether you like to cook with it, bake with it, or simply eat it out of the jar with the spoon, we've got five reasons to love peanut butter.

You have options: Not a fan of crunchy peanut butter? Not to worry, there's a creamy version. Are you worried about hydrogenated oils? Opt for a natural variety. Chances are you'll be able to find a peanut butter that fits your taste buds.
It's sweet and salty: One of nature's best combinations of tastes, peanut butter embodies what it means to be sweet and salty. It satisfies so many cravings in one creamy spoonful.
It's an American classic: Peanut butter as we know it today was invented in America in 1884, and it has been deeply loved by Americans ever since. The United States is one of the leading exporters of peanut butter in the world and the majority of peanut butter is eaten by Americans.

Keep reading for more.

5 Unbelievably Bad Fast-Food Breakfasts

Prevention — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:06:39 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

By Molly Raisch, Prevention

Mom always said, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” And she was right. Morning meals are essential to revving your metabolism and kick-starting your calorie burn, but indulging in a fat- and calorie-laden breakfast from your favorite fast-food chain could easily send you into sugar shock and pack on the pounds. Research shows that people who ate a big morning meal consumed an extra 400 calories per day, setting themselves up for muffin tops and pancake bottoms. Here are six breakfast drive-through disasters and their Prevention-approved healthier, make-at-home options.

Fifty Simple Strategies to Lose 10 Pounds

Starbucks® Zucchini-Walnut Muffin
Muffins are calorie sinkholes - they pack in the calories but somehow still leave your stomach grumbling. This muffin from Starbucks® seems healthy enough, boasting both zucchini and walnuts, but don’t be fooled by its veggie-based name. This morning baked good has close to 500 calories and 28 grams of fat.

Try Instead: Zucchini-Raisin Muffin
These scrumptious zucchini muffins are half the calories and nearly a third of the fat as their coffeehouse counterparts. Tricks of the trade: Load up your bread batter with tons of zucchini shreds and add raisins for a touch of natural sweetness.

Ten Breakfasts For Glowing Skin

McDonald’s Big Breakfast® With Hotcakes
When your breakfast comes off a fast-food menu and has the word “big” in it, your waistline is headed in the same direction. This hearty breakfast has scrambled eggs, sausage, a buttermilk biscuit, hash browns, and two hotcakes piled onto a plate, making it no surprise that one order accounts for over half your day’s calories and over 55 grams of fat. The worst part? This lumberjack breakfast is sky-high in sodium: 2,150 milligrams.

Try Instead: Pancakes With Berries and Cinnamon
Satisfy your hotcake cravings with these light and fluffy low-cal flapjacks. The secret to cutting fat and calories without losing any buttery flavor: bake them in the oven. Top with berries and cinnamon, and you’ve got a mouthwatering, guilt-free pancake breakfast the whole family will love.

Keep reading for more healthy breakfast swaps after the break.

Painless Ways to Add Fiber to Your Diet

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:26:16 PST

Whether you're a serious meat eater who considers a side salad enough greens for the day, or someone who just hates veggies, if one of your New Year's resolutions is to eat more fiber, here are some easy ways to increase your roughage without a disapproving peep from your taste buds.

Have a sweet tooth? Add spinach to homemade brownies, mash baked sweet potato into pancake mix, or add shredded carrots to banana bread.
Don't just grab any ol' box of cereal. Choose a cereal that has at least eight grams of fiber per serving.
Become a fan of flax. Sprinkle whole flaxseeds onto your bowl of cereal, or if the texture is a turnoff, use ground flaxmeal instead. You can also add flaxseed or flaxmeal to pizza dough, pancake batter, and cookie and muffin recipes.
Make a smoothie for breakfast (or even dessert) with tons of fresh or frozen fruit. Throw in a few spinach or kale leaves for added fiber. The sweetness of the fruit hides the taste of the greens and since it's blended so well, the texture is completely smooth - no chewing your veggies required.

Keep reading for more fiber-boosting tips.

4 More Facts You Don't Know About Calories

Prevention — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:08:37 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

Only 12 percent of Americans can estimate the calories they eat in a day! Find out why we're so clueless and get easy ways to stop calorie confusion
By Mara Betsch, Prevention

You know what calories are, and you probably know that if you eat too many, you'll gain weight. But do you know how many are in your favorite deli sandwich? Or how many calories you should really eat each day? Most Americans don’t. Only 12 percent can accurately estimate the number of calories they should consume in a day someone their age, height, weight, and physical activity, according to a 2010 survey by the International Food Information Council Foundation. So what is it about calories that keeps us baffled? Last month, we shared some reasons you might be confused about calories - here are four more and the simple steps that will help you do the math.

1. Exercise makes you hungry
Though studies are mixed when it comes to whether exercise actually stimulates or suppresses appetite, many people think of working out as a way to eat whatever they like. "There’s definitely a mentality of 'I have sweated therefore I deserve,'" says Bonci. However, with most people burning about 100 calories per mile, a short workout won't give you a free pass to eat junk food. "If you walk two miles, eating a handful of chips post-workout can undo the calories you burned," says Bonci. As mentioned above, gym machines don’t accurately measure calories burned, either.

Stop the confusion: To stop an after-workout binge, fuel up pre-gym, Zied suggests. "Have something before - something with carbs and a little protein, like whole wheat toast and peanut butter or a banana and milk." Depending on the intensity of your workout, you may need something afterward as well. After a workout longer than 45 minutes, you should aim to eat about 200 calories.

Tips to Stop Overeating After Workouts

2. Liquid calories are ignored
"People are spending hundreds of calories on beverages each day," says Zied. Unfortunately, a lot of those calories are from sugar-sweetened drinks and alcohol, not milk and 100 percent fruit juice. According to a 2007 study, beverage intake accounted for roughly 12 percent of total calories in 1965 and steadily increased to 21 percent in 2002 - that's 222 extra calories a day from drinks alone! Because bottled drinks often contain multiple servings, it’s best to either pour a serving in a glass or look for mini soda cans and juice boxes.

Keep reading for more info about calories and weight loss after the break.

A Healthier Bowl: Cereals High in Fiber and Protein

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:25:40 PST

When you're in a rush in the morning, cereal is the perfect meal - just pour it, spoon it, and you're good to go. There's probably over a hundred different boxes to choose from, and while I'm sure you know Apple Jacks isn't the healthiest (a serving has as much sugar as three Chips Ahoy! cookies) even seemingly healthy cereals aren't the best choice. It's important to fill your bowl with a cereal that's both high in fiber and protein, since both help keep you feeling full. Here's a list to choose from - all contain at least five grams each of fiber and protein.

Cereal	Serving Size	Calories	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Barbara's Bakery Shredded Oats	1 1/4 cup	220	5	6
Barbara's Bakery High Fiber Original	1/4 cup	180	14	5
Barbara's Bakery High Fiber Flax & Granola	1/4 cup	200	10	5
Barbara's Bakery High Fiber Cranberry	1/4 cup	190	10	5
General Mills Wheat Chex	3/4 cup	160	5	5
Kashi Go Lean Original	1 cup	140	10	13
Kashi Go Lean Crunch!	1 cup	190	8	9
Kashi Go Lean Crunch! Honey Almond Flax	1 cup	200	8	9

Keep reading for more cereals that are high in both fiber and protein.

Prevent Holiday Party Weight Gain With 3 Must Dos

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:13:39 PST

Everyone's approach to beating holiday weight gain differs. Some amp up the exercise time, while others simply give in to the extra noshing and stick to clothing with elastic waistbands. Regardless of your philosophy, the abundance of holiday parties, full of rich foods and fancy cocktails, is a major reason the numbers on the scale often go up. Keep these three tips in mind at your next shindig, and hopefully you can prevent your waistline from expanding this season.

Don't Show Up Famished or Empty Handed
Before heading out the door, snack on something filling like a banana with peanut butter, a pear with some almonds, or some whole grain crackers with hummus. Combining fiber and protein in a sack is satiating, so you won't arrive famished and end up making a meal out of appetizers. To show your hosts some appreciation for throwing the party, it's nice to bring along a present; but instead of the usual bottle of wine, prepare a healthy dish or dessert to complement the meal. Not only will party-goers appreciate the gesture, but you'll know at least one thing on your plate is good for you. This chard, avocado, and asparagus quinoa makes a great side dish, and a batch of healthier holiday cookies are often a nice addition as well.

Continue reading for two more tips to help prevent holiday party weight gain.

Link Time: Caramel Apple Shots, Ginger Coffee, and More!

Susannah Chen — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:21:59 PDT

So, so cool: caramel apple shots. - Food Republic
Ginger in coffee or bananas? You bet. - The FN Dish
Breaking news! You can now have In-N-Out burgers shipped to you. - Eater
Would you wear Girl Scout cookie-scented lip balm? - NY Daily News
Make a Mexican feast for Día de los Muertos. - Saveur
10 celebs who got their start in food ads. - Grub Street NY
The touching story of a chef who lost his stomach to cancer. - HuffPo Food
Common restaurant dishes you're better off making at home. - Delish

Which Foods Burn the Most Fat?

Health — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 04:15:15 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

By Julia Savacool

You may have tried a diet or two in hopes of dropping pounds. But a new Harvard study has uncovered a no-diet way to shed: adding certain foods to your day while nixing others can slim you.

Researchers analyzed eating habits and gains and losses over several years. Based on their findings, we mapped out a sample day that'll lead to weight loss.

Health.com: 7 Foods That Fight Fat

Keep up this eating style, and you'll ditch up to 5 pounds in a year.

7:00 a.m.

Skip it
Rise 'n' shine. Forgo your usual O.J. and scone.
You'll lose: .28 pounds a year. The combo of juice and a giant scone each day would pack it on.

7:05 a.m.

Eat it
At the cafe bag up a yogurt parfait for breakfast.
You'll lose: .41 pounds a year. Every additional daily serving of whole grains can peel off .09 pounds over a year. A serving of fruit helps you shed another .12 pounds; a daily dose of yogurt leads to a .2-pound loss.

Health.com: The 50 Fattiest Foods in the States

10:30 a.m.

Eat it
Hungry again? Nibble on a bowl of blueberries.
You'll lose: .24 pounds a year. Two extra servings of fruit daily means another .24 pounds lost this year.

11:00 a.m.

Skip it
Step away from the supersize soda. Swap for a diet one.
You'll lose: 1 pound a year. For every regular serving of sugary drink you down daily, you could gain .25 pounds.

Learn what to eat and what to skip for rest of your day, when you read more.