FitSugar

Do You Purchase Bison?

Susannah Chen — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 11:33:10 PST

When it comes to buffalo, are you willing to pay the price? As ranchers struggle to keep up demand, bison meat is closing in on record-high prices. Buffalo's extremely lean texture and smooth flavor have become sought after in recent years, but that hasn't come with growing pains in the niche business, such as difficulty meeting demand and food safety snafus. Still, the industry maintains that, so far, consumers have been willing to pay a prettier penny. Do you dole out more to buy buffalo?

Foodie Friday Link Time

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:30:17 PDT

Dessert tonight: easy apple pie burritos - Oh She Glows
Move over acai berries; the latest superfood is black rice - Vitamin G
Tomatoes and peaches together in one summery salad - FitCeleb
Get to know fro yo a little bit better: myths vs. facts - Shape
Gluten-free, yet love to bake? Try this flour blend - Vital Juice
Oh my! Cloned beef plated up in the UK - Diet Blog
Healthify your kebab and try bison instead of beef - Health.com

The Leanest Cuts of Meats Revealed

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:30:00 PST

Sick of chicken yet? You're not alone, but how does someone who's trying to watch her calories and fat intake pick a lean type of meat? I found a basic breakdown on the leanest meat choices on Yahoo and I thought it would be helpful in deciding which meat meets your needs. Here are the highlights:

Bison: We hope you’re ready to expand your dinner horizons because bison (aka buffalo) is the big winner. (Deer and elk are right on its hooves, er, heels.) Believe it or not, bison has slightly less fat and fewer calories (2 grams and 122 calories per 3-ounce serving) than skinless light meat chicken (3g and 144 cals). Plus, it’s a terrific source of protein (24g) and iron. The taste? Similar to beef, though slightly sweeter and richer.

Bonus: With bison (wild game, too), you aren't exposed to the cancer-linked growth hormones and antibiotics administered to farm-raised cows.

Beef and Veal: Beef and veal are skinniest when they’re loin or round cuts, such as beef bottom sirloin (6g fat, 150 cals) and top round veal (3g, 128 cals). Avoid veal cutlets and breast meat.

Pork: Choose leg cuts, such as ham, or loin, as in boneless sirloin pork chops or top loin chops (both have about 7g fat and 170 cals).

Lamb: Try cuts from the shank half of the leg (if labels aren’t clear, ask the butcher). Well-trimmed shank-half cuts have 5-6 grams fat and about 155 calories per serving.

Fit's Tip: Meat is generally higher in cholesterol and saturated fat than chicken, fish or vegetables, so use the choices above for those times when you just need some red meat.

Source

Healthy Dose Link Time: White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn For the Holidays

Susi May — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:46:14 PST

A healthier holiday snack: white chocolate peppermint popcorn - Peanut Butter Fingers
Hypnosis for weight loss? How the mind can help you drop pounds - Shape
Open your heart for the holidays with this yoga sequence - Yoga Journal
Matt Lauer grills Jane Fonda over hip and knee replacements - Bisstree
Lighten up about weighing in! - Daily Spark
Go paleo! Try this casserole featuring bison and Cuban spices - Healthful Pursuit
A Grammy nominee playlist to rock your next sweat session - Fitness

Smarter Grilling: Buffalo Burgers

Susi May — Wed, 25 May 2011 03:23:07 PDT

Barbecue season is upon us, and in my backyard we inaugurated our grill this season with something a little different: buffalo burgers. Having heard that buffalo, aka bison, is similar in taste to beef, but healthier, I was ready to get my leaner burger on.

When compared to beef, buffalo is naturally lower in fat and higher in iron, which is good for us active ladies. The flavor of buffalo is also richer and somehow sweeter than beef. Another healthy bonus is that bison are not treated with antibiotics or growth hormones and tend to be mainly grass fed (although some are grain finished), giving the meat a bit more omega-3 fatty acids.

Note of caution: because buffalo meat is so lean, it's easy to overcook. You have to be vigilant while grilling, but this recipe calls for adding mushrooms and onions to the meat, which help retain moistness while also adding flavor. Keep reading to learn how to grill up these burgers.

25 Best Burgers From Coast to Coast

YumSugar — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 04:01:24 PDT

What makes a hamburger a hamburger? We could ponder the question for days, but wouldn't you rather bite into a juicy burger?

But not just any burger: we've taste-tested our way around the country to find 25 amazing hamburgers you shouldn't miss. Whether you're a local or a tourist, it's certainly worth seeking out these must-have hamburgers.

YumSugar's Top 5 Burgers

Shake Shack, New York, NY: Danny Meyer's burger empire has the beast down to a science, with cloud-soft buns, subtle "shack sauce," and meltable American cheese for a creamy experience every time. For us, this cheeseburger sets the standard.
Spruce, San Francisco, CA: This cloth napkin burger doesn't come cheap, but it's one of the juiciest we've ever had, and its piquant accompaniments - house-pickled onions and zucchini, duck fat fries - lend it a distinct point of view.
Radius, Boston, MA: Chef Michael Schlow is no stranger to good burgers. His ideal involves fried onion rings, melted cheddar cheese, and a spicy and smooth horseradish sauce - pretty much our ideal, too.
B Spot, Strongsville, OH: Michael Symon's burger joint, B Spot, serves beef on a bun that's as close to perfection as we've ever had. His Yo! burger is filled with fried salami slices, coppa, hot peppers, provolone, and "shasha" banana pepper sauce.
Rosamunde, San Francisco, CA: Rosamunde is known for its sausages, but it serves cheeseburgers every Tuesday at lunch. Be prepared to wait in line for the flavorful, medium-rare burgers, which are some of the city's best.

Check out 20 more favorites from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, after the jump.

Foodie Friday Link Time: Chickpea Burgers, Bison Benefits, and More!

FitSugar — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:49:29 PDT

Make this: curried chickpea burgers - Mind Body Green
Six meatless meals that carnivores will love - Real Simple
Food review: Sabra Greek Veggie Dips - Vital Juice
Reasons to be eating bison instead of beef - Blisstree
The worst things to do to veggies - Fitbie
Come and get it! Healthy family-friendly dinners - Health
Meet mealtime's new secret weapons - Fitness
The best and worst energy bars for women - Shape