FitSugar

Oprah Winfrey vs. Organic Blue Corn Chips

partysugar — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:00:06 PST

In December Oprah Winfrey publicized her weight gain, admitting that she's put on 40 pounds in the past couple of months. Among other things, the powerful talk show host is blaming organic, multigrain blue chips for packing on the pounds.

"My drug of choice used to be potato chips," she said. "Now this year, it was organic, multigrain blue chips - but a bag of them. So you eat a bag of those a day and see what happens if you're not working out." While Oprah's endorsements are normally positive, the people behind her favorite brand of blue tortilla chips - Hain Celestial's Garden of Eatin' - aren't jumping up and down for joy. In a statement, a spokesperson for Hain Celestial, "gently suggested that Ms. Winfrey try the single serving size."

However, Oprah's already moved on from blue chips claiming that she'll now eat sweet potatoes instead. Only time will tell whether the sales of either will be impacted by Oprah's extraordinary influence.

One thing's for sure: If Oprah were to attack the already-struggling organics industry, it might be a blow too big for them to overcome. What do you think about the matter? Does Oprah's opinion of a certain food affect your decision to eat it?

Source, Source

New Terra Chips: Stripes & Blues

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 02:30:00 PDT

How very patriotic of Terra to introduce a red, white, and blue chip medley they call Stripes and Blues. They are much healthier than the Lays chips I ate as a kid since they are made with 3 kinds of harvested veggies, not just your average potato. The red chips are made from sweet potatoes, the blue chips are made from blue potatoes, and the striped chips are striped beets.

These Stripes & Blues chips take my favorite Sweets & Beets to an entirely new visual level. I love that they're made with no trans fat or cholesterol, and contain hardly any saturated fat (the kind that is bad for your heart). Plus these chips have a much zestier flavor so they don't need a whole lot of sodium.

To check out the nutritional info and see what these delectable chips really look like,

Serving Size	1 oz (about 14 chips)
Calories	140
Total Fat	8g
Saturated Fat	.5g
Cholesterol	0mg
Sodium	110mg
Carbs	16g
Fiber	2g
Sugar	5g
Protein	2g
Ingredients	A seasonal mix of root vegetables (sweet potato, blue potato, beets), canola oil and/or safflower oil and/or sunflower oil, beet juice concentrate, sea salt.

Well I'm just amazed that these chips are actually as pretty as the photo on the outside of the bag, plus I can actually pronounce all the ingredients! With only 110mg of sodium, these still taste salty and definitely satisfied my craving. Plus they have 2g of fiber (you can aways use more), 2g of protein, and 4% of your daily iron needs (I know it's not much, but every little bit counts). I love that there are 3 different chips in this bag, so your taste buds never get bored. I definitely recommend looking for these chips in a health food store near you, or in the health food section of your grocery store. Fit's Tip: Just remember, even though these chips are healthier than potato chips, they are still chips! So keep your portions under control.

Taste Test: Blue Diamond Baked Nut Chips

Susannah Chen — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 13:15:05 PDT

We've been confident that potato chip alternatives are soon to be a huge snack food trend, and sure enough, nearby grocery stores are have finally jumped on the black bean, lentil, and kale chip bandwagon. This weekend I spotted something new that I'd never seen before: Baked Nut Chips, by Blue Diamond Growers, the makers of those tasty smokehouse- and wasabi-flavored almonds.

Just looking at the bag made me feel healthy: "Irresistible snacking! Smart eating!" it declared. "Contains 20 grams of whole grain from brown rice, and 81 percent less saturated fat than potato chips." These crisps, made from almonds and brown rice, are also a suitable alternative to anyone allergic to wheat or gluten. Curious to try a chip made of nuts, I picked up two bags. They sounded full of promise, but were the puffy chip bags full of goodness - or disappointment? The moment of truth, when you read on.

A Doctor Dishes: Which "Superfoods" Are Worth the Cost?

LearnVest — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:15:00 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Most people you speak to these days are trying to stretch every dollar as far as possible - even the ones they spend buying apples and oranges.

Food prices are expected to increase yet again this year, and food manufacturers are making portions smaller without reducing prices. Not surprisingly, a recent Rasmussen poll found that 93 percent of adults report paying more for groceries now than they did a year ago.

So how can we supercharge our grocery dollars and get them to do overtime for us?

Yes, some foods are obviously a better nutritional deal than others (think apples vs. potato chips), but there’s another class of foods that blows the rest of the field away in terms of nutrients and health-protecting qualities: superfoods.

Superfoods can help prevent diabetes and heart disease, repair damage to your body’s cells, and more. But before you go piling them into your cart, know that some superfoods are better nutritional bargains than others. As a doctor and a mom, I’ve sleuthed out which ones are worth the extra cost in terms of their long-term health benefits. Below is the scoop on which ones may help you age better, ward off cancer, and more.

What to Know Before Buying Superfoods

Before we dive into what to buy, there are a few important things to remember about consuming these foods:

Eating foods fresh and in their natural state, especially fruits and vegetables (rather than in pill or powder supplement form), usually allows us to absorb the greatest amount of their nutrients. The way a superfood is processed or cooked can significantly lower its antioxidant content.
If the superfood can’t be eaten fresh, look for easy and appetizing recipes containing it. No matter how “super” a superfood may be, if you don’t know how to cook it, you’ll probably let it go to waste.

Are Superfoods "Good Buys" If I’m Shopping on a Budget?

Read on to find out.

The Secrets of the World's Healthiest Women

Health — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:45:10 PST

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

From pouring on the olive oil like the Greeks to slashing stress like the Scandinavians, what we
can learn from the happiest, slimmest, longest-living cultures around the globe.

The secret to a long, healthy life in America? According to longevity researchers, it may be to act like you live somewhere else.

It seems like every year another country's lifestyle is touted as the new magic bullet to cure us of obesity, heart disease, and premature death: for an unclogged heart, herd goats and down olive oil like a Mediterranean. Avoid breast cancer and live to 100 by dining on tofu, Japanese-style. Stay as happy as Norwegians by hunting elk and foraging for cowberries.

Health.com: Weight-Loss Secrets From Around the World

The places we're usually told to emulate are known as Blue Zones or Cold Spots. Blue Zones were pinpointed by explorer Dan Buettner and a team of longevity researchers and are described in his book The Blue Zones: Lessons For Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest. They're areas in Italy, Japan, Greece, California, and Costa Rica where the people have traditionally stayed healthy and active to age 100 or older.

Keep on reading for more great tips from around the globe.

Sprout Home Inspiration of the Week: White Bouquets

Stylelist Home — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:30:41 PST

I'm excited to present a post from one of my favorite sites, Stylelist Home.

One thing that I find beautiful about Winter is the calm that comes over me when I look at the fresh white snow blanketing the city, so regal, pure, and somewhat innocent. It changes the color palette of the world around you for a couple of months, which is bound to affect how you see things. Just like the seasonal weather change, my floral cravings can change accordingly. I get excited when an opportunity presents itself to create floral for a Winter wedding or a holiday arrangement where the juxtaposition of Winter whites can be explored and manipulated. I do not see it as a limited palette but instead a of study of form and texture with tonal contrast. You do not need an abundance of color to make a statement, sometimes less (color) is more. When you are creating your own floral piece or need to verbalize to a florist about what you are looking for, know that there are various shades of white. Remember the last time you painted something "white" and you were in awe of how many options there were for white? Some color chips might be completely void of pigment, but most have a hint of color, which can point to any direction in the color wheel. Selecting floral for your white bouquet can be a lot like selecting from those white paint chips. Keep in mind these hue differences when setting the tone for your arrangement.
Keep reading for more tips and gorgeous images of white bouquets!

15 Salty Snacks Under 150 Calories

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:34:00 PST

If you're craving something salty, don't reach for greasy potato chips. Here are 15 low-calorie healthy snacks that are sure to satisfy your salty desires.

Four-ounce snack-size container of low-fat cottage cheese: 81 calories, 459 mg of sodium
Salted cashews (16 nuts): 147 calories, 77 mg of sodium
One and a half cups of edamame in pods: 150 calories, 45 mg of sodium
Two and a half cups of oil-popped popcorn: 138 calories, 243 mg of sodium
A quarter of an avocado (80 calories, 4 mg of sodium) topped with one tablespoon salted sunflower seeds (47 calories, 33 mg of sodium): 127 calories, 37 mg of sodium

Continue reading to see 10 more salty snacks under 150 calories.

What's the Deal With Blue Corn?

FitSugar — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:15:23 PDT

I have a confession to make: I'm addicted to blue corn chips. You'll often find this Tostitos alternative in the health food section, but are they really healthier than a regular corn chip? Actually, they are!

Tortillas and chips made from ground blue corn pack more nutritional punch than white corn. Corn comes in many colors, including white, violet, blue, and black. The blue hue comes from anthocyanins, the same antioxidant pigments found in berries.

That's not the only benefit of going blue. Blue corn has about 20 percent more protein than the white variety, and it's better for your blood sugar. Since blue corn has a lower glycemic index, it's less likely to cause a spike in blood sugar, since the sugars are absorbed more slowly by the body.

In terms of calories, fat, and carbs, blue corn chips stack up similarly to yellow and white ones, so you'll still want to eat them in moderation. But at least you'll know you're getting something more from your snacks.

11 Ways to Cut Calories From a Lunchtime Sandwich

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 01:14:04 PST

Want a balanced lunch that offers fiber and protein? A sandwich has your back, but choose the wrong add-ons and condiments, and it's a whole day's worth of calories in a few bites. Here are ways to cut calories from this favorite lunchable - they may not be huge amounts, but keep in mind that little bits definitely add up.

Whole-wheat pita (170) instead of two slices of whole-wheat bread (200): saves 30 calories
Spinach wrap (180) instead of a sun-dried tomato and basil wrap (210): saves 30 calories
Two pieces of Romaine lettuce (10) instead of a whole-wheat wrap (120): saves 110 calories
Go open-faced: Eat one side of a whole wheat roll (190) instead of the whole roll (380): saves 190 calories
Two ounces of sliced roasted turkey (60) instead of two ounces of sliced ham (70): saves 10 calories

Keep reading to find out other ways to save sandwich calories.

15 Smart Things You Can Do With $100

Business Insider — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:15:47 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Business Insider story here on Savvy!

At first blush, $100 is only $100. It's so easy to fritter away on eating out, entertainment, or booking a trip online.

But you should never underestimate how far $100 can go, even in this economy.

"It's smarter to put that money away because once it's in your pocket, it's pretty much gone," says Joel Larsen, a certified financial planner based in Davis, Calif.

No matter where you are in your financial life, we've compiled 15 tips to help you stretch that Benjamin.

Open a college savings account

"A lot of people will say, 'it's only $100,'" says Larsen, but if you were to save $100 a month over 20 years at a 7% rate of return, you would amass $52,092.67. Impressive, right?

Depending on your financial picture, you'll need to shop around to find the right plan based on investment performances, expenses, and tax exemptions.

Andrew Schrage, founder of the personal finance site, Money Crashers, recommends looking into a 529 College Savings plan set up by governments or colleges to help parents save.

"One of the primary benefits of a 529 savings plan is that it offers tax protection from the federal government," he says. "Also, you may be eligible for tax protection from the state government."

Read on for more.