FitSugar

Starbucks: Make Morning Good Again?

FitSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:00:00 PDT

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

Dunkin' Donuts Is Banking on All-Day Sandwiches

Susannah Chen — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:15:17 PST

Looks like Starbucks and McDonald's aren't the only two chains who want a piece of breakfast between bread: starting this week, Dunkin' Donuts introduces two new sandwich offerings, to be offered at DD locations throughout the day - including breakfast, of course.

The new sandwiches will "be familiar, but with a twist," said Stan Frankenthaler, Dunkin' Brands' executive chef and head of product innovation. The Ham & Cheese Bakery Sandwich contains Black Forest ham, white cheddar, and a creamy dijon mustard sauce; Turkey, Cheddar, & Bacon is made with turkey, white cheddar, bacon, and ancho chipotle sauce. Both are made to order on a croissant, bagel, or the new baked-fresh-daily French roll.

The announcement of these all-day sandwiches arrives just as Taco Bell rolls out its First Meal menu of breakfast items. Still, Dunkin' is quick to explain what differentiates the brand's ham and bacon sandwiches from similar breakfast sandwich offerings already on the market. "We think our bakery leadership is a real differentiator in our brand," Frankenthaler told us. "Our guests already know us and love us for our fresh bagels (we're the number one retailer of bagels in the United States) and croissants."

Providing all-day options is "extremely important for Dunkin’ Donuts," he added. "Breakfast sandwiches are popular with our guests, and they like the flexibility to enjoy them throughout the day."

With first Taco Bell and now Dunkin' Donuts taking the mornings to another level, it's clear that the fast-food AM wars won't be letting up anytime soon. Will you try a new sandwich from Dunkin' Donuts?

Source

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.

Foodie Friday Link Time: Better-For-You Gingerbread Recipe

Susi May — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:37:26 PST

Recipe makeover: Gingerbread! How to make it healthier - Health
Don't get manipulated at the market! How to navigate the grocery aisles - Prevention
Healthiest menu items from 2011 - Daily Spark
Plate up these superfoods of December - Huff Po
Add sweet potatoes to your cinnamon rolls for tasty results - Vegetarian Times
Quinoa for breakfast? You betcha! - Self

Yummy Links: From Irish Breakfasts to Austin's Restaurants

YumSugar — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 10:20:29 PST

Serve an Irish breakfast this weekend. - Chow
Giant whoopie pie pan: love it or hate it? - Baking Bites
A table at Top Chef's restaurant wars is up for bid in a charity auction. - Eater
Make pasta e broccoli for dinner tonight. - Serious Eats
Michael Voltaggio and Ludo Lefebvre prove they've paid their dues as chefs. - Daily Dish
Where to eat bone marrow in San Francisco. - Grub Street SF
Inside the making of an ice cream cookbook. - The Feast SF
Food bloggers: learn how to use Google recipes to your advantage. - Huffington Post Food
If you're heading to SXSW, here are Austin's top eateries. - ZagatBuzz

Free Online Fitness Journals to Track Your Progress

Heather Dale — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 01:30:58 PST

I like to think I'm disciplined with my weekly workout schedule, but sometimes I need some additional coercing to get my butt to the gym. Online progress tracking tools are great for keeping you motivated, and for holding you accountable if your healthy habits happen to take a nosedive. With the holidays just around the corner, many of us will be on the road visiting friends and family, making it increasingly difficult to keep up with our fitness routines. So we've rounded up five fitness tracking websites to help keep you on track - and they're all free!

Keep reading to check them out!

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.

Boulder, CO: A Food Mecca in the Rockies

Susannah Chen — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 05:10:09 PDT

Recently, I found myself with the prospect of being in Boulder, CO, for a long weekend. It was an opportunity that I seized faster than a dog would take leftovers. Aside from being home to the University of Colorado's flagship college campus, Boulder's also known for its food-centric, health-focused, and highly educated population - last year, it was even named America's Foodiest Town by Bon Appétit. I traveled with a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty, curious to find out if this town at the foot of the mountains lived up to all its hype. Read on to see where my stomach led me in Boulder.

Savory Sight: Traditional Irish Breakfast

OnSugar Blog — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 03:42:04 PDT

We've never sampled a traditional Irish breakfast, but after this visual from Yoo Eatz, we'll be on the hunt for something similar.

Since moving into our neighborhood 2 1/2 years ago, mieko14 and I have become decent regulars at a local breakfast spot, The Village Grill. Every time we've gone I was always intrigued by the Traditional Irish Breakfast on their menu. . .but always opted for pancakes and a side of corned beef hash (which, in my opinion, is the best in town). I finally decided to try it a couple weekends ago and now I'm kicking myself for not doing so earlier. In hindsight, it should've been a no-brainer: eggs, three kinds of meat products, beans, etc. How could it possibly not be good? Let's just say the corned beef hash now has some serious competition.

Want more? Start following Yoo Eatz, then get to work on your own food blog! You could wind up featured here.

Subway Hopes to Wake Up Breakfast Sales

YumSugar — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:15:48 PDT

Yet another chain is vying for a piece of the pie in the ongoing fast food breakfast wars. Next month, Subway will roll out a breakfast menu, with a focus on low-fat egg and cheese sandwiches.

Options will include a Western egg and cheese; black forest ham, egg, and cheese; double bacon, egg, and cheese; and steak, egg, and cheese, all made with cage-free eggs.

Patrons will be able to customize whether they want egg whites or regular eggs, light whole-wheat English muffins, flatbread, or the chain's signature hoagie bread; and condiments or vegetables available in all other Subway sandwiches.

The breakfast offerings, which are priced from $1.75 for a basic English muffin melt to $6 for a foot-long breakfast sandwich, seem to reflect a trend toward personalized morning food and drinks. Do the new Subway breakfast items seem like something you'd order?

Source