FitSugar

Partner Yoga Pose: Seated Butterfly Lounge

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Keeping your hips flexible helps prevent injury, and here's a great hip stretch you can do with a partner. It's similar to the Seated Straddle Lounge, but for this one, the person on the bottom is in Butterfly pose with her feet together and her knees out wide.

Music: "Shiva Shambho" by Namaste

To see a detailed description of how to do this hip-opening partner pose read more.

Partner #1 sits on the ground, bends her knees, and places the soles of her feet together in Butterfly.
Partner #2 gently sits down on Partner #1's sacrum at the base of her spine (aka back of pelvis), and begins to lie down on Partner #1's back. Partner #2 should move slowly because this is a really intense stretch for Partner #2's hips. If it feels comfortable, Partner #2 can extend her arms overhead and straighten her legs.
Both partners talk to each other, making small adjustments if necessary.
When either partner is ready to get out of the pose, Partner #2 lifts her torso and stands up.
Then each partner switches roles.

Fit's Tip: If Partner #1 has tight hips and cannot fold forward, then Partner #2 can squat behind Partner #1, facing her back. Then instead of using her entire body to add weight (as in the video), Partner #2 can place both her hands on Partner #1's thighs, gently pushing downward. She can also lean her chest into Partner #1's back to encourage Partner #1's torso to lean forward slightly.

Avoiding Peanut Butter? Try These Alternatives

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:00:00 -0800

This whole peanut butter recall has really put a damper on my peanut-butter-loving life. I know not all peanut butter has been recalled, but truthfully, I've used avoiding peanut butter as an excuse to branch out. One positive outcome from this salmonella scare is that I rediscovered my love for crunchy almond butter, and recently tried walnut butter for the first time.

So don't fret about losing peanut butter. To see the nutritional breakdown of some interestingly tasty peanut-free alternatives read more.

Serving Size = 2 tbsp	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Saturated Fat (g)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Sunflower Seed Butter	185	15.3	1.6	1	8.8	3	6.3
Sunflower Seed Butter (salted)	185	15.3	1.6	166	8.8	3	6.3
Almond Butter	190	16	1.5	0	6	4	7
Cashew Butter	190	15	3	0	10	2	5
Soy Nut Butter	200	14	2	0	8	2	10
Soy Nut Butter (salted)	200	14	2	150	8	2	10
Macadamia Butter	230	24	4	0	4	3	2
Macadamia Butter With Cashews	214	21	3.4	1	6	2.23	3.7
Walnut Butter With Cashews	205	19	2	0	4	2	5
Hempseed Butter	145	9	5	10	7	1	11
Pumpkin Seed Butter	200	16	3	80	2	2	10
Hazelnut Butter	180	17	1	0	5	3	4
Golden Pea Butter	160	10	1	0	16	2	4

Tell me your favorite peanut butter alternative in the comments sections below.

Nutty For Nutritional Info on Nut Butters

FitSugar — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:30:00 -0800

When I was a child, I loved peanut butter. In college I experimented with almond butter. Cashew butter, which I dabble in every once in a while, is just heavenly. My girls, however, only like peanut butter, which made me curious - are all nut butters created equal? Does it matter which nut butter you choose? Is one more healthy than the other?

To see a side-by-side nutritional comparison of many popular nut butters read more.

This chart compares creamy, organic, all-natural nut butters. Essentially, the ingredients are mostly limited to nuts, just nuts.

2 tbsp.	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Saturated Fat (g)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Peanut Butter (no salt)	190	16	2	0	7	3	8
Peanut Butter (salted)	190	16	2	80	7	3	8
Almond Butter (no salt)	190	16	1.5	0	6	4	7
Cashew Butter (no salt)	190	15	3	0	10	2	5
Soy Nut Butter (no salt)	200	14	2	0	8	2	10
Soynut Butter (salted)	200	14	2	150	8	2	10
Macadamia Nut Butter (no salt)	230	24	4	0	4	3	2

Soynut butter has the most protein, but almond butter has the most fiber and least amount of saturated fat. They're all pretty similar though, except for macadamia nut butter, which tastes so good but should really only be a splurge. So I guess it's all about personal preference when deciding which is better for smearing.

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Peanut Butter Is Made From Peanuts, Right?

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 03:30:00 -0800

Peanut butter is quite possibly a perfect food. You can buy it just about anywhere, it's tasty, and a great source of protein.

But beware - not all peanut butters are created equal. You want to make sure you're buying the natural kind - we're talking just peanuts. Other brands you grew up with like Jif and Skippy contain sugar, hydrogenated vegetable oil and a stabilizer to keep the oil from separating. Gross.

In the U.S., peanut butter must contain at least 90% peanuts to be called peanut butter. That's why some companies call theirs peanut spread.

You can buy natural peanut butter at health food stores. Look for the jars that have the oil separated on the top - that's the good stuff. Or some stores sell peanut butter in bulk, so the oil is already mixed in for you.

Fit's Tip: I'll admit - it's annoying when you open the jar, and the oil is separated on the top. When you try to mix it up, the oil overflows and spills everywhere. Try warming the opened jar a little bit in the microwave - then it's easier to mix.

Peanut Butter vs. Almond Butter

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:00:00 -0700

A reader recently wrote in asking, between her two favorites, which was better: peanut butter or almond butter? The question of "better" might boil down to a sipmle question of taste, but like the reader, I enjoy the flavors of both.

I decided to do a side-by-side comparison of these popular spreads to see if they differ much nutritionally. If you're curious what you should be putting on your toast in the morning, read more.

This chart compares creamy unsalted versions of each nutty spread, and the percentages are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

	2 tbsp. peanut butter	2 tbsp. almond butter
Calories	190	190
Total Fat (g)	16	16
Saturated Fat (g)	2	1.5
Carbs (g)	7	6
Fiber (g)	3	4
Protein (g)	8	7
Calcium	1%	8%
Iron	3%	6%
Vitamin E	14%	40%
Folate	6%	6%

Nutrition-wise, it looks like almond butter offers a bit more, especially in terms of vitamin E. I will continue to eat both, and I hope you do too, since both nut butters offer a good source of protein and a fair amount of fiber. Remember, a serving of each is only two tablespoons, so watch those portions.

Healthy Recipe: Soy Nut Butter Muddy Buddies

FitSugar — Sat, 02 May 2009 03:30:00 -0700

If you're a huge peanut butter lover, then you're going to love this satisfyingly crunchy snack. It's actually made with soy nut butter, which tastes a lot like peanut butter, and contains the same amount of protein, fiber, and calories, but contains less fat. This recipe comes from an old friend, and it's a healthier variation of the Muddy Buddies recipe you can find on a box of Rice Chex cereal. I omitted the chocolate chips and used a little honey and raisins instead to add natural sweetness. I also substituted Earth Balance margarine for the butter, and cut out a cup of powdered sugar. It makes a great party snack, a topping for your yogurt, or pack a small bag for an afternoon nibble.

To see my recipe read more.

Healthy Recipe: Soy Nut Butter Muddy Buddies
An old friend's recipe

Ingredients

1 cup soy nut butter
2 tbsp honey
1/4 cup Earth Balance margarine
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup raisins
9 cups Rice Crunch-Ems cereal (or Rice Chex)
1/2 cup powdered sugar (optional)

Directions

In a microwaveable bowl combine soy nut butter, honey, and margarine. Microwave uncovered on High 1 minute, stir. Microwave 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla.
In a larger bowl, place the cereal. Pour soy nut butter mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated.
Pour into 2-gallon food-storage plastic bag. Add powdered sugar. Seal bag and shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Pour into container and store in the refrigerator.

Makes 18 half cup servings.

Print recipe with images | without images

Here's the nutritional info of this recipe, compared with that of the original Rice Chex Muddy Buddies recipe. As you can see, this version is slightly healthier.

Ingredient	Calories	Fat (g)	Sat Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
1 cup soy nut butter	1207	78.1	10.6	0	994	71	21.3	49.7
2 tbsp honey	120	0	0	0	0	34	0	0
1/4 cup Earth Balance	400	44	18	0	480	0	0	0
1 tsp vanilla	12	0	0	0	0	.5	0	0
1/2 cup raisins	217	.4	0	0	0	57.4	2.7	2.2
9 cups Rice Crunch-Ems	990	0	0	0	1,350	234	18	36
1/2 cup powdered sugar	233	.1	0	0	0	59.8	0	0
1/2 cup serving of Soy Nut Butter Muddy Buddies	176.6	6.8	1.6	0	156.9	25.3	2.3	4.9
1/2 cup serving of Original Chex Mix Muddy Buddies Recipe	210	9	4	5	170	29	1	3

Snack Attack: Apple, Peanut Butter, and Pumpkin Seed Stacks

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:00:15 -0700

Take advantage of Fall's harvest and pick up some fresh apples for this healthy and delicious snack. The apples will not only satisfy your sweet tooth and your need to crunch, but they're also a great source of fiber. I used Pink Lady apples for this recipe, but you can use any variety you like. Munch on these stackers for breakfast or a light lunch, or cut the recipe in half if you just want to make a little snack.

To learn how to whip up this quick treat and see the nutritional info for it keep on reading

Snack Attack: Creamy Peanut Butter Dip and Fruit Slices

FitSugar — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:00:00 -0700

One of my favorite go-to snacks is apples and peanut butter, or ants on a log, but a serving of peanut butter (two tablespoons) contains 180 calories. So if you're watching your calorie intake, here's a way to enjoy that creamy, nutty taste without all the calories. It's made with nonfat Greek yogurt so it's creamy, low in fat, full of protein, and I swear it tastes like peanut butter ice cream!

To find out how to make this creamy peanut butter dip read more.

Take one 5.3-ounce container of nonfat Oikos Greek Vanilla yogurt.
Mix in two tbsp. peanut butter (I prefer crunchy), 1/2 tbsp. honey, and 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon.
Serve with slices of apple, banana, and pear. Store unused portion in the fridge.

Makes four, two-tbsp. servings. Each serving contains 80.5 calories, 3.75 grams of fat, .5 grams of saturated fat, .75 grams of fiber, and 5.5 grams of protein.

More Peanut Butter Involved in Salmonella Scare

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:00:00 -0800

Last week we learned that peanut butter might be the culprit in the latest salmonella scare. First, King Nut and Parnell's Pride peanut butter were recalled, but now the list grows as more companies pull their products from the shelves. The FDA has traced the tainted peanut butter to a Georgia plant owned by Peanut Corporation of America, which distributes peanut butter and peanut flavor to numerous companies. Since six people have died from salmonella poisoning, the FDA is taking no chances and advising everyone to stay away from all products containing peanut butter including cookies, crackers, cakes, energy bars, and ice cream.

Some known foods to avoid are Little Debbie snacks, Kellogg Keebler crackers, and some Luna, Clif, and ZonePerfect bars. The companies who make Jif, Smuckers, Eagle Brand, and Peter Pan peanut butter said their products are safe.

For a complete list of products involved in the recall, check out the FDA's website.

Is Peanut Butter Spreading Salmonella?

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:10:07 -0800

Last week, yet another salmonella scare swept the nation, and as of today, almost 400 people have been affected. Since September, cases have been found in 42 states, but the majority are focused in California, Ohio, and Minnesota. Although Minnesota officials think the culprit in their state may be King Nut peanut butter, they haven't connected this product to the national outbreak.

Investigators discovered the salmonella in a five-pound container of King Nut peanut butter in a nursing home. This company doesn't make its own peanut butter, but instead orders it from Peanut Corporation of America, based in Lynchburg, VA. King Nut then sells to food-service providers that supply food to hospitals and other institutional facilities, so it's not sold in retail stores. For safety purposes, King Nut has voluntarily recalled its creamy peanut butter sold under the names King Nut and Parnell's Pride with a lot code that begins with the numeral 8.

The CDC, Agriculture Department, Food and Drug Administration, and state health officials plan to continue the investigation so they can give the public more details about the source of the outbreak. Since the salmonella was found in an open container of peanut butter, cross-contamination may also be a possibility. For more details, check out the FDA's press release.

Source