FitSugar

5 Things: Cherries

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:00:55 -0700

I've noticed that days are slowly becoming shorter, but instead of mourning the passing of another Summer, I am eating all the wonderful fruits the season has to offer.

On the top of my list today are cherries, and here are five reasons you should pick some up today.

Bing and Ranier cherries are truly nature's candy. Sweet and delicious, these two types of cherries are perfect for snacking and can satisfy a sweet tooth without racking up a huge caloric gain. One cup contains only 87 calories.
One cup of cherries also provide three grams of fiber.

There are three more reasons to love cherries, so keep reading.

Cherries for President's Day

FitSugar — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:35:00 -0800

They say good ol' George admitted to chopping down his father's cherry tree because he could not tell a lie. I am not sure if this bit of folklore is a lie itself, but cherries persevere as the symbol of President's Day. Growing up, my mother always made a cherry pie to commemorate the day, which in the middle of Winter seems one of the best ways to use this Summer fruit. Frozen cherries are great way to take advantage of the nutrients abundant in this small treat.

Cherries are high in the antioxidant beta carotene, as well as vitamin C and potassium. In fact, drinking cherry juice might help alleviate post-workout pain. Be sure to eat the skins, because that is where the majority of the nutritious bits are found. Cherries are versatile, and you don't have eat them just as a dessert. As an addition to savory sauces, cherries pair well with pork.

Tell me in the comments section below if you are celebrating today with a cherry pie or some other cherry concoction like PartySugar's Bing Cherry Margaritas.

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Don't Just Wear Red, Eat It Too!

FitSugar — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 02:30:00 -0800

Discover the power of eating heart-healthy red foods during the first-ever National Eat Red Week, Feb. 4-10, 2008 in support of Heart Health Month.

Why? Well, studies from the University of Michigan suggest that the pigments that produce the red color in many fruits and vegetables like fresh cherries and tomatoes, are actually powerful disease-fighting antioxidants that may help reduce inflammation associated with atherosclerosis - hardening of the arteries - and reduce certain risk factors for heart disease.

To learn more and to donate $1 to the American Heart Rate Association by simply clicking a button (no cost to you) visit Choosecherries.com.

Have you eaten any red foods today? I am curious so tell me in the comments section below.

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Not So Peachy: Pesticides and Peaches

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 15:45:00 -0700

One of my favorite summer fruits is the peach. When I bite into a perfectly ripe peach, I am in heaven. I just read a new report on pesticides and produce put out by the
Environmental Working Group (EWG). They listed peaches as having the highest pesticide load out of 42 fruits and vegetables they tested.

The EWG, a not-for-profit research group, ranked popular produce based on the results of nearly 43,000 tests for pesticides on produce collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between 2000 and 2004.

Here's the produce list that EWG created, ranked in order of greatest pesticide load to least.

1 Peaches (highest pesticide load)
2 Apples
3 Sweet Bell Peppers
4 Celery
5 Nectarines
6 Strawberries
7 Cherries
8 Pears
9 Grapes - Imported
10 Spinach

Interested in seeing the rest of the list? then read more
11 Lettuce
12 Potatoes
13 Carrots
14 Green Beans
15 Hot Peppers
16 Cucumbers
17 Raspberries
18 Plums
19 Grapes - Domestic
20 Oranges
21 Grapefruit
22 Tangerine
23 Mushrooms
24 Cantaloupe
25 Honeydew Melon
26 Tomatoes
27 Sweet Potatoes
28 Watermelon
29 Winter Squash
30 Cauliflower
31 Blueberries
32 Papaya
33 Broccoli
34 Cabbage
35 Bananas
36 Kiwi
37 Sweet peas - frozen
38 Asparagus
39 Mango
40 Pineapples
41 Sweet Corn - frozen
42 Avocado
43 Onions 1 (lowest pesticide load)

While washing and rinsing fresh produce may reduce levels of some pesticides, it does not eliminate them. Peeling also reduces exposures, but valuable nutrients often go down the drain with the peel. The best option is to eat a varied diet, wash all produce, and choose organic when possible to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.

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Low Fat Banana Bread with Chocolate, Cherries and Walnuts

FitSugar — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 03:30:00 -0700

I had two very large, very rotten bananas sitting on my kitchen counter. When life gives you rotten bananas you make banana bread (or smoothies, but I was in a baking mood).

I wanted to try to make a low fat version and I found this non-fat version, but since I added chocolate and it also contains nuts the entire package has some fat in it. Since the recipe is vegan it contains no butter and no eggs, it is definitely low in cholesterol.

The bread is tasty, but a little dense and a little dry. I want to toast it and smear it with butter, but that defeats the purpose doesn't it. It is great for breakfast or a snack, but I wouldn't take this banana bread to a party or give it as a gift. To occasions like those I prefer to bring something a bit more decadent.

To check out the recipe, just read more

Low Fat Banana Bread with Dried Cherries, Chocolate, and Walnuts
adapted from Fat Free Vegan

3 over-ripe bananas
2 tbsp. lemon juice
4 ounces unsweetened apple sauce
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
2 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup tart dried cherries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 325 F. Spray loaf pan with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, mash the bananas and add the lemon juice, apple sauce, and sugar. Stir well to combine.
In a separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture, and stir just until the mixture is well-combined.
Spread the mixture evenly in the pan and bake until a toothpick or knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 40 - 50 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.

Note from Fat Free Vegan: Fat-free quickbreads like this really benefit from being allowed to cool completely, which is why they often taste better the next day. The crust, which is chewier than breads with oil, will gather moisture and softness over time. Ignore the tempting aroma; pleasure delayed will be pleasure multiplied.

Print recipe with images | without images

Food Review: Bear Naked Chocolaty Cherry Granola Bar

FitSugar — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:00:22 -0700

Granola bars make great pre and post-workout snacks, so I always keep some in my gym bag to nosh on. Since variety is the spice of life, I like to try out news ones, and recently sampled some Bear Naked Grain-ola Bars.

Each bar is made with 15 to 17 grams of whole grains, with no hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, or preservatives. To find out what I thought of the Chocolaty Cherry flavor, keep reading

Ease Sore Muscles with Cherry Juice

FitSugar — Thu, 03 May 2007 11:45:00 -0700

Cherry juice has long been know for its tartness but what about for its pain relief?

Research out of the University of Vermont found that drinking a bottle of the cherry juice blend twice a day for three days before exercise and for four days afterwards eased muscle soreness compared to those who did not drink the juice blend. So if your favorite excuse for not working out is getting sore, stop your complaining and invest in some cherry juice or yummy fresh cherries (my favorite).

Fittingly Mad: I'm Worth More Than a Couple of Cherry Tomatoes

FitSugar — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 06:00:00 -0800

Going out to eat is usually so great. You get all dressed up, catch up with your friends, eat amazing food, maybe have a drink or two - What could be better, right?

Well, I've been trying to eat more veggies since the New Year, so lately when I go out, I always order a salad with my meal.

Some salads are a meal all their own, and some salads, well, shouldn't even be given the dignity or respect of being called a salad.

The other day, I went to a fairly nice restaurant. The waitress brought me my "garden salad," and when I looked at it, all I saw was iceberg lettuce (gasp) and 3 cherry tomatoes. THREE! And they weren't even sweet or firm or sliced. I think they forgot the garden part.

This was the sorriest excuse for a salad I had ever seen. Want to hear the rest? Then read more

Where were the vibrant red, orange, and yellow peppers? The fresh, mouth-watering tomatoes? And what about the smooth and satisfying cucumbers? Not to mention the shredded carrots and beets, or the crescent-shaped celery.

And what's a salad without fresh and tender baby salad greens? A salad is just so much better topped with apples, dried cranberries, and walnuts. Don't even let me get started on the watery salad dressing.

No wonder people hate salads. If I had to eat that boring salad all the time - I'd refuse. It's hardly worth it, I mean, the whole point is to be eating a whole array of nutritious veggies. Limp lettuce does NOT count.

Fit's Tips: Learn from me - When you order a garden salad, ask what's in it before you order it. And see if you can add some of your favorite vegetables to it, so you don't just get a pathetic plate full of nothing much.

Make Your Own Cereal With MojaMix

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:00:56 -0800

Bored with Breakfast? MojaMix allows you to choose from an array of nutritious nibbles, so you can make your own personally customized cereal. It's really simple to do. Just choose your cereal base (granola, flakes, Os, etc.) that costs $4.99. Then choose as many dried fruits as you want including mango and goji berries, and you pay between $.40 and $1.30 for each, depending on what you choose. Then add nuts and seeds (they even have chia seeds), which cost between $.30 and $.90 for each. Then if you want, throw in some extras like raw cacao nibs. You get to name the cereal made especially by you, and when it arrives in the mail, it comes with the nutritional info on the bag.

See what my bowl of Good Morning Medley looks like when you read more.

Here's the cereal I made with these ingredients: Three Brothers (Wheat Flakes, Rye Flakes, Oat Flakes), Mango, Raisins, Almonds, Cashew Nuts, Cranberries, Blueberries, Cherries, Sunflower Seeds, and Walnuts. This hearty cereal is delicious with milk, yogurt, or heated up like oatmeal.

Pie Breakdown

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 10:15:00 -0800

To many of us, Thanksgiving means pies - lots and lots of pies. From apple pie to pumpkin pie, you're most likely going to encounter at least a slice or two this holiday season. When you do, use this breakdown to make the best decisions about which pies you could (and shouldn't) indulge in.

To see the pie breakdown, just read more

Pie (1 slice 1/8 of pie)	Calories	Fat (g)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Sugar (g)
Apple Pie	410	23	30	48	23
Banana Cream Pie	460	29	95	43	26
Blueberry Pie	390	23	30	43	14
Cherry Pie	440	23	30	55	20
Chocolate Mousse Pie	247	15	437	28	0
Coconut Cream Pie	403	27	135	35	24
Key Lime Pie	430	21	140	54	43
Lemon Meringue Pie	330	11	45	56	41
Pecan Pie	503	25	95	63	31
Pumpkin Pie	316	15	50	46	27
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie	400	23	45	45	19

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