FitSugar

Not a Puzzle to Me: Jigsaw Health Bars

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 14:00:00 PST

If you have been reading FitSugar, then you already know that I am a bit of a health/protein bar fanatic. I wouldn't say I am picky, but bars are so hit and miss when it comes to taste and it's just too hard to tell from the packaging. Energy bars can be tasteless -- Apparently it's just not easy making a quick, healthy bar taste good.

Jigsaw ($2.97/bar) goes beyond that as they believe you shouldn’t be satisfied with health bars tasting just “good". Well after twenty-two versions, they think they've got it perfect... all the nutrients you need, none of the sugar found in other bars (they are sweetened with sugar alcohol) and a delicious taste. I am even more impressed with their 100% full-refund satisfaction guarantee, which shows that they stand behind their product.

Tested by me and my picky (and sensitive to texture) taste buds, I can honestly tell you the bars are good and I'll even go as far to say that the coconut almond bar is downright tasty.

What's more? Jigsaw Bars Contain No Gluten, Lactose, Soy Protein, or Casein but they do contain Meg-3 (omega-3 essential fatty acids sourced from fish) and OptiNutrin (immune-enhancing glyconutrients from mushrooms). All good to hear.

You can buy them directly from the Jigsaw site. Guess what else? Since FitSugar readers are so special, Jigsaw would like to offer you all $5.00 off your first purchase online! Just enter the code FitSugar at checkout! Enjoy!

A Reader Recipe: Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

Fit Community — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:27:50 PST

If you've got a cookie craving, you're in luck: FitSugar readers Pure2raw recently shared this gluten-free chocolate chip cookie cake with us in our Healthy Recipe group.

Everyone loves cookie cake, right? We have a chocolate chip cookie cake that is not only gluten-free but egg- and dairy-free, too. It is full of flavor with a great soft, cakelike texture. Plus the three-ingredient coconut frosting is too good not to try.

Get the recipe after the break!

A Reader Recipe: Chunky Cherry-Chocolate Granola Bites

Fit Community — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:28:09 PST

FitSugar reader JuicyNoelle came up with this special cookie for Valentine's Day; she posted the recipe in our Healthy Recipe group.

Tied with a festive pink ribbon and a little love, I’m hoping these cookies will be perfect for Valentine's Day. The whole-grain oats, nuts, and cherries in these cookies add heartiness, while the melted dark-chocolate chunks deliver bursts of richness. The chia seeds pack a nutty punch, and they are rich in fiber and omega-3s, too - perfect for supporting vibrant hair and skin during these cold weeks of February.

Learn more about the recipe after the break!

A Little Love Goes a Long Way: Basic French Macarons

Sara Yoo — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:00:30 PST

Perhaps it's the rainbow of cheerful hues, the adorable two-bite size, or - most likely - the perfect crisp-chewy texture, but I just can't get enough of French macarons. Even when I'm stuffed to the gills, I can always make room for these tiny, delicate pastries.

True, macarons can be temperamental (meringue is the capricious culprit), but they do respond wonderfully to patience, encouragement, and a loving touch. So before you dismiss the idea of making these little lovelies at home, we've found a basic recipe that breaks down the uncooperative veneer of the elusive macaron.

Although part of the same happy pastry family, the French macaron should not be confused with the coconut macaroon. They are similar in concept, but differ greatly in execution: while both entail adding dry ingredients to a delicate egg white meringue, the one "o" macaron uses finely ground almonds as its base and requires much more gentle handling.

Much like a first date, there's a good chance that your first batch could end awkwardly. As in love, you simply pick yourself up and try again. Once you begin to understand the macaron's nature - its singular texture, its response to your oven, its personality in your climate - suddenly it's like the realization that you both enjoy the same rom-com movies and takeout Chinese: everything just works.

Ready for the challenge? Read on for the recipe.

Molly Sims's Approach to Preventing Stretch Marks Is Internal

LilSugar — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:04:22 PST

While your odds of developing stretch marks during pregnancy are (for the most part) left to fate outside of your control, Molly Sims is following a diet rich in good-for-you fatty acids to improve her odds of avoiding them. Molly is a follower of Lori Bregman's Rooted For Life program, a holistic approach to pregnancy and motherhood. Today on her blog, the 4-month pregnant mama-to-be shared some of her menu highlights, which include:

Fish, olive, coconut, canola, hempseed, and flaxseed oils
Hemp, flax, sesame, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds
Almond and nut butters
Salmon and cod
Avocados
Split peas
Lentils
Collard Greens

Other celeb moms who have shared their secrets to avoiding the dreaded stretch marks include Ali Landry, who's a devoted user of (and spokesperson for) Palmer's Cocoa Butter, and Victoria Beckham, who favored the pricey Elemis Japanese Camellia Oil last year.

Do you think that stretch marks are best treated from the inside or out? Do you have any other great tips and tricks for avoiding the battle scars of pregnancy?

If You're Craving Girl Scout Cookies, Try These Instead

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:13:50 PST

It's Girl Scout Cookie time! Noshing on these fund-raising treats seems like an American pastime, but it can be challenging to keep a snack session of these seasonal sweets in check. If you can enjoy your cookies in a reasonable manner, then good for you! But if you're looking for a way to scratch that sugary itch without killing your healthy eating agenda, here are some healthier alternatives.

Do-Si-Dos
Two-cookie serving: 120 calories, five grams of fat, seven grams of sugar

Quick Fix: The Larabar Peanut Butter Cookie is a perfect substitute since it's so filling - I usually only eat half of a bar at a time. One bar contains 220 calories, seven grams of protein, and four grams of fiber. Made out of dried dates, one bar equals one half serving of fruit. There are 18 grams of sugar in this bar, but the sugar content is not added; it naturally occurs in the dates. The other two ingredients in this bar are peanuts and salt.

DIY Fix: Make your own tasty peanut butter treat! Blend a little peanut butter, apple sauce, and raisins for a sweet, satisfying, and nutritious homemade spread. Two tablespoons of this peanut butter raisin spread offers almost five grams of protein and two grams of fiber.

Don't see your fave cookie? Keep on reading!

Best of 2011: The Year's Biggest Health Food Trends

Michele Foley — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 03:21:27 PST

When talking health food trends, last year was all: ancient grains, overnight oats, and gluten-free goodness. This year's biggest health food trends? Here's a hint: chia pets, the godfather of fitness, and pina coladas.

Coconut milk: With recent studies calling into question the benefits of soy, people were on hunt this for a dairy-free alternative that wasn't linked to breast cancer. While almond and rice milk are old favorites, they lack the richness and sweetness that soy does. Enter: coconut milk beverage. Not as thick and rich as the kind of canned coconut milk used in curries, coconut milk beverage is great in smoothies and ice cream; it's also great over cereal, in coffee, or on its own.
Pressed juice: It seems that Odwalla just isn't fresh enough! Not since the early days of Jack Lalanne has pressed juicing seen such a heyday. Once looked at as some sort of hippie juice, everyone - even Starbucks - is getting in on the pressed-juice craze. All of Hollywood seems to be juicing, too: stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Richie, and Olivia Wilde are regularly spotted with their carrot-beet-apple-and-green-stuff blends. Are you a juice-head? Then definitely check out our recipes for pressed root veggie juice and green juice.
Chia seeds: Move over flax, there's a new seed in town! Chia seeds (yep, the same kind used to decorate those wildly adored, '80s novelty gift, chia pets) are everywhere this year. Sprinkle them on yogurt, add them to a bread mix, or even toss them in a dressing - there really is no end to what chia seeds can be used for. The health claim to fame? Chia seeds are high in protein, fiber, calcium, antioxidants, and omega-3s - zing!

Source: Flickr user littlebluehen, Source

A Reader Recipe: Double Chocolate Cookie Dough Protein Balls

Fit Community — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:59:24 PST

Here's a sweet Paleo-friendly treat from reader AllieNic. She posted this cookie dough ball recipe in our Healthy Recipe group.

I was totally inspired by Heather’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Balls, that I decided to make my own - a little different, of course because that’s how I roll. I grain-free-i-fied them, making them a little more Paleo. Not totally though, because I still used whey protein powder - but it’s hydrolyzed whey - if that makes them better. You could easily replace the whey protein powder with unsweetened cocoa powder and they’d be just as ah-mah-zing.

Ingredients
9 dates, pitted
1 1/4 cup raw almonds
3/4 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut
2 Tbsp maple syrup
2 Tbsp coconut oil
1/2 tsp salt
3 scoops chocolate whey protein, OR 2 to 3 Tbsp cocoa powder
1/3 cup chocolate chips

For the rest of the recipe check out her blog Frisky Lemon. Share your own healthy recipes in our Healthy Recipe group, and we may feature yours on our homepage!

Join Us For a Virtual Cookie Swap!

YumSugar — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:14:47 PST

All that holiday gifting is only half the merriment of the holidays. The rest of it - in our opinion, at least! - comes from the joy of making and savoring special holiday treats that only come once a year. The minute Thanksgiving passed, we move on to dreaming about all the holiday dessert possibilities, and there are simply too many on our to-make list to name. From gingerbread cookies to peppermint patties, we'll be cooking up a storm, but one thing's for sure: it isn't the holidays without these no-bake date balls. We hope you'll give them a try and add to your holiday cookie rotation, too!

See our recipe for no-bake coconut date balls

This year, we're also adding to our holiday baking traditions: we're taking part in Food Network's first-ever virtual cookie swap, where some of the web's best food destinations have gathered together to share their favorite cookie creations. See what the rest of our friends are swapping at this virtual cookie exchange when you read more.

A Reader Recipe: Sweet and Salty Coco-Nut Bars

Fit Community — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 01:55:00 PDT

Make your own granola bars! FitSugar reader AllieNic shares this recipe for homemade granola bars, perfect to take along during your next long run. She shared the recipe in our Healthy Recipe group.

I got this recipe from my friend Etown who lives down in Texas. Her boyfriend, B, is super into triathlons. Mostly because he’s super good at triathlons.

He recently took part in an Ironman Triathlon out in California. To fuel himself through the race, he made some of his own granola bars, the recipe for which he was kind enough to share with moi. They’re similar to Kind bars - all nuts, coconut, flax seeds and honey. Naturally sweet, grain-free goodness.

Read on for the recipe.