FitSugar

Food Review: Home Free Cookies

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:30:00 -0700

When I first cracked open a box of Home Free's peanut-free, tree-nut-free, egg-free, and dairy-free cookies, I thought: what poor person has all of those food allergies combined? I couldn't quite figure out the target market. But now I think I have it figured out. These organic cookies are meant for moms who want to serve treats guaranteed safe for any kid, whatever her allergy.

I'm skeptical about how big that audience really is, but for healthy sweets, these were pretty impressive. I tried two varieties: the soft oatmeal cookies and the mini chocolate chip cookies. Both had minor faults, but they were also much tastier than I expected. For my thoughts, read more.

The oatmeal cookie was pretty sizable and had a nice, chewy-oat texture with just enough sweetness. One cookie has 120 calories and four grams of fat with almost all organic and whole-grain ingredients, so I felt good about eating them. Each box contains three pairs of individually packaged cookies (why? so wasteful!), and unfortunately, each pair of cookies stuck together and didn't look pretty when I pulled them apart.

The mini chocolate chip cookies had a totally different vibe: crunchy and sweeter, much like a Famous Amos. While the oatmeal cookies tasted more like health food (which I liked), the chocolate chip ones could easily be served to kids who probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Each serving of six mini cookies has 140 calories and six grams of fat, but you could also just eat one for a little sweet treat.

Home Free sells all of its cookies online here, including a chocolate-chocolate chip flavor (full size and mini) and a full-size version of the chocolate chip. If you have food allergies (or just lots of paranoia about them), these are definitely worth taking a bite of.

Healthy Recipe: Almond Lemon Macaroons

FitSugar — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 03:30:00 -0700

Last year I shared my Coconut Almond Macaroons, one of my favorite traditional cookies for Passover. If you're worried about the saturated fat being too high, or you're just not a fan of coconut, this Almond Lemon variation is a crunchy alternative. These macaroons are made with ground almonds so they're full of protein and healthy fat.

To see my recipe read more.

Almond Macaroons for Passover or Anytime
Recipe from an old friend

Ingredients

2 cups unblanched almonds
1/2 cup Sucanat or sugar
1 tsp almond extract (omit if observing Passover)
Pinch of salt
1/2 tsp grated fresh lemon rind
3 egg whites

Directions

Preheat oven to 350° F.
Grind the almonds in a food processor.
Mix in the Sucanat, almond extract, salt, and lemon rind. Then stir in the egg whites. The dough will be thick, like wet sand.

Use a spoon to place one inch balls on a greased pan.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until dry and lightly brown on top.

Yield: Makes 24 cookies

Print recipe with images | without images

Healthy Recipe: Pumpkin Oatmeal Coconut Bars

FitSugar — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 03:30:00 -0700

We're all wishing for Spring to finally set in for good, so for those of us still dealing with cold temps and even snow, here's a recipe to say farewell to Winter once and for all. I'm sure if you check your cupboard, you have a can of puréed pumpkin leftover from the cold months, so here's your chance to use it up. This recipe uses whole wheat flour, applesauce, oats, and walnuts, so it's full of fiber and not a lot of fat. I'll warn you that this bar isn't very sweet, but it has a wonderfully soft, cake-like consistency.

To see the recipe, read more.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Coconut Bars
Adapted from Cooks.com

Ingredients

2/3 cup Sucanat
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
1 can pumpkin
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup quick oats
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup shredded coconut

Directions

Mix sugar, applesauce, egg, and pumpkin until light and fluffy.
Stir in flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and walnuts.
Pour into a lightly oiled 13 x 9 inch pan. Spread it out evenly with a spatula. Sprinkle on the coconut.
Bake at 350° for 25 to 35 minutes. Cool in pan completely before cutting into bars.

Yield: 24 bars

Print recipe with images | without images

All-Natural Cookie Love

FitSugar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:45:00 -0700

Nestle's refrigerated cookie dough is an brilliant idea, and it's tempting to buy because they make it so easy to make "homemade cookies" in a flash. If you peek at the ingredients though, you'll find the dreaded partially hydrogenated oil. So what's a cookie lover in a rush to do? Check out Cookie Love. It's a family-owned cookie company that sells all-natural frozen cookie dough.

The cookie dough contains only ingredients you would use to bake the cookies yourself. This way you can get that fresh out-of-the-oven taste, without all the work. If you don't have the time to bake them, you can also order premade cookies.

I baked up a batch of the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cookies. Want to see what they look like and check out the nutritional info? Then read more.

Believe me when I say that these were one of the best cookies I've ever tasted. They were sweet and chewy, and they had a smooth peanut butter taste.

The roll of dough made 12 cookies. Check out the nutritional info for one cookie in four of their most popular flavors.

I know these aren't exactly healthy and something you'd eat every day, but for a treat, they really satisfy your cookie craving without hydrogenated oil. Plus I feel good eating them knowing they're made just like my grandma would make them.

	Chocolate Chip	Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip	Triple Chocolate Chip	Oatmeal with Dried Cranberries
Calories	170	180	180	160
Total Fat	8g	10g	9g	7g
Saturated Fat	3.5g	4g	4g	2.5g
Cholesterol	20mg	25mg	20mg	20mg
Sodium	160mg	90mg	115mg	135mg
Carbs	23g	20g	22g	23g
Fiber	less than 1g	1g	1g	1g
Sugar	14g	12g	15g	12g
Protein	2g	3g	2g	2g

You can order frozen dough (that gets shipped to you the next day) or fresh baked cookies by calling 802-425-8181. One roll of frozen dough costs $7 plus shipping, or you can order a dozen cookies in a cute lunch box tin ($29.95), or an 18-cookie sampler ($21.95). I know these are a little pricey, but their homemade taste and ingredients make them totally worth it.

Girl Scout Cookie Breakdown

FitSugar — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 04:00:00 -0700

It's that time of the year again. They're posted on nearly every street corner, and with more stands than there are Starbucks these sweet temptations are unavoidable. Yes, I'm talking about Girl Scout Cookie season.

I am not going to tell you to avoid them, since I've got a box of Thin Mints chilling in my freezer as we speak, but just be aware of the choices you make with this breakdown and practice moderation and self control. In case you didn't know, there are two bakers that make the cookies, ABC and Little Brownie, so I've added all variations from both bakers.

To see the full breakdown then read more.

Cookie	Serving Size	Fat (g)	Saturated Fat (g)	Calories	Sugar (g)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)
All Abouts	3 cookies	7	4	150	9	21	less than 1
Caramel deLites	2 cookies	7	6	140	13	19	1
Cinna-Spins	15 cookies	2	1	100	8	19	less than 1
Do-Si-Dos	2 cookies	5	1.5	110	8	15	less than 1
Lemon Chalet Cremes	2 cookies	6	2	160	12	24	0
Lemonades	2 cookies	7	4	150	9	22	0
Peanut Butter Patties	2 cookies	8	5	150	10	17	less than 1
Peanut Butter Sandwich	3 cookies	6	2.5	160	8	26	less than 1
Samoas (Little Brownie Bakers)	2 cookies	8	5	150	11	19	less than 1
Shortbread	4 cookies	4.5	2	120	4	19	less than 1
Sugar Free Chocolate Chips	3 cookies	9	3	160	0	22	2
Tagalongs (Little Brownie Bakers)	2 cookies	10	4	150	8	14	1
Thanks-A-Lot	2 cookies	6	3.5	150	9	22	less than 1
Thin Mints (ABC Bakers)	4 cookies	8	6	160	11	22	less than 1
Thin Mints (Little Brownie Bakers)	4 cookies	7	4.5	150	10	20	1
Trefoils	5 cookies	7	2	150	6	20	less than 1

Chocobillys Seem Healthy, But Are They?

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:30:00 -0800

Instead of my usual Terra Blue Chips, I decided to go for the Chocobillys Cookies while on a Jet Blue flight a few weeks ago. They seemed like a sort of healthy treat (well, I mean, cookies can only be so healthy, right?). On the package it says "Cookies with a Cause" and "made with 70% organic ingredients" and "no trans fats, GMOs or other funky stuff."

Well that last statement is interesting because I guess everyone has a different definition of what "funky" is. The very first ingredient on these cookies is "organic enriched unbleached wheat flour." Enriched means that already healthy wheat flour was refined and stripped of its nutrients, and then manufacturers add some of the lost nutrients back in to make it slightly good for you. "Enriched" sounds nutritious, but it's really a scam. So if you ask me, enriched flour is pretty "funky."

The Immaculate Baking Company, the maker of these cookies, has a goal to make "top-quality baked goods...to celebrate the creativity of folk art, and to somehow give back." I think it's great that they set up the Soul Food Fund to nurture creativity, sponsor art workshops, and raise money for charities that support art in communities. That's all great, but why not use whole wheat flour instead of enriched?

Here's the deal. Just because a product states that it's organic doesn't necessarily mean that it's good for you. Remember those Kettle Pita Chips were organic too. So be on the look out, read nutrition labels, and don't be fooled by food that sounds or looks healthy.

Diet Tip: Enjoy Your Favorite Foods

FitSugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 11:45:00 -0700

There are many reasons that DIET is known as a four letter word. One of them being most people try to give up their favorite food completely. But that is a bad idea, if you deny yourself your favorite indulgence over and over again, you are likely to binge on that food and go overboard. Instead of depriving yourself of your favorite food, figure out how to create some boundaries.

Here are a few ideas:

Cookies - don't buy a package of Chips Ahoy cookies, buy ONE fresh baked one from your local bakery. The quality of the fresh baked cookie is bound to be better than mass produced cookies that have been sitting on the grocery shelf for who knows how long.
Pizza - pick up ONE slice of pizza instead of ordering an entire pie. Sit down and really savor that slice of pizza and don't be embarrassed to soak up the grease with a napkin.
Candy - visit the bulk section of the grocery store and only buy a small portion of your favorite candy. Three malt balls will satisfy your craving and do a lot less damage than a bag of Whoppers.
Remember if the box of cookies, the entire pizza, or the Snickers is not in your house, you cannot eat them.

Newman-O's: Like Oreos, but Healthier

FitSugar — Thu, 24 May 2007 09:30:00 -0700

Who didn't fall in love with Oreos as a kid? They are a symbol of childhood foods, along with Wonder Bread. Unfortunately, they are just a memory for me now; I waved bye-bye to all that unhealthy food of my childhood.

Now, that is not to say I still don't get a hankering for an Oreo, but lucky for me (and you if you like an edible version of memory lane to satisfy your sweet tooth) there are Newman-O's, a healthier alternative.

While a cookie is still a cookie and not the most optimal food on the planet, these Newman-O's are slightly better for you and they taste just like Oreos. I think I actually prefer the Newman-O creamy center since it doesn't taste fake like Oreos do. Maybe because Oreos are made with high fructose corn syrup and artificial vanilla. Newman-O's are made with organic sugar and contain no partially hydrogenated oils or trans fat. Oreos have a little disclaimer on their website that says if a product has less than .5g of trans fat, they can write "0g trans fat" on their label. How misleading is that?

Another great thing about Newman-O's is that they're made with organic unbleached flour. Oreos are made with enriched wheat flour. You know what that means? It's highly processed, stripped of its nutrients, and then some of the nutrients are added back in, just so they can say it's "enriched." I frown upon their sneaky ways.

Oreos may be less expensive than Newmnan-O's, but they're also made with cheaper, less-nourishing ingredients. Want to see how they compare nutritionally? Then read more


Serving Size	1 oz (2.5 cookies)	1 oz (2 cookies)
Calories	134	160
Total Fat	5.8g	4.5g
Saturated Fat	1.7g	1.5g
Cholesterol	0mg	mg
Sodium	159mg	85mg
Carbs	20.9g	20g
Fiber	.8g	1g
Sugar	11.7g	10g
Protein	1.7g	2g

Fit's Tips: There isn't a dramatic difference nutritionally, but there's a HUGE difference in their ingredients. Now I'm not saying that Newman-O's are the healthiest thing on the planet, but at least it's good to know that there's a healthier alternative out there for the Oreo-lovers in all of us.

Source and Source

Weekend Well-Being: Bake Some Cookies

FitSugar — Sat, 19 May 2007 03:30:00 -0700

In the summertime, my mom would never bake anything. She said it was hot enough outside, and she didn't need a hot oven adding to it.

Now that I'm a mom, I see her point, so before it becomes full-on summer weather out there, why not bake some cookies? You can always freeze some to eat on those super hot days.

I learned this recipe for Cranberry and Walnut Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies from my mom, and it's always a hit with my girls, and when we go to parties and BBQs. Plus, since I recently told you how good walnuts and cranberries are for women, this is a delicious way to get your share. Give them a try and let me know what you think!

Want to see the recipe? Then read more

You'll need:

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp sea salt

1 cup canola oil
1 cup Sucanat
1/4 cup honey
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups quick oats

1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup Sunspire organic semi-sweet chocolate chips

Here's what to do:

Preheat oven to 375°F.
Lightly grease 2 cookie sheets.
Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl and set aside.
In another bowl, beat the oil, eggs, Sucanant, honey & vanilla with an electric mixer until fluffy.
In that same bowl, stir in the flour mixture and then the oats.
Mix in the nuts, dried cranberries, and chocolate chips.
Using a tablespoon, scoop out the dough onto the cookie sheets. You can put 12 regular sized cookies on each sheet, or I like to make 8 bigger cookies. Whatever you do, leave space between the mounds of cookie dough (when you bake them, they spread out).
Bake for 8-12 minutes, watching them closely. You want to take them out when the tops are mostly dry and only very slightly brown, but still soft to the touch. If they cook any longer, you'll have hard hockey puck cookies. Some people like crunchy cookies, but I prefer mine to be soft and chewy.
Take them out of the oven, let then sit for 1 minute, and then gently move them to a cooling rack using a spatula.
That's it. Eat what you want and place the cooled off cookies in a storage container for later.

with images

without images

Source

Newman's Own Organics

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 10:15:00 -0700

What doesn't Newman's Own Organics make? I swear, every time I go to the grocery store, I see a new product. Of course I have to try it because everything they make is so darn delicious.

Not only are these products organic, benefiting you and the environment, but Paul Newman and the Newman's Own Foundation donate all profits and royalties, after taxes, to educational and charitable purposes. They have donated over $200 million to thousands of charities worldwide since l982.

So let's get to the food. There is a special place in my stomach for their Bavarian pretzels. I love they're Salt and Pepper Pretzels too. They're baked, not fried, so they make a great snack, especially dunked in hummus. Plus they make Spelt Pretzels that are really high in fiber.

I also love their Ginger O's. They remind me of the Oreos I used to devour as a kid, but they're made with ginger cookies instead of chocolate. Not only that, they contain no hydrogenated oils, trans fat, or cholesterol. Not into this flavor? They make other flavors like Chocolate filled with chocolate creme, and Hint O' Mint.

Speaking of chocolate, I love theirs. They make bars of Sweet Dark, Butter Toffee Crunch, and Milk Chocolate with Crisp Rice which are all delicious. They also make a line of chocolate cups filled with peanut butter, caramel, and mint.

Newman's Own Organics also makes popcorn, coffee, dried fruit, Alphabet cookies, Fig Newmans (cute little pun, huh?), fresh produce and even pet food.

As you can see, they make just about everything. If you haven't tried any of their wonderful organic products yet, you simply must. I'm a HUGE fan. I do want to point out though, that even though these products are organic they are still snacks and they still have lots of calories, so enjoy them in moderation (just like you would do with Oreos).