FitSugar

Don't Just Wear Red, Eat It Too!

FitSugar — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 02:30:00 PST

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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Easy Ways to Get More From Your Food Budget

LearnVest — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:15:48 PDT

Go the extra mile with your food budget with these tips from LearnVest.

For years, many people - my husband, mom, sister and even my son - told me to stop wasting so much food.

Throwing away half a piece of chicken here or a handful of grapes there never seemed like such a big deal to me. If I was full or no longer in the mood for that particular food, then I had no problem tossing it.

That is, until I experienced a bad case of sticker shock during a recent trip to the supermarket. The cost of bread, eggs, fish - basically everything I was purchasing - had increased. And, according to the USDA, we can expect prices to rise even higher this year.

As I forked over my money and left with only a handful of bags, I realized just how important it is for me to pay more attention to what I spend on food . . . and to confront how much of it I shove down the garbage disposal.

Unfortunately, I'm not the only one with wasteful ways. In 2010, 33 million tons of food was thrown away, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Obviously, wasted food means wasted money, but figuring out how to make your grocery budget go further can be a challenge.

To keep more food in your fridge (and more money in your pocket), try these expert tips.

1. Ward Against Freezer Burn

Those large bags or packages of frozen veggies or meat come in handy when you have a large family, but "each time you open a bag of frozen food, air gets in and will cause freezer burn within two to three weeks," says consumer saving expert Andrea Woroch. Freezer burn will dry out the meat and make it less tasty. Woroch suggests going small.

Read on for more.

The Poem That Inspired Mad Men's "Lady Lazarus"

Annie Scudder — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:05:16 PDT

Megan Draper sets out for a new life this week on Mad Men, as she quits her job at Sterling Cooper Draper Price to resurrect her acting career. As the title of the episode, "Lady Lazarus," suggests, our friends on Mad Men are adapting to new lives. Don lets Megan pursue her acting dream, but he's lost at work without her. Pete has morphed into the sad Don of the past, cheating on his wife and sneaking around. Megan is leaving the working world to go back to acting class and auditions, finding time to play the housewife in between.

The episode borrows both its title and themes from a Sylvia Plath poem ("Lady Lazarus") about rebirth. Lazarus, of course, refers to the man Jesus raises from the dead in the Bible. In Sylvia Plath's poem, which uses allusions to Nazi Germany, the narrator almost dies three times. The first is an accident, the second is a failed suicide attempt. Sylvia Plath did commit suicide in real life, and her "Lady Lazarus" poem reads in part:

The second time I meant
To last it out and not come back at all.
I rocked shut

As a seashell.
They had to call and call
And pick the worms off me like sticky pearls.

Dying
Is an art, like everything else.
I do it exceptionally well.

Finally, the third time, she is reborn like a phoenix: "Out of the ash/ I rise with my red hair/ And I eat men like air." The rebirth is not wanted, and she hopes to eat the men who continue to revive her.

The episode about new life came filled with overt references to death, just like Sylvia Plath's poem. When Pete talks life insurance with his train buddy, Howard, he touts that his current plan even covers suicide after two years. Howard later mentions that Pete's father died young, but in a plane crash - an accident. We also see Don warn Megan about the dangers of cooking barefoot, and Don nearly step into an empty elevator shaft. Later, Megan lies lifelessly on the floor during her acting class, and Don listens to the Beatles song "Tomorrow Never Knows," off their album Revolver. This season, you can find signs predicting the death of a variety of characters. But perhaps the line from the poem - "Dying/ is an art, like everything else/ I do it exceptionally well" - references Megan. After all, Peggy complains that Megan does everything exceptionally well.

The uncomfortable changes and rebirths present in both the poem and the episode could represent the societal upheavals happening in 1960s America. Change is coming whether these individuals want it, and rebirth is being forced on some of them.

Photo courtesy of AMC

The Office, "Turf War": Best Lines of the Night

Lizzie Fuhr — Fri, 04 May 2012 08:55:21 PDT

In this week's episode of The Office, Robert California is hung over and trying to put together the events of the evening - namely, that he closed the Syracuse branch of Dunder-Mifflin while blacked out. And of course, Andy is still being awkward and hanging out around the office, hoping that it's all just been a bad dream. I was happy to see Chris Bauer (Andy Bellefleur!) from True Blood make an appearance as the Syracuse branch manager who is upset that Scranton is stealing his clients.

We learn that Nellie has been having a hard time and actually has a heart; when Pam warms up to her, she's elated. Andy scores a big deal under the alias Big Red Paper Company to get his job back, but when Robert doesn't bite, he heads over to our old friend David Wallace, who seems interested. While I was happy to see Andy get his groove back, to be honest, the high point of the episode is the cold open, where Jim sets up a thigh curl contest between Gabe and Dwight. There are a few funny lines that held things together, so to see my favorites, just keep reading.

What Keeps The Five-Year Engagement's Emily Blunt Healthy and Fit

Michele Foley — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:33:16 PDT

If the movie trailer for The Five-Year Engagement is any indication, then we're in for a treat! The romantic comedy is set to hit theaters tomorrow, and to celebrate, we're taking a look at how its star Emily Blunt stays so healthy and fit.

She lets herself indulge: Emily has been vocal about avoiding strict diets (with the exception of shaping up for a few movie roles), instead choosing to enjoy things in moderation - whether that be pasta, cheese, or any other food commonly off limits. But, when it's time to let loose, she gives herself a free pass. Emily told Women's Health that while on a trip to Paris, she did nothing but "eat cheese and bread."

She keeps active in her relationship: Whether it's touring the Hamptons on bikes or surfing on a Hawaiian getaway, Emily and husband John Krasinski are never content to just sit at home. But perhaps the best motivation keeping the pair fit are the almost-daily walks they take together with Finn, their red Labrador.

Learn what Emily's fitness routine is after the break!

6 Dieting Rules You'll Love to Follow

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 01:14:17 PDT

Don't eat this, stay away from that - following a diet can seem like a total killjoy. If you're feeling depressed about how restrictive your diet is, here are some proven weight-loss rules you'll welcome with open arms.

Dig into a big breakfast: Skipping breakfast to save calories? That's a big mistake because eating breakfast actually jump-starts your metabolism. Your first meal of the day should include protein to reduce sugar cravings, and fiber to satiate your hunger. A veggie omelet, fruit smoothie with spinach, oatmeal with fruit and nuts, or Greek yogurt with fresh fruit are excellent choices.
Say yes to carbs: Before you get all excited, I'm not talking about bagels, regular pasta, and pretzels. Simple carbs made from enriched white flour offer little nutritional value and more calories than you need. Stick to complex carbs like quinoa, brown rice, and oats, as well as foods made from whole grain flour such as pasta and crackers - the least processed and as close to nature as possible. (Of course, you still need to be mindful of portion sizes.) Complex carbs are not only full of fiber that keep hunger at bay, they also contain valuable vitamins and minerals your body needs such as vitamins B6 and E and iron.

Keep reading for four more weight-loss rules you'll love following.

Adventures in Ingredients: Aloe Vera

Camilla Salem — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:42:59 PDT

For weeks, I'd been eying these spiky succulent leaves at Berkeley Bowl. I always knew that aloe vera came from this common plant, but never thought I would actually need or want the opportunity to work with it myself. And then there's the whole issue of cooking with it and how to harvest it. It's popular in coconut water these days, but other than that, ingesting it is somewhat uncommon. But those who regularly eat or drink this strange succulent rave about its supposed health benefits, from healing acne to curing cancer.

I did a quick scan of the Internet on how to cut and prepare fresh aloe vera right from the leaf. I found several recipes for smoothies featuring fresh aloe vera pieces and one that served it poached with lime juice. A smoothie sounded more appetizing. Honestly, I got a little bit nervous when I found out that the dark red sap that apparently seeps out should not be ingested or it will cause unpleasant digestive issues. Still, I went for it.

Filleting this piece of aloe vera was a strange experience: I was on the lookout for that dark red sap, though I didn't ever encounter it. The aloe vera gel looked sticky and mucous, not delicious (or even edible). I'd read in a few places that aloe vera on its own is kind of bitter, so of course, I immediately cut off a piece and took a bite. It tasted like nothing, but I did notice a strange sensation in my mouth and my tongue went a little numb. To find out what I did with the fresh fillet of aloe vera, keep reading.

Julianne Hough, Busy Philipps, and More Celebrate Their Hot Status in Hollywood

Allie Merriam — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:48:58 PDT

Julianne Hough, Busy Philipps, and Kim Kardashian were among the starlets who stepped out in LA last night for Us Weekly's Hot Hollywood bash. Kim was ecstatic to have found the perfect pink Casadei heels to wear with her silver strapless Catherine Malandrino dress. Kim also fit a dinner at Nobu into last night's itinerary. She had a sense of humor about eating there without a boyfriend. She tweeted, "Nobu with no boo." Kim, Julianne, and Busy all took home honors from Us. Kim was crowned "The Total Pro" for her red-carpet style and Julianne was crowned "The Free Spirit." Busy, meanwhile, got the "Cool Mom" prize.

Julianne hit the town despite yesterday being a difficult day for her boyfriend Ryan Seacrest - Ryan's mentor, Dick Clark, died yesterday at the age of 82. Julianne retweeted a couple of articles addressing the kind words Ryan shared in Dick's memory. Some hot Hollywood guys turned out for the event as well. A supertan Kellan Lutz struck a pose, ahead of his expected arrival in NYC to serve as one of the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival judges.

Taste the Rainbow: Orange

Camilla Salem — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:07:08 PDT

Strangely enough, orange produce was harder to come by than red for this colorful produce tour. The options are pretty straightforward, but that doesn't make them any less full of flavor. I stuck to three different ingredients: oranges, carrots, and orange bell peppers. Find out what to do with them when you keep reading.

Have a Sweet Passover With Lesléa Newman's Holiday Tale

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:43:48 PDT

In terms of Passover books, it's hard to compete with the book that's at the center of the holiday's festivities. While the Haggadah tells the story of the exodus from Egypt, and even adds in some elements of surprise with the 10 plagues and the parting of the Red Sea, it can be a bit overwhelming for lil ones who see the holiday as little more than a week of giving up bread and eating matzo.

Lesléa Newman's new A Sweet Passover ($12) manages to focus on the unleavened bread, while still telling the Passover story through the eyes of a young girl. In the semi-autobiographical tale, the tot eats so much matzo on the first seven days of the holiday that she refuses to eat anymore for the final day - that is until her relatives explain that there is more to the holiday than matzo, and there are even matzo recipes that will reawaken her taste for the symbolic crackers. The recipe - the author's father's own signature dish of matzo brei - brings the whole family together as the next generation is brought into the fold.

A great book to be read at the start of the holiday, as well as throughout the week, A Sweet Passover is a great addition to your holiday library! Keep reading for the author's family's famous matzo brei recipe to make with your entire family.