FitSugar

Food Review: Amy's Santa Fe Enchilada

FitSugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:00:00 -0700

You know I'm a huge fan of the healthy and organic foods made by Amy's Kitchen. The ingredients are like the ones I would use if I had time to cook. Since I love Mexican food, and loved her Cheddar Cheese Burrito, I decided to give her Santa Fe Enchilada bowl a try. It's made with layered corn tortillas, rice, tofu, veggies, Jack cheese, and beans. Does it taste as good as it sounds? To find out read more.

Serving Size	1 bowl
Calories	130
Total Fat	11g
Saturated Fat	2g
Cholesterol	5mg
Sodium	780mg
Carbs	47g
Fiber	9g
Sugar	5g
Protein	16g

I know this doesn't look very appetizing or anything like the gorgeous photo, but looks can be deceiving. I actually really loved this meal. I liked that it wasn't your typical rolled up enchilada, but that it was more like a layered lasagna, so it was easy to eat with a fork. It was really flavorful, spicy, but not burn-your-tongue spicy. The beans, rice, and crumbled up tofu made this meal really filling. The soft texture makes this enchilada a great addition to my list of comfort foods. I like that it's not too high in calories or saturated fat, and it's also high in fiber and protein, thanks to the veggies and beans. The sodium content is a little on the high side, but still doable considering the RDI is 2,300 mg a day. I would definitely pick this enchilada bowl up again. For under $5, it makes a quick, tasty, and healthy meal.

Any other Amy's fans out there? If you have tried the enchiladas, tell me what you thought in the comments section below.

How to Go Vegetarian and Not Gain Weight Like Kirstie Alley

FitSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 04:30:00 -0700

If there's one person who has publicly spoken about her weight as much as Oprah, it's Kirstie Alley. After shedding 75 pounds as the spokesperson for Jenny Craig, Kirstie reveals in new issue of People that she's put on 83 pounds. She says her current weight, 228 pounds, is her heaviest weight ever. She blames the weight gain on losing the motivation to work out and her weakness for food drenched in butter. Here's what else she told People about her diet:

For seven months I was a vegetarian, and I can't tell you how much weight I gained being a vegetarian! A vegetarian would probably be eating vegetables. But to me being a vegetarian meant I'm going to eat enchiladas with no meat, and I'm going to eat lots of bread, lots of carbs.

Find out what a healthy vegetarian diet should contain when you read more.

Kirstie is on to something with her comment about vegetarians eating vegetables, and there are plenty of other celebrities who have gotten the diet right. A vegetarian diet doesn't have to be complicated. Relying on mostly vegetables, fruit, legumes, nuts, and whole grains will enable a vegetarian to achieve balance and satisfaction from food.

There are so many great sources of healthy veggie protein, like tofu (not fried), beans, and lentils, that can be seasoned and mixed with vegetables to create savory and filling dishes that would appeal to anyone, vegetarian or not. Kirstie Alley's vegetarian diet downfall (besides all that butter) was that she lacked balance - enjoy vegetarian enchiladas and bread, but make sure that's not all you're eating.

Alley being on the cover of People made TrèsSugar ponder the media phenomenon of celebrity weight loss as entertainment. Be sure to weigh in on the discussion here: Bad for Women? Celebrity Weight Loss as Entertainment.

Amy's Kitchen: Bowl Breakdown

FitSugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Who doesn't need a quick meal every once in a while? For that reason, I always keep a few of these bowls in the freezer from Amy's Kitchen. Many of them are vegan or lactose free, some are gluten free or soy free, and some are light in sodium. They're made with whole grains and vegetables and are full of flavor.

To see how they compare nutritionally read more.

1 bowl	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Baked Ziti	300	12	590	62	6	9
Brown Rice & Vegetables	260	9	550	36	5	9
Brown Rice, Black-Eyed Peas & Veggies	290	11	580	38	8	11
Country Cheddar	400	19	690	41	4	15
Mexican Casserole	470	16	780	70	7	11
Pesto Tortellini	430	19	640	45	3	20
Ravioli	380	12	680	55	4	14
Santa Fe Enchilada	350	11	780	47	9	16
Teriyaki	290	4.5	780	52	4	10
Tortilla Casserole & Black Beans	390	18	780	41	7	17
Light in Sodium - Brown Rice & Veggie	260	9	270	36	5	9
Light in Sodium - Mexican Casserole	370	16	390	48	7	12

3 Cheap and Natural Meat Substitutes

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Whether you're trying to incorporate more vegetables in your diet or cut down your grocery bill, replacing meat a couple nights a week can help you accomplish both goals. Here are three inexpensive meat substitutes that don't include the often-polarizing tofu.

Eggplant: This purple veggie has a solid, meaty texture compared to other vegetables and is a tasty centerpiece for dishes like baked eggplant parmesan or a complement to stir-fry and pasta recipes. Eggplant is nutritious to boot, packing in fiber, antioxidants, B vitamins, and potassium.

To see two more meat substitutes, read more.

Mushrooms: If it's cost you're focused on, opt for button mushrooms to get the most nutritional bang for your buck. Mushrooms are extremely versatile and can be ideal substitutes in burgers (make a portobello burger or veggie burgers with mushrooms as a base), enchiladas, casseroles, and more, as they tend to take on the flavors of whatever else is in the recipe.
Beans: Full of protein and fiber, beans are an extremely inexpensive meat substitute. Use them in chilis, salads, and soups to make any vegetarian meal a bit heartier.

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Chili's Breakdown

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Chili's is one of those chain restaurants that I'm sure we've all been to at least once. This bar and grill has just about everything from wings to soup, from fajitas to steak. With such a diverse menu, it's nice to see there are some healthier options to choose from like salmon, grilled chicken, and salads. I'll have to warn you, though, that a good portion of their food contains a high amount of calories, fat, and sodium. That's not to say you should never set foot into a Chili's - you just don't want to make a daily habit of it. It's nice to be able to enjoy this kind of food every once in a while, but I'd definitely bring some friends, or place half your meal in a doggie bag so you don't end up consuming thousands of calories in one sitting.

To see the Chili's breakdown, read more.

This is the nutritional content of one order of each menu item.

Granola	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Carbs (g)	Sodium (mg)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Big Mouth Bites	850	75	29	1930	2	20
Nine Boneless Buffalo Wings w/ Bleu Cheese Dressing	1170	85	50	4130	4	51
Classic Nachos w/ Fajita Chicken and Pico de Gallo and Sour Cream	1630	112	55	3280	12	99
Hot Spinach & Artichoke Dip w/ Tostada Chips	905	36	74	3100	21	30
Texas Cheese Fries w/ Jalapeño-Ranch Dressing	2070	160	73	3730	8	85
Cup of Baked Potato Soup	220	16	12	630	1	8
Cup of Chicken Enchilada Soup	220	14	11	650	2	13
Cup of Chili	180	8	15	720	3	12
Cup of New England Clam Chowder Soup	470	33	27	970	3	17
Cup of Southwestern Vegetable Soup	110	5	13	620	2	5
Caesar Salad w/ Grilled Chicken & Caesar Dressing	1010	76	39	1910	7	38
Southwestern Cobb Salad	970	60	56	2590	7	53
Boneless Buffalo Chicken Salad	910	58	44	4050	5	45
Mashed Potatoes (loaded)	500	32	37	970	6	15
Sautéed Mushrooms, Onions & Bell Peppers	120	10	6	360	2	3
Steamed Seasonal Veggies	80	6	8	190	3	3
Classic Sirloin	540	42	1	820	0	36
Grilled Salmon w/ Garlic & Herbs	390	25	0	300	0	40
Margarita Grilled Chicken	320	13	13	1170	1	36
Spicy Garlic & Lime Grilled Shrimp	260	13	6	1000	0	24
Guiltless Black Bean Burger	650	12	96	1940	26	38
Guiltless Chicken Platter	580	9	85	2780	5	39
Guiltless Chicken Sandwich	490	8	63	2720	11	39
Guiltless Salmon	480	14	31	1080	10	54
Mushroom Swiss Burger	1100	71	60	1590	4	53
Chicken Tacos	1200	41	137	4470	12	57
Chicken Fajitas	330	11	23	2080	3	40
Smoked Turkey Sandwich	930	57	65	2920	4	43
Chicken Fajita Pita	350	13	36	1410	4	29

This is just an sample of some of the restaurant's menu items. To see the entire list, go to Chilis.com.

Celebrate International No Diet Day!

FitSugar — Tue, 06 May 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Following a diet is tough. It's enough to make you want to throw in the towel. Today is one day that you can (and should) - hooray!

Celebrate International No Diet Day - an annual celebration of body acceptance and diversity - by declaring a one-day leave of absence from weight obsession. Quit worrying about the enchiladas and margaritas you had yesterday. Enjoy yourself. Love yourself. And above all, keep away from that miserable diet.

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