FitSugar

Calorie Count: Fat-Free Greek Yogurt With Fruit

Leta Shy — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 04:30:58 PDT

What's not to love about Greek yogurt? Packed with calcium and protein, the rich snack is as great for breakfast as it is as a healthier stand-in for decadent desserts. While we've long been fans of nonfat flavored Chobani and Oikos yogurts, Greek yogurt specialist Fage also recently released its own line of fruit-filled, fat-free options.

Fage Total 0%, Chobani 0%, and Oikos 0% all contain zero grams of fat and saturated fat as well as real natural ingredients like honey or whole berries. But how does your favorite brand stack up with its similarly flavored competitors? Check out the table after the break!

Greece's Hidden Secret: FAGE Yogurt

FitSugar — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 14:05:57 PST

I love yogurt but for me there are very few yogurts that stand out among the pack.

That is why I was totally blown away when I tried, FAGE Total Yogurt (pronounced: Fa'-yeh!). FAGE Total is "Greek yogurt" that is truly Greek -- You can tell by the signature rich and thick velvety texture. It gets the great texture with the unique straining and separating process of the whey from the yogurt. The process also makes the product a suitable cooking ingredient as it does not curdle at high temperatures. What's more? All the FAGE yogurts contain Live & Active Cultures.

The taste is unbeatable and the texture is downright amazing. For me, nothing is worse than eating super runny yogurt. The FAGE Total 0% has 80 calories and zero grams of fat and unlike most fat free yogurts, it actually tastes really, really good.

I used it to make my most recent batch of Tzatziki and it was the best yet! Look for it in boutique and health food grocery stores. For more info, visit the FAGE Website.

Mindful Eats: 5 Healthy TV or Movie Snack Ideas

Angelica Marden — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 04:24:06 PDT

There's no reason to be an unhealthy couch potato, but sometimes you just need an hour or two to veg out in front of a screen and be entertained. Next time you sit down for a Game of Thrones marathon or finally clear the house so you can watch The Bachelorette in peace, opt for a light snack that won't ruin your appetite or mindful eating efforts. Here are some simple, nutritious and satisfying suggestions for any craving.

Nuts about nuts?: Mix 14 almonds (that's about 100 calories and 3.6 grams of protein) with one serving of your favorite dry cereal to make your own filling, but lower calorie trail mix.

For the traditional taste buds: Two cups of plain air popped popcorn packs about 62 calories. Dust with nutritional yeast, your favorite spice, or some salt and pepper for added flavor.

Craving the sauce?: Three small meatballs with tomato sauce pack 120 calories, which is celery sticks compared to chowing down a whole pizza. Plus, you'll get about eight grams of protein.

So fresh and filling: Serve yourself four tablespoons of Athenos' Original Hummus for just 100 calories and get two grams of protein. Use fresh veggies like cucumber, celery, and carrots to dip and fill you up with fiber.

Need a sweet treat? You can munch on 50 blueberries and take in just 39 calories. Add one container of Fage's Total 0% Greek Yogurt for an added 100 calories and 18 grams of protein.

Do you have a healthy go-to movie or TV snack? Share it in comments!

Source: Flickr User galant

A FitSugar Reader Recipe: Mediterranean Turkey Burgers

OnSugar Blog — Sat, 28 May 2011 04:37:15 PDT

Looking for a healthy burger recipe this Memorial Day? Take a nod from the OnSugar blog Sophie's Sweeties and make these Mediterranean-inspired turkey burgers.

Lighter turkey burgers? Is that an oxymoron? Believe it or not, store bought turkey burgers are not always as lean as they appear. This recipe, however, leaves out all the mystery ingredients and uses only the basics to make a delicious and satisfying turkey burger.

Keep reading to see the recipe!

Get Fit For Summer Challenge 4: One Reader's Food Journal For a Day

Fit Community — Tue, 03 May 2011 14:22:19 PDT

Doesn't this breakfast smoothie from FitSugar reader eatingbirdfood look delicious? She shared her daily food journal with the Get Fit For Summer community group as part of the fourth challenge in the Get Fit For Summer giveaway. By doing so, she's eligible to win a $100 New Balance gift card!

See her daily food journal when you read more!

What's Going to Be the Next Big Health Food Trend?

Susannah Chen — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:53:28 PDT

First it was hummus, then soy milk, then almond milk. Now it's Greek yogurt that's the hottest health food trend: sales of brands like Fage and Chobani are through the roof. In just five years, sales of this thick, protein-rich yogurt have grown 2500 percent.

Americans can't seem to stop catching waves of the latest whole foods. But now that açai, goji berry, quinoa, and probiotic yogurt have already been discovered en masse, I can't help but wonder what, if anything, will soon jump the shark. Surely you have some thoughts on what wholesome foods are going to be big next. Share them below!

Brain-Boosting Breakfast: Chef Kerry Heffernan Serves Up a Quick, Healthy Morning Meal

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 07:03:03 PDT

Our mouthwatering Brain-Boosting Breakfast series continues with celebrity chefs and restaurateurs creating healthy, brain-boosting breakfast ideas to help keep kids going throughout the day. Today's quick breakfast for on-the-go families comes from Kerry Heffernan, executive chef of New York City's South Gate restaurant and a guest judge on the most recent season of Top Chef: All Stars.
School mornings can feel like a whirlwind with everyone rushing about to get dressed, packed, and fed before heading out of the house. While the idea of preparing a picture-perfect hot breakfast is ideal, it isn't always feasible given the early hour. Kerry Heffernan knows a thing or two about that. The sophisticated meals he creates at NYC's popular South Gate restaurant are beautiful enough to be featured in magazines, but at home, the busy father of two teens and a newborn knows things need to be quick. Here are his tips for making breakfast count in a matter of minutes.

My quick and easy kid-friendly recipes may sound a little pedestrian, but hear me out. The Greek yogurt Fage is nothing short of miraculous. It lacks the rennet/acid tinge of other yogurts and since it has been "drained" of excess water, it has extraordinary natural properties of viscosity, and it's very high in protein. This yogurt provides a delicious base, to which you can add just about anything to make a heartier breakfast, like nuts, fruits, granola, etc.

So how do you choose? Well depending on how you pick your poison, 0 percent is a bit lean and it's the most acidic of the bunch; "Total" is wonderful if you can tolerate it on a daily basis, but it’s a bit rich for even me, so I go for the 2 percent. Get the one-quart tub and "excavate" 5-6 oz. from one side and place in a bowl (this encourages further draining, so the next day pour off any accumulated water and remaining mass gets even better). Whip with a spoon for about 10 seconds to make it even creamier.

If you or your child is used to or prefers a bigger breakfast, add nuts and/or granola to make a heartier meal. Pretoast the nuts and macerate the fruit ahead of time, and mix up what you put in the yogurt as the season offers up different fruit. . . . Once you have those few things, making breakfast does not take more than three minutes of active preparation, and it yields an eye-opener with a very high ratio of protein and little fat.

Keep reading for two more ways Chef Heffernan transforms an ordinary cup of yogurt into a tasty breakfast, and his bubbly morning beverage that will wake kids up in time for school!

Are You Eating Too Much Cholesterol?

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 09:00:30 PDT

I was vegan for a short time in college, and was shocked when I had my cholesterol tested and found it was high. I wasn't even eating cholesterol! The thing is, your liver makes cholesterol and it's actually essential for your body to function normally. Cholesterol is also found in food and appropriately called dietary cholesterol. Since your body produces enough, you don't need to worry about getting any from diet. What you do need to worry about is getting too much.

A healthy person with healthy cholesterol levels can safely consume 300 milligrams a day. If your levels are high, aim for less than 200 mg a day. Are you eating too much? Find out how much cholesterol is in your favorite foods when you

Food	Cholesterol (mg)
1 Hard-Boiled Egg	212
1 cup Skim Milk	5
1 cup Lowfat Milk (1%)	15
1 cup Lowfat Milk (2%)	20
1 cup Whole Milk	34
1 oz. Cheddar Cheese (1 slice)	29
1/4 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese	20
2 tbsp. Cream Cheese	26
2 tbsp. Butter	61
5.3 oz. Fage Total Classic Greek Yogurt	35
5.3 oz. Fage Total With Honey	20
6 oz. Chobani No-Fat Vanilla Greek Yogurt	0
6 oz. Stonyfield farms Organic Low-Fat Vanilla Yogurt	7
1/3 Pound Hamburger Patty	90
5 inch Hot Dog	24
4 oz. Filet Mignon	75
4 oz. Organic Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast	70
4 oz. Tilapia	55
3 oz. Salmon	85
2 tbsp. Mayonnaise	8
3 oz. Sour Cream	11
1/2 cup Chocolate Ice Cream	120
1/2 cup Chocolate Ice Cream	115
9 Hershey's Dark Chocolate Kisses	5