FitSugar

Healthy Eating Tip: Have Your Produce Delivered

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:30:00 PDT

Sometimes it's hard to eat enough fruits and vegetables each day. Many of us would eat more produce if we had it right in front of us and this could not be more true for me. Over here at Sugar HQ, we have fruit delivered into the office and I know I eat more yummy fresh fruits (not to mention more of a variety) because of it. Inspired by this, I have decided to have produce delivered to my home as well. In my searches I stumbled on a fabulous list that Women's Health has already created of produce delivery businesses nationwide. Check it out. After all, having your produce delivered might help you stock up on healthy foods instead of the unhealthy ones.

Source

Cut Costs, Not Nutrition: Part One

FitSugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:00:00 PDT

In this time of economic hardships, it's getting harder and harder to put healthy foods on the table every day. It's tempting to just hit the dollar menu at your local fast food stop, but there are simple ways that you can cut costs and still eat healthy. Reuters has consulted with Holly Scherer, a registered dietician at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, for a few ways to cut costs but not nutrition. Here are highlights:

Eating in season is one key way to cut your food bill.
Local co-operatives where you trade money or labor in order to reap the benefits of a larger community garden or local farm are another option for fresh fruits and vegetables.
You can save money by planting your own produce and herbs.
When fresh options are too expensive or unavailable, consider frozen and canned fruits and vegetables.

What about the most expensive part of your grocery bill? Protein. There are ways to cut costs there too so

Try simply eating less meat with your meals.
Though the price of eggs has increased, they are still a cheaper source of protein than meat. Beans are another option for adding protein to meals at a low cost.
Less expensive cuts are often less tender, which makes them good choices for meals like stews and casseroles.
Watch for sales so you can purchase preferred cuts at a discount and freeze them for later use.
Buying chicken breasts with the bone and skin on and filleting and skinning them yourself will also save money because the price per pound is lower.

Source

Get Your Five-a-Day In-Season

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:00:00 PDT

I usually figure out what fruits and veggies are in season when I shop at the farmers market. Unfortunately, that is not the only place I buy food. Since I prefer eating locally grown and seasonal produce it is a little problematic when I am trying to eat my five a day. You can imagine my excitement when I recently stumbled across the Seasonal Ingredient Map from Epicurious that makes figuring out which fruits and vegetables are in season each month for each state painless. It's easy to use, very helpful, and not to mention fun, so check it out here.

Five-a-Day Lowers Risk of Lung Cancer

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:00:00 PDT

If you're not already eating your five servings of fruits and vegetables a day then you may want to start, especially if you're a smoker.

New research has found that people who ate three servings of vegetables a day were 1.6 times less likely to develop lung cancer than those who didn't eat three servings. People who ate three or more servings of fruit were one-fold less likely to develop lung cancer. Researchers think that this is due to the fact that fruits and vegetables contain flavonoids, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that stop the development of blood vessels that feed tumors.

Now that's not to say that if you are a smoker that eating fruits and vegetables can enable you to continue smoking and still be protected against lung cancer. The absolute best defense against lung cancer (not to mention a whole slough of other health risks associated with smoking) is to quit smoking altogether.

Source

Just 4 Things 4 Your Health

FitSugar — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:45:00 PDT

There are 4 simple things that have been proven to significantly reduce your risk of developing heart disease.

They are:

Eating at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day
Exercising at least 30 minutes every day
Maintaining a healthy weight (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9)
Not smoking

These four things are basic components of having a healthy lifestyle and are easy to do. In fact, starting these habits at any time can help improve your overall health. To hear more on this topic I highly recommend you listen to the Fitness Rocks podcast of an interview between Dr. Monte, the host of Fitness Rocks and Dr. Dana King. Dr. King authored a long-term study on the benefits of getting healthy in the middle years. But there is no reason to wait for the middle years to get healthy.

Taste Test: Jamba Juice's Fruit & Veggie Smoothies

Susannah Chen — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 03:10:47 PDT

Jamba Juice sure has a lot going on. It just rolled out probiotic smoothies and has been testing custom-blendable frozen yogurt, a new menu item that the company plans to expand over the course of the year. And beginning today, stores across the country will offer smoothies blended from both fruit and vegetables.

For now, the company's new Fruit & Veggie Smoothies come in three flavors: BerryUpBeet, Apple 'n Greens, and Orange Carrot Karma. All contain three servings of fruits and vegetables in every drink serving and are free of artificial flavors, preservatives, and high-fructose corn syrup. To find out what's in each flavor - and what the Sugar verdict was on each of the drinks - keep reading.

Healthy Side Dishes, Dips, and More

Michele Foley — Sat, 26 May 2012 19:27:57 PDT

Memorial Day is a great weekend to kick off the beginning of Summer. Keep the barbecue healthy by offering nutritious options that are low in calories. From a potato salad without mayo, to a guacamole made with edamame, these delicious dishes have something for everyone.

Side Salads

Israeli Couscous With Tomato, Feta, and Mint

Sweet and Sour Cucumbers

Potato Salad With Cornichons and Capers

Dips

Edamole

Black Bean Veggie Dip

Mango Red Pepper Salsa

Skewers

Grilled Chicken Skewers

Fruit Kebabs

Mango Grilled Shrimp

Vegetarian Fare

Grilled Veggie Pizza

Portobello Mushroom Burgers

Grilled Tofu

What will you be serving or taking to your Memorial Day barbecue?

Source: Flickr User avlxyz

10 Tips to Save on Memorial Day Grocery Shopping

Emily Co — Sat, 26 May 2012 00:15:10 PDT

It's fun to host people for a barbecue, but it can also get quite pricey when everyone isn't chipping in. Consumer expert Andrea Woroch provides suggestions to cut your grocery bill when shopping for your Memorial Day meal:

Prepare most of your meal. Woroch says, "The general rule for prepared foods is that they are more expensive, and it's cheaper to buy the ingredients to prepare yourself." For example, prepared veggie platters and fruit salads "are never a good deal" and aren't exactly the freshest produce. However, prepared potato salad at a regular supermarket is less expensive and will save you time in the kitchen.

Get chicken from the butcher. Buy chicken breasts from the butcher counter instead of the prepared packets. They tend to be cheaper and are generally more fresh.

Consider boxed wine. Save money by skipping the bottled wine and going for the box. "Boxed wine is an affordable option for large parties, and the quality has greatly improved in recent years," she says.

Buy liquor at a superstore. If you're insistent on a specific bottle, then check out warehouse clubs like Costco. There are better deals on wine, liquor, and beer at a superstore, according to Woroch. While you're there, pick the store's generic version of vodka for an even cheaper deal.

Make your own salad dressing and marinade. Check out recipes online - here's a list of over 60 different marinades to make. "Most people will already have the basic ingredients like olive oil, some type of vinegar, and herbs at home," she says. "Other ingredients like lemon or lime, soy sauce, or honey won't cost much extra."

Read on for more.

It's National Salad Month! Healthy Tips to Get You Excited

Michele Foley — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:59:12 PDT

As if we need an excuse to enjoy a big bowl of veggies, fruits, and other goodies tossed together, May is National Salad Month. Grab your best greens and follow these tips and tricks for making a tasty and healthy salad.

Creative Ways to Build a Salad

Hitting the salad bar can be a good thing when you know the best way to navigate through all those choices. To maintain a healthy medium, follow our tips for crafting a healthy meal at the salad bar.
Get inspiration from other countries or cuisines known for being healthy. Start your week off with these easy ways to craft a heart-healthy Mediterranean salad, and give yourself a little longevity with these tips for making a Japanese-inspired salad.

Not All Toppings Are Created Equal

Candied walnuts, gobs of cheese, and bacon may taste good, but they also add a lot of unnecessary fat and calories. If you're not careful, then you might end up with a 700-calorie (or higher) salad! Skip unhealthy ingredients by using our smart swaps for salad toppings.
How you dress your salad matters too - ranch, blue cheese, or maybe a vinaigrette? The next time you're shopping, pick up one of these salad dressings with less than 50 calories.

A Little Recipe Inspiration

We love that creating a salad is as easy as throwing whatever ingredients you may have in a bowl, but a put-together recipe makes all the difference. Try one of these recipes for a vegetarian salad or one of these seasonal salads inspired by Summer ingredients.

Back on Track: Map Out the Week's Healthy Dinner Menu

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:45:06 PDT

After getting home from a busy day of work, especially if I hit the gym, the same question always pops into mind - what to make for dinner? Without a plan in mind, it's easy to fall back on boxed mac and cheese or Chinese takeout, which aren't the healthiest options. To prevent scrambling to whip together a not-so-healthy meal, take time to map out your dinner menu for the week. Knowing which dishes you're making will also make you more efficient in the grocery store. Here's a sample menu (complete with a grocery list) that you can follow to ensure your weekdays always end in a nutritious meal.

Monday: Salad With Grilled Chicken and Fresh Strawberries

What you'll need:

Chicken
Fresh spinach
Carrots
Cucumber
Green peppers
Broccoli
Strawberries (feel free to add other fresh or dried fruits)
Avocado
Goat cheese (optional)
Your favorite dressing

Continue reading for the rest of the week's healthy menu and grocery list.