FitSugar

Veggie Burger Breakdown

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0700

The Fourth of July is just around the corner, and I'm sure you're gearing up for some BBQs. If you're watching your saturated fat and cholesterol intake, veggie burgers are a great option. And according to my burger poll many of you prefer veggie burgers, too. There are so many different brands and flavors out there now, the selection can be a little overwhelming. Some burgers are made with soy and others with grains. Other veggie burgers are just that and made from veggies. Sunshine even makes their burgers with sunflower seeds. Depending on the main ingredients, all your options will differ in calories, sodium, carbs, and protein, so check out this breakdown to see which one satisfies your needs.

Veggie Burger (1 patty)	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Amy's Kitchen All American Veggie Burger	120	3	0	390	15	3	10
Amy's Kitchen California Veggie Burger	140	5	0	430	19	4	6
Boca All American Flame Grilled	90	3	5	280	4	4.5	14
Boca Original Vegan	70	.5	0	280	6	4	13

There's plenty more and to see them just read more.

Veggie Burger (1 patty)	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Boca Grilled Vegetable	80	1	0	300	7	4	12
Boca Cheeseburger	100	4.65	10	360	5	4	13
Boca Garden Vegetable Made With Organic Soy	130	3	0	400	9	4	15
Boca Roasted Garlic Made With Organic Soy	130	.5	0	470	9	4	16
Gardenburger Original	100	3.5	5	420	14	5	5
Gardenburger Sun-Dried Tomato Basil	100	3	5	310	15	5	5
Gardenburger Portabella	90	2.5	5	360	15	5	5
Gardenburger Black Bean Chipotle	80	2.5	0	250	13	5	5
Gardenburger GardenVegan	100	1	0	230	12	3	10
Gardenburger California Burger	90	3.5	0	380	12	2	3
Morningstar Farms Cheddar Burger (contains partially hydrogenated soybean oil)	150	7	10	480	10	3	13
Morningstar Farms Mushroom Lover's (contains corn syrup solids)	110	6	0	220	8	less than 1	7
Morningstar Farms Veggie Medley made with Organic Soy	120	4	0	260	11	2	11
Morningstar Farms Classic Burger made with Organic Soy	150	6	0	280	9	3	14
Morningstar Farms Spicy Black Bean Veggie	120	4	0	350	13	4	11
Sunshine Burger South West	240	12	0	240	26	9	6
Wildwood Tofu-Veggie Burger, Original	180	13	0	330	8	1	12
Wildwood Tofu-Veggie Burger, South West	190	13	0	320	9	2	11

I'm curious what your favorite flavor is? Tell me in the comments section below.

Gardenburger: Sun-Dried Tomato Basil

FitSugar — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:30:00 -0800

If you recently got your cholesterol or blood pressure checked, you may realize that your body could really benefit from cutting back on foods that are high in saturated fat. Adding more bean-and vegetable-based foods to your diet will not only keep you regular, but will also be good for your heart.

If you're used to eating hamburgers, and you don't want to give them up, Gardenburgers are a tasty alternative. They come in many wonderful flavors, such as one of my favorites, Sun-Dried Tomato Basil. Just how healthy are they? To find out read more

Okay, so they don't look like a real hamburger, and they definitely don't taste like one, but they do taste delicious and are really filling. Did you check out the amazing nutritional info? Only 1 gram of saturated fat per 100-calorie patty. Plus 5 grams of both fiber and protein. I love that you can see whole pieces of red bell peppers, corn, rice, rolled oats, sun-dried tomatoes, and basil. All those real ingredients make this patty taste fresh and savory.

Serving Size	1 patty
Calories	100
Total Fat	3g
Saturated Fat	1g
Cholesterol	5mg
Sodium	310mg
Carbs	15g
Fiber	5g
Sugar	2g
Protein	5g

Fit's Tip: These Gardenburgers taste great on a bun or on an open-faced sandwich with lowfat cheese, tomatoes, and avocado. You can also cut up pieces and use it in your Shepherd's Pie, lasagna, or spaghetti in place of ground beef.

Healthy BBQ - Whole Grain Buns

FitSugar — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 08:45:00 -0700

I've talked a lot about healthier options to throw on the grill like Gardenburgers, Wildwood burgers, Tofu Pups, grilled corn and grilled veggies.

Now don't forget about those buns! You've got to do some detective work and read labels because many buns are made with the dreaded enriched flour, which means the healthy nutrients were stripped away.

Watch out for high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated soybean oil and other cr*p you may find in your buns too. Don't be fooled by a pretty bun or a healthy name (like Arnold Select). Read the ingredients just to be sure.

Look for buns made with whole grains or whole wheat. These will taste better and be healthier for you since they contain some fiber!!!

Fit's Tips: If you can't find whole grain buns, go for some whole grain or whole wheat bread instead.

Healthy BBQ - Gardenburgers

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:45:00 -0700

All this talk about beef being recalled and red meat being linked to breast cancer is making me crazy. Don't have a cow - reach for a veggie burger instead.

I love that so many companies make them now, but my favorite is made by Gardenburger. When you take a bite, you can actually see the whole grain brown rice, rolled oats, and veggies. All that good stuff makes them hearty, flavorful, and delicious when grilled.

They make exciting flavors like Portabella and Black Bean Chipotle. Some of their burgers are even vegan (made without dairy products) like the Veggie Medley.

I like the Sun-dried Tomato Basil best. It's made with whole grains, basil, red and green bell peppers, onions, garlic, and mozzarella cheese. One patty contains 100 calories, 3g of fat, 5mg of cholesterol, 15g of carbs, 5g of fiber, and 5g of protein. Delicious and healthy. Who could ask for more? I'd say this is a perfect entrée for a Meatless Monday.

View 7 Photos ›

Veggie Burger Breakdown

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:50:16 -0700

If you're watching your saturated fat and cholesterol intake, veggie burgers are a great option when grilling. According to my burger poll, many of you actually prefer them. There are so many different brands and flavors out there now, the selection can be a little overwhelming. Some burgers are made with soy and others with grains. Other veggie burgers are just that and made from veggies. Sunshine even makes gluten-free burgers with sunflower seeds. Depending on the main ingredients, your options will differ in calories, sodium, carbs, and protein, so check out this breakdown to see which one you might want to grill up at your next BBQ.

1 Patty	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Amy's Kitchen All American Veggie Burger	120	3	0	390	15	3	10
Amy's Kitchen California Veggie Burger	140	5	0	430	19	4	6
Boca All American Flame Grilled	90	3	5	280	4	4.5	14
Boca Original Vegan	70	.5	0	280	6	4	13

There's plenty more, and to see them, just read more.

1 Patty	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Boca Grilled Vegetable	80	1	0	300	7	4	12
Boca Cheeseburger	100	4.65	10	360	5	4	13
Boca Garden Vegetable Made With Organic Soy	130	3	0	400	9	4	15
Boca Roasted Garlic Made With Organic Soy	130	.5	0	470	9	4	16
Gardenburger Original	100	3.5	5	420	14	5	5
Gardenburger Sun-Dried Tomato Basil	100	3	5	310	15	5	5
Gardenburger Portabella	90	2.5	5	360	15	5	5
Gardenburger Black Bean Chipotle	80	2.5	0	250	13	5	5
Gardenburger GardenVegan	100	1	0	230	12	3	10
Gardenburger California Burger	90	3.5	0	380	12	2	3
Morningstar Farms Cheddar Burger (contains partially hydrogenated soybean oil)	150	7	10	480	10	3	13
Morningstar Farms Mushroom Lover's (contains corn syrup solids)	110	6	0	220	8	less than 1	7
Morningstar Farms Veggie Medley made with organic soy	120	4	0	260	11	2	11
Morningstar Farms Classic Burger made with organic soy	150	6	0	280	9	3	14
Morningstar Farms Spicy Black Bean Veggie	120	4	0	350	13	4	11
Sunshine Burger Southwest	240	12	0	240	26	9	6
Wildwood Tofu-Veggie Burger, Original	180	13	0	330	8	1	12
Wildwood Tofu-Veggie Burger, Southwest	190	13	0	320	9	2	11

I'm curious to know what your favorite veggie burger is, so tell me in the comments section below.

Healthy BBQ - Wildwood Burgers

FitSugar — Thu, 31 May 2007 11:45:00 -0700

A friend recently introduced me to a new meatless burger, Wildwood Tofu-Veggie. She's allergic to wheat, which makes most veggies burgers off limits since they contain wheat gluten.

These Wildwood burgers on the other hand are made with tofu, and they have a really soft, yet dense consistency. I'd say their texture is more like meat than Gardenburgers.

I tried the Southwest flavor (they also make Original and Shiitake), and was surprised how flavorful it was - must be the cayenne pepper, cilantro and garlic. After taking my first bite, I looked down and could actually see bits of carrot, kale and full corn kernels. There's nothing I love more than seeing real food in my food!

Each patty contain 13g of fat, 0g of cholesterol, 320 mg of sodium, 9g of carbs, 2g of fiber, and a whopping 11g of protein (Gardenburgers only have 5g).

If you are a vegetarian, or trying to cut back on your meat consumption, I'd definitely give these a try. It's good to know they're also dairy-free, so if you are avoiding milk products for whatever reason (lactose intolerance) your tummy will love these. Look for them next to the tofu pups.

Snack Attack: Healthy Treats for Your Freezer

FitSugar — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 03:00:00 -0800

Sometimes healthy snacks can get boring and it's nice to have some easy to make snacks on hand for anytime your tummy starts rumbling and you've already eaten dinner. eDiets has found the best healthy snacks to keep in your freezer and since I love almost everything on this list, especially Skinny Cow Ice Cream, I wanted to share it with you.

Birds Eye Steamfresh Veggies: One entire bag has less than 200 calories.
Skinny Cow Ice Cream: These delicious ice-cream sandwiches are 97-percent fat free and have only 140 calories
Sugar-Free Popsicles: They are low in calories and sugar-free!
Edamame: These soybeans are low in calories and easy to make -- all you have to do is boil some water.
Gardenburger: These are delicious and hearty and have around 100 calories per patty.
Kashi Go Lean Frozen Waffles: Each waffle has 8 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, and only 3 grams of fat!

What about you? Do you keep a "go to" snack in your freezer? Tell me what it is in the comments section below.

Saturated Fat: A Little May be Too Much

FitSugar — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 11:45:00 -0700

OK, so we know that saturated fat isn't good for us. These fats are NOT essential to our bodies whatsoever, but boy are they tasty. Butter, ice cream, hot dogs, bacon - all dairy and meat products contain saturated fat.

Why are they bad for us? Saturated fats are known to raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels over time. This leads to plaque build-up in your arteries, making it difficult for blood to pass to and from your heart, which puts you at risk for a heart attack. Now new research shows that food loaded with saturated fat may have immediate effects on your heart.

A study conducted in Australia took 14 healthy adults (ages 18-40) and gave them 2 meals consisting of a piece of high-fat carrot cake and a milkshake. The first meal was made with 90% saturated fat and contained 68 grams of fat! That's equivalent to a double cheeseburger, a large order of French fries, and drinking a large milkshake (yikes!) The second meal was made with polyunsaturated oil, and only contained just 9% fat.

The researchers took blood samples of the participants before and after the meals to see what happened to their HDL (good) levels of cholesterol. They discovered that the levels of good cholesterol decreased after the first fat-filled meal, and increased after the second healthier version.

The effects may be temporary, but they are still a cause for concern since this happens every time a person eats a meal high in saturated fat.

Fit's Tips: Here's the deal. It's important to limit your saturated fat intake as much as possible. Aim for 10% or less each day. That means if you eat 2,000 calories a day, eat no more than 20g of saturated fat. Cut back on meat and full-fat dairy products. Also check labels to see if there is hidden saturated fat (they tend to lurk in processed foods and snacks). You can also go for meat alternatives like Gardenburgers and Tofu Pups. I also love dairy free foods such as Wildwood Soyogurt and Tofutti Cuties (dairy-free ice cream sandwiches). They taste great and are so much better for your heart.

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Encourage Health

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Now that you're taking such great care of yourself, and planning to live a long and healthy life, you want the same for the people you care about. What fun would it be to live till you're 99 years old without your friends and family around?

Here are some ways you can encourage them to live a healthy lifestyle:

Exercise together. Invite your loved ones to go for a walk after dinner, an early morning bike ride, a hike, or a game of badminton or Frisbee. Or pop in an exercise DVD to do together. Or take them to a yoga or salsa dance class. The possibilities are endless. Who knows, after a while, they may be motivating you to exercise.
Go grocery shopping together. Point out all the healthy foods and brands you eat like almond butter, avocado, and Stonyfield Farms yogurt. Also point out the ones that have trans fat, those that are high in saturated fat, and those with tons of sodium.
Share healthy recipes and tips. One of my favorite tips (that I learned from a fellow healthy friend) is to pack serving sizes of snacks in little ziploc baggies, instead of eating straight out of the original box or bag.

There are more tips. To hear them, read more

Buy inspirational magazines and books about health and fitness, and leave them on the coffee table, in the bathroom (great place to read), or on their nightstand. If they don't live in the same house as you, pass on the mags you've finished, or loan out your books.
Tell them about new healthy snacks you've discovered, or alternatives to the foods they love, like Gardenburgers instead of hamburgers.
Cook and bake for them. Invite them over for lunch, or bring over a healthy dish to share. Once they see how delicious and satisfying healthy eating is, they'll be more inspired to learn how to cook healthier for themselves.

Do you have any other ways that you encourage others to be healthy? Share your ideas below - I'd love to hear them.

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Healthy BBQ - Round Up

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 02:00:00 -0700

No doubt you are barbecuing today. It's our nation's favorite pastime for the 4th of July. I thought it would be good to review all the healthy options I have written about recently. Just giving you a gentle reminder that you can eat healthfully at a BBQ.

There are many meatless options out there. I recommend Wildwood tofu burgers, Gardenburgers and tofu pups.

Of course I recommend using whole wheat or whole grain buns for your burgers and dogs.

Don't forget to grill your veggies. I not only love corn on the grill; I am also a big fan of grilled radicchio.

Remember to marinate your meat before putting it on the barbie, and here are some tips from the Harvard Health Letter.

Here's a breakdown of popular BBQ condiments, and of course I have some tips on how to cut calories when dining BBQ style.

Don't forget to check out PartySugar's post on fun facts about Independence Day. You can impress all your friends with grilling techniques and your knowledge. Have FUN!!!

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