FitSugar

Happy Snacking: Granola Bar Breakdown

Leta Shy — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 02:16:00 PDT

I've reached for a granola snack many times, when I'm too busy to prepare a meal or just need something to fill me up. Granola bars are a good option, since they're a good source of whole grains, protein, and fiber. But since granola can be high in fat and sugar, the calories can add up if you're not sure what's in your go-to bar. Want to know how your favorite granola bar stacks up nutritionally? Find the breakdown for the most popular granola bars after the break.

Yummy Links: From Granola Bars to S'mores Terrine

YumSugar — Tue, 24 May 2011 10:15:04 PDT

Homemade granola bars are a healthy and scrumptious snack. - Food 52
Meet San Francisco's newest crop of star bartenders. - The San Francisco Chronicle
Keep things simple with these three-ingredient veggie dishes. - Huffington Post Food
Here are 25 recipes perfect for camping. - Serious Eats
On the latest episode of Bizarre Foods, Andrew Zimmern visits New York City. - Eater
Beers wine drinkers will love. - The Kitchn
Speaking of beer, Samuel Adams and Dogfish have joined forces to create the mother of collaborative beers. - Grub Street Philadelphia
Must make: s'mores ice cream terrine. - Baking Bites

A Reader Recipe: Gluten-Free Vegan Apple Granola Bars

Fit Community — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 03:06:46 PDT

Check out this recipe for raw gluten-free vegan apple granola bars from reader onehungrymess; she posted it in our Healthy Recipe community group.

See how to make these bars yourself after the break!

Treat Yourself: Quinoa, Apricot, and Nut Clusters

Susi May — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 05:00:21 PST

I love baking, but too many cookies are bad for the chef. I was happy to find this recipe in the Power Foods cookbook, which is more like a chewy granola bar in a cookie shape than an actual cookie. The recipe features my new favorite grain quinoa along with oats, pistachios, sunflower seeds, and dried apricots. It's the perfect treat after a run.

Ready to get baking? Here's the recipe.

Come Party With Me: Beach Cleanup - Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 10:15:47 PDT

This weekend, why not celebrate Earth Day by doing something good for your community? I'm heading to the beach for a local cleanup organized by a friend, and I plan on surprising the other volunteers with a picnic lunch. Hearty turkey sandwiches and healthy asparagus and mushroom salad are on the menu. To keep up with the figure-friendly theme, I"ll offer homemade chocolate chip granola bars for dessert. They're low in fat, but thanks to honey and vanilla extract, high in flavor. The addition of chocolate chips makes them just a little decadent. These bars are great for any picnic or school lunch, so check out the recipe now.

Mommy Dearest: Scolded by Fellow Mom For Kid's Breakfast

LilSugar — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:00:00 PDT

Mommy Dearest:
My son and I were running late and rather than have him be tardy for preschool, I gave him an organic yogurt smoothie and children's breakfast bar to eat en route. As we walked to school, a fellow mom joined us for the last few blocks. When I told her we were having a crazy morning and had resorted to a quick meal, she scolded me saying that granola bars should be treated as snacks rather than meals and said they were the equivalent to candy bars. Dumbfounded by her mini-tirade, I shuttled my son to class without responding. Is it so bad to give a yogurt smoothie and granola bar for breakfast?
– Meal-on-the-Go Mom

To see the response from Mommy Dearest,

read more. Meal-on-the-Go Mom, You had a harried morning and gave your son the quickest, healthy breakfast you had. Not every family has time to sit down for a full meal in the morning even if they plan on it. Most moms can relate to your situation- it's not as if you handed your lil guy a candy bar to nosh on, but even if you did, it's your business and that meddling mama should have just kept her opinion to herself. - Mommy Dearest Submit a question for this feature at the Mommy Dearest Group on TeamSugar.

Is There Trans Fat Lurking in Your Granola Bar?

FitSugar — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 09:00:00 PDT

As I waited in the longest line at the grocery store, which meant standing in the snack aisle, there was plenty of time to check out the well-stocked area full of various bars. Naturally, I picked up some new products that looked interesting and began reading the list of ingredients. While my interest was piqued by a new Quaker bar that has 35 percent of my daily recommended fiber intake and contains healthy omega-3s, what I saw in the list of ingredients caused me to put the box back where I found it. To find out what I saw,

read more. There was partially hydrogenated oil near the beginning of the ingredient list, as with several of the other products I skimmed over. This means there's trans fat in these seemingly healthy snacks - you know, the stuff that can cause colon cancer, raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, and decrease HDL (good) cholesterol levels. It's tricky that products can claim to have zero trans fat, when the inclusion of partially hydrogenated oil indicates that's not the case. When you're shopping, don't assume that something is healthy simply because it says so on the front of the box. Get the whole story by turning the product over and giving the ingredient list a quick scan. Choose bars that have short ingredient lists with recognizable components. Check your cabinets - is there trans fat lurking in your snack bars? Source

Yummy Link: Homemade Granola Bars

partysugar — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:38:51 PST

When I was little I ate a granola bar everyday for a snack. Now that I'm grown and prone to cooking, I enjoy homemade granola bars. This recipe with almonds, flax seeds, and pepitas looks crunchy and delicious. - The Kitchen Sink

Health Foods That Aren't So Healthy

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:00:00 PST

It seems like every food company is getting on the health kick these days. They're advertising products that are "made with whole grains," or "low in sugar," or "fat-free." It's easy to believe the printing on the packages, but I'm sorry to tell you that food companies are using all their marketing resources to sway you to buy their product.

Here's a list of some popular foods that sound healthy, but could be the total opposite:

Granola and granola bars - Whole grain oats are packed with fiber, but watch out. Some bars and cereals may include these nutritious oats in a sea of high fructose corn syrup and refined sugar.

Baked beans - Beans are an excellent source of protein and fiber, but many pre-made cans of baked beans are loaded with sugar. 1 cup of baked beans can contain up to 24g of sugar (that's about the same amount in an 8 oz. can of soda). Add plain canned beans to salads and soups instead.

Reduced fat peanut butter - Real peanut butter that's made with plain old peanuts is high in protein and also high in fat, but they're the healthy fats your body needs. When companies make reduced fat varieties, they basically take a small amount of real peanut butter and mix it up with fillers like sugar. Stick to actual peanut butter that's made with only peanuts.

Pretzels - Sure they may be a low fat snack, but many are made with corn syrup and enriched white flour (the kind that's refined and stripped of nutrition). So when you eat them, it gets converted into sugar quickly and makes your blood sugar spike up, leaving you tired, cranky and probably hungry soon after. Go for whole grain crackers instead if you're looking to satisfy your crunchy cravings.

English Muffins - Same as pretzels, these are mostly made with refined white flour which is completely devoid of fiber, protein, or vitamins. Look for 100% whole grain English muffins, or shoot for whole grain bread instead.

Fruit cocktail or applesauce - These may seem like an easy way to get your daily fruit, but many are made with added sugar and heavy syrups. Fruit is sweet enough on its own, so eat fresh fruit instead, and eat the skins whenever possible (it's packed with fiber).

Fit's Tip: Be sure to read all labels, even from foods you buy at health foods stores. Just because they seem healthy, doesn't mean they really are.

Source

Cascadian Farms - Organic and Easy

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 13:00:03 PST

Cascadian Farms started off as a small farm in 1972, farming organically on a few acres in the Upper Skagit Valley of Washington's North Cascade Mountains - hence the name.

And now, they've expanded to become the leading grower, manufacturer, and distributor of a wide range of delicious organic products.

Walk into any health food store and you can't miss them. Their name is on anything from granola bars, to breakfast cereals, to frozen blueberries, to pickles. That about covers all the basic food groups. It is reliable and convenient organic produce and food.

My favorite products are a staple for a weekend breakfast: frozen blueberries for pancakes and frozen Country Style Potatoes - they make hash-browns so much easier.

And what else is great? Cascadian Farms are on Bob Greene's list for The Best Life Diet as seen on Oprah.

Fit's Tips: Keep a couple of bags each of frozen peas and corn - they're great to have on hand for soups and stir-frys.