FitSugar

Food Review: Dorset Cereals

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 03:00:00 -0700

I was tired of my usual cereals for breakfast, so I perused the shelves for a new one and found Super Cranberry, Cherry & Almond Dorset Cereals (about $5).

The creative packaging definitely caught my eye. I loved that you could see the dried cherries and cranberries floating around with flakes of cereal and seeds. I knew it looked good, but how did it taste? To find out read more.

With all those natural ingredients - 50 percent being fruit and seeds - this cereal was delicious. It reminded me of my homemade muesli recipe, but was even better because it was already made! It's great on its own, in yogurt, in milk, and was especially delicious with almond milk. I love the combination of the sweet chewy dried fruit and the crispy crunchy flakes. This is seriously my new favorite cereal because it's so wholesome and satisfying. It's also high in fiber and protein, and low in sodium and cholesterol. It seems high in fat, but it's mostly healthy fat from the almonds and sunflower seeds. I am definitely going to buy this cereal again, and am excited to try the other flavors including Berries and Cherries and Organic Fruit, Nuts & Seeds.

Serving Size	1/2 cup
Calories	200
Total Fat	4.5 g
Saturated Fat	.5 g
Cholesterol	0 mg
Sodium	90 mg
Carbs	39 g
Fiber	4 g
Sugar	17 g
Protein	5 g

When It Comes to Healthy Food, What's the Better Choice?

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 06:23:00 -0700

With so many food choices out there, it's tough to know which one is the healthier option. So take this fun quiz to test your food smarts.

Question 1 of 6

Which nut contains more protein?

Match the Food to Its Health Benefit

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 04:30:00 -0700

National Nutrition Month encourages us to eat right, and I think it's easier to add more healthy food when you know how it's benefiting your body. Increase your enjoyment by learning how different foods are working to enhance your health. Can you match the food to its benefit? Take the quiz!

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5 "Healthy" Foods That Cause Weight Gain

FitSugar — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0800

You're a smart cookie. You know that oatmeal is healthier than a bowl of Frosted Mini Wheats, and veggie pizza is better for you than a slice of pepperoni. Some foods that we consider to be healthy, though, are still full of calories. You may not realize that these supposedly good-for-you foods are packed with hundreds of calories, so day after day, you may be eating more than you thought, which could cause gradual weight gain. Here are some foods to watch out for:

Veggie lo mein: Veggies are healthy on their own, but if you order veggie lo mein from a classic Chinese restaurant, you're looking at veggies and noodles that are fried in oil. One dinner from P.F. Chang's contains 1,340 calories. It is healthier than the chicken lo mein, which contains 1,610 calories, but not much. Go for steamed veggies and rice instead.
Banana Bran Muffin: Bananas are full of potassium and have a fair amount of fiber, and bran is a healthy carb that keeps you regular. Two great things, right? Well, when you bake them with eggs and sugar, the outcome is not so nutritious. A Starbucks Banana Bran Muffin will run you 410 calories. You're better off eating a bowl of bran cereal with sliced banana.

To see the other three "healthy" foods, read more.

Odwalla Super Protein Vanilla Al'Mondo shake: I'm a huge fan of Odwalla juices because they're fresh and made with a short list of ingredients you can pronounce. A bottle contains more than a single serving though, and if you end up drinking the entire bottle of the Super Protein (which is totally normal, by the way), you'll have consumed 356 calories. Plain milk or soy milk is a better option if you're looking to drink a beverage that's high in protein, yet low in calories.
Chicken and broccoli quiche: Quiche can be a healthy meal since it's made with eggs, but even if you add healthy ingredients to it such as chicken and broccoli, it doesn't take away from the fact that quiche is also made with cheese, cream, and butter. Aside from being high in fat (67 grams a serving), one slice from Ruby Tuesday is super high in calories - 872. Go for grilled chicken with a side of steamed broccoli instead of the quiche.
Whole wheat bagel with lowfat veggie cream cheese: Sounds like a healthy breakfast, but one whole wheat bagel from Bruegger's contains 390 calories. Add a scoop of Garden Veggie Light cream cheese, and that tacks on 90 calories, making the grand total 480 calories. I'm not saying you should give up on bagels altogether, but I wouldn't have a bagel for breakfast every day. Two scrambled eggs and one slice of whole wheat toast add up to 266 calories, and one cup of Kashi Go Lean and 1 cup of skim milk contain 230 calories, so opt for these lower calorie options in the morning.

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Send Your Man to the Grocery Store With This List From Men's Health Magazine

FitSugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:00:00 -0800

Men's Health is always looking for ways to expand your horizons and not just between the sheets, but on your plate, too. They believe, as do I, that you should try new things and one of those things is exotic and not so exotic foods. The magazine recommends 10 foods to add to your grocery list, and following their lead I thought it would be a good idea to send your man to the grocery store to pick the following items up:

Beets
Cabbage
Guava
Swiss Chard
Cinnamon

If you're curious about the other five foods that made their, read more.

Purslane
Pomegranate Juice
Goji Berries
Dried Plums, aka Prunes
Pumpkin Seeds

To find out why these foods are good for you, check out the article "The 10 Best Foods You Aren't Eating." Some of these foods may already be a part of your diet or in your spice rack (I'm sure Men's Health can make a double entendre out of that one), but if there are some new ones on the list, like purslane (a weed that's high in omega-3 fatty acids), then give them a try.

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Diet Tip: Focus on What You Can Add to Your Meals

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:00:00 -0700

When dieting, it's hard not to fixate on the unhealthy foods you should avoid. Many women who diet choose to eliminate soda, salty foods, dessert, high-fat foods, and huge servings. This can make you really depressed, and it often leads to binging on the forbidden foods you crave or can make you go back to your unhealthy eating habits.

So instead of obsessing about what you can't have, think about what you can have and should be having. One thing you can do is focus on getting five to nine servings of fruits and veggies. Are there some new ones you've never tried like asparagus, artichokes, or pomegranates? What about seasonal fruits and veggies? I like to work them into my meals by adding a huge variety to the main dish, not just having them as a side dish or snack. That way my taste buds are happy and my stomach feels satisfied. You can also think about how you can get your 30 grams of fiber a day. High-fiber foods not only taste great, but they'll keep you feeling full longer, so you'll eat less calories. Whole grains are another type of food you should be eating. Get creative about how you can work them into your diet (make hot cereal with barley instead of oats). Also think about all the healthy fats you can include like nuts, nut butters, avocado, and olive oil. There are so many healthy foods out there that you can eat, so if you take advantage of them, you'll think less about what you're missing out on.

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Stamp of Approval: Au Bon Pain

FitSugar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:00:00 -0700

Look, it's not surprise that I am not the biggest fan of fast food restaurants. However, I do know that sometimes you just have to eat there so I am always on the hunt for healthier fast food joints and Au Bon Pain gets my stamp of approval.

Au Bon Pain provides Nutrition Kiosks, which allow guests to plan their meals before ordering them. You can sort the menu by a specific nutritional requirement (high fiber, high protein, low carb, low fat, low calories, etc.). They also launched Kids Nutrition Kiosk in their suburban and hospital locations. The children's version includes interactive games intended to teach the basics of making healthy meal choices. What's more? They've moved to using preservative-free chicken and they've recently introduced a new product line called Portions - a line of 14 dishes made fresh daily, packaged individually and with 200 or less calories per dish. And to bring it home, all products at Au Bon Pain have zero grams trans fat.

So next time you're going for fast food, you may want to think about stopping at Au Bon Pain. They have made every effort to help you become aware of the healthy choices they offer, all you have to do is choose them.

One Splurge Is Worse Than You Think

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:30:00 -0800

If you're standing in line at McDonald's telling yourself, "One splurge is not going to do anything," then you may want to think again. According to a review of new dietary research, just one high-fat, high-sugar meal can trigger a biochemical cascade, causing inflammation of blood vessels and immediate, detrimental changes to the nervous system (i.e. free radicals are generated). Yikes. This could explain why we feel so crummy after splurging on a high-fat meal.

The good news? One healthy meal can help return your body to its optimal state. So think about what two, ten, or even a lifetime of healthy meals will do for you. If you continue to eat healthy, you'll continue to feel good and hopefully never want to eat junk food again.

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An American Native: Spaghetti Squash

FitSugar — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 11:34:15 -0800

I am always trying to get more fruits and veggies in my diet, and while I am not quite sure which category spaghetti squash falls into I will freely admit I love it. Since it is National Spaghetti Day, I thought I'd pay a little tribute to this very unique squash.

When you first cut it open, the flesh looks like any other squash, but after it is cooked the flesh tears into ribbons resembling spaghetti. Don't be deceived by its looks - it tastes nothing like spaghetti. It is slightly sweet and, if not overcooked, is crunchy and watery, like cucumber.

Spaghetti squash is versatile and can be baked, boiled or steamed. Serve it with pasta sauce or use it as a vegetable base for macaroni and cheese. I like it with a little garlic sauteed in olive oil, a little fresh grated Parmesan cheese and roasted walnuts.

Nutritionally speaking spaghetti squash contains: folic acid, potassium, vitamin A, and beta carotene. Plus it's a low calorie food, averaging 75 calories in 8 cooked ounces. One more factual tidbit of note - it is a New World veggie, native to the Americas.

If you are interested in eating some, check out Cooks.com. The site has a bunch of recipes for spaghetti squash.

Healthy Holiday Eating: Keep a Food Journal

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:00:22 -0800

If the thought of decadent holiday food is stressing you out already, take control and try keeping track of your holiday eating with a food journal. It seems simple, but by writing down what you're eating throughout the day, you'll develop a real awareness of what you're putting in your body. A treat here and there, if you're not keeping track, can feel like it's no big deal, but writing it down will give you a real record of what you've eaten and make it easier to judge if you really do want dessert.

As a trial, test out how food journaling works for you over Thanksgiving, and if it seems to boost your healthy eating habits, keep it going through Christmas and the New Year. Plus, you can make it even easier to keep track by using your phone to journal, or if you decide to get into it, pick up one of these inconspicuous little journals or try an iPhone app. You might just find that this is a health trick you want to stick with.