FitSugar

Healthy Eating Tip: Find Healthier Alternatives

FitSugar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:30:00 PDT

Even if you're trying to lose a few pounds or stick to your health kick, I don't recommend ever giving up the foods you love. Moderation works for me (most of the time), but when I can't hold myself back from devouring more than just a few tasty bites, I try to make or find healthier alternatives. Here are some of my favorites. If you have healthy alternatives to the foods you crave, please share them in the comment section below.

Craving This?	Try this Instead
Ice cream	Frozen yogurt, soy ice cream, or chocolate sorbet
Candy bar (Snickers, Kit Kat)	A piece of dark chocolate with a handful of almonds
Pizza	Choose ones made with thin crust (for less carbs) or make your own using lowfat cheese and grilled veggies. Or try a pizza salad.
Chewy candy (skittles, sour patch kids)	Dried Fruit or trail mix
Peanut butter cookie	Peanut butter on a whole grain cracker, topped with a drizzle of honey
Chocolate mousse or fudge	Make your own chocolate pudding with nonfat milk
Apple pie	Baked apple
Banana cream pie	Halve a banana lengthwise and top with 1 tbsp chocolate chips
French Fries with ketchup	Bake or grill regular or sweet potatoes instead, and flavor with fresh rosemary

Do you have a healthy alternative you rely on when craving something crazy? Share it in the comments section below.

Source

A Healthier Easter Basket

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 07:30:00 PDT

You've seen the Easter Candy breakdown. You cast your vote for your favorite Easter Candy over on YumSugar...and now you're thinking maybe I should make a healthy Easter Basket. Well you know I am going to second that option. I am going to go so far as to give you some suggestions.

Carrots - The Easter Bunny likes to share
Fresh fruit
Homemade cookies that are filled with healthy ingredients like oats, raisins, dried cranberries, walnuts, and dark chocolate chips

Bars of Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate covered peanuts, pretzels, or raisins
Mini banana bread muffins
An exercise DVD
A scented candle
Hand soap shaped like bird's eggs (my girls love these)
A jar of all fruit jam
Granola bars
A potted plant
Small picture frames
Herbal teas and a mug
A CD of relaxing music
Silly Putty - it comes in its own egg
For kids: a coloring book, colored pencils, puzzles, small toys, stuffed bunnies, stickers, play-doh, magnets, disposable cameras, packets of seeds and gardening tools, plastic eggs filled with coins, beads, and books about Easter.

Fit's Tips: I don't believe in denying yourself anything, especially during special family and holiday times. Make sure you do enjoy yourself (and the treats), and try the things you love, just don't go overboard and eat the ENTIRE 12 inch chocolate bunny in one sitting.

Source

Concession Stand Concessions

FitSugar — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 13:02:17 PST

We now know how high in calories the food we buy at the movie theater concession stand really is, so we need to find an alternative because watching a movie and snacking go hand in hand.

I have yet to really figure out how frowned upon it really is to sneak snacks into the movie theater, but as far as I'm concerned if they aren't offering healthy alternatives, it is the only option.

Healthier alternatives for snacking at the movies:

Air popped popcorn with no butter or salt added
Fruit that you can pop in your mouth (as you would Starburst) such as grapes or berries
Nutrition/energy bars like nectar bars from Cliff
High Fiber Cereal such as Kashi that you can pop in your mouth

The key is to bring items that are easy to bring in and easy to eat that won't be super distracting to you (or the other movie goers).

Fit's Tip: Make sure that the food you bring is not too messy and/or sticky.

Have you own tricks of the trade? Share them below!

Healthy Ice Cream Alternatives You'll Scream For

Leta Shy — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:33:46 PDT

The unofficial kickoff to Summer is this holiday weekend, and while it may not be sizzling yet, nothing says holiday celebration quite like a healthy barbecue. But if you're in need of a creamy cold treat, you don't have to sabotage all the bikini prep you've been doing. Here are a few delicious alternatives to regular old ice cream!

Speak Up: Your Healthy Dessert Alternatives

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:32:01 PDT

It's been in the 80s all week, so after dinner last night, Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream was calling my name from the freezer. I'm all about indulging every once in a while, but I was worried my sweet tooth might cost me the entire pint! So I posted this on Facebook:

Fellow Facebookers posted some great suggestions like green apples with almond butter, frozen raspberries, and fruit salad with some fresh lemon juice sprinkled on top. Delish. I love fruit in the Summer!

I'm sure we could all use some new healthy dessert ideas so tell us what quenches your dessert cravings below.

Make a Japanese-Inspired Salad, Live Longer in the Process

Michele Foley — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:32:16 PDT

Japanese woman live to be almost 90 years old, which is a record high the world over. And while a lot of factors contribute to a long life, diet is certainly one of them. A bowl of udon or a plate of sushi might not appeal to you every night, but there are a few simple ways to tweak your salad using elements of this heart-healthy cuisine.

Soba noodles
In Japan, soba noodles are served either hot or cold, on their own or in light broth. Not just for soups, they're also a tasty addition to any salad - and a healthy one too. Made from buckwheat flour, soba noodles are full of fiber, protein, iron, and amino acids. And those living with celiac disease should know that 100 percent buckwheat soba noodles are gluten-free. I'm a fan of adding soba noodles to a salad of mixed greens, mango, edamame, red pepper, and cucumber. Toss lightly with a miso or sesame dressing for a satisfying lunch!

Seafood
When it comes to a protein staple, fish rules the day in Japan. What you won't find on a day-to-day basis is an overabundance of beef or dairy. The diet is rich in variety, from common varieties like salmon and tuna to the more exotic uni. Seafood is an easy way to give salad the protein boost that is often missing; it also adds omega-3s, iron, and calcium. Try some seared tuna on your next salad creation.

See more ways to make your salad Japanese after the break!

10 Grocery Deals That Trick You Into Spending More

Business Insider — Tue, 08 May 2012 00:15:24 PDT

To help you avoid an expensive grocery bill, Business Insider shares grocery deals that aren't really deals.

These days everyone's trying to make the most of their trip to the grocery store, but it's hard to tell when you're saving big if the grocer is using tricky marketing tactics.

We tapped deals expert and founder of the excellent site Grocery Game, Teri Gault, to help us decipher the deals from the duds and share her exclusive tips for stretching your grocery budget. Try them this week.

1. Reaching for big packages. "People are reaching for the big packages all the time but a lot of times the medium package is cheaper," says Gault. "It's just a marketing thing. We think the bigger package will give us the bulk price but that's not always the case." To find the real steal, calculate the cost per unit using the prices on the shelf.

2. Falling for the "buy one, get one half off" routine. "Whenever you see these they sound like a great deal but the two items together are only a 25 percent savings," Gault says. "Buy one, get one for free is truly half off, not this."

3. Hitting the clearance shelf. While there are good deals to be found here, the problem is that most of the items are only 50 percent off and damaged, says Gault. "You can score good groceries that aren't damaged whenever a sale hits instead."

Read on for more.

Healthy Dose Link Time: Cleansing Before Pregnancy - Yay or Nay?

Michele Foley — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:40:02 PDT

Lil asks: should you prep your body for pregnancy with a cleanse? - LilSugar
How to eat healthy when Indian is your takeout of choice - Fab Fit Fun
New workout alert! Learn the ins and outs of SLT yoga - Vital Juice
Everything you need to know to achieve a bod like Jen Aniston - InStyle
12 healthy (and homemade) alternatives to the ice-cream truck - Shape
Choose your own workout! Mix and match with these seven moves - Health
Fight Alzheimer's with these omega-3-rich foods - HuffPost Healthy Living
Say om with your co-workers: tips for finding corporate yoga retreats - Mind Body Green

8 Ways to Stay Upbeat on Your Job Hunt

Emily Co — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:14:20 PDT

A recent study revealed that staying positive on your job hunt ensures you a better chance of scoring a job. Staying upbeat in the face of multiple rejections can be quite tough - here are a couple of ways to cope:

Avoid talking to negative people. You need all the cheerleading you can get, so try not to talk to those who have lost all hope and are trying to get you to feel the same way. Misery loves company and spending time with negative people can influence how you feel as well.

Work out. When you're unemployed, working out will help you stay positive. The endorphins released during your workout are known to boost moods and the overall well-being of a person. Studies have shown that working out also gives you more energy, which is essential during your job hunt.

Wake up early. Retract the shades on your window so you'll be waking up to the sunrise every day, or set an alarm clock that will get you up at an early hour. Just because you don't have to clock into an office in the morning doesn't mean you should sleep in. In fact, researchers from Roehampton University found that people who get up earlier have happier and healthier lives than those who sleep in. Develop healthy sleep habits for a better mood.

Read on for more.

13 Health Gimmicks You Can Stop Wasting Money On

Business Insider — Tue, 01 May 2012 00:15:21 PDT

Consumers have a tendency of falling for the next big health gimmick. Save your money on health duds with these Business Insider tips.

No matter how many times we're told otherwise, Americans' obsession with get-healthy-quick schemes will likely never die. Too bad most of these fads aren't worth their weight in salt - or your hard-earned dollars. We've put together a list of some of the worst budget-sucking health trends that still persist today.

Coconut Water

Coconut water may be nature's version of Gatorade but some brands have already caught fire for over-hyping its nutrient content. Vita Coco agreed to settle a $10 million class action lawsuit over an independent study that showed the drinks didn't pack near as many electrolytes as advertisements implied. Some coconut waters are also loaded with added sugar, which will do nothing to help your waistline.

Alternative: Pick up your own young green coconuts on the cheap from an Asian produce market. Just crack them open with a cleaver and pop in a straw.

"All-Natural" Foods

30 percent of Americans bought more natural foods in 2011, according to a Rodale study. But what are we really paying more for? There's no clear cut regulation on what makes food "natural," which means just about any company can slap that label on its packages, add a fancy green theme and jack up the price.

Says Andrew Schrage of MoneyCrashers: "Before buying any food that is touted as being 'all natural,' take a look at the ingredient list before you check out. Keep in mind that butter and salt are indeed natural ingredients. So stocking up on natural foods may not achieve anything other than increasing your grocery bill."

Read on for more.