FitSugar

New Study Confirms Popcorn Contains High Levels of Antioxidants

Leta Shy — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:03:25 PDT

When you're in the mood for a crunchy snack, based on a recent study, you may want to reach for popcorn. This new study found that popcorn contains high levels of disease-fighting antioxidants - higher concentrations than those found in certain fruits and vegetables.

Researchers found that popcorn contains disease-fighting polyphenols in the center, or the hull, of popped kernels. This latest study, funded in part by a popcorn company, confirms older reports that popcorn (along with other whole grains) contains high levels of antioxidants; popcorn, in fact, has the highest levels of polyphenols when compared to other snack foods.

The study may give you reasons to snack on popcorn, but it's not reason to go overboard. For one, the researchers of the study aren't completely sure whether or not the the human digestive system is capable of absorbing the antioxidants found in popcorn. Not only that, but you should be careful with the type of popcorn you eat; the amount of fat and calories in movie theater popcorn, for example, outweigh any of the possible small disease-fighting benefits from the popcorn.

In any case, popcorn is already known as a good low-calorie snacking option when done right. That doesn't mean you should substitute a bowl of popcorn for fruits and vegetables (you'll be missing out on key vitamins and nutrients if you do), but if you're in the mood for a crunchy snack, here's how to make popcorn to keep it healthy and satisfying.

Source: Flickr User cyclonebill

Get Fit For 2011: Healthy Snack Ideas

FitSugar — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:57:25 PST

If you're looking to get fit in 2011, healthy snacks are more than a great idea. Here are some of our fave snacks from the Get Fit For 2011 community group.

How to Make Award-Worthy Oscars Popcorn

Michele Foley — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 07:52:30 PST

This Sunday I'll be celebrating the Academy Awards in style at an Oscars party. Besides a large spread of food, my friend is supplying each guest with a bag of popcorn - it's the perfect snack for celebrating the film industry. And if you can skip the butter bath, it's also an ideal healthy snack because it's low-calorie, high in antioxidants, low-fat, and filling.

Since my friend's Oscar party leans closer to a fancy affair, she's glamming up her popcorn with creative toppings like a sprinkle of pepper and Parmesan cheese. But before even thinking about what goes on top, make sure you make it the old-fashioned way: on the stove with a little canola oil. It tastes better, is healthier for you, and doesn't contain all the junk found in store-bought microwave popcorn. If you're worried about calories, try our fat-free popcorn or use an air popper.

For a glammed up event like an Oscars party, I like sprinkling healthy toppings like nutritional yeast or seaweed onto my popcorn, or dried spices like rosemary, garlic, and cayenne. If that doesn't sound good to you check out YumSugar's popcorn recipe roundup. How do you like to dress up your popcorn?

Source: Flickr user ThomasLife

Get Fit For 2011 Giveaway: Challenge 7, Share a Healthy Snack

FitSugar — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:52:53 PST

This is your year to get healthy and fit, and FitSugar is here to help. We've created weekly challenges for our Get Fit For 2011 giveaway that will help you stay on track.

This week's challenge: Share your favorite healthy snack in the Get Fit For 2011 community group. Include a stellar photo of your dish, and we might just post it on FitSugar!

By meeting this challenge, you will be automatically entered for a chance to win our weekly prize - a $100 Nike gift card and our grand prize! At the end of the three-month challenge, we will pick a grand prize winner at random from all of the weekly challenge entries. Remember, the more you participate, the more chances you have to win the grand prize: a Get Fit Boot Camp in Los Angeles that includes a round-trip flight to Los Angeles, a four-night stay at the W Hollywood, a personal training session with celebrity trainer Jeanette Jenkins, a nutrition consultation with C & J Nutrition, and four workout sessions with our very own FitSugar editors that will be featured on PopSugar LivingTV.

If you're ready to join the fun and feel the community support, log in and head directly to Get Fit For 2011. Need a little help making a blog post? Here are tips on posting in our group.

You have until 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, Feb. 27, to complete your second challenge. Ready. Set. Snack attack!

10 High-Fiber Snacks Under 150 Calories

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 03:00:18 PDT

You probably know that a woman needs between 25 and 30 grams of fiber each day. I'm sorry to say, but that morning bowl of cereal may not be enough, so here are some high-fiber, low-cal snacks you can nosh on to make sure you're getting your fiber fill.

1 large apple (with skin): 116 calories, 5.4 grams fiber
1/2 cup fresh raspberries: 32 calories, 4 grams fiber
3 large figs: 142 calories, 5.6 grams fiber
3/4 cup Go Lean Crunch cereal: 143 calories, 6 grams fiber
1 large kiwi: 46 calories, 2.25 grams fiber

To see five more low-calorie snacks, keep reading.

New Snack Obsession: Odwalla Chocolate Chip Trail Mix Bar

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:30:02 PDT

FitSugar reader tsharp25 discovered a new fave snack and posted about it in the Snack Attack group.

I thought I'd tried every kind of Odwalla bar out there, until the other day at the store when I came across the Chocolate Chip Trail Mix flavor for the first time. I'm hooked! It's super chewy, with lots of mini chocolate chips, rolled oats, peanuts, raisins, coconut, and sunflower seeds. I also love that it doesn't have an overwhelming peanut flavor. It's a perfect sweet and nutty mid-afternoon treat!

If you have a healthy snack recipe or a new favorite nibble you recently picked up, tell us about it in the Snack Attack community group. You can even mobile blog your photos straight from your phone.

Healthy Snack Shortcut: Whole Wheat and Cinnamon

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:45:03 PDT

Last night, a craving for a gooey cinnamon roll hit me. Given the amount of calories and fat in one, it was a craving I didn't want to indulge in. But when the taste of cinnamon and sugar wouldn't leave my brain, I trekked into the kitchen to find a healthier way to satisfy it. Usually when this sort of craving hits, I do a warm apple or pear crisp, but it's Summer and apples and pears are nowhere to be found.

Remembering a favorite from my childhood, I made a piece of cinnamon-sugar toast. I swapped out the white bread for whole wheat and barely put any sugar on it. Instead of a rich cream cheese frosting or butter, I opted for a small amount of nonfat cream cheese instead. The result tasted delicious and totally satisfied my craving for a cinnamon roll. It was warm, gooey, and had the perfect amount of sweetness. A friend of mine also does something similar whenever she craves a pastry. She warms up a whole wheat tortilla and gives it a light filling of honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Or, if she wants something more custard-like, she makes whole wheat cinnamon french toast minus the maple syrup. What healthy ways do you satisfy pastry and cake cravings?

Source: Flickr User veganbaking.net

A Reader's Way to Feed a Cold

Fit Community — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 03:00:19 PDT

Here's what FitSugar reader Mee-shell is eating to beat her Summer cold. She uploaded this photo to the Snack Attack: Healthy Snack Ideas group in the FitSugar Community.

My afternoon snack of the week: fresh fruit topped with pepitas (pumpkin seeds). A green smoothie on the side. Hoping all this fruity goodness will kick the cold out of my system!

Do you have an image of something healthy and delicious that you recently made or enjoyed? Upload it and we might highlight it here on FitSugar!

Cool Health Tool: HabitForge

FitSugar — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 07:00:10 PDT

Building good habits is a big part of living a healthy lifestyle. Whether you're trying to quit smoking, exercise daily, or get more sleep, it helps to have some accountability. A coworker recently turned me on to HabitForge, a simple yet brilliant site that helps you set goals and stick to them.

The idea behind HabitForge is that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. When you sign up for the site, you set a goal toward a new habit you want to set. Each day, HabitForge emails you to ask how you did, e.g. "Did you have a cigarette today?"

If you achieved your goal that day, you move forward toward your 21-day endpoint. If you slip, HabitForge starts you over at the beginning of the 21-day counter. You can have multiple goals going at once, with just one daily email checking in. I've found the site to be very effective for forming long-term habits and short-term routines. Have you tried it?

Make This: Quinoa-Stuffed Zucchini

Fit Community — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 03:30:00 PDT

Check out this recipe for quinoa-stuffed zucchini that FitSugar member Angelica shared in our Healthy Recipe community group. Inspired by a meaty recipe for stuffed zucchini, I adapted a high protein vegetarian version with quinoa. It turned out delicious! I sliced off the top half of the zucchini and nuked it for three minutes then hollowed the zuccs out. As I filler I cooked a cup of quinoa and added chopped zucchini, two spoonfuls of olive tapenade, crushed mint, feta and salt and pepper. Easy, tasty, and satisfying.

Dying to share one of your favorite recipes? We're dying to hear about it, so share it in the Healthy Recipe Group.