FitSugar

Must-Have Products to Keep Portions Under Control

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:25:19 PDT

Whether you're trying to lose those last stubborn pounds for bikini season or you want to maintain your current weight, keeping a close eye on portion sizes is critical. You could always eyeball amounts, but let's face it, our eyes tend to be bigger than what our stomachs should be eating. Keep yourself honest and prevent overeating with these portion-control products.

3 Gluten-Free Make-Ahead Snacks to Satisfy Salty Cravings

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:35:31 PDT

When you're craving something salty, crackers and pretzels are a popular choice, but they're not an option if you're avoiding gluten. You could buy pricey gluten-free alternatives, but they're not exactly the healthiest snacks. Here are three salty snacks you can prep ahead of time that are free of wheat, barley, oats, and rye.

Gluten-Free Quinoa Pizza Bites

Made with cooked quinoa, gooey mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil, you won't be able to resist dipping and noshing on these chewy quinoa pizza bites. One piece contains 48 calories, .7 grams of fiber, and 2.8 grams of protein. They're so zesty and filling that after three, your salty cravings are sure to be satisfied. Prepare a batch and keep them in the fridge so they're ready when your salty cravings strike.

Keep reading to find out how to make the savory zucchini and sweet potato squares above, and for one more gluten-free salty snack idea.

Save Money, Help the Planet With These DIY Healthy Snacks

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:28:48 PDT

Eating healthy isn't always cheap, but it's a must if you want to improve your overall health. If you choose to buy organic or exotic options like dried blueberries - $13 for a small bag! - snacks can quickly eat up your food budget. Find out how to nosh on healthy nibbles and still have money left in your wallet.

Cheese sticks: Instead of buying individually wrapped cheese sticks, save money and avoid plastic packaging by making your own. Buy a block of your favorite cheese for a few bucks- mozzarella and monterey jack work well - and cut the block into long wedges for a grab-and-go snack.
Nut butter: Nut butters are great on toast, crackers, or sliced fruit, but if you buy organic jars, you can spend almost $8. Try this instead: buy huge bags of unsalted raw nuts, pour a cup in the food processor, and make your own. You can even make mixed nut butter with a few of your fave nuts and seeds. Spoon the creamy mixture into a glass container to store in the fridge.

Keep reading for more money-saving snack tips.

No Bread Needed: 15 Low-Carb Snack Ideas

Michele Foley — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:16:46 PDT

I love carbs. And while I'll never ban bread and pasta from my diet, thanks to my trainer, I am trying to be more aware of my carb intake. To balance my meals out and shed a few pounds in the process, I've been striving for low-carb snacks through the day. Check out what I've been eating!

Not So Fast: 4 Ways Post-Workout Snacks Lead to Weight Gain

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:48:51 PDT

After finishing an intense workout, refueling is a must to restore water, electrolytes, and energy. But if you're not careful the snack you choose could end up undoing the good you've done, leading to extra pounds on the scale. Before grabbing just any old snack after working out, learn how the wrong choice can lead to weight gain.

Chowing on a minimeal: A post-workout snack is just that - a snack. And unless it's mealtime, what you eat after an average workout should be around 150 calories. Since healthy foods like trail mix can be high in calories, measure out a serving instead of mindlessly chomping straight out of the bag. If you're looking for some ideas, here are 10 post-workout snacks under 150 cals.
Chugging a sports drink: Liquid calories are still calories, and if you gulp a 120-calorie bottle of Gatorade along with a snack, calories really start to add up. For workouts under an hour (or low-impact activities), good old zero-calorie H2O is the perfect way to rehydrate.
Choose wisely: While you could really go for an enormous brownie after your run, it's not the best way to refuel after a workout. Your body needs carbs and protein, and if you choose a sugary or high-fat treat, you'll be hungry for something else soon after, which means consuming more calories. High-fat and sugary foods are also not the best choices when it comes to repairing the muscles to prevent soreness the next day.
Rewarding yourself with food: I'm all for rewarding fitness goals, but edible rewards are risky business. Hitting the ice cream parlor for a waffle cone or local café for a plate of cheese fries may sound like heaven on earth, but constantly using high-calorie foods as a way to pat your fit self on the back means tons of extra calories consumed. Find other healthy ways to reward your efforts, such as getting a pedicure, buying a new fitness top, or hitting the movies with your running buddy.

Source: Flickr User mary_thompson

Olympic Pros Shawn Johnson, Natalie Coughlin, and Mia Hamm Share Their Healthy Snack Ideas

Leta Shy — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:25:59 PDT

Being an Olympic veteran means three things: you're a world-class athlete, you're used to hectic schedules, and you know how to travel smart. So who better to ask about how to stay healthy while being on the go than a few famous Olympic athletes? Whether you're snacking at home or need something to grab and go, here are recommendations from veteran Olympians Natalie Coughlin, Mia Hamm, and Shawn Johnson.

When traveling: It's all about "making sure you plan ahead and bring stuff with you, whether it's trail mix or an [energy] bar," soccer star Mia tells us. Gymnast Shawn recommends KIND bars because they are all natural and come in "fun flavors such as almond and coconut and apple cinnamon and pecan. They're surprisingly good," she tells ESPNw. Swimmer Natalie loves making her own energy bars - get her dried plum energy bar recipe here.

At home or work: Natalie is more than just a decorated Olympic swimmer; she's also an avid home cook and gardener. Natalie shared with YumSugar one of her favorite healthy snacks for Spring: "I love just having a really good baguette with good, high-quality butter (just a tiny bit of butter) and fresh sliced radishes with salt on top," she recommends. Shawn is all about snacking on veggies as well: she pairs peppers with hummus for a crunchy, filling snack.

Read on for more snack ideas from these famous Olympians!

Make Healthy Snacking Easy With These Tips

Leta Shy — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:17:11 PDT

Snacking helps keep you from ravenously devouring everything in sight, and can help fill the holes in your daily nutrition as well. But since healthy snacking is all about the right choices, it helps if those choices are the easiest to make as well. Make snacking work for your weight-loss goals (not against them) with these five easy tips.

3 Good-For-You Treats to Satisfy Peanut Buttery Cravings

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:34:20 PDT

Got a hankering for some peanut butter? One tablespoon of this creamy spread will run you 105 calories, so if it's peanut butter you're after but not all the calories, enjoy one of these deliciously satisfying and oh-so-nutty treats instead.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies

For a healthy treat that feels really decadent, whip up these peanut butter sandwich cookies - the filling is mashed-up bananas, peanut butter, and honey. If you don't want to bake a batch of cookies, smear the spread on toast or use it as a fruit dip.

Keep reading to find out how to make the nutty yogurt spread above and for one more PB-inspired snack idea.

Easy Ways to Get 5 Grams of Fiber

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:22:12 PDT

Are you getting enough fiber each day? The recommended daily quota of fiber for women is 25 to 30 grams, not only to keep the body regular, but also to help lower cholesterol and to prevent heart disease and certain cancers. If you're having a hard time eating enough fiber - or you have no idea how much you're getting - include one of these fiber-filled foods in your diet for an extra five grams each day.

One cup fresh raspberries: 8 grams
Half of an avocado: 6.7 grams
One Ginger Snap Larabar: 6 grams
One large sweet potato: 5.9 grams
Nine broccoli florets: 5.5 grams
Medium apple with the skin (4.4 grams) with one tablespoon all-natural peanut butter (1 gram): 5.4 grams
Medium pear with the skin: 5.1 grams
One cup of Barbara's Bakery Shredded Oats: 5 grams
15 almonds (2.1 grams) with two medium figs (2.9 grams): 5 grams
Two tablespoons of flaxseeds sprinkled on your cereal or salad: 5 grams
1/4 cup dried blueberries: 5 grams

A Reader Recipe: Roasted Maple Cinnamon Almonds

Fit Community — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 05:33:20 PDT

These roasted maple cinnamon almonds from FitSugar reader CheesePlease make a perfect healthy snack or party appetizer. She posted her recipe in the FitSugar Healthy Recipe community group.

Make ordinary almonds extraordinary! These are easy to make and excellent for snacking! For the recipe, visit my blog Cheese Please.

Don't forget to post your own recipes in our Healthy Recipe group! Yours may be featured on our homepage.