FitSugar

Goat's Milk Ice Cream: The Latest in Ice Cream

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 17:15:00 PDT

What's the healthy latest treat that Kim Basinger, Jim Carrey, Al Gore, Daryl Hannah, Emeril Lagasse, Lisa Loeb, Jenny McCarthy and Kate Hudson are addicted to?

No, it's not a new "chi-chi" frozen yogurt store in the Hollywood Hills, it's Goat's Milk Ice Cream. Here's why: Goat's milk is naturally lower in fat than cow's milk. It's made from a great little company in Sonoma, CA (my neck of the woods), which means it fits into my 100 mile diet plan -Yipee! I am still waiting for my samples and then I'll let you know what I think of the taste, but until then you can buy yourself a few pints online at GoatMilkIceCream.com.

For all those curious, apparently Kate Hudson’s favorite flavor is Brownie & Clyde, which just happens to be frozen yogurt -- Yum!

Thanks to offtherack for getting the scoop!

If You're Craving Girl Scout Cookies, Try These Instead

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:13:50 PST

It's Girl Scout Cookie time! Noshing on these fund-raising treats seems like an American pastime, but it can be challenging to keep a snack session of these seasonal sweets in check. If you can enjoy your cookies in a reasonable manner, then good for you! But if you're looking for a way to scratch that sugary itch without killing your healthy eating agenda, here are some healthier alternatives.

Do-Si-Dos
Two-cookie serving: 120 calories, five grams of fat, seven grams of sugar

Quick Fix: The Larabar Peanut Butter Cookie is a perfect substitute since it's so filling - I usually only eat half of a bar at a time. One bar contains 220 calories, seven grams of protein, and four grams of fiber. Made out of dried dates, one bar equals one half serving of fruit. There are 18 grams of sugar in this bar, but the sugar content is not added; it naturally occurs in the dates. The other two ingredients in this bar are peanuts and salt.

DIY Fix: Make your own tasty peanut butter treat! Blend a little peanut butter, apple sauce, and raisins for a sweet, satisfying, and nutritious homemade spread. Two tablespoons of this peanut butter raisin spread offers almost five grams of protein and two grams of fiber.

Don't see your fave cookie? Keep on reading!

How Your Fridge Can Help You Lose Weight

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:32:54 PST

The LG fridge might have features to help you lose weight, but since it's not yet available (and its price tag is a bit steep), give the fridge you already own a little makeover. It can help you reach your 2012 weight loss goals with these tips.

Get Organized
Organizing your fridge will help you make healthier decisions when it comes to food, and being able to see all different ingredients might even inspire you to cook. A decluttered fridge also helps you keep track of staples so you never run out of healthy snacks like Greek yogurt or breakfast basics like eggs. Versatile plastic storage bins, like these from Crate and Barrel ($10 to $12), are clear and stackable, making it easy to see the array of healthy foods available at your fingertips.

Snack Center in the Fridge
Create a "snack center" in your fridge (one of those Crate and Barrel bins would be perfect for this), so you have a go-to spot to find healthy munchables when hunger strikes. Place the bin in front at eye level, and stock it with premade 150-calorie baggies of popcorn, cheese and crackers, trail mix, cereal, pretzels, fruit and nut bars, fruit leather, and other healthy faves.

Continue reading for more ways your fridge can help you lose weight.

Nutrition Myths That Can Cause Weight Gain

Shape — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:04:23 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Myth: Going Vegan Will Make You Lose Weight
"While various research shows that vegetarians and vegans, on average, consume fewer calories and less fat than omnivores (a 2009 Oxford study found that vegetarians weigh 3 to 20 percent less than their meat-eating counterparts, and a National Cancer Institute study found that subjects who consumed four ounces or more of red meat weekly were 30 percent more likely to die of any cause than those who ate less), these numbers may be misleading," says Rania Batayneh, MPH, a certified nutritionist and owner of Essential Nutrition for You.

Going vegan solely for weight loss can backfire, big time. If you aren’t vigilant with a vegan diet, it’s easy to lack in vital nutrients, vitamins, and proteins, which give you energy and help keep your metabolism stoked. Many first-time vegans may also find themselves reaching for more processed foods like vegan cookies, chips, or even ‘ice cream’ more often with such a restricted diet, and many end up packing on the pounds instead.

If you do decide to adopt a vegan diet, be sure to keep the ‘treats’ to a minimum and plan balanced meals (we love ‘Domestic Vegan’ Diva Jessica Olson’s tips for "going veg"). "Aim to get about 10 to 20 percent of your calories from protein (or about 1 gram per kilogram of body weight), replacing animal protein with healthy plant proteins, like those found in beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, and soy products," Batayneh says. "And, whether you are vegan or not, eating more green, leafy vegetables is great for your health and your waistline."

See which other diet habits may also being causing weight gain after the break!

Reasons a Vegan Diet Can Cause Weight Gain

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:46:52 PDT

Many people choose a vegan lifestyle for ethical, health, or environmental reasons. But if you're solely going meat-, dairy-, and egg-free because you think it will help you drop pounds, you may end up gaining rather than losing weight. Remember that just because a food is vegan doesn't mean it's healthier or lower in calories. Keep these points in mind to avoid plumping up on your vegan diet.

Chowing on vegan junk: French fries, tortilla chips, and Swedish Fish are all free of animal products, but they're also high in fat, sugar, and calories. Just because some junk food is vegan doesn't mean it's healthier.
Loading up on bread and pasta: Many people don't know how to cook vegan meals, so when you head to a dinner party or out to a restaurant, get ready to eat some dinner rolls and spaghetti! There's nothing wrong with eating bread or pasta, it's just that they're high in calories. A dinner roll will run you over 200 calories, and although one cup of cooked pasta is a little over 200 calories, plates tend to be two or three times larger than an appropriate serving size. If bread and pasta are staples in your vegan diet, it's no wonder your pants are fitting a little snug.

Keep reading to find out the other ways a vegan diet is contributing to weight gain.

4 Surprising Diet Disasters

Prevention — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 04:15:23 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

The surprising ways you turn healthy foods into diet disasters
By Nancy Rones, Prevention

1. Your marinades pack a big fat punch
You're wise to choose skinless grilled chicken, but be careful with condiments. Barbecue sauce is filled with sugar, which equals calories (about 94 per 1/4 cup).

The healthy move
Ditch the high-sugar sauce and instead spice up chicken by marinating it with cayenne red-pepper sauce, or mix hot sauce with some fat-free yogurt and smear it on your sandwich for buffalo-inspired flavor. Another way to punch up the taste and nutrient power of grilled chicken sandwiches and turkey burgers: Try a topping of homemade slaw. Bagged shredded cabbage makes a convenient base; toss it with flavored vinegar or fat-free mayo and a little mustard. At 11 calories per 1/2 cup, raw cabbage offers filling fiber and vitamins such as C and B6, and as a cruciferous veggie, it contains cancer-fighting antioxidants.

Swap These Foods to Lose Weight Fast!

2. Your coffee is anything but "regular"
Sipping coffee or tea plain isn't the problem. In fact, both beverages have been linked to a number of health benefits, including a lower risk of heart disease and cancer. A study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry also suggests that drinking coffee may reduce your chances of type 2 diabetes. But major calories and saturated fat come with added ingredients such as sugary syrups, honey, whipped cream, and whole milk (1 percent and percent aren't much better). For about the same 450 calories in a large Iced Mocha Raspberry Latte at Dunkin' Donuts, for instance, you can eat two slices of Pizza Hut's hand-tossed pepperoni pizza. And while honey may seem like a natural, healthier alternative to sugar, the fact is it has 21 calories per teaspoon versus sugar's 16.

The healthy move
For a low-cal, lower-fat drink that feels like a sweet treat, choose coffee beans in tempting flavors such as chocolate almond, hazelnut, or white chocolate, rather than using syrupy mix-ins after brewing, and lighten your coffee with fat-free milk. Teas, too, come in sweet vanilla, berry, and tropical fruit blends. And whether you use Splenda, sugar, or honey in your beverages, limit yourself to about a teaspoon.

Sneaky Names of Sugar on Your Food Labels

Make sure you're not committing the other two disaster when you read more!

Spaghetti With Fried Eggs and Pangritata

OnSugar Blog — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 03:09:28 PDT

Move over, mirepoix; there's a new holy food trinity, and it's called butter, cheese, and eggs. Just ask Yoo Eatz, who's recently discovered a new everyday-pasta recipe.

I believe there are two types of pasta sauce people: those who gravitate toward tomato-based sauces, and those who fiend for butter and dairy. You may spike your sauce with something special, be it some chili flakes in arrabiata, olives in puttanesca, or pancetta in carbonara, but if you are a serious carb-loader, I'm pretty sure that you'll fall into one of the two camps. As surely as I am left-handed, I belong to Team Dairy.

This affiliation can often be inconvenient in light of my lactose intolerance, but as easy as it was to give up ice cream, it has been impossible to say goodbye to cheese. Some nights when I am eating alone, I will boil up some spaghetti, sizzle a few fresh sage leaves in butter and olive oil, and toss it all together with Parmesan. If I'm feeling particularly daring, I'll fry up an egg to give my pasta a happy little party hat. But I've been looking for a new recipe to turn that quick weeknight staple into an elegant meal for two.

Keep reading to check out her latest weeknight staple.

Snack Attack: Lower Fat Peanut Butter Raisin Spread

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:26:52 PDT

I used to be addicted to peanut butter. I ate it on apples, on bread, on pretzels, on ice cream, and even straight-up on a spoon drizzled with a little honey. I thought it was OK to devour gobs and gobs of the peanut buttery goodness because it was made from all natural peanuts. Then I realized there are over 200 calories in a two-tablespoon serving. No wonder I was gaining weight way back in college.

If you're a huge fan of peanut butter, here's a healthier version you can spread on your crackers and bananas till your heart's delight. The consistency is smooth, yet a little chewy, and the flavor is phenomenal. Since it's made with peanut butter it's not low in calories or fat, but it's lower than regular peanut butter for sure. To see my simple recipe, keep reading.

9 Reasons You're Not Losing Weight

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:07:24 PDT

You're dieting and exercising, but still the scale won't budge. What gives? People make common mistakes when it comes to trying to slim down, so if you're not seeing the results you're after, here are some possible reasons why.

You overeat healthy foods. Nuts, avocados, whole wheat pasta, olive oil, and dark chocolate are all natural and healthy, but they aren't void of calories. You still need to watch how much you eat of the good stuff.
You drink your calories. This is especially true in the Summer when we're all looking for ways to cool off. Choose crisp water, fruit-flavored seltzer, or unsweetened iced tea, and be mindful of how much fruit juice, sodas, cocktails, and specialty frozen drinks you gulp down.
Your partner isn't on the same healthy road as you. I'm not one to point fingers, but you can't expect to lose weight if your husband constantly suggests ordering takeout, wants to go out for ice cream, or encourages you to sleep in instead of hitting the gym. Communicate that you need his support in losing weight.
You're addicted to condiments and toppings. A salad is one of the healthiest meals you can have, but when you top it with bacon bits, goat cheese, nuts, dried fruits, and ranch dressing, you can double the calorie amount in a flash. Be aware of how many calories those extras add on.

There are more reasons you're not losing weight so keep reading.

Study Claims Dairy Fat Is Good For Heart

FitSugar — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:15:59 PDT

I can't remember the last time I had whole milk, or even yogurt that wasn't skim. Since dairy products are a huge source of saturated fat, I usually save my full-fat dairy indulgences for cheese and ice cream. But a new study is challenging my presumptions and suggesting that dairy fat might actually be a good thing. The study's results show that having higher levels of milk fat in the body may lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels, or decrease the chances of a heart attack.

A team of doctors in Sweden looked at the levels of dairy fat in just under 1,000 individuals that researchers divided into two groups - heart attack patients and otherwise healthy people. What they found was that participants who had the highest levels of milk fat were actually at a lower risk of developing heart disease - for women the risk decreased by 26 percent. The study also suggests that eating more full-fat dairy may actually help us live longer lives.

Before you go crazy in the cheese section of your market, keep in mind this is an early study. From here, doctors are going to determine how much credit can be given to the attributes of dairy fat vs. lifestyle factors. For now, continue to get about 30 percent of your daily calories from fat, and limit your intake of saturated fats.