FitSugar

Milk Breakdown

FitSugar — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 14:45:00 PST

Isn't it amazing how many types of milk are available? You can get cow's milk, but if you're lactose intolerant or vegan, you can use soy milk instead. If you're worried about the possible health risks of eating too much soy, you can pick up some rice milk. If you're not into the watery consistency, then there's always almond milk. Basically, you have a lot of options.

Nutritionally speaking, ever wonder how all these types of milk compare? If so then

Serving Size = 1 cup	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Saturated Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Carbs (g)	Sugars (g)	Protein (g)
Skim Milk	90	0	0	less than 5	13	12	8
1% Milk	110	2.5	1.5	15	13	12	8
2% Milk	190	16	2	20	7	3	8
2% Chocolate Milk	170	5	3	20	24	23	8
Whole Milk	150	8	5	35	12	12	8
Half and Half	320	28	16	80	8	8	8
Heavy Cream	800	96	56	320	0	0	0
1% Buttermilk	100	2.5	1.5	15	12	12	8
Plain Soy Milk	130	4	.5	0	13	7	11
Vanilla Soy milk	150	3	0	0	23	15	7
Chocolate Soy Milk	180	4	1	0	28	14	8
Plain Rice Milk	120	2.5	0	0	24	11	1
Vanilla Rice Milk	120	2.5	0	0	23	10	1
Chocolate Rice Milk	160	3	0	0	34	28	2
Almond Milk	90	2.5	0	0	16	14	1

Well there you have it. If you're watching your calorie intake, skim milk or almond milk are definitely the way to go. If you're trying to lower your cholesterol, I'd stick with cholesterol-free soy, rice, or almond milk. If you're trying to get more protein in your diet, than surprisingly enough, plain soy milk is the best choice. When choosing which one, it all comes down to your dietary or ethical preference, but I'd only use heavy cream in small quantities.

A Basic Primer on Chocolate Types

Katie Sweeney — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:15:19 PST

Although chocolate may seem like a basic ingredient, in reality, it's somewhat complex. From milk content to sweetness to cacao percentage, there's a lot that can vary.

The first thing to understand is the ratio of cacao to sugar. A chocolate that's 60 percent cacao contains 40 percent sugar. The more cacao a chocolate contains, the less sugar it has and the darker it is.

To get a breakdown of the different types of chocolate and how much sugar, cacao, and milk they have, keep reading.

Warm Up With This Hot Beverage Breakdown

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:19:10 PST

With old man Winter blowing in, get in from the cold and warm up with a steamy cup of something delicious. Check out the nutritional breakdown for some of your favorites hot drinks.

Drink	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Carbs(g)	Sugar (g)	Protein (g)
8 oz. hot chocolate, skim milk, no whipped cream	128	1.2	25.2	21.2	7.2
8 oz. hot chocolate, 2 percent milk, no whipped cream	156	4.4	24.8	20.8	6.8
8 oz. hot chocolate, whole milk, whipped cream	230	12	28	24	7
8 oz. hot chocolate, soy milk, no whipped cream	150	3.5	28	23	6

Don't see your favorite? Keep reading to see the calories in other hot beverages.

Extra Tastes Can Turn Into a Pound of Weight Gain in a Week

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:09:37 PDT

Gaining and losing weight is really about math. In order to lose a pound, you must burn or cut out 3,500 calories per week (500 calories a day). Unfortunately on the other side of the equation, if you consistently overeat an extra 500 calories each day . . . well . . . that's how you end up not fitting into your pants. Calories add up, and here is a simple breakdown to illustrate how easy it can be to eat an extra 500 calories in one day. Do this over the course of seven days, and you're bound to see the scale jump up one pound.

Breakfast

One half and half container in your cup of coffee (20 calories): The same amount of skim milk is only six calories.
One small bite of a Krispy Kreme Glazed Doughnut (47 calories): Thanks to your boss for bringing in a box to share, and I know they melt in your mouth, but had you known that little bite was almost 50 calories, you may have passed.

Total Extra Breakfast Calories: 67

Lunch

A 12-ounce bottle of Izze Clementine (133 calories): Sure, it's sparkling juice, but it contains almost as many calories as a Coke.
Half a tablespoon of chipotle aioli (flavored mayonnaise) on your sandwich (40 calories): It adds tons of flavor, but a crazy amount of calories too.
Half a cereal bar (75 calories): Your toddler didn't want it so you polished it off in one bite. Next time you might want to store it in a baggie for your little one for later.

Total Extra Lunch Calories: 248

I'm just getting started, so keep reading to find out how little bites throughout the rest of your day can tack on an extra 200 calories.

Yo Quiero Queso! A Primer on Latin Cheeses

Susannah Chen — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 04:32:41 PDT

Love Mexican food, but wish you knew more about the culture's cheese legacy? So did I. At a California Milk Advisory Board cheese class, I finally had my opportunity to better understand the Hispanic cheese market when I got a crash course on it from cheese expert Juliana Uruburu.

Although semisoft, European-influenced cheeses like Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog and Cowgirl Creamery Red Hawk get the most press, five percent of the cheese made in California is actually Hispanic-style cheese. As for getting to know them all, Juliana maintains it's not complicated: "There are about 30 different names, but only four different types of cheese. They vary in salt and texture." For the basic breakdown, keep reading.

Organic vs. Conventional: Price Breakdown of 10 Common Groceries

SavvySugar — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 05:00:59 PDT

To choose organic, or not to choose organic: that is the question. Whether it is nobler to choose better quality and suffer the outrageous fortune at the cash register or buy conventional items that are lighter on the wallet. Luckily, we have done the dirty work for you by comparing the prices of 10 common groceries. You might be surprised how comparable some of the prices are. If you choose the completely conventional route, all of these groceries add up to $34.22 a week. Likewise, if you opt for 100 percent organic fare, you will pay $53.41 a week. That's a $19.19 difference, which may seem pretty steep.

You'll notice we have checked off our Savvy Picks. You might be wondering why we're opting for the more expensive organic animal products. If you haven't seen Food Inc., you should definitely educate yourself on the conventional animal farming practices in the USA. Think: cramped animals in unsanitary conditions that are fed hormones, steroids, and antibiotics to synthetically accelerate their growth and prevent illness. In our opinion, sometimes the quality of organic food trumps the price of its conventional counterpart, and our Savvy Picks reflect which foods we think are worth going organic.

Ultimately, only you can decide what feels best for you and your budget. It might make sense for you to buy cheaper coffee and cereal to save up for organic milk. Or, maybe you're paying off a credit card, and every cent you save counts. Now's the time to calculate all of your options, so you can stick to your budget while shopping.

See the complete breakdown of organic vs. conventional foods here.