FitSugar

Breakfast Ideas to Keep You Full Until Lunch

FitSugar — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 05:50:08 PST

Breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day. Eating a morning meal not only helps you think more clearly, but studies show that regular breakfasts can help you maintain a healthy weight. I've rounded up a handful of ideas for morning meals, combining whole grains and protein, which will keep your energy levels up and your hunger at bay.

Source: Thinkstock

Nature's Path Veri-Berry Oatmeal

FitSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:00:00 PDT

I am a fan of holistic Dr. Andrew Weil and when I saw that he had teamed up with Nature'sPath I was more than a little excited.

While I am normally a steel-cut oats gal, sometimes I don't have the time to invest in cooking that oatmeal. For those rushed mornings the Veri-Berry Hot Oatmeal is a perfect quick breakfast on the go. It is made entirely with organic ingredients (even the thickening agent inulin is organic) and flavored with dried cherries, cranberries, and raspberries.

To see nutritional information and what a bowl truly looks like

I really liked this oatmeal, although the photo on the box leads one to believe there will be a lot of berries per bowl. It is whole grain, low fat, low sodium, and not too sweet. It kept me full for four hours! A box of eight packets is $4.79.

Fit's Tip: I try using the microwave to prepare the oatmeal once and the texture was a bit like glue. It is so much better to add boiling water, stir, and let it sit for minute.

Source

Kashi Go Lean: Blueberry Waffles

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 02:30:00 PDT

Breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day - it helps fire up your metabolism! There are so many healthy and quick options to choose from, you really have no excuse not to eat a little somethin'-somethin' in the morning.

I love toaster waffles and while hanging out in the frozen food section recently (it was HOT outside), I discovered Kashi GOLEAN Waffles with Blueberries. I have been eating Van's Waffles for years, I thought I would push my personal boundaries and try a new waffle.

The Kashi waffle is loaded with goodness and low in the calorie department. My major problem is the waffles, no matter how long I toasted them, never became crispy. The texture is just lacking and a little sponge like. I found the Kashi waffle wasn't as sweet as the Van's, which is fine with me. Curiously enough, the Kashi waffles contain a bit more sugar and a lot more protein! Two waffles with some plain yogurt and sliced banana kept me full from breakfast until lunch - no morning snack needed.

Here's a nutritional comparison:

Brand	Serving Size	Calories	Fat (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)	Sugar (g)
Kashi Go Lean Blueberry	2 waffles - 84 g	170	3	6	8	4
Van's Organic Blueberry	2 waffles - 80 g	240	10	4	5	2

Try some for yourself - here is the Kashi store locator so you can find a grocery that sells them near you.

A Texan Take on Blueberry Muffins

Anna Monette Roberts — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:00:56 PDT

As a food enthusiast growing up in Texas, it was blueberry muffins for breakfast and cornbread for dinner. I always wondered what would happen if the two collided - which is why I created this a rich, buttery cornbread muffin oozing with fresh blueberries. It's subtly sweet and surprisingly light on the palate. With a sour pungency from the Greek yogurt and a bright, floral flavor from the lemon zest and honey, the flavors are perfectly balanced and complex, making this one delightful love child of two Texan quick bread recipes. Try the cornbread muffin recipe here.

Easy Ways to Get More From Your Food Budget

LearnVest — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:15:48 PDT

Go the extra mile with your food budget with these tips from LearnVest.

For years, many people - my husband, mom, sister and even my son - told me to stop wasting so much food.

Throwing away half a piece of chicken here or a handful of grapes there never seemed like such a big deal to me. If I was full or no longer in the mood for that particular food, then I had no problem tossing it.

That is, until I experienced a bad case of sticker shock during a recent trip to the supermarket. The cost of bread, eggs, fish - basically everything I was purchasing - had increased. And, according to the USDA, we can expect prices to rise even higher this year.

As I forked over my money and left with only a handful of bags, I realized just how important it is for me to pay more attention to what I spend on food . . . and to confront how much of it I shove down the garbage disposal.

Unfortunately, I'm not the only one with wasteful ways. In 2010, 33 million tons of food was thrown away, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Obviously, wasted food means wasted money, but figuring out how to make your grocery budget go further can be a challenge.

To keep more food in your fridge (and more money in your pocket), try these expert tips.

1. Ward Against Freezer Burn

Those large bags or packages of frozen veggies or meat come in handy when you have a large family, but "each time you open a bag of frozen food, air gets in and will cause freezer burn within two to three weeks," says consumer saving expert Andrea Woroch. Freezer burn will dry out the meat and make it less tasty. Woroch suggests going small.

Read on for more.

Beyond the Glass: 5 Fresh Ideas For Enjoying OJ

Lizzie Fuhr — Fri, 04 May 2012 06:45:01 PDT

There's little better than a tall glass of fresh-squeezed OJ, and there's no better day than today to enjoy it. The reason? Today, May 4, is National Orange Juice Day!

While this beverage has graced our breakfast lineup for years, there are lots of ways to incorporate its delicious flavors and properties to some of our favorite foodie traditions. If you need some ideas for ways to make the most of a fresh squeeze, here are five ways to help bring OJ to your table.

Bake it into brunch. Take a twist on traditional brunch favorites with recipes that call for OJ. Giada De Laurentiis has a recipe for a sweet berry strata that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser at any big brunch spread - especially for Mother's Day!
Construct a creative cocktail. While we love the classic mimosa, this Spring you can get even more creative with some OJ cocktails. We're partial to the rosselini, which pairs fresh OJ with white wine and vermouth, or a colorful tequila sunrise that's perfect for this weekend's Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
Add to cooked veggies. Bringing new depth of flavors to veggies like roasted beets is easy when you switch up the water and roast them in OJ. Also, there are tons of veggies that are complemented by a fresh squeeze of citrus. Though we typically opt for lemons, for a fresh take, try a squeeze of OJ instead.

Keep reading for two more fresh ways to enjoy OJ.

Turn Steel Cut Oats Into Quick Cook Oats

FitSugar — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 03:00:16 PST

The importance of eating a healthy breakfast everyday is pretty well known in these parts, and having a bowl of steel cut oats definitely fulfills this requirement. Steel cut oats are a great way to fuel up in the morning because they are high in fiber, protein, and calcium. They also keep you full until lunch, which is helpful when trying to avoid that mid-morning crash.

Good things don't come easy though, as steel cut oats take about 45 minutes to cook. This might be OK on a lazy Sunday, but many of us don't have extra time to spare when we're trying to get to work during the week. But if you prep your oats the night before you can enjoy a warm satisfying bowl in about 10 minutes the next day. Learn how when you

In a medium to large saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil.
Stir in 1 cup of steel cut oats and let cook for one minute.
Turn off heat, cover pot with lid, and forget about it until the next morning.
When you wake up turn the heat back on and bring the oatmeal up to a boil. Reduce heat, and let simmer for about 7-10 minutes, stirring often. At this point, you can also add any spices or sweeteners to your oatmeal like cinnamon, nutmeg, or brown sugar.
Spoon the oatmeal into a bowl and top it off with fresh or dried fruit and chopped nuts.

If you've never had steel cut oats, Winter is the time to try them since it's such a warm, comforting dish. I think steel cut oats are fuller in flavor than quick cook oats and have a better texture too. To save even more time in the morning, make a big batch of steel cut oats over the weekend, which you can store in the fridge for about a week. Then all you have to do is rewarm yourself a bowl before work.

Source: Flickr User sleepyneko

Eat and Run: 10 Healthy, Quick, and Easy Grab-and-Go Breakfasts For Your Family

LilSugar — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:32:03 PDT

In theory, we'd all love to sit down for a family breakfast seven days a week - perusing the paper, sipping our coffee, filling the kids' plates with something hearty and nutritious. In reality? That's another story. With the morning rush often extending even to weekends, it's hard enough to get everyone where they need to be on time, let alone enjoy a seated meal together. But a healthy breakfast is still an important part of every day, especially for growing bodies. Check out these 10 quick, easy, and healthy grab-and-go meals for you and your family . . . because sometimes, it's just necessary to eat and run!

Beyoncé's Fit Philosophy

Leta Shy — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:05:51 PDT

How does someone become crowned People magazine's World's Most Beautiful Woman? Genetics, of course, play a major part, but so does having a healthy and happy lifestyle. Here's how 2012's winner Beyoncé has stayed fit throughout the years.

She's realistic: "I can't eat what I want, and I can't not go to the gym," Beyoncé told Self. She also has the right outlook; she knows that there isn't a quick fix when it comes to a healthy lifestyle. "The truth is, it's a lot of sacrifice. It's more about your mental strength than physical strength. You have to push yourself. It doesn't matter what trainer you have. And it doesn't matter what program you're on. You have to be healthy and make the right choices," she said.

She saves time: Beyoncé is a fan of celebrity trainer Marco Borges, who trains her using his signature Power Moves philosophy. This system helps Beyoncé save time since it relies on exercises that work several muscle groups at once. She also saves time by interval training, alternating between sprinting and running while on the treadmill, to burn more calories in a shorter amount of time.

Learn more about Beyoncé's diet and fitness routine after the break!

Fast and Easy Breakfasts Make Speedy Morning Meals

Sara Yoo — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:28:00 PDT

We've all heard about the importance of a solid breakfast, but more often than not, good intentions fall victim to making the 8:10 a.m. train. I can't tell you how many New Year's resolutions I've set, only to find myself choking down pasty instant oatmeal at my desk or - gasp! - forgoing breakfast entirely. Difficult as it may be to believe, you really can make time for a filling breakfast, whether you pause for a moment to eat before running out the door or take it to go. We've compiled 10 recipes to combat the fiercest of morning hunger pangs and time crunches.