FitSugar

Guess the Fad Diet!

FitSugar — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 02:37:55 PDT

People are always on the hunt for the latest and greatest diet pill and quick-fix weight-loss program to help them shed pounds quickly. Some show results, others not so much, but in the end, we can all agree that fad diets aren't going anywhere anytime soon. How well do you know your fad diets? Let's find out and see!

Take the Quiz

Sausage and South Beach Diet Vending Machines?

YumSugar — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:30:00 PDT

Vending machines aren't exactly renowned for their variety, with choices pretty much limited to chips or candy and soda or water. But according to the Chicago Sun-Times, the National Automatic Merchandising Association held its vending-machine expo in Chicago last week, and there are plenty of cool, if slightly bizarre, developments on the vending-machine front.

Among the innovations mentioned in the article:

A new vending machine that dispenses grilled hot dogs and sausages "snuggled in soft, warm buns."
South Beach Diet vending machines that will sell healthy, diet-approved snacks, including sugar-free Jell-O, Wheat Thins, Crystal Light, and lunch wraps.
An Internet-connected machine that will let parents log on to limit the number of snacks their kids can buy.

Can you imagine trying to sneak a second bag of chips at lunch and being denied by parental controls? Geez. Still, my favorite has to be the hot dog machine. At first, it sounded gross, then I thought: If hot dogs from a cart are tasty, why not a vending machine? So tell me, would you eat a hot dog from a vending machine?

Source and Source

Best Diets for Heart Health

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 07:30:00 PDT

Unfortunately when we start a diet, most of us read a lot into how much weight it is going to help us lose but forget to think about the potential benefits/detriments it could have on our hearts.

A new study published has revealed the heart health of popular diet plans. The highest possible score is 70 and diets that emphasize a variety of fruits and vegetables scored better than those with a heavy protein focus.

Here are the results:

Ornish, 64.6
Weight Watchers high-carbohydrate, 57.4
New Glucose Revolution, 57.2
South Beach Phase 2, 50.7
Zone, 49.8
MyPyramid, 48.7
Weight Watchers high protein, 47.3
Atkins 100-g carbohydrate, 46
South Beach Phase 3, 45.6
Atkins 45-g carbohydrate, 42.3

Is anyone else shocked that the USDA's My Pyramid plan is not even in the top three? Nonetheless, anyone with a personal or family history of heart disease should definitely consider the results of this study as a guide when choosing a diet plan.

Source

Healthy BBQ: South Beach Diet Chimichurri Burgers

FitSugar — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 02:30:00 PDT

I am always looking for healthy foods to make on the grill. These Chimichurri Burgers from the South Beach Diet: Taste of Summer Cookbook really fill that order. Instead of smothering your hamburger with condiments filled with hidden calories, this burger is topped with chimichurri, a thick herb sauce that hails from Argentina. Plus, we all know parsley (the herb in this sauce) is a healthy addition to any meal. I truly appreciate an alternative to the too sweet taste of ketchup

Recipe and Photo courtesy of: The South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook, by Dr. Arthur Agatston (Rodale, 2007)

To see this tasty and easy recipe, just

South Beach Chimichurri Burgers
from The South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook

Chimichurri Sauce
1 cup fresh Italian parsley leaves
3 scallions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/8 teaspoon salt

Burgers
1 1/2 pounds extra-lean ground beef
2 teaspoons dried basil
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 whole-wheat hamburger buns - lightly toasted

Make the sauce first by:

Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor.
Pulse until just puréed, about one minute. Set aside.

For the burgers:

Place all ingredients in a large bowl and combine.
Form beef mixture into 4 patties, about 1 inch thick.
Lightly coat a grill or grill pan with cooking spray and heat to medium high.
Grill burgers 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 160 degrees F.
Serve burgers on buns topped with chimichurri sauce.

If you are following the South Beach Diet this recipe is considered a Phase 1 recipe if you forgo the bun. With the bun, it is rated as Phase 2.

Print recipe with images | without images Just in case you are interested in the nutritional information, here it is.

Phase	Calories	Fat (g)	Protein (g)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)
One	330	19	36	3	1
Two	450	21	40	25	4

South Beach Diet: Taste of Summer Cookbook

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 03:00:00 PDT

Most diet cookbooks don't really appeal to me. The recipes seem to gimmicky, difficult to make or look as if they would produce tasteless food. The new South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook is definitely different. Its pages are filled with inspiring recipes, 150 of them to be exact. When flipping through it there were so many recipes I wanted to make and that is a good sign.

There are recipes for breakfast, soups (yes, soup is a great summer food), salads, sides, sea food and more. Dr. Agatston, creator of the South Beach Diet, writes in the introduction that since we have such easy access to "garden- and market fresh ingredients" during the summer months it is a great time to cook and healthy foods. All the fresh produce means nutritious phytonutrients that will protect your health.

I think this cookbook would be great not only for someone following the South Beach diet, but it's also great for people looking to cook healthy, low fat meals. Although the recipes are labeled according to the South Beach Phases, the majority of the recipes seem worthy of making, some even for guests. The only bone I have to pick with the content is in the dessert section. Some recipes call for "fat free whipped topping," and this essentially means some version of Cool Whip Free which contains partially hydrogenated palm oil which I avoid even in small doses. Other desserts, however, rely on sugar substitutes to provide sweetness which is not nearly as unhealthy and can satisfy one's sweet tooth.

Buy the "Taste of Summer Cookbook" for $19.11 from Amazon.

Sarah Jessica Parker Loves The Hamptons Diet, But What Is It?

Michele Foley — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 03:06:40 PDT

Founded by the former medical director of the Atkins Center, Fred Pescatore, MD, The Hamptons Diet is what you'd get if the Mediterranean Diet, South Beach Diet, and Atkins Diet crossed paths. It's also got major celebrity draw: Sarah Jessica Parker, Renée Zellweger, and Kim Cattrall follow The Hamptons Diet, and Kate Hudson went on it to help lose her baby weight.

That's good and all, but what is it exactly? Keep reading to find out!

Jamie Oliver on Food Revolution 2, Huntington a Year Later, and LA Schools

Susannah Chen — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:22:29 PDT

With Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, British culinary celebrity Jamie Oliver has made a name for himself as an advocate for healthier American eating. The show's first season, shot in obesity-stricken Huntington, WV, received critical acclaim and garnered a Primetime Emmy in 2010.

Food Revolution's second season returns to ABC April 12 at 8 p.m. The comeback takes place in Los Angeles and faces an entirely new set of challenges, including resistance from the city's public school system.

While in South Beach, Katie and I took a minute to ask the chef about season two, his troubles with the Los Angeles school system, and what he thought of Huntington losing its school funding. His surprising answers, when you read more.

How Not to Blow Your Budget on Vacation

LearnVest — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:15:36 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Whether you’re planning a vacation in Paris or a skydive in the States this summer, we don’t want you counting pennies while you stroll along the Seine or thinking about your savings account as you plummet toward Earth.

Vacations are well-deserved treats and money shouldn’t be a cloud over these precious times away. On the other hand, the “anything goes” spirit that is so intoxicating during a trip can turn a little . . . toxic afterward, when you’re home facing staggering credit card bills.

Follow our tips for staying within your budget on vacation so money concerns don’t interfere with your good times.

Start Planning Early-With A Budget In Mind

The key to optimal vacation spending is-you guessed it-planning and budgeting. About 8% of your total yearly budget can go toward “fun” spending like travel. If you love to travel, you can increase this portion of your budget by cutting other areas. When trip planning, balance your total costs based on 1) where you’re going; 2) how you plan to get there; and 3) what you’ll do once there. For example, while a small island in the Pacific might have really great rates on hotels or restaurants, it might cost a small fortune to fly there-but you’ll save on low-cost beach activities. If you’re on a budget, plan a trip that doesn’t gouge you in all three areas.

(To learn how to find cheap airplane tickets, click here.)

Create A Daily Cash Allowance

After the initial investments of transportation and hotel, set a daily budget for expected food, drink, activities and souvenirs/shopping. Inflate the number by 10% to 15% as a cushion for small emergencies or unforeseen expenses. Vacations are a great time to practice the “cash diet.” Once you arrive at your daily allowance, set aside that amount in separate envelopes for each day and stash the envelopes in the hotel safe. Each day, use only what’s in one envelope. Your credit card can be saved for emergencies.

Read on for more tips on how to save money on your trip.