FitSugar

Speak Up: Are You Surprised by the Sweet Surprise Ads?

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0700

The Corn Refiners Association is fighting back. They are sick and tired of their favorite ingredient high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) being maligned by the liberal press. They have hired a PR agent and an ad team to teach you that HFCS is not only good for you, it is natural as well. The first time I saw this ad, my jaw dropped to the floor. This over simplification of this very processed sweetener was quite a shock to me.

I guess you can tell how I feel about these ads, but what about you. Tell me, are you surprised by these ads? Do they confuse you? Anger you? Entertain you? Let me know what you think in the comments section below.

If you want to see the Sweet Surprise print ad and another TV commercial, then just read more.

Food Review: Forze GPS Shakes and Bars

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:00:46 -0800

I'm typically wary of fitness drinks with gold packaging; they remind me of the weird muscle-building brands I see at the gym. But when I read the label on Forze GPS shakes and bars, I was intrigued.

This line of snacks, including chocolate and vanilla shakes and four flavors of energy bar, is described as a "weight management tool designed specifically for athletes." They promise to activate your appetite control signals, so they can be used as a between-meal or pre- or post-workout snack. Hear what I thought about their taste and the results.

Food Review: Code Blue Recovery Drink

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:30:47 -0800

I must admit I'm not big on special fitness drinks, especially recovery drinks. They're often full of extra calories, and I usually opt for water since most exercise physiologists believe you don't need to worry about replacing electrolytes, carbs, and protein unless you have been working out and sweating for more than an hour. I often think a lot of these drinks have added coloring and chemicals, so when I saw Code Blue marketed as an all natural post-workout drink I was curious to try it. I must admit, I liked its tropical flavor, and although it only has 40 calories per eight-ounce serving (the can contains 12 ounces, equal to one and a half servings) Code Blue does not have that artificial sweetener taste of many low-cal beverages.

To see how this drink is sweetened and if it is an unnatural color, just read more.

Looking at the ingredient list on the back of the Code Blue can, I can't say I felt like I was drinking something "natural." After water, the next three ingredients are: crystalline fructose, agave nectar, and malic acid, which adds tartness more than sweetness. Further down the list I found stevia leaf extract listed as well, which is a bit more natural. Code Blue contains the electrolytes potassium and sodium, but also contains the supplement milk thistle to help detox the liver (trainer Bob Harper believes in the treatment), and prickly pear extract to reduce inflammation.

The first time I tried Code Blue, I drank it straight from the can. You can imagine my surprise when I poured it into a glass and found the liquid to be a vibrant unnatural blue. Which prompts the question, what natural ingredient was used to color this drink and why even bother coloring it?

Ingredients: Filtered Purified Water, Crystalline Fructose, Agave Nectar, Malic Acid, Sodium Phosphate, Potassium Citrate, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, D-Ribose, Fruit Juice (for color), Sustamine™ (L-Alanine L-Glutamine), Pectin, Inositol, Ascorbic Acid, Prickly Pear Extract (Opunitia ficus-indica), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) Extract, N-Acetyl Cysteine, Stevia (Stevia Rebaudiana) Leaf Extractives, Soy Protein and Rice Flour, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), DL-alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Selenium Complexed with Amino Acids and Polypeptides, Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)

I'm not really sold on the drink, but I'm not completely opposed to it either. I would certainly drink this over other recovery drinks, but more likely I will sip some water instead. Have you tried it?

This just in: The color comes from blueberries.

Food Review: Terra Sweets & Carrots Chips

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:57:12 -0700

Over the weekend at a friend's BBQ, I found orange-colored Terra Sweets & Carrots Chips sitting next to the dip. Move over potato chips - you have some competition.

Chips made out of sweet potatoes and carrots look and sound healthier than your basic potato chips, but can you trust your instincts on this one? To see how these orange root veggie chips compare with potato chips, read more.

First off, I must say that I'm in love with these chips. They have a delightful thick and crunchy texture, so they're equally great for munching alone and for dipping. These chips are so unbelievably sweet that I was sure I'd see a sweetener listed in the ingredients -but there's none. There's also no salt added, so they make a healthy snack for people watching their sodium intake.

As you can see from the chart below, nutritionally speaking, Sweets & Carrots do have some benefits over regular potato chips, but they aren't more nutritious in every category. These orange chips contain less sodium and carbs, and tons more fiber than the Yukon gold potato chips. They're also higher in vitamin A. However, the regular potato chips contain fewer calories, less fat, and less sugar than the Sweets & Carrots. Surprisingly, regular potato chips also higher in iron. So the moral of the story is that just because a food sounds healthier, that doesn't necessarily mean it is. Always read and compare labels just to be sure you're eating the nutrients your body needs.

	1 oz. (13 chips)	1 oz. (13 chips)
Calories	150	130
Total Fat	9 g	5 g
Saturated Fat	1 g	.5 g
Cholesterol	0 mg	0 mg
Sodium	20 mg	80 mg
Carbs	15 g	19 g
Fiber	5 g	0 g
Sugar	7 g	0 g
Protein	2 g	2 g
Vitamin A	15 percent	0 percent
Calcium	2 percent	2 percent
Vitamin C	0 percent	0 percent
Iron	2 percent	10 percent
Ingredients	Sweet potatoes, carrots, expeller pressed canola oil and/or safflower oil and/or sunflower oil.	Yukon gold potatoes, canola oil and/or sunflower oil, and salt.

I'll definitely buy a bag of these the next time I go shopping, but at $3.99 a bag, these will be reserved for special treats and occasions.

Food Review: Yakult Probiotic Drink

FitSugar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:32:49 -0700

I first said "yeah" to Yakult because I love saying the word "Yakult." I also love probiotics to promote healthy digestion. Plus, this probiotic drink comes in cute little bottles about the size of a shot glass, so it seemed like a fun way to drink healthy.

Yakult isn't a yogurt; it's a "fermented dairy drink" first produced in Japan and contains live, probiotic cultures to help boost your immune system and the good bacteria in your tummy. Sold in packs of five, the 2.7-fluid-ounce bottles can be downed as drinks, but I also enjoyed it poured over cereal in place of milk. So how does it taste?

Barbecue Food Breakdown

FitSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:01:06 -0700

This Fourth of July, you're most likely going to at least one barbecue if not two. Before you eat one of every grilled item offered, you should know the nutritional info of your basic barbecue fare. The numbers may surprise you.

	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Hamburger patty with bun, no fixings	329	5	70	288	23	1	24
Cheeseburger with bun, no fixings	409	9	90	628	23	1	28
Cheeseburger with bun, lettuce, tomato, and ketchup	436	9	5	770.3	29.4	1.5	28.9
Veggie burger with bun, no fixings	220	1	10	630	41	6	9

There's plenty more and to see them just read more.

	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Veggie burger with bun and cheese	300	5	30	970	41	6	13
Veggie burger with bun, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and ketchup	327	5	30	1,112.3	47.4	6.5	13.9
Hot dog with bun, no fixings	250	3	30	540	22	6	14
Hot dog with bun, ketchup, and mustard	306	3	31	1,1027	33	6	15.2
Tofu Pup and bun, no fixings	180	.5	0	530	25	2	12
Tofu Pup and bun, ketchup, and mustard	236	.5	1	1,017	36	3	13.2
1 piece barbecue chicken	176	2	68	240	7	1	24
1 grilled sweet Italian sausage	290	9	65	800	1	0	14
4 oz. grilled salmon	318	3.4	56	1,104	13.2	.1	20.3

Food Review: Bear Naked Cereals

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Bear Naked Fit Granola is a staple in my house, along with other cereals, since I like to mix cereals to reap the nutritional benefits of them all. So when I heard this company was making two new varieties of cereal - Banana Nut and Cranberry Raisin- I had to try them.

To find out what I thought and see how much fiber each serving contains read more.

Both flavors have satisfyingly thick flakes made from wheat and rice that taste hearty with a hint of sweetness. You see those little oat clusters? They add a nice crunchy texture that compliments the soft dried fruit. The Banana Nut cereal contains tons of sweetened banana chips, dried apples, and walnuts. The Cranberry Raisin cereal is full of raisins, sunflower seeds, cranberries, pepitas, and also has dried apples.

I can't really say which is my favorite, since they're both so full of bold flavor and texture. I was surprised that they both have eight grams or less of sugar per serving because the flakes taste so very sweet. I love how this cereal is high in fiber and protein, but low in calories and sodium. It's set to hit stores in mid to late June, so definitely look for it. Each 12.5 ounce bag costs $4.49. Since the ingredients are 100 percent natural, and the taste is 100 percent delicious, it's definitely worth it.

	3/4 cup Banana Nut	3/4 cup Cranberry Raisin
Calories	220	210
Total Fat	5 g	4.5 g
Saturated Fat	2.5 g	1 g
Cholesterol	0 mg	0 mg
Sodium	210 mg	140 mg
Carbs	43 g	41 g
Fiber	7 g	4 g
Sugar	13 g	15 g
Protein	5 g	5 g

Learn to Love Figs

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Eating many colors of the rainbow is easy, but dark purple can be hard to come by. And that is just one reason you should learn to love Black Mission Figs.

While dried figs are available all year round, fresh figs are in season June through September, which means you should start seeing them in the grocery store soon and they should be affordable. Four ounces of fresh figs provides about four grams of fiber. Figs are also a good source for potassium. Most importantly they are a sweet low-calorie food - four ounces is only 84 calories. They make a juicy dessert on a hot night. You can add figs to salads; they pair wonderfully with arugula. I like to eat them as an appetizer. To see how I prepare figs for a pre-meal snack, read more.

After washing the figs, I cut off the top stem and slice the fruit in half. I spread the fig halves with a layer of mild, soft goat cheese that I mixed with freshly ground pepper. I sprinkle the plate with freshly chopped chives. This quick finger food is surprisingly tidy and is great to eat while preparing dinner.

As you can see I was a little heavy handed with the cheese for this round, but obviously the more thinly spread the cheese is the fewer calories. Tell me, do you like figs? If so, how do you eat them?

Food Review: Oskri Organics Quinoa Bar

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Quinoa is one of my favorite whole grains because it has a wonderfully fluffy texture, it's easy to cook, and it's high in fiber and protein. So when I saw this organic Quinoa Bar ($3), I had to give it a try. Theses bars are both gluten and lactose free, making them a bonus for people with food sensitivities.

When I read the list of ingredients, something surprised me. To learn the surprise as well as how the Quinoa Bar tastes, read more.

I was surprised that this bar contains only four ingredients: rice syrup, quinoa, sesame seeds, and date syrup. The crunchy texture and flavor are similar to toffee covered popcorn - really, it was that sweet - but in a peanut buttery way. I love that whole sesame seeds and quinoa are plainly visible in this bar. Plus there are three slices in each package, so I could savor each sweet and nutty bite. I actually couldn't eat the whole package though because it was so sweet, like candy, but as you can see from the nutritional info, it's pretty healthy for you. It may seem like it contains a lot of fat, but it's healthy fat that comes mostly from the sesame seeds. It also has a decent amount of fiber and protein too. If you're in the mood for something extremely sweet and crunchy, this would definitely satisfy your craving.

Serving Size	1 package (3 pieces)
Calories	230
Total Fat	12 g
Saturated Fat	0 g
Cholesterol	0 mg
Sodium	61 mg
Carbs	26 g
Fiber	3 g
Sugar	14 g
Protein	6 g

Fittingly Mad: "Natural" Foods That Really Aren't

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:30:00 -0700

Starting this month, Pepsi is rolling out a new drink called Pepsi Natural that's made with sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup. The soda company is touting the drink's "all-natural ingredients," including natural caramel and kola nut extract; the glass bottles will even be stocked in natural foods aisles.

Despite the ads from the Corn Refiners Association trying to position HFCS as a "sweet surprise," the New York Times reports that more and more brands are using real sugar as a selling point. Other examples include Pizza's Hut's The Natural pizza, with a crust made with honey, and Healthy Choice All Natural frozen entrees. Both claim to be free of preservatives, but how do we really know what "all natural" means? (Not to mention, it makes me wonder how unnatural Pizza Hut and Pepsi's other products must be.) For my two cents, read more.

In this photo I found on Keacher.com of Pepsi Natural's ingredient list, it appears that the soda also contains "caramel color" and "natural flavor," two vague terms that I'd bet aren't natural at all, and whether it's made from sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, soda still isn't good for you. In the NYT story, Pat Crawford of UC Berkeley's Center for Weight and Health, points out that it used to be sugar that was demonized:

Even though overall consumption of caloric sweeteners is starting to drop, Dr. Crawford says an empty calorie is still an empty calorie. And it does not matter whether people think sugar is somehow "retro," a word used to promote new, sugar-based versions of Pepsi and Mountain Dew called Throwback.

"If people really want to go back to where we were, that means not putting sugar in everything," she said. "It means keeping it to desserts."

Well said, good doctor. Now that I'm done with my rant, tell me: What do you think of these new natural products?

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