FitSugar

Food Review: Amy's Cheddar Cheese Burrito

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 03:30:00 -0700

If you don't know by now, I'm a huge fan of foods from Amy's Kitchen. I love her Vegetable Lasagna and Stuffed Pasta Shells, and her canned Vegetable Barley Soup is really tasty and filling.

Sugar users juju and james bond girl suggested I try Amy's burritos. You can find them in the freezer section of most health food stores. They weren't too expensive - about $3 or 4 each - and they have a few varieties such as Bean & Cheese (I tried this one), Bean & Rice, Black Bean Vegetable, Breakfast (with tofu and potatoes), Indian Spinach Tofu Wrap, and Southwestern (with jalapeño peppers and black olives).

Want to know what I thought of Amy's Bean & Cheese Burrito? Then read more

Serving Size	1 burrito
Calories	300
Total Fat	9g
Saturated Fat	2.5g
Cholesterol	10mg
Sodium	580mg
Carbs	43g
Fiber	6g
Sugar	1g
Protein	11g

This burrito was the perfect size, and it was very tasty - not very spicy, with just enough seasoning. The pinto beans and cheese were mixed to create a soft and creamy consistency. When I looked inside, I could still see whole pinto beans, which is always a good thing.

The whole wheat flour tortilla was wrapped tightly enough and never once unraveled, so I didn't have to worry about it becoming a huge explosive mess as burritos often tend to be. I also liked that after taking this burrito out of the freezer, it only took 2 1/2 minutes in the microwave to warm up.

Amy's burritos definitely get a thumbs up from me. With 11g of protein and 6g of fiber, they're a great option when you need a quick meal.

Pico de Gallo Chips: Like Doritos, But Healthier

FitSugar — Sat, 12 May 2007 02:00:00 -0700

As a kid, I hate to admit it, but I grew up on junk food. Maybe that's why I'm such a freak about it now - too many years of eating crap that make you feel like crap.

Nacho Cheese Doritos were one of my faves. They were a typical afternoon snack when I came home from school - I used to LOVE licking the powdered cheese off my orange-stained fingers. I've long since given those up, but they'll always be one of my fond childhood memories.

While at the health food store, I came upon Pico de Gallo Chips made by Garden of Eatin'. They taste so much like Doritos, but the ingredients are much healthier. Doritos have partially hydrogenated soybean and Cottenseed oil. And nothing says junk food like artificial color - love that Yellow 6. Yum.

Want to see how they compare nutritionally? Then read more

	Doritos	Pico de Gallo
Serving Size	1 oz (about 11 chips)	1 oz (about 7 chips)
Calories	140	140
Total Fat	8g	7g
Saturated Fat	1.5g	.5g
Cholesterol	0mg	0mg
Sodium	180mg	150mg
Carbs	17g	18g
Fiber	1g	3g
Sugar	1g	0g
Protein	2g	2g

Pick them up if you are headed to a BBQ this weekend!!!

Food Review: The Works! Tortilla Chips

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:00:05 -0700

When I go with the fam to get fresh-baked bagels, I usually choose an everything bagel because I love the savory taste and interesting texture of the poppy and sesame seeds, and the onion and garlic. The company FoodShouldTasteGood has a new tortilla chip called The Works! Topped with poppy and caraway seeds, minced garlic, and onion, I knew this was something I needed to try.

To find out how these puppies taste and see how many calories are in one serving, keep reading

Weekend Well-Being: Make Your Own Garden Tortilla Pizza

FitSugar — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 03:00:00 -0700

Hooray for the weekend! Not only do I love having two days off to spend with my family, but Saturdays are farmer's market days. I love strolling past all the baskets of crisp greens, brightly colored veggies, and the bunches of aromatic herbs. Our market even has fresh homemade cheeses, which of course taste so much better than what I buy at the store.

I'm always trying to figure out exciting ways to use all the yummy veggies I bring home. I can only make so many fresh salads and grilled veggies, ya know? So here's an idea - tortilla pizzas. All you need to buy are some whole wheat tortillas, and you can use them as a vehicle for all the tasty farmer's market produce.

Source

Want to know how I make them? Then read more

What you'll need:

1 large whole wheat tortilla
Olive oil as needed
I large tomato, sliced
Grilled zucchini, yellow squash, broccoli, mushrooms, onions and peppers
Fresh basil
Fresh Mozzarella or goat cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste

What to do:

Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Cut up all the veggies and grill them in a grill basket.
Brush some olive oil on the tortilla and top it any way you like with all the veggies and cheese. Add some basil leaves, sprinkle a little salt and pepper, and bake on a cookie sheet for 10 or so minutes.
Cut, serve, and enjoy!

Print recipe with images | without images

Fittingly Mad: MultiGrain vs. Restaurant Style Tostitos

FitSugar — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 03:00:00 -0700

I made an interesting discovery at the grocery store the other day. Chips and salsa are something I like to have on occasion and I typically buy some au natural chips. My husband, however, prefers Tostitos, and is relentless about voicing his preference.

This time I gave into him, but then I noticed Tostitos is now making a Multigrain variety made with whole oat, whole wheat and buckwheat flours - this was written in a nice font on the front of the bag. So, my hubby got his Restaurant Style, I got my Multigrain - both of us satisfied that we got our way.

The problem happened when I got home and actually read the label -- Not only is the main ingredient of these chips still corn, but the Multigrain chips actually have more calories, fat, sodium and sugar (10 more calories, 1 g fat, 15 mg sodium and 1 g sugar per ounce) than the Restaurant Style chips. I realized that while the Restaurant Style chips are probably more healthy, better tasting and cheaper, Tostitos is marketing toward people who, like me, are easily drawn (like a moth to a flame really) to labels like 'Multigrain' even if it is not in fact healthier. Sure, there is a bit more fiber (1 gram) in the Multigrain chips, but let's be honest; I am NOT eating tortilla chips for their fiber content. What's even worse? Now my husband thinks he is the authority on eating light. Twist the knife even more....

I have decided to take this incident, as I did my tequila to wash down all those chips, with a grain of salt. I should have known better, but I have learned once again to always read the label. And that when I want tortilla chips, I will just stick to the regular tortilla chips from here on out and eat them in moderation.

When Going for Corn - Go BLUE

FitSugar — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 02:00:00 -0700

When it comes to corn chips, I am game for any color - yellow, white, or blue. Now, I have a valid reason to go blue. New research indicates that blue corn is more nutritious than its white counterpart.

Researchers from south of the Rio Grande have found blue corn to contain 20 percent more protein than white corn. Not only that, but blue corn also contains less starch and a lower glycemic index, meaning the sugar content of blue corn is absorbed by the body more slowly and provides a steady source of energy, with less chance of creating a blood sugar spike.

I often say, eat for color and now I know this approach to food applies to tortillas and chips as well.

Your Healthy Food Swaps

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:27 -0800

Since decadent foods like ice cream, baked treats, and fried foods tend to be high in the calorie department, it's good to have a few healthy food swap ideas up your sleeve. Here are some shared by fellow FitSugar readers.

"Avocado instead of mayo . . . sure it may have fat in it but it's healthy fat and tastes delicious. Hummus instead of cream in sauces and soups . . . adds a ton of flavor and protein." - mamasitamalita
"I use balsamic vinegar (not vinaigrette) on my salads without any oil. It gives the same powerful flavor kick but for a lot less calories." - laellavita
"Replace ranch dressing on my salad with cottage cheese." - genipher85

For more great ideas, keep reading

How to Build a Better Burrito

FitSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:00:38 -0700

If you've taken my Chipotle burrito quiz, you know that these simple Mexican wraps can contain some very serious calories.

It's easier to eat smart when making burritos at home, but what about when eating out? By making a few smart choices at the burrito counter, you can make your meal lower in calories and fat and better for you overall. Here's how.

You probably know that regular black beans, with 227 calories and one gram of fat per cup, are a better choice than refried beans, which can contain up to 16 grams of fat and more than 300 calories. But you may not know that one cup of black beans also offers 60 percent of your daily fiber, plus high amounts of protein and folate.

Get more surprising tips.

Foods With the Most Nutrition For the Price Per Portion

FitSugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:30:00 -0700

The majority of you haven't felt the recession in terms of gaining weight - you've figured out that just because you might be feeling a financial pinch, you don't have to resort to junk food that adds inches to your waistline. Because we're all concerned about balancing our diet while keeping balanced checkbooks, Dr. Adam Drewnowski, who directs the University of Washington Center For Public Health Nutrition, took it upon himself to research
which foods provide the best nutrition for the buck.

Dr. Drewnowski used federal statistics to compare average national prices per portion with the nutritional value of different foods, per 100 calories. He compared the two rankings to find the best buys, which he defined as the "middle ground between most nutritious yet expensive and the not-so-healthy in each food group." His list favors carrots over peppers and apples over strawberries for their longer-lasting qualities, and lean hamburger over pricier salmon and cheap bacon. For other foods singled out, read more.

Low-fat dairy (milk, yogurt, cheddar, American, or mozzarella cheese)
Lean ground beef, chicken, canned fish
Whole eggs
Beans
Peanut butter, sunflower seeds, almonds
Bread (enriched or made with whole wheat), tortillas, rice
Bananas, apples, frozen orange juice concentrate, 100 percent fruit juice or fruit-vegetable blends
Potatoes, iceberg lettuce, canned corn, canned tomatoes

I'm surprised that iceberg lettuce passed the nutrition component of Dr. Drewnowski's research. Do any of the foods stand out as surprising to you?

Calorie Quiz: Chipotle Burrito

FitSugar — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:30:40 -0700

Walk with me into a Chipotle Grill. Order, or rather build, a burrito with me. Let's guess how many calories we are putting in that big ol' flour tortilla. In fact, let's start with the tortilla. Take this quiz to see if you know what you are getting yourself into, calorie wise.

Question 1 of 8

How many calories are in a Chipotle burrito-size flour tortilla?