FitSugar

Greece's Hidden Secret: FAGE Yogurt

FitSugar — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 14:05:57 -0800

I love yogurt but for me there are very few yogurts that stand out among the pack.

That is why I was totally blown away when I tried, FAGE Total Yogurt (pronounced: Fa'-yeh!). FAGE Total is "Greek yogurt" that is truly Greek -- You can tell by the signature rich and thick velvety texture. It gets the great texture with the unique straining and separating process of the whey from the yogurt. The process also makes the product a suitable cooking ingredient as it does not curdle at high temperatures. What's more? All the FAGE yogurts contain Live & Active Cultures.

The taste is unbeatable and the texture is downright amazing. For me, nothing is worse than eating super runny yogurt. The FAGE Total 0% has 80 calories and zero grams of fat and unlike most fat free yogurts, it actually tastes really, really good.

I used it to make my most recent batch of Tzatziki and it was the best yet! Look for it in boutique and health food grocery stores. For more info, visit the FAGE Website.

Snack Attack: Tzatziki, No Longer Greek to Me

FitSugar — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 08:53:45 -0800

I recently spent some time in Greece and I literally lived on Tzatziki and pita the entire time I was there.

Convinced it was going to keep the memories alive at home, I have been making a healthier version of this tasty Greek style dip.

Ingredients:

2 cups of non-fat yogurt
2 large cucumbers
2 tablespoons minced garlic (or 2 garlic cloves)
10 fresh mint leaves
A handful of dill (or if you're like me and don't like dill you can leave this step out)

Put all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until mixed well. You can decide how chunky you want it to be but it should be close to the consistency of ranch dressing (with cucumber bits mixed in). Store in the refrigerator for 2 hours or until ready to serve. Serve with veggies and whole wheat pita, or pita chips.

Why we love it:
Yogurt is a great source of calcium. Try to get organic and Live & Active cultured yogurt to really reap the health benefits.
Cucumbers are very low in calories as well as a great way to help cleanse your insides.
Garlic can fight a common cold (and cough) and could also be effective in the fight against cholesterol.
Mint is great for soothing an upset stomach, it opens airways to help breathing and is a good source of Vitamin C (for an herb at least).

Fit's Tip: This is a great snack to serve if you will be entertaining guests because it can be prepared in advance.

You Asked: Cucumbers???

FitSugar — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 02:15:00 -0700

Dear FitSugar -
What are the nutritional benefits of cucumber, if any? It is one of my fave veggies but as far as I can tell, it doesn't pack much of a punch compared to other vegetables.
Questioning Cucumbers

I too love cucumbers - they make a great addition to any salad and are also a great vehicle for hummus. Aside from being a low carb substitute, this veggie (well technically a fruit since it has seeds, but I am sticking with convention here) has some surprising nutritional attributes.

The cucumber is a decent source of both vitamin C and fiber. It is also high in potassium and magnesium, which when combined with fiber, can help reduce blood pressure. Cukes are also high in the mineral silica, an essential component for healthy connective tissues, like ligaments and tendons. Its silica content also makes the cucumber beneficial to the skin, both eating the veggie and applying its flesh topically to your flesh. There's a reason you always see images of ladies with slices of cucumbers on their eyes. Plus their high water content makes them naturally hydrating and cooling. Cucumbers are also high in the mineral phosphorus, an important mineral for bone health.

Fit's Tip: Due to its tender skin, commercially grown cucumbers may be waxed to protect their outer layer, so I suggest you buy organic!

Looking for a new way to eat cucumbers? Try the Cucumber Boat with Lox Spread. The crisp cooling cucumber makes a great bagel (so high in calories) substitute. Or make your own Tzatziki.

Source

Oikos Greek Style Yogurt from Stonyfield Farm

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:30:00 -0700

I love yogurt and I really love Greek style yogurt, since it is already strained so it is extra thick and creamy. I was stoked to hear that Stonyfield Farm is now making a Greek style yogurt. I was even more stoked when I tasted it. It is great!!!

Stonyfield Farm has partnered with a master yogurt maker from Greece, Mustafa Dogan to make their new Oikos Greek style yogurt. Let me tell you Mustafa knows his stuff. And, because the yogurt is made by Stonyfield Farm it is organic. Good for you and the planet.

Oikos yogurt is packed with protein - 16 grams per 6 oz. serving - and is naturally lower in carbs and sugars than regular yogurts. The yogurt contains 5 live and active cultures so it is chock full of good bacteria. If plain yogurt is not for you Oikos also makes a vanilla flavored yogurt, which contains a bit more sugar and calories as well. Personally I love eating the plain with fresh fruit and it great for making Tzatziki and dips.

Interested in seeing the nutritional breakdown, then read more

6 oz. container)	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Carbs (g)	Sugar (g)	Protein (g)
Plain	100	0	7	7	16
Vanilla	120	0	14	14	15

Nutritionally it is quite similar to Fage Total Greek style yogurt, the big difference is that it is made in the U.S. and is organic. Look for it in your local natural food store or in the natural food sections of select grocery stores nationwide. A 6 oz. single serving cup is priced just under $2.00.

Snack Attack: Pita - Not Just for Pockets

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 09:21:00 -0800

If you thought that pita bread was only for sandwiches, I'm here to tell that pita is for so much more - you can make your own pita chips at home.

Here's how:
Preheat your oven to 400° first.
Take 2 circles of pita and separate the bread in half, so you have 4 circles. Place them on top of each other and cut them all into 8 wedges.

Lightly spray wedges with olive oil cooking spray and sprinkle them with a little salt and pepper.

Bake on a cookie sheet for 7 - 10 minutes, or until toasted.

Let the chips cool, then use them to dip into salsa, hummus, or tzatziki. They're also great for nachos.

Why we like it:
Whole wheat pita is high in fiber and low in carbs.
Baked chips are considerably less fattening than fried chips. They keep for a couple of days in the refrigerator. If they seem limp after storage, just pop them into the oven for a few minutes to re-crisp.

Fit's tip: Create different flavored chips by sprinkling the chips with different herbs, spices and/or garlic before you bake the pita wedges.