FitSugar

Soy Yogurt v. Cow's Milk Yogurt

FitSugar — Tue, 08 May 2007 11:00:00 -0700

OK, so I already told you the unpleasant news that eating dairy can cause acne. So what's a yogurt lover to do?

You've got to give soy yogurt a try. My fave is made by Whole Soy & Co. They take soymilk (made from whole organic soybeans) and culture it with vegan cultures including L. Acidophilus and B. Bifidum. It's creamy and very much like cow's milk yogurt, but has all the benefits of soy protein, with no cholesterol.

You can try Whole Soy yogurt in 11 delicious flavors: Plain, Peach, Vanilla, Strawberry, Raspberry, Cherry, Lemon, Blueberry, Apricot Mango, Strawberry Banana, and Mixed Berry.

I think it is worthwhile to compare soy yogurt with cow's milk yogurt. Here's the nutritional info:

	6 oz Whole Soy & Co. Vanilla	6 oz Fat Free Stonyfield Farms French Vanilla	6 oz LowFat Stonyfield Farms Vanilla	6 oz Whole Milk Stonyfield Farms Vanilla
Calories	150	140	140	190
Total Fat	3g	0g	1.5g	6g
Cholesterol	0mg	0mg	5mg	25mg
Sodium	25mg	110mg	100mg	100mg
Carbs	28g	28g	25g	27g
Fiber	2g	2g	2g	3g
Sugar	12g	25g	23g	24g
Protein	6g	7g	7g	6g
Calcium	30%	35%	30%	25%

Lite'n it Up Recipe Feature - Yogurt + Apples = Yum!

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 12:30:00 -0700

Looking for a tasty dessert or snack that is healthy as well? User celebrity_soup posted this great recipe that is made from ingredients most of us have anyway:

Ok guys, so just now I was craving something sweet and healthy.
My mom suggested an apple, but nahh!
So I wipped up something yummy, sweet and healthy with the apple!
What you ask?
A yogurt and apple sweet treat. Enjoy!

What you need:

- 1 grany smith apple
- 1 cup of plain yogurt
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
- 2 tablespoons of honey

How to make:

Its all very easy. Just cut the apple into bite size pieces (like you see above) and toss in all the ingredients above!

Print recipe with images | without images

Have you joined Lite'n it Up, the healthy recipe group, yet? There are tons of fabulous ideas such as these recipes for banana bread and chicken with shallots, as well as a handy way to skim the fat off liquids:

All this and more can be found in the group! Share your recipes and tips too! By the way, if they are not your own creations, please be sure to source where it came from and I just may feature your idea right here on FitSugar.

Everyday Nutrition Shakes

FitSugar — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 10:00:00 -0800

Dr. Jana Klauer, author of the new book How the Rich Get Thin: Park Avenue's Top Diet Doctor Reveals the Secrets to Losing Weight and Feeling Great has created ready-to-drink Everyday Nutrition shakes.

Everyday Nutrition shakes are supposed to be a tool for weight loss because they contain high quality whey protein and calcium - two proven ingredients for weight loss and with only 180 calories, 20 grams of protein and 400 mg of calcium, the 11 ounce drink packs a powerful punch. One reason why I actually like this product is because the shakes contain omega-3 fatty acids which has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and depression. The shakes are available in rich (no pun intended) cocoa and vanilla bean.

I am also pleased that the shakes do not contain artificial appetite suppressants, which is common in 'diet' shakes. Dr. Klauer's site says, "Everyday Nutrition shakes will supply nutrients your body needs to lose weight safely and efficiently, but they are not designed to replace food entirely." Giving the shakes another bonus point in my book.

Sounds like something you want to try? Buy the shakes from Janeklauermd.com, but buyer beware: These shakes are not your typical protein shake as a pack of 24 will set you back $114.00.

I guess if you live on Park Avenue, $114 is just a drop in the hat.

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.

Healthy Holiday Swap: DIY Pumpkin Yogurt

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:47:40 -0800

I love pumpkin-flavored anything - pies, muffins, cheesecake, even ice cream! But gorging on too many sweet pumpkin treats can leave me with a sick stomach full of unhealthy fats and sugars. One way I've been satisfying my pumpkin cravings is by making my own pumpkin-flavored yogurt at home.

It's really easy to do, just mix plain yogurt with canned pumpkin puree. If you're trying to cut back on sugar, use 100 percent pure pumpkin puree and add your own spices and sweetener. If you want the instant flavors of pumpkin pie, mix yogurt up with canned pumpkin pie puree that's been sweetened with sugar and spices.

I sometimes use vanilla yogurt with the pure pumpkin mix just to give it a little sweetness, and if I'm craving the texture of pumpkin pie, a nice sprinkling of healthy granola or oats seems to do the trick.

Share your healthy snack ideas in our Snack Attack group!

Speak Up: Your Favorite Healthy Food Swaps

FitSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:00:10 -0800

Great tasting foods such as creamy soups, baked treats, and fried foods tend to be high in calories. So if you can make simple food swaps that reduce calories, but still satisfy your taste buds, you can drop pesky pounds or prevent weight gain.

When making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, I skip the sugar-based jelly and substitute real fruit instead. And when I crave ice cream, I opt for a little bowl of vanilla Greek yogurt with maple syrup since it has less fat and fewer calories, but contains more protein. What about you? Share some of your simple food swaps that make your daily diet healthier and lower in calories.

Healthy Ways to Liven Up Your Oatmeal

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:00:19 -0700

Now that cooler temps are moving in, there's nothing like warming yourself up with a bowl of hot oatmeal. Full of whole grain fiber, this breakfast will keep you satisfied all morning. Buying plain oats is healthier than buying packets that are already sweetened, and less expensive too, but that doesn't mean you have to go without flavor.

Add these delicious morsels to your half-cup serving of oatmeal.

One small banana (diced), two tablespoons vanilla yogurt, and one tablespoon walnuts.
Half a diced pear, one tablespoon pumpkin seeds, and one tablespoon of GoLean Crunch cereal or granola.
Half a diced apple, two chopped dates, 10 chopped almonds, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

For other tasty ideas, keep reading

Plain Yogurt vs. Flavored Yogurt

FitSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 05:50:03 -0700

For breakfast, yogurt with fruit and granola has become my favorite. I love that the yogurt offers lowfat protein, and the granola gives me fiber to keep me satisfied until lunch. With all this talk about how Americans are getting too much sugar, I'm trying to do what I can to cut back on added sugars.

I was wondering if there's a huge difference when choosing between plain yogurt or one that's flavored. So here's a comparison between a few flavors of Chobani Greek yogurt. To see the chart, read more.

These numbers are based on six-ounce containers.

	Plain	Vanilla	Blueberry	Honey
Calories	100	120	140	150
Saturated Fat	0 g	0 g	0 g	0 g
Cholesterol	0 mg	0 mg	0 mg	0 g
Sodium	80 mg	75 mg	65 mg	75 mg
Carbs	7 g	13 g	20 g	20 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g	less than 1 g	0 g
Sugars	7 g	16 g	20 g	20 g
Protein	18 g	16 g	14 g	16 g
Ingredients	Cultured Pasteurized Nonfat Milk.	Cultured Pasteurized Nonfat Milk, Evaporated Cane Juice, Natural Vanilla Flavor.	Cultured Pasteurized Nonfat Milk, Blueberries, Evaporated Cane Juice, Locust Bean Gum, Pectin, Natural Flavor.	Cultured Pasteurized Nonfat Milk, Clover Honey.

Wow. Plain yogurt is clearly the better option when it comes to sugar. The vanilla, blueberry, and honey flavors have more than twice the amount as the plain. Plain yogurt also contains fewer calories and more protein, so I'll definitely stick to plain.

If you're trying to cut down on sugar, but can't stomach the sour taste of plain yogurt, mix in fresh, frozen, or dried fruit. It not only offers added fiber, but it will sweeten your yogurt naturally, unlike the flavored yogurts that contain evaporated cane juice. Tell me, will this info make you choose plain over flavored yogurts?

Food Review: Cascadian Farm Vanilla Almond Crunch

FitSugar — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:00:00 -0700

One of my favorite afternoon snacks is fruit, granola, and vanilla yogurt. Not only does it satisfy my sweet tooth, but the fiber from the whole-grain oats and the protein from the yogurt fill me up and give me energy for my evening workouts.

I usually pick up Cascadian Farm Oats & Honey Granola, but I saw this box of Vanilla Almond Crunch sitting on the shelf and decided to give it a try instead. Was it as tasty as it looks? To find out read more.

Compared to the Oats & Honey Granola, this cereal ($4-5) was much lighter, since it had little rice crispies mixed in with the oats. Not only was it tasty with my yogurt, but it was great with milk, too. I liked the vanilla flavor, but it was a little too sweet for me. It does have whole pieces of almonds, which the granola doesn't have, but it would have been better if there were more. If I had to choose, as far as taste and nutrition go, I'd go for the granola. Even though this Vanilla Almond Crunch contains more calories and fat, it also has less sodium and sugar.


Serving Size	3/4 cup	2/3 cup
Calories	200	230
Total Fat	3g	6g
Saturated Fat	less than 1g	1g
Cholesterol	0mg	0mg
Sodium	210mg	120mg
Carbs	41g	42g
Fiber	3g	3g
Sugar	16g	13g
Protein	4g	5g

Camping Can Do: Make Coffee Anywhere

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:00:47 -0700

A few weeks ago Starbucks sent us a sample of VIA, its new instant coffee. Being a bit of a coffee snob I was kind of grossed out but decided to try it on my upcoming climbing trip anyway.

The best thing VIA has going for it is its size - it's small. Normally when I pack for camping I bring the works: coffee beans, portable grinder, and a french press. I was so happy to have more space in my pack and I definitely noticed a lighter load on my back. Score one for VIA! Was it as good as the Blue Bottle coffee I normally bring with me? Uh, no. Not even close, but I didn't expect it to be.

I think the point of VIA is convenience - you can have a OK cup of coffee anywhere and it'll be easy. It's definitely the best instant coffee I've ever tried and it even tasted better than some drip coffee I've had. Although the Colombian blend I tried was a bit bitter at the end, it had a nice, mellow flavor too. For a touch of sweetness, I added another camping shortcut to the mix -shelf stable Horizon organic vanilla milk. My companion, who is no coffee snob, said it was the best cup of coffee he's ever had while camping.

Though I won't be using VIA at home, I think it's a good choice for backpacking, camping, or for traveling anywhere you need coffee quickly. From now on, I'll be bringing it with me on all of my climbing trips.