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Food Review: KIND Plus Bars

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:00:00 -0800

It's always good to have some healthy snacks you can keep in your purse, gym bag, or desk drawer, just in case you need a little something to keep you going. I'm a fan of bars made with fruit and nuts, because they contain fiber and protein to keep me full, but they also satisfy my sweet tooth. I've already raved about KIND bars, and this company just came out with a new line of bars called KIND plus. Each bar ($2.29) is made with unique ingredients which include supplements such as added calcium, omega-3s, and B vitamins to offer enhanced nutrition. These tasty bars are low in sodium, and contain no gluten, dairy, or hydrogenated oils.

To see how these six bars compare nutritionally,

Food Review: Earth Balance Cream Cheese Spread

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:00:00 -0800

When it comes to buttering my bread or baking, I'm a huge fan of Earth Balance natural margarine. It's cholesterol free, low in saturated fat, and dairy free. I just discovered that Earth Balance makes Cream Cheese. Yes it's made with milk, so it's not some vegan alternative, but it's made with rBST-free milk and it's supposed to be a healthier version of mainstream cream cheese.

To see how the two types of cream cheeses compare

Food Review: Chobani Greek Yogurt

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:00:00 -0800

I'm a big fan of yogurt for breakfast or for a pre-workout snack, but I'm an even bigger fan of Greek yogurt. Oikos and Fage are equally delicious, but they're not cheap (about $2 per small container). So when I was food shopping the other day, I was thrilled to see another kind of Greek yogurt called Chobani on sale for $1.29. Wahoo! It doesn't take much to get me excited.

Chobani comes in all sorts of flavors, like strawberry, peach, blueberry, and honey, but I picked up the vanilla. To see what I thought and find out how this yogurt compares to Oikos and Fage

Food Review: Amy's Brown Rice, Black-Eyed Peas & Veggies Bowl

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0800

In a pinch, I'm a big fan of frozen meals from Amy's Kitchen, and I particularly like the "bowls." I always keep a few in my freezer just in case I don't have time to make lunch. While the Country Cheddar Bowl is my favorite, I also like the Stuffed Pasta Shells. While perusing the frozen aisle at the grocery store, I noticed a new bowl and had to give it a try.

To find out what I thought of this Brown Rice, Black-Eyed Peas & Veggies Bowl then

Food Review: Naturally More Peanut Butter

FitSugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 08:00:00 -0800

The all-natural Naturally More peanut butter certainly has a lot going for it on paper: It was named one of the 125 best packaged foods by Women's Health, has no cholesterol or trans-fats, and contains healthy essentials like flaxseed, flax oil, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. On top of these positive facts, the company boasts that its product has 25 percent more protein and 50 percent more fiber than regular brands. Is this the perfect peanut butter? See the product's nutritional information and my review when you

Food Review: Clif Bar Spiced Pumpkin Pie

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:00:00 -0800

You know Thanksgiving can't be too far off when you spy pumpkin pie flavored Clif Bars at your grocery store. Drawn in by the allure that surrounds special holiday flavored foods, I had to have a taste. Plus, I really love pumpkin pie. I was also curious if this flavor might make the cut as a healthy stocking stuffer, since Clif Bars are great for long rides and hikes.

Nutritionally speaking, the Spiced Pumpkin Pie lines up with all the other flavors of Clif Bars. However, this one has a thin coat of icing on one side, similar to Luna Bars, also made by Clif. I guess a bit of icing dresses up this energy bar and makes it seem a bit more festive.

To see what I thought of the flavor and the nutritional info,

Food Review: Campbell's V-8 Soup

FitSugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0800

When the temperature drops, I crave soup. Since I don't always have time to whip up a pot of soup, I tend to keep cans of Amy's Soups on hand. I love that they're made solely of veggies, herbs, and spices. I've gotten a little sick of the flavors though, so I was psyched when I saw these new Campbell's V8 Soups. Each one-cup serving contains a full half-cup serving of vegetables, and this soup is made with no artificial flavors or preservatives. Sounds healthy, but what about the taste? To find out what I thought of the Golden Butternut Squash Soup

Food Review: LightLife Smart Stuffers

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:00:00 -0800

As a meat eater, I'm not afraid to chow down on tofu and seitan. I usually don't opt for meat alternatives though, like meatless chicken patties or fakin' bacon, because I enjoy chicken patties and bacon. Normally, I wouldn't go out of my way and buy these Lightlife Smart Stuffers, but a vegetarian friend of mine raved about them, so I thought I would give them a try. Basically they're supposed to be like breaded stuffed chicken. To see how it tasted and how many calories are in one stuffer,

Food Review: Kashi Honey Sunshine

FitSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:00:28 -0700

Honey Sunshine is the newest cereal to join the Kashi family. I am a huge fan of anything made by this company, especially its TLC Party Crackers and frozen pizza. I always keep a box of Kashi cereal in my cupboard, because they're so high in fiber and flavor, so I was eager to give this new cereal a try. When I turned over the box to have a look at the nutritional info, I was shocked. To find out why,

Food Review: New Bear Naked Native Granola

FitSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0700

I'm a huge fan of Bear Naked products so I'm excited that they just came out with a new line of granola known as Native. They're all about unique flavors and ingredients from exotic lands. So far they have two different flavors: Yumberry Goji Currant and Mango Agave Almond. I couldn't decide which one to try so I picked up a bag of both.

To find out how they tasted

Food Review: Healthy Choice Minestrone Soup

FitSugar — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:00:00 -0700

While shopping the other day, I noticed the Healthy Choice Minestrone Soup in the microwavable bowls were on sale. Since soup is one of my favorite lunchtime meals, I decided to give some a try. I especially love tomato based soups, so I was excited to taste the minestrone soup. To see what I thought about the soup as well as the nutritional information, just

Food Review: Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:30:00 -0700

After packing lunch boxes for the girls this morning, I realized there was no time for me to eat breakfast at my kitchen table. I decided today was the morning to try an item from the Starbucks revamped breakfast menu. The morning was chilly, and being a big fan of hot cereals I decided to give the Perfect Oatmeal ($2.45) a try.

To see if I thought this oatmeal lived up to its name as well as nutritional information, just

Food Review: Blue Horizon Organic Spring Rolls

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0700

I'm a huge fan of spring rolls and I always order them when eating Thai. They're a guilty pleasure since the fried, crispy wrapper makes them full of calories and fat. I was psyched when I saw frozen Organic Spring Rolls ($4) by Blue Horizon. Since you can bake them in the oven, you decrease the amount of oil you're consuming.

To find out how many calories are in one of these little rolls

Food Review: Yo-Plus Digestive Health by Yoplait

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:00:00 -0700

I love yogurt and am fascinated by functional foods. Now I know probiotics might be trendy, but this healthy bacteria seems to benefit many people with digestive issues.

I was curious to try Yo-Plus by Yoplait ($3.50 / 4 pack). No only does it contain Yoplait's Optibalance bacteria mixture, this yogurt has added fiber in the form of inulin as well as vitamins A and D. Yoplait claims that the added fiber helps keep the good bacteria happy, and don't we all really want plentiful and happy bacteria living in our guts.

To see how this yogurt tastes and how it compares with Acitiva by Dannon, just

Food Review: Kashi Moroccan Curry Whole Grain Pilaf

FitSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:00:00 -0700

One of my go-to brands is certainly Kashi. I am a fan of almost everything they make and I appreciate their use of whole grains. Kashi breakfast cereals and granola bars are a staple in my house, but they've expanded beyond breakfast and snacks and now make frozen entrées and pizza. Now they're making side dishes like their 7 Whole Grain Pilaf. It's a little packet of food that you just pour into a bowl, microwave for a minute or so, and you have an instant side dish. To find out how it tastes

Food Review: Popchips

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:10:00 -0700

If potato chips are your weakness, indulging in grease, salt, and high amounts of fat might make you feel a little guilty, not to mention sick to your stomach. I just came upon an alternative marketed as a healthier chip, Popchips. They are never baked or fried. Popchips are made by applying heat and pressure (and according to their website "a little snack magic") to corn and potatoes, and presto chango a new kind of chip is formed.

As you can see they come in a wide variety of flavors, but how do they stack up against other potato chips? To find out,

Food Review: Garden of Eatin' Multigrain Chips

FitSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:00:00 -0700

I'm a sucker for a salty chip, and love to dip them in homemade salsa, hummus, or guacamole. I also like to crunch on plain chips, too. Regular corn chips can bore the palate, so when I found these Garden of Eatin' Multigrain Chips ($3.29), I was more than interested in trying them. They're made with whole flaxseeds so they sound healthier than regular corn chips, but are they? To find out

Food Review: Truvia Sweetener

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:30:00 -0700

Artificial sweeteners often have a weird aftertaste or suspect ingredients. One alternative is stevia, a calorie-free sweetener extracted from a sweet herb grown in South America. But until recently, there were questions about whether stevia was safe, and the varieties I've tried have a different kind of weird aftertaste — not chemical or artificial, but sort of herbal, almost like anise. I prefer my sweeteners a bit more neutral.

But I just got my hands on some Truvia and decided to give stevia another shot. Recently, this brand became the first stevia sweetener not labeled as a "dietary supplement." It's sold online in individual packets, each of which is equal in sweetness to two teaspoons of sugar. To find out how sweet it is,

Food Review: Full Bar Caramel Apple Crisp

FitSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:00:00 -0700

I enjoy energy bars as pre-workout snacks, but the concept behind FullBar is different. Though nutritionally similar to Luna Bars and other healthy treats, these protein-packed portions are marketed to help people lose weight. As explained on the wrapper, FullBar was founded by a surgeon who does gastric bypass procedures.

Recognizing that the main benefit of gastric bypass surgery is that it makes people feel full and (hopefully) eat less, Dr. Michael Snyder decided to design a bar that does the same thing. To find out how it works and tastes,

Food Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Mini Sandwiches

FitSugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Ice cream is one of my favorite treats, but since it's high in saturated fat and cholesterol, I try not to eat it that often. With so many low fat and dairy-free alternatives out there, there's no reason I have to go without that sweet creamy goodness.

These So Delicious Minis ($5 for a box of eight) are made with vanilla soy ice cream, so they're cholesterol and lactose free. How do they taste though? To find out

Food Review: Tofu Spaghetti

FitSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:00:00 -0700

The carb-free diet craze has given pasta a horrible reputation. People think they have to ditch pasta if they are trying to lose weight, and it's just not true. Companies are even making pasta alternatives like this Tofu Shirataki ($4).

The package says it's a "spaghetti shaped noodle substitute." Mmm, sounds delicious. What's it really taste like? To find out

Food Review: Weil Bar: Banana Manna

FitSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Fruit and nut bars are all the craze now, and I'm loving them. I appreciate that they're made from whole foods, and that they don't contain any weird ingredients or preservatives.

When I see a new brand of these bars on the shelves, I have to give it a try like this Weil bar. Yes, Weil as in Andrew Weil, the famous holistic MD. Since I agree with his healthy-eating principles, I figured this bar would be a good one to try. It's organic, vegan, has no added sugar, and no GMOs. Want to know what's in this Banana Manna bar? Then

Food Review: Doctor Kracker's Seedlander Flatbreads

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Crackers always seems like a healthier alternative to chips and pretzels, but since many of them are made with nutrition-less enriched white flour and tons of sodium, they end up being just as bad. So when you're looking for crackers, you want to make sure they're made with whole-grain flour. I found these made by Doctor Kracker ($4.39). They're technically called "Flatbreads" because they're about the size of a slice of bread. They make a variety of flavors, but I decided to give the Seedlander a try.

To find out what I thought and see how many calories are in one of these 4-x-3.5-inch "krackers" then

Food Review: PowerBar Harvest

FitSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0700

I know that eating Olympic swimmer Kim Vandenberg's favorite energy bar will not improve my race time. But this dose of reality doesn't prevent me from at least wanting to try the PowerBar Harvest ($1.15) she likes.

The first energy bar I ever tried was the original PowerBar, which I thought tasted like minerals and nothing at all like food. To see if the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Harvest bar tasted anything like those original bars

Food Review: Organic Flax Plus — Pumpkin Raisin Crunch

FitSugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0700

You should aim to eat 25 to 30 grams of fiber daily, and since many breakfast cereals are made with whole grains and fruit it is easy to eat a significant portion of fiber in the first meal of the day. Nature's Path just came out with a new cereal called Pumpkin Raisin Crunch ($4.29). To find out how much fiber it contains per serving

Food Review: Frontera Four Cheese Pizza

FitSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:30:00 -0700

For a quick meal, pizza is definitely a party pleaser with my entire family including me. Pizzeria pizza might be delicious, but who knows how many calories are in a slice. Since making my own pizza isn't always an option, I like to keep some frozen pizzas for when I am in a dinner pinch.

I just tried a Frontera Stone Fired Pizza ($7.99), and I think you might be interested to hear what I thought of this pie, so

Food Review: Cedarlane Garden Lasagna

FitSugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Cedarlane Garden Lasagna ($4.75) nearly topped the list Healthiest Supermarket Foods complied by Women's Health. Since this lasagna came so highly recommended, I had to give it a try since it's made with organic ingredients, is low fat, and contains no trans fat.

That stats are good, but want to know how it tastes? Then

Food Review: Yotta Bar

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0700

When I need a quick snack, granola and energy bars are the best because I can slip them into my purse, desk drawer, or gym bag, and they'll stay fresh until I need a pick-me-up. I just came across a new kind of bar made by the Undercover Vegetable Company. Incredible name, huh? The bars are called Yotta Bars, and they come in three flavors: Cherry, Orange, and Apple Cinnamon.

The package says, "One serving of veggies and fruits per chewy granola bar," and website says they're made without refined sugars and contain only ingredients everyone can pronounce. Sounds healthy, but how do these bars taste? To see what I thought,

Food Review: Sweet Potato Chips by FoodShouldTasteGood

FitSugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:15:00 -0700

Salty crunchy foods top my list of things I crave, but generally the words "salty" and "crunchy" are synonymous with unhealthy. So I continuously check out my local health-food store to find new crave-worthy snacks that aren't high in fat and sodium. I just discovered a new chip by FoodShouldTasteGood featuring sweet potatoes. I'm such a fan of this healthy veggie, so I had to give these a try. To see what I thought of these chips and the nutritional info

Food Review: Bear Naked Fit Granola

FitSugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:30:00 -0700

I'm a huge fan of yogurt and granola, and this new Bear Naked Granola has the word "fit" in the name, so I was curious to try some.

I am guessing this granola is "fit" because it's low in fat. But how does it taste and compare to regular Bear Naked Granola? To find out

Kashi Pizza: Original-Crust vs. Thin-Crust Pizza

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:00:00 -0700

I like to keep frozen pizzas in my freezer just in case my family needs a quick meal. I love ones made by Kashi because the crust is made with whole grains and they're really flavorful. They used to only make regular-crust pizza, but then they came out with thin crust.

If you want to know how these two compare then

Food Review: Helen's Kitchen Mac & Cheese

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0700

It's good to have a few entrées in your freezer for a quick and healthy meal. So while at the grocery store the other day, I decided to try the Mac & Cheese from Helen's Kitchen.

Want to know what it really looks like and see the nutritional info? Then

Food Review: Lean Cuisine Szechuan Shrimp Stir Fry

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Though I sometimes eat Lean Cuisine products in a pinch, I'm not usually a fan of processed frozen food. But when these Lean Cuisine meals arrived at the office the other day, I recognized the Spa Cuisine Classics box from the 100 healthiest supermarket foods list. (The Chicken With Peanut Sauce was named best frozen dinner.) Better yet, the box proclaimed that the meal was preservative free, so I decided to try it.

I had the Szechuan Style Stir Fry With Shrimp, featuring whole-wheat noodles, baby corn, sugar snap peas, carrots, and bell peppers. After I zapped the meal in the Sugar HQ kitchen, several passersby said it looked delicious. To find out if it actually tasted good,

Food Review: Protein Bakery Cookies and Brownies

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Healthy sweets can be healthy in different ways. In the case of Protein Bakery, it's not because the treats are low fat or low cal. Rather, they shun the artificial additives and are designed to satisfy your hunger more than the typical junk food. These handmade, gluten-free goodies use all-natural ingredients, including rolled oats instead of wheat, whey protein, brown sugar, eggs, and butter.

For this taste test, I sampled three of Protein Bakery's baked goods, including the brownie with chocolate chips, the blondie with chocolate chips, and the coconut-chocolate chip cookies. To find out what I thought,

Food Review: Garden of Eatin' Blue Corn Taco Dinner Kit

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0700

Tacos are such a great dinner option. They're easy to make, you can fill them with just about anything, and they're low in carbs and calories. Since I'm a fan of Garden of Eatin', I decided to try out their Blue Corn Taco Dinner Kit. Want to know what I thought? Then

SoGreen Frozen Yogurt: Heir to Pinkberry?

FitSugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:30:00 -0700

First, there was Pinkberry, then Red Mango, and now: SoGreen Yogurt. Apparently, if you're going to open a frozen-yogurt joint nowadays, it's imperative to have a color in the name. SoGreen is the latest follower of the real frozen yogurt trend. Rather than just being low fat or low cal like some softserve treats, this type of frozen yogurt contains active cultures that aid digestion and help boost your immune system.

Right now, SoGreen has just one store, and it happens to be on the same block as Sugar HQ. So I decided to taste test the yogurt and tell you all about it. For details on SoGreen and this yummy trend,

Food Review: Terra Crinkles — Garlic Mashed

FitSugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Salty foods are my weakness and every once in a while I crave potato chips. I'm a huge fan of Terra chips, and Sweets & Beets are my favorite. When I was at the store, I saw that Terra came out with a new kind of chip, Terra Crinkles. I decided to give the Garlic Mashed a try. Want to know what I thought and how many calories are in one serving? Then

Food Review: Papa John's Whole-Wheat Pizza Crust

FitSugar — Thu, 29 May 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Trying to reconcile my love of pepperoni pizza with my love of whole grains just became a little easier. Papa John's is now making pies with a whole-wheat crust ($11.99/large). I am not sure if most pizza eaters care if they are eating whole grains, but it definitely makes me happy to have the option. I think this might just be the first delivery pizza to come with the 100-percent Whole-Grain Stamp. I tried a couple of these new pizzas with some of the gals here at Sugar Inc. and our opinions varied.

The whole-grain crust is a little thicker than Papa John's regular crust, which I didn't mind but others found disappointing because it wasn't crispy. The crust is sweet, too, making it a nice contrast to the spicy pepperoni for me. My buddy Buzz, on the other hand, found the sweet crust distracting. Nutritionally though, there is no way around the fact that the whole-wheat crust is healthier for you. One slice of a large whole-wheat pizza pie offers you five grams of dietary fiber, to the regular crust's two grams of fiber. Papa John's pizza made with whole-wheat crust is slightly lower in calories, sodium, and sugar, too. You can't beat that. I wish I had a photo to show what the pizzas looked like, but it was gone in a flash.

Next time you have pizza on the brain, but don't feel like completely throwing your healthy-eating habits out the door, try the Papa John's whole-wheat crust (here's the store locator). If you already have, tell me what you think about it in the comments section below.

Food Review: World of Grains Blueberry and Cranberry Snacks

FitSugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 13:00:00 -0700

When I first came across this World of Grains product, I wasn't quite sure what it was. The package merely described them as "snacks." But were they crackers? Cookies? Fruit? Turns out, these snacks are really a combination of all three.

As you know, I value my snacks, and these healthy, whole-grain treats are a great way to ward off snack attacks. They look like cookies but they don't taste as sweet — more like a graham cracker than a mouthful of sugar. I tried the cranberry and blueberry biscuits, which are made from a blend of eight whole grains —including oat bran, amaranth flour, and quinoa — mixed with bits of real fruit. To hear what I thought of them,

Food Review: Sunshine Burger

FitSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 09:00:00 -0700

I'm so psyched for BBQs now that the weather is so warm. I always like to keep a box of veggie burgers in the freezer just in case I don't feel like a regular burger, or if we have vegetarian guests over. Now that meat alternatives are so popular, there are so many different kinds to try out, like this Organic Sunshine Burger. Not only are they vegetarian, but they're also vegan, soy free, and gluten free.

Want to see what these burgers really look like and find out how they taste? Then

Food Review: Zevia Soda

FitSugar — Thu, 22 May 2008 03:30:00 -0700

The FDA might consider stevia an "unapproved food additive," but you can find it sweetening the zero calorie diet soda Zevia ($5.99 for a six pack).

Zevia's tag line is "Nature's answer to diet soda." Wait, I thought water was nature's answer to soda? Anyway, I must admit up front that I am not really a big fan of diet soda, but I like the idea of this underdog of a sweetener making its way into the big time with its own line of diet soda. Zevia comes in four flavors: Orange, Cola, Lemon Lime and Ginger Root Beer. Since I don't really drink diet soda, I shared my samples with friends and family who do. They all gave the soda mixed reviews – some thumbs up and some thumbs down – but the case was gone in two days. This is a sure sign that people were drinking it and going back for seconds.

To see what I thought of Zevia, just

Food Review: Whole Soy Yogurt

FitSugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 13:00:00 -0700

If you're watching your cholesterol intake, are lactose intolerant, or are concerned about the connection between milk and acne, then you may be looking for alternatives to the dairy products you love. If you're a fan of yogurt, check out this Whole Soy yogurt. Not only is it free of saturated fat, cholesterol, and lactose, but it's also gluten free. Don't worry — even though it's made with soy instead of milk, it still contains live active cultures, which are so good for your digestive system.

So how does it taste and compare nutritionally to other kinds of yogurt? If you're curious then

Food Review: Sargento Reduced Fat 4 Cheese Italian

FitSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:00:00 -0700

To say I have a passion for cheese would certainly not be an exaggeration. I do, however, try to use low-fat cheese when I can, since it is a great way to save on calories and fat intake. Most reduced-fat dairy products don't have added ingredients to make up for the fact that fat has been removed.

I just tried a reduced-fat cheese by Sargento – 4 Cheese Italian Cheese, a blend of reduced-fat mozzarella, smoked provolone, Romano, and Asiago ($2.99 per 8-oz. package). As a plus, it is shredded for my convenience. Too see what I thought of this cheese and how it compares calorically with similar full-fat cheeses, just

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

Food Review: Nekutli Agave Nectar

FitSugar — Mon, 05 May 2008 09:00:00 -0700

For Cinco de Mayo, I thought it might be nice to celebrate the sweet side of Mexico with agave nectar and remind you all that the agave plant produces more than just tequila.

The nectar of the agave plant is sweeter than sugar with a lower glycemic index rating as well. It has a caloric load similar to cane sugar – about 20 calories per teaspoon; but since it is sweeter you use less, about 40 percent less. It is great for baking (although you do have to balance out your recipe portions a bit since agave is liquid).

My favorite brand of agave nectar is Nekutli ($5 per 8 ounce bottle), meaning "sacred juice of the agave" in Nahuatl, a language of the Aztecs. I love that Nekutli is organic and that it comes in two versions, light and amber, making the nectar versatile for baking and cooking. The light version is pure sweetness and perfect for adding to tea or salad dressing. The amber is more like honey and can be used as a substitute for brown sugar. Check out this recipe for linzer cookies to see how to bake with this wonderful nectar.

Find retailers here.

Food Review: Amy's Santa Fe Enchilada

FitSugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:00:00 -0700

You know I'm a huge fan of the healthy and organic foods made by Amy's Kitchen. The ingredients are like the ones I would use if I had time to cook. Since I love Mexican food, and loved her Cheddar Cheese Burrito, I decided to give her Santa Fe Enchilada bowl a try. It's made with layered corn tortillas, rice, tofu, veggies, Jack cheese, and beans. Does it taste as good as it sounds? To find out

Food Review: Almond Nut-Thins

FitSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:00:00 -0700

I have a friend who can't eat foods that contain gluten, and the other night I was having a little dinner party. I wanted to make sure she could eat the cheese and crackers, too, so I decided to pick up some gluten-free Almond Nut-Thins. I've definitely eaten some not-so-great gluten-free foods in my day, so how did these taste? To find out

Food Review: Hempmilk

FitSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:00:00 -0700

If you're trying to watch your saturated fat and cholesterol intake, then you may be into milk alternatives. Soy milk and rice milk have been around for a while, and when I went to pick some up, I saw a new kind on the shelf. Living Harvest Hempmilk. I was curious to try it since hemp seeds seem to be the latest health buzz because the seeds are high in protein and contain a well-balanced ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. These are the healthy fats our bodies need to sustain heart health, mental acuity, strong immune system, and glowing skin. This Hempmilk is soy free, cholesterol free, vegan, gluten free, and contains no cane sugar.

OK, so this Hempmilk sounds healthy, but to see how it compares to other dairy alternatives and what I think about the taste,

Nature's Path Veri-Berry Oatmeal

FitSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0700

I am a fan of holistic Dr. Andrew Weil and when I saw that he had teamed up with Nature'sPath I was more than a little excited.

While I am normally a steel-cut oats gal, sometimes I don't have the time to invest in cooking that oatmeal. For those rushed mornings the Veri-Berry Hot Oatmeal is a perfect quick breakfast on the go. It is made entirely with organic ingredients (even the thickening agent inulin is organic) and flavored with dried cherries, cranberries, and raspberries.

To see nutritional information and what a bowl truly looks like

Food Review: Snacktrition Nuts

FitSugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Companies have been enhancing common foods for a while now. They add calcium to orange juice, omega-3s to yogurt, and caffeine to energy drinks. I don't have a problem with any of these products, and think they're great for people who want more from their food. Just recently though I saw a newcomer to this word of enhanced foods — Snacktrition Nuts.

I have to admit that when I found out these nuts had fiber added to them, I was a little skeptical. Don't nuts contain fiber already? I guess for some people who don't get enough fiber, these would be great to add to their diet. So how does the fiber content in these nuts compare to regular nuts? To find out