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Kraft Shredded Cheese Breakdown

FitSugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:00:00 -0800

I'm not going to lie to you — I love cheese. I use it all the time to add a hint of flavor, protein, calcium, and cheesy goodness to my foods. I honestly believe that cheese makes everything better. I also love anything that makes my life easier, so every week, I buy bags of shredded cheese to sprinkle on my salads, soups, sandwiches, pasta, and omelets.

When I walked down the dairy aisle, there's a huge variety of shredded cheeses, and I wondered how they compared nutritionally. So I decided to make this handy chart of Kraft shredded cheeses. For all the 8-ounce packages, the serving sizes varied between either seven, eight, or nine servings per bag. I did some calculations to make it easier to compare them, so all these numbers are based on 1-ounce serving sizes.

Serving Size = 1 ounce	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Saturated Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Protein (g)
Kraft Mild Cheddar	112	9	6.8	25	33.8	1	6.8
Kraft Mild Cheddar Finely Shredded	110	9	6	25	180	1	6

To see the rest

Cheese Fights Cavities?

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Like my claymation pals Wallace and Gromit, I love cheese. With its high concentration of saturated fat, cheese doesn't have a healthy reputation. I just learned a new reason to love cheese — it helps fight cavities.

From its texture to its mineral contents, cheese helps keep your teeth healthy. The texture of cheese actually increases the secretion of saliva, which helps keep cavities at bay. Nutrients found in cheese, like calcium, phosphorous, and protein, actually neutralize plaque. Eating a chunk of cheese after a sugary treat will neutralize the negative effects that sugar has on your teeth. Plus, cheese might also help remineralize tooth enamel, which means stronger teeth. Talk about a winning situation for your mouth, from taste to health.

As a cheese lover, I find this news heartening. What about you?

Source

Cheese Quiz

FitSugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:00:00 -0700

I will easily admit that cheese makes me weak in the knees. I love it, but needed to review why cheese should be savored in moderation and not take center stage at a meal. Take this short quiz to see if you know your health-related cheese facts.

Source

How Much Cheese Is Too Much?

FitSugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:30:00 -0800

I was talking to my grandmother the other day and she asked me what I was making for dinner. When I said, "homemade mac and cheese," she said, "You shouldn't eat cheese. It'll clog your arteries." While she's right that the cholesterol in cheese can be harmful to your heart, that doesn't mean you necessarily have to give it up entirely.

Eating foods high in cholesterol and saturated fats, mainly dairy products, meat, and eggs, can raise the total level of cholesterol in your body, which can lead to heart problems and stroke. When it comes to cholesterol, you want to shoot for:

Total cholesterol level	HDL level (good cholesterol)	LDL level (bad cholesterol)
Less than 200 mg/dL	60 mg/dL or higher	Less than 100 mg/dL

So what does this mean when it comes to your diet (and your cheese consumption)? I'll tell you if you

Cheese Breakdown

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:15:00 -0800

Since you guys enjoyed my fun cheese quiz, I thought that now would be a good time to break it all down. Yes, we all love cheese, so instead of cutting it out of your diet completely use this helpful breakdown to try and stick to the lesser of the evils in the cheese world.

To see a breakdown of 20 popular cheeses, just

Cheese: The Facts and the Fat

FitSugar — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:45:00 -0800

Do you love cheese? I do. I really, really do. So I thought I would bone up on my favorite way to eat dairy. Check out the facts and fat on cheese. Take this short quiz to see if you know your health-related cheese facts.

Source

Annie's Mac and Cheese

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:30:00 -0700

To say I have a weakness for mac and cheese would be an understatement. As a picky eater, I grew up on the stuff along with PB and J. It's a wonderful comfort food, perfect for Sunday evening or when you're feeling under the weather.

I grew up with Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, but now that I can actually read labels, I won't touch the stuff. Enriched macaroni product just doesn't do it for me anymore.

I'm a huge fan of Annie's Shells & Real Aged Cheddar. Her mac and cheese is made with organic semolina pasta shells from durum wheat. Plus it's made with real cheese instead of cheese sauce mix.

Want to see how I make it even healthier? Then

A Breakdown of Tiny Tastes

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 10:15:00 -0700

I'm a huge fan of enhancing my meals with a little somethin' somethin'. A slice of cheese here, a pat of butter there, a smear of peanut butter on that. It's just a little bit, so it can't really affect my diet, right?

Well, if you're trying to lose weight, cutting calories is the way to do it. If you're always adding and sprinkling and smearing extras onto your food, well all those little things could start to add up. I'm not saying you need to ditch the little pleasures of life, like a dollop of mayo, but here's a breakdown so you can add them up for yourself. It's just good to be conscious of what they're worth, instead of just pretending that they don't mean much.

Want to see the random list of common tiny tastes? Then

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

Diet Tip: Eat Protein at Every Meal

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 09:30:00 -0700

So you are trying to change how you eat and looking to lose weight, and one way to keep you on a path of good nutrition and weight loss is to eat protein at every meal.

It is said that protein is more satisfying than carbohydrates or fats, and thus may be the new secret weapon in weight control. Plus, eating enough protein helps preserve muscle mass and encourages fat burning while keeping you feeling full. So be sure to include healthy protein sources, like yogurt, cheese, nuts, beans, or lean meat at meals and snacks.

Do you know how much protein you should be eating daily? This post will help you figure out your needs. Here is a list of protein in foods to help you meet your RDI!

What's the Deal With: Rennet

FitSugar — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 10:15:00 -0700

Have you seen "rennet" listed as an ingredient on the package of your favorite cheese. I thought there were different forms of rennet, but wasn't exactly sure, so I did some research.

Rennet is a natural complex of enzymes produced in the stomach of mammals to help digest it's mother's milk. Inside the young animal's stomach, the rennet coagulates the milk, causing it to separate into curds and whey.

In the cheese-making process, rennet is added to the ingredients to do the same thing. The curds are separated from the liquid (whey), and it's then processed and matured to produce a wide variety of cheeses.

The rennet you find in cheese can come from 3 sources: the stomachs of calves (it's extracted after they are killed for veal), from plants, or from microbes (molds or fungus).

The word "enzymes" may also be listed in the ingredients instead of "rennet." Cabot cheese does this and when I called, I found out they use microbial enzymes (not from animals).

Fit's Tips: Just because "rennet" is listed in the ingredients, does NOT mean it comes from calves. Likewise, just because it says "enzymes," does NOT mean it comes from plants or microbes. If you are concerned with the type of enzymes found in your cheese, it's best to call the company to find out the source.

Source

Weight Loss Tips for Vegetarians

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 09:30:00 -0700

Contrary to popular belief, just being a vegetarian does not mean you're automatically going to be skinny -- Far from it actually. In fact, some vegetarians smother their food with cheese, which happens to be a big ticket item when it comes to calories.

To give those vegetarians an edge on weight loss, CalorieLab.com has come up with a few great tips on eating without the meat and the extra pounds:

Embrace tofu. A longtime vegetarian staple, tofu makes a great low-calorie alternative to meat. Try Nasoya Lite Tofu for even more calorie savings. Each 3-ounce serving contains 7 grams of protein and 1.5 grams of fat, all for a mere 40 calories. Add it to stir-fry, wrap it up in a tortilla with some veggies, or mix it with pasta and marinara.
Make a meal of veggies. All-vegetable meals don’t have to be rabbit food — there’s so much more than celery and carrot sticks. Ratatouille, a French dish of stewed vegetables, makes eating your veggies anything but boring. Chop up some fresh tomatoes, garlic, onions, zucchini, or whatever vegetables you have on hand. Fresh not available? Canned can be just as good, and the myriad frozen vegetable blends available make the possibilities endless. Other meal options include easy pasta primavera or supermarket vegetable sushi.

There are three more great calorie cutting ideas, so just

Milk, Mucus and You: The Congestion Connection

FitSugar — Thu, 31 May 2007 08:45:00 -0700

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, and your symptoms involve nasal and sinus congestion 24-7, you may want to take a look at the dairy in your diet.

Dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream may be making your allergy symptoms worse. Casein, the naturally occurring protein in dairy products, can promote the formation of mucus. It can also make existing mucus thicker in your nose and sinuses, leaving you completely congested. It may also cause a runny nose or the ever annoying post nasal drip.

Of course, conventional doctors may not agree with the notion that dairy promotes mucus (there's no scientific evidence, but maybe because there have been no studies - I don't know), but many people swear that ditching dairy has cured their sinus problems. So if you are curious, you'll have to test the theory yourself. Try eliminating all things dairy for at least 1 to 2 weeks and see how you feel. It's made a world of difference for me, my nose and my sinuses, so I definitely think it's worth a shot.

Here's a cool tidbit of info - casein is also used to make adhesives, like glue, beer bottle labels and wood glue used in furniture. Think about it - if casein can make two objects stick together, imagine what it can do to your sinuses.

Fit's Tips: To help relieve congestion in your nose and sinuses, try using a neti pot. Not only does it get rid of mucus, but it helps to flush dust and allergens out of your nose that can make you stuffy in the first place.

Source

Domino's Pizza Quiz

FitSugar — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 03:30:00 -0700

Everyone loves to have a pizza delivered - it's easy, fast, and sometimes tasty. The problem is, just like eating out, what you order doesn't come with nutritional information.

Horizon Organic: Amazing Dairy Products

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 08:45:00 -0700

I always see Horizon Organic products when I go shopping. Their motto is "Good from the beginning," which just about sums up their mission. They use environmentally beneficial practices, promote the livelihood of family farms, treat their animals with compassion, and provide healthy products.

I am a huge fan for what Horizon Organic stands for. They work with, educate, and support hundreds of family farms which supply 80% of their milk. All the farms are organic, which means they use farming methods that respect the earth and nurture their animals.

They use sustainable farming techniques like crop rotation and composting to ensure their soil's fertility. To control pests, they don't use harmful chemicals like most farms, but rather non-toxic materials like vegetable oil. Their cows are fed 100% organic feed and graze on pesticide free land. You won't find any growth hormones or antibiotics in their cows.

Horizon Organic makes everything from cheese, to butter, to yogurt, to milk and cream, to cottage cheese, and even smoothies. As you all know, dairy products are a great source of protein and calcium.

Fit's Tips: Look for Horizon Organic dairy products at your local grocery store. You can feel good about getting food that's good for you from a company who cares.

Protein in Foods

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 17:15:00 -0700

OK, so I'm sure by now, we all know how much protein we need each day. Most women over the age of 19 need 40-60 grams depending on their weight and activity level (check this protein post to find out how much protein you should be getting).

So, how do we get the protein we need? Here's a list of some foods and how much protein is in each. Add up the amount of protein you eat in a day to figure out if you're getting enough, or if you need to add more.

Food	Protein in Grams
1 cup oatmeal	6
1 cup cereal (corn flakes)	2
1 cup cereal (Cheerios)	3
1 cup cereal (Kashi Go Lean)	14
1 bagel	9
2 slices whole wheat bread	5
1 cup milk	8
1 cup soy milk	6-10
6 oz yogurt	7
6 oz soy yogurt	6
1 cup lowfat cottage cheese	28
1 oz soft cheese (mozzarella, brie, camembert)	6 per oz
1 oz medium cheese (cheddar, swiss)	7-8 per oz
1 oz hard cheese (parmesan)	10 per oz

Want to see the rest? Then

Dunkin' Donuts Breakdown

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 13:06:22 -0700

Okay, okay, we all know that Dunkin' Donuts is not the healthiest place in the world. Besides donuts, they do offer other choices. Let's take a peek and see how they measure up.

Food	Calories	Fat in grams	Cholesterol	Sodium in milligrams	Carbs in grams	Protein in grams
Plain bagel	320	2.5	0	650	62	12
Everything bagel	370	6	0	650	67	14
Multigrain bagel	380	6	0	650	68	14
Cinnamon Raisin bagel	330	3	0	430	65	10
2 oz Plain Cream Cheese	190	17	55	190	4	4
2 oz Garden Vegetable Cream Cheese	170	15	45	340	4	2
2 oz Lite Cream Cheese	120	9	30	280	5	4
Banana Walnut Muffin	540	25	65	520	69	10
Honey Bran Raisin Muffin	480	15	60	480	79	8
Cranberry Orange Muffin	440	17	65	480	66	8
Blueberry Muffin	470	17	60	500	73	8
Reduced Fat Blueberry Muffin	400	5	60	490	78	8

Well that wasn't so bad. Wait until we get to the breakfast sandwiches. You may go into cardiac arrest just reading this. Want to see? Then

How Much Calcium is in That?

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 13:30:00 -0700

The RDA of calcium for women over 19 years old is about 1,000 mg a day.

So do you get enough? In order to answer that question, you need to know how much calcium is in the foods you eat.

Dairy products are a great source of calcium, but they're not the only source. Here's a list so you can figure out just how much calcium you get in a day.

If you find that you aren't getting nearly enough, try to add some high-calcium foods into your diet. You can also think about taking calcium supplements.

Food	Amount of Calcium in milligrams (mg)
1 cup of milk	300
6 oz of yogurt	350
1 oz hard cheese (cheddar)	240
2 slices processed cheese	265
1/4 cup cottage cheese	120
1/2 cup soft serve frozen yogurt	100
1/2 cup ice cream	85
1/2 cup tofu	258
1/2 cup pinto beans or chick peas	40
1/4 cup almonds	95
1 Tbsp almond butter	43

Want to see what other foods contain calcium? Then

Cheesy Nutritional Yeast

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 02:00:00 -0700

You either love it or hate it. Nutritional yeast has a very yellowish color, vegans who often miss the taste of cheese often add it to food. Which is smart since the meatless dairyless vegan diet can be low in B12 and nutritional yeast is a great source for that vitamin.

You can find it in most health food stores, sold in shaker containers, or in bulk. Some brands, like Red Star make special formulas to support the dietary needs of vegans and vegetarians.

It's an inactive food yeast grown on a molasses solution, and comes in powder or flake form. It's not to be confused with brewer's yeast, which is an active yeast used to make beer.

What do you do with it? Sprinkle some on popcorn, pasta, baked potatoes, salad, steamed veggies, or bread to add a little flavor. You can also add it to dishes like stir fries, soups, gravy, or pasta sauce. Vegans also make a sauce with it to make a mock macaroni and cheese.

Fit's Tips: Looking for unique ways to use nutritional yeast? Check out The Nutritional Yeast Cookbook available through Amazon for $9.95.

How Much Protein Do I Need in a Day?

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 10:15:00 -0800

How much protein are we supposed to get each day? It's not an exact number. It depends on how old you are and how much you weigh. If you are over 19 years old, for every pound you weigh, you need to eat .36g of protein (for every kg you weigh, you need to eat .8g of protein). See the chart below to see what the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) is for women.

Weight	Protein per day
100 lbs (45 kg)	36g
105 lbs (47.25 kg)	37.8g
110 lbs (49.5 kg)	39.6g
115 lbs (51.75 kg)	41.4g
120 lbs (54 kg)	43.2g
125 lbs (56.25 kg)	45g
130 lbs (58.5 kg)	46.8g
135 lbs (60.75 kg)	48.6g
140 lbs (63 kg)	50.4g

If you want to know how much protein you need for your specific weight, just multiply your weight in pounds by .36, or your weight in kg by .8.

Fit's Tips: If you are an extremely active person, and are hard-core exercising daily, on a competitive sport team, or are in training, your protein needs will be higher. You'll need .45 - .54g of protein per pound you weigh (1 - 1.2g per kg). Also, the RDA of protein increases by 30 grams if you are pregnant, and 20 grams if you are nursing.

Annatto: It's in My Food, But What is it?

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:13:00 -0800

Since I am a major health nut, I always read labels before I buy food. I often see the ingredient Annatto listed on packages, so what is it?

It's a natural food coloring made from the ground up seed pods of - surprise, surprise - the annatto tree, which grows in Central and South America. It is also called the Achiote tree. After this tree flowers, it produces hairy pods that turn blackish-brown when ripe.

Annatto adds color to cheese, butter, margarine, rice, smoked fish, and microwave popcorn. It is often used as a substitute for the expensive herb saffron.

It also has antioxidants. I guess that doesn't really matter since you only ingest a small amount, but hey, it's better than nothing.

Well now I feel much better knowing Annatto really is an all natural food coloring. Much better than Red 40.

Got Pimples?

FitSugar — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 02:00:00 -0800

Dermatologists found a link between acne and high levels of iodine, which is found in foods such as shellfish. High levels of iodine are also found in dairy products, because the cows are fed iodine-enriched feed to prevent infection.

When iodine enters the body and mixes into your bloodstream, the excess is secreted through the oil glands, irritating your pores. So drinking milk could be aggravating your skin.

But you don't have to give up your love of milk, butter, or cheese. Just switch to an Organic version that contains less iodine.

Fit's Tip: If you love sushi, be aware that the nori wrap contains huge amounts of iodine - 1,020 parts per million as compared to 26 in butter.

Taco Hell Continued

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 12:00:00 -0800

Just as I thought the Taco Bell Hell was coming to a hault, new reports are claiming that the E. coli contamination was not found in the green onions, as originally suspected, but possibly in the lettuce. While findings are not final, they are also looking at the cheese and ground beef.

While the lettuce is served in approximately 70 percent of all Taco Bell menu items, thought is that they should probably just focus on everything at this point.

White onions were also suspect at one point and health officials found the produce was contaminated with E. coli, but the strain was not the same as the one identified in the wider outbreak. Gross.

Interestingly enough, officials are still saying that the Taco Bell outbreak does not have anything to do with the Taco John E. coli outbreak.

As of Wednesday evening, the Center for Disease Control had reported 71 confirmed cases of E. coli infection in five states. New Jersey had 33 confirmed cases; New York had 22; Pennsylvania had 13, Delaware had two, and South Carolina had one.

Moral of the story? Stay away from taco joints right now.