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Posts with tag yogurt

16 ways to make blueberry muffins healthier

Posted: Aug 28th 2008 9:30AM by Debra McDuffee
Filed under: Food and Nutrition, General Health, Healthy Habits, Vegetarian, Healthy Recipes

close up of blueberry muffinThe blueberry muffin: an eternal favorite, bursting with moist flavor, sabotaging diets everywhere. Your love of blueberry muffins doesn't have to translate to bigger hips; you can have your muffin and your slim figure.

The trick is this: adding more nutritious ingredients while cutting out the excess bad fats and calories. In a past post, Jessica has rehabbed blueberry muffins into a pretty decent healthy breakfast treat. Let's take it several steps further.

Add more nutrition
Blueberries are one of the top antioxidants, but you can add more goodies to your muffins to make them even more nutritious:
  • sunflower seeds, which also add a nice crunch, about 1/4 cup
  • lemon peel and/or juice, zest and juice of one lemon
  • whole oats, about 1/2 cup
  • chunks of other fruits, like apple, pear or other berries
  • nuts of your choice, 1/2 cup
  • ground flax seeds, about 1/4 cup

Continue reading 16 ways to make blueberry muffins healthier

The cookie is crumbling -- Fruit is top snack for young children (sort of)

Posted: Aug 13th 2008 9:00AM by Kristen Seymour
Filed under: Food and Nutrition, Healthy Kids

Although childhood obesity is still a problem, there is some good news. According to USA Today, fruit has taken the place of cookies as the number one snack for children under the age of six.

A study conducted by the NPD group compared 14-day food diaries from mothers of young children back in 1987 to diaries recently completed, and found that today's children are less likely to consume carbonated soft drinks, ice cream, candy, cake, and fruit juice than kids the same age did 20 years ago. Additionally, they're more likely to snack on fruit rolls and gummy pieces, yogurt, crackers, granola bars, and bottled water. Whether they're considering sugary items, like fruit rolls and yogurt, as fruit is unclear.

Gallery: Five Most Popular Children's Snacks

#1  Fruit rolls, bars, or pieces#2  Yogurt#3  Crackers#4  Bars

Snacks are more important than some parents might realize -- a quarter of a typical child's calories come from snacks, and the way children snack when they're young can start patterns they'll follow the rest of their lives. Perhaps related to the change in snacking habits is the fact that the number of overweight children and women is holding fairly steady. With just a few more changes (like more fresh fruits and veggies), we can get that number to go down!

Healthy Recipe: Curried pasta and spinach

Posted: Aug 8th 2008 1:30PM by Debra McDuffee
Filed under: Food and Nutrition, Vegetarian, Healthy Recipes

pastaYes, I've heard: white carbs are out, so you can't eat pasta. Well, that's not necessarily true. There are lots of good whole grain pasta options: whole wheat, quinoa, brown rice.

Our fave? Brown rice, as the taste and texture most resemble semolina pasta, especially if you use Trader Joe's brand or Tinkyada. So cook some up and toss with this wonderful recipe of curry sauce, spinach and scallops.

We always use whole fat organic yogurt, so we substituted that for the low fat, and I simply opened up a can of organic diced tomatoes instead of the fresh ones -- how's that for lazy? But healthy, nonetheless!

Continue reading Healthy Recipe: Curried pasta and spinach

Daily Fit Tip: Probiotics ... without the yogurt

Posted: Aug 7th 2008 6:03AM by Martha Edwards
Filed under: Daily Fit Tip

Thanks to TV commercials, you know that yogurt is good for your digestive health because of the probiotics. But did you know that you don't need the yogurt to get the probiotics?

Continue reading Daily Fit Tip: Probiotics ... without the yogurt

16 ways to use sunflower seeds

Posted: Aug 4th 2008 11:00AM by Debra McDuffee
Filed under: Food and Nutrition, Healthy Habits, Vegetarian, Healthy Recipes

sunflower seedsLooking for a way to get more vitamin B, E, and minerals into your diet? Sunflower seeds will do it. Doesn't it beg the question, though: What do you do with sunflower seeds?
  1. Add them to your trail mix, or make your own trail mix with sunflower seeds.
  2. Sprinkle on salads: green salad, broccoli salad, fruit salad.
  3. Stir into soups and stews just before serving.
  4. Bev says to spit sunflower seeds!
  5. Add some crunch to stir-fries.
  6. We put them in blueberry buckwheat pancakes -- yum!
  7. Sprinkle on granola.
  8. Stir into yogurt.
  9. Roasted sunflower seeds are a different flavor -- try them!
  10. Include in dirty rice recipes.
  11. Add to pasta or quinoa salads.
  12. Bake into breads and muffins.
  13. Try this recipe for basmati rice, black-eyed peas and sunflower seeds.
  14. Blend up a sunflower seed spread for crackers or veggies.
  15. Make a two-bean salad with feta and sunflower seeds.
  16. Stuff an apple with peanut butter, raisins and sunflower seeds.
Are there other ways to eat sunflower seeds? You bet, and if you've got a favorite, share it with us!

A Magical Holiday Treat: Papaya, Avocado and Grapefruit Salad

Posted: Jul 3rd 2008 4:29PM by Fitz K.
Filed under: Fitness, Food and Nutrition, General Health, Health in the Media, Healthy Habits, Organic, Vegetarian, Women's Health, Men's Health, Diet and Weight Loss, Healthy Recipes, Celebrities, Healthy Kids, Book Reviews, Healthy Products, Cellulite, Healthy Events

Going to a Fourth of July bash this weekend? Straight from the Delicious Disney, The Disney Chefs with Pam Brandon book I bring you the most yumtastic side salad ever! Want to look like a fancy pants when you walk through the door at that party? This is the way to do it. I've posted the fairly simple recipe for Papaya, Avocado and Grapefruit Salad in my recipe book at Fitzness.com (page 37) for permanent access. Enjoy!

Hot dogs and other healthy summer kid food

Posted: Jun 30th 2008 8:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Food and Nutrition, Healthy Kids

Summer is the perfect time for hot dogs at the family BBQ, big pretzels at the county fair, and cold treats straight from the ice cream truck. Although these foods can be less-than-perfect options for our kids who love them so -- think lots of salt, sugar, and fat -- WedMD says they can be not so bad, really. Check them out.

  • Nachos & Quesadillas
  • Hamburgers & Hot Dogs
  • Ice Cream
  • Frozen Yogurt
  • Waffles and pancakes
  • Marshmallows
  • Popcorn
  • Watermelon

Hot dogs? Healthy? I never thought so. Try light and reduced-fat dogs and you'll be OK, says Sarah Krieger, an American Dietetic Association (ADA) spokeswoman.

Continue reading Hot dogs and other healthy summer kid food

Fitz's Fit Family Disney Vacation: Day 3

Posted: Jun 20th 2008 5:00PM by Fitz K.
Filed under: Emotional Health, Fitness, Food and Nutrition, General Health, Health in the Media, Healthy Habits, Healthy Places, Stress Reduction, Vegetarian, Work/Home Balance, Women's Health, Men's Health, Diet and Weight Loss, Healthy Recipes, Celebrities, Healthy Kids, Cellulite, Obesity, Healthy Events

It's hard to say which day out of the six we spent a few weeks ago at the Walt Disney World Resort was my favorite, but day three really was special. It was jam packed with a variety of super fun activities that were both totally exciting and totally relaxing at the same time. The majority of day three was spent at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, where we were staying. We capped off a superb day with a glamorous evening at The California Grill, one of Disney's Signature Restaurants located on the top floor of The Contemporary Resort.

If you take your family to Disney, I highly recommend strategically placing at least one 'resort day' in the middle of your stay. The theme parks and water parks are amazing, but can be exhausting. Playing at your Disney resort still offers loads of fun, but doesn't drain. In fact, a 'resort day' is the perfect recharge for tired parents needed a break. The pools are wildly creative, the hot tubs....to die for, and the free organized activities are endless. Yes, you heard me right. Most of the Disney resorts offer planned activities for both children and adults.....FREE OF CHARGE! Whooohooooo!

Gallery: Fitz's Fit Family Disney Vacation: Day 3

Scooting to breakfastParker Pooped OutThe Old Port Royal Food CourtFruit & Yogurt

Continue reading Fitz's Fit Family Disney Vacation: Day 3

The nuts and bolts of active cultures

Posted: Jun 11th 2008 4:30PM by Maggie Vink
Filed under: Food and Nutrition

The latest trend in food manufacturing seems to be adding active cultures to dairy foods like yogurt and cheese. You know how it is... you see a celebrity touting "bifidus regularus" in a certain yogurt, and though you've never, ever heard of bifidus regu-what-is, all of a sudden you've got to have it.

So what exactly are active cultures and do they really help? AOL Body clears up the confusion about cultures.

Micro flora that live in our digestive tract are essential for immunity and proper digestion. Yogurt, cheese, and fermented dairy products contain probiotics -- forms of this beneficial bacteria. Many new products are showing up on grocery store shelves claiming their probiotic content. Like most marketable items, the food industry has its trends and this is a current trend. To make sure the product you're considering purchasing actually has additional probiotics, check the label for the probiotic strains and the amounts.

Eat yogurt to stave off periodontal disease

Posted: Jun 3rd 2008 2:30PM by Chris Sparling
Filed under: Food and Nutrition, General Health, Health in the Media, Women's Health, Men's Health, HealthWatch, Healthy Products

Yogurt is a tasty way to help reduce the risk of periodontal disease, says a recent report from the Journal of Periodontology.

According to the study eating as little as a half a cup of yogurt (about 55g) per day is enough to reduce your chances of getting this disease -- a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bones supporting the teeth -- by almost 50 percent, thanks in large part to a probiotic found in most fermented milk products.

Popular health website RealAge.com considers the following brands to be among the healthiest yogurt choices: Dannon Light & Fit (regular, Carb Control, and Creamy), Stonyfield Farm MOOve Over Sugar, and Yoplait Light.

Probiotics are a pro for weight loss surgery patients

Posted: May 23rd 2008 11:00AM by Maggie Vink
Filed under: Alternative Therapies, Vitamins and Supplements, Diet and Weight Loss

container of yogurtA friend of my family underwent gastric bypass surgery. The surgery itself went without a hitch and -- other than the expected soreness -- she felt quite good immediately after the surgery. Within the month following, however, problems started to arise. She knew that eating certain foods -- such as sweets -- would be hard if not impossible after her surgery, but she didn't expect that eating anything would give her trouble. Every time she ate she felt nauseated, weak, and often had diarrhea. She also developed gallstones and had to have gallbladder surgery due to her rapid weight loss.

Now, a few years after her surgery, she is thin. But she is pallid and looks sick. Food has become her enemy because every time she eats, she feels ill. She's achieved her weight goals, but it came at a hefty price -- her better health, her energy, and her emotional health have all been damaged.

While the complications my friend has experienced are risk factors for anyone undergoing gastric bypass, not everyone experiences these problems. Or, at least, not to the severity that my friend has experienced them. But, knowing the digestive issues that can result post-surgery, researchers tested the efficacy of probiotics (the beneficial bacteria found in yogurt) on the digestion of post-gastric bypass surgery patients.

Continue reading Probiotics are a pro for weight loss surgery patients

Fitz's Cool Tools: Dannon Light & Fit 0% Plus Yogurt

Posted: May 8th 2008 2:22PM by Fitz K.
Filed under: Emotional Health, Fitness, Food and Nutrition, General Health, Health in the Media, Healthy Aging, Healthy Habits, Healthy Home, Natural Products, Vegetarian, Vitamins and Supplements, Women's Health, Men's Health, Diet and Weight Loss, Healthy Recipes, Healthy Kids, Healthy Products, Cellulite, Obesity, Healthy Events, Fit Fashion

This week I've been sampling Dannon's Light & Fit 0% Plus Yogurt, and I absolutely love it. Before I go any further though, let me tell you how I feel about yogurt. I like it, but only if I feel like I'm getting a high in calcium, low in sugar, legitimately fruit-filled snack. Now, there is always yogurt stacked up in my fridge, because I have two little children. But, rarely do I even open up a cup for myself. Not that I would ever buy my babies anything "bad"... cause I don't. But I regularly expect perfection of the things I put in my mouth. I'm simply not willing to waste 100 calories on a teeny cup of yogurt. I'd rather have two big pieces of fruit.

So! I was thrilled instantly by the calorie count on Dannon's new Light & Fit 0% Plus Yogurt. Each cup boasts only 50 or 60 calories, depending on the flavor. That I can do! The fruity varieties are also full of real fruit chunks. Fresh and healthy fruit chunks, not the icky stuff dumped in from a can. On top of all that, each flavor has proven to be delicious to both my children and me, and then a few of my personal training clients as well.

Before you go give Dannon's Light & Fit 0% Plus Yogurt a try, I encourage you to do a side-by-side comparison of it's nutritional content versus that of other yogurts. I did this a few days ago and couldn't find anything as good. This is the type of thing you want to put in your fridge if you're trying to lose weight. It's a great fix for your sweet tooth, while providing a decent amount of protein, calcium, vitamin D and other important nutrients.

Continue reading Fitz's Cool Tools: Dannon Light & Fit 0% Plus Yogurt

Daily Fit Tip: Try a fermented food

Posted: May 6th 2008 6:00AM by Bethany Sanders
Filed under: Food and Nutrition, Sustainable Community, Vegetarian, Healthy Recipes, Daily Fit Tip

The word isn't all that appetizing, really -- fermented. It sounds like something that happens to gym socks left in a locker over a long weekend. But fermented foods are packed with beneficial bacteria, known as probiotics, and can be a nutritious addition to a healthy diet.

What exactly are fermented foods? According to this article, they are foods that use microorganisms to convert the carbs in a given food to alcohol or acid. This prevents the food from spoiling, and also gives fermented food a nice tangy flavor. Examples of common fermented foods are:

  • yogurt
  • kefir
  • sauerkraut (non-pasteurized)
  • kimchi

You can easily make your own kefir and yogurt at home, if that interests you. Or you can find these and other fermented foods at your local health food store.

For more tips on what makes a healthy food choice, check out AOL Body's America Takes It Off! and their article on How to Stock a Healthy Refrigerator.

Fitzness Fiend: Alexandra Harris

Posted: Apr 1st 2008 7:24AM by Fitz K.
Filed under: Emotional Health, Fitness, Food and Nutrition, General Health, Healthy Aging, Healthy Habits, Healthy Home, Spirituality and Inspiration, Stress Reduction, Work/Home Balance, Women's Health, Men's Health, Diet and Weight Loss, Celebrities, Healthy Kids, Cellulite, Obesity

Fitzness Fiends is a section devoted to you, the reader! We all have learned so much on our path to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! Fitzness Fiends are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect, some are not. All have health on the mind. Please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

Name: Alexandra Harris

Age: 51

Occupation: Life Coach

How often do you exercise? I eat seven days a week, and I exercise seven days a week!

What type of exercise do you do? Power walking, light weight training (for muscle tone), and yoga (for balance, flexibility, and occasionally turning my organs upside down). I think there's something really healthy about moving your organs around!

Continue reading Fitzness Fiend: Alexandra Harris

Eat yogurt for a healthy smile

Posted: Mar 31st 2008 1:21PM by Chris Sparling
Filed under: Food and Nutrition, General Health, Healthy Habits, HealthWatch, Healthy Kids

Is your smile looking, shall we say, less than healthy these days? If so, regular brushing and flossing may not be enough. That's where yogurt comes in.

Yes, the same yogurt you usually eat as a healthy snack; evidently, yogurt eaters are less likely to suffer from gum disease and tooth loss. According to RealAge.com, researchers speculate that the bacteria in yogurt helps protect teeth and gums by balancing out the bad bacteria in your mouth, similar to the way they do in your digestive system.

In a related story, you can check out which cities were listed as having the worst teeth in America by clicking HERE. Clearly, most of the worst cities on this list didn't hear about this yogurt research!!



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