Potent Potatoes

Photo Credit: www.cookingclassy.com

Yes--the title to this post is a little on the dramatic side. Potatoes are usually an extremely healthy food. Most families have a bag of potatoes in their home at all times. You never know when you'll need to make some kind of potato for a side at dinner! Potatoes aren't hard on your wallet either. They come rather cheaply, and you can make them a plethora of different ways. So, why such a harsh title if I'm praising potatoes this much?

The issue is not the potatoes that you make in the privacy of your home, but the ones that you purchase when you're out to lunch or dinner. Yes, potatoes have many healthy effects, but consider them gone when you're eating out. Instead of a low calorie side, they become a calorie loaded main entree. Restaurants offer potatoes loaded with butter, sour cream, bacon bits, and cheese. A home made potato usually contains less than 100 calories, but these contain upwards of 700 calories! Ouch. That isn't going to settle well with someone trying to watch their calorie intake. It doesn't help that the potatoes used in restaurants probably aren't as fresh as they should be.  That's why all of the additions are thrown on top to get some extra flavor.

Next time you head out to dinner and think about potatoes for a side, think twice. Save your potato craving for a time when you're able to make them at home.

Make sweet choices--in food and in life.

Fro-Yo Factoids

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Health kick! Time to stay away from the real ice cream and switch over to a little bit of frozen yogurt. Good idea? Most people think so! I did agree. Keyword: did. I automatically assumed that frozen yogurt was some miracle that tasted almost better than ice cream and was twice as healthy for you. In some ways it is, and in some ways it isn't. Read on to hear about this extremely common misconception.

Frozen yogurt places have been popping up everywhere recently.  They offer a ton of flavors, and even more delicious toppings.  The positive side to frozen yogurt: there actually are very little calories from fat in it, if any.  The negative side of it: saturated fat is the only difference between frozen yogurt and regular ice cream!  You're still ingesting a ridiculous amount of sugar, and by the time you finish adding all of the toppings you desire, you're probably also ingesting a ton of saturated fat! Not only do the toppings add fat, but they also are the most costly part of the trip. If you're paying by the ounce, it can get pretty pricey pretty quickly. Don't get me wrong, there are healthy ways to go about eating frozen yogurt, but I don't know many people who are aware of them.

Keep it simple with some fat free frozen yogurt and fresh fruit on top.  Take it in proportion, and there will be no issues.

Make sweet choices--in food and in life.

Side Note on Subway

Photo Credit: savingthefamilyhealthy.com

Ahhh, what a delicious place to stop at for your lunch break. Quick service, good taste, and healthy effects---well, definitely two of those three things. We all know and love Subway. Who makes a better sandwich for that price? I know that I can't think of anybody. All in all, it is a great restaurant. They have a good background story, and are known to help people lose weight. There's just a few things that I'd like to point out that may not be in line with the "healthy" aspect.

First of all, whether you believe it or not, Subway does use all processed meats. Now, these aren't the worst processed meats out there, but they are definitely not the best. Obviously, fresh cut meat is going to top Subway's meat any day. Next, when you think about the restaurant in the big picture, it's completely unhealthy. If you make the right choices when you buy from them, yes it is going to keep you on track for your diet. However, it's a sandwich place (carbs), that offers chips (sodium) and cookies (sugar) as your sides, with a fountain full of different sodas (sugar) as your beverage.  If you get all of these things, it's just as bad as some of the other foods we've discussed.

Make sure to check a nutritional guide before going through with the sandwich that you are about to order. If you can, stay away from the processed meats all together.  I know Subway is quick and easy, but keep it in moderation to keep it healthy.

Make sweet choices--in food and in life.

Crazy for Chocolate

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Every once in a while you have to treat yourself to a piece of chocolate. I mean, who doesn't like chocolate? Obviously, in excess it is not good for you, but what you might not know is that some small amounts can even have an effect. White chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate...which satisfies your sweet tooth?

In the past few years, there have been many studies done specifically on dark chocolate. It has been know to actually be somewhat healthy for you, of course in extremely small amounts.  White chocolate and milk chocolate should be chosen as a treat less often, simply because of the amount of sugar that they contain.  The thing is, though, when it comes to any kind of chocolate, the ingredients it contains can actually negatively affect some people. You eat chocolate if you're sad. You eat chocolate as a reward to yourself. That's perfectly fine for most people. However, it has just been found that it can actually interfere with specific medications that people are taking.  Certain anxiety medicines and antidepressant medicines do not react well with chocolate. Combining chocolate with certain medicines can cause a huge spike in blood pressure, and the medicine won't tell you that on the label.

Do you think this could be affecting you? Talk to your doctor, and indulge in small amounts.  It's all about proportioning what you're eating and never going overboard.

Make sweet choices--in food and in life.

Fruit Juice Frenzy

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It is extremely common to have some kind of fruit juice in my house. Whether it's apple juice, grape juice, or simply orange juice. In the past, when I've been asked to pick up juice at the grocery store, I haven't really looked into the kind of juice I was choosing, and I pretty much just picked blindly. If that sounds like what you do, it's time to think again! Fruit juice is definitely a great source of vital nutrients and vitamins, and it's especially yummy for children who may not get as many fruits and veggies as they should.  There's a few small things that make a huge difference in what fruit juice you're drinking.

Next time you're looking to buy some juice, look for a percentage. If it doesn't say 100% fruit juice, put it back! The healthy juices usually display this proudly on the front of the bottle, while the unhealthy juices trickily hide their percentages in small print at the bottom or back.  Some of the most common juice brands are only about 50% real juice! If it isn't 100% juice, there are all kinds of nasty additives in it.  Extra sugar, unnecessary flavoring, etc. are just a few of the worst.  Some fruit juices even have high fructose corn syrup added.

Keep your eyes open at the grocery store and you won't have any issues.  Juice is definitely healthy and necessary, as long as you are buying the right kind.  It's the little things that make the biggest difference.

Make sweet choices--in food and in life. 

Veggie Burger Without the Veggies?

Photo Credit: www.nytimes.com

As soon as I changed my lifestyle and decided to stop eating all of the greasy, fatty foods that I had been in the past, I knew that I needed to find an alternative for a nice, juicy burger. I immediately turned to the veggie burger. I mean come on, it has the word veggie in it, how bad can it be? I'm sure most of you are thinking the exact same way. The answer is that depending on the kind of veggie burger you're eating, it can be very bad for you.

A homemade veggie burger is 100% a solid, healthy meal. A store bought or fast food bought veggie burger...not so much. Fast food chains advertise their veggie burgers to entice healthier guests to make an appearance at their restaurant. Obviously there is a catch to it. These veggie burgers have to be held together with something. That something is oil and butter. The top two things that people stay away from when they're on a diet or have a lifestyle change. Yes, there are really vegetables in them, but the oil and butter just cancel out all of the good things that they do for your body. Your best option is to check the ingredients before fooling yourself and ordering an extremely unhealthy veggie burger. Take some time to cook one yourself, you might be surprised at how good it is!

Make sweet choices--in food and in life. 

Bagels: Bad Choice?

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Bagels are one extremely common food item that is often overlooked when it comes to healthiness. I personally have never heard anybody think about whether or not a bagel is a good decision. When you really look into it, a bagel topped with cream cheese might not be your best bet for your next breakfast. There are a few main reasons why we all should only eat bagels on rare occasion, and I think that you all will agree with me after reading them.

Bagels are pretty much an insane steroid version of white bread.  Every plain bagel has up to six servings of grain in it (50 carbs!). That's enough for a day and a half. Too much grain can cause inflammation and skyrocketing cholesterol. If eating a bagel is a daily routine for you, I suggest a long, long run should also be added to your daily routine.  Yes, even the "everything" bagels and poppy seed bagels can do this to you.  On top of taking over your daily allotment of grains, they also contain an amino acid that is linked to human hair and duck feathers. Of course, it is approved by the FDA, but we've been finding out that it probably isn't okay to consume everything that is approved by the FDA.

It's extremely common these days to buy all carbs in the form of multi-grain or wheat. White bread is processed, wheat and multi-grain bread is not. Stick to a wheat english muffin or a multigrain bagel thin. These have just as much flavor along with none of the harmful side effects!

Make sweet choices--in food and in life.

Starbucks: Sticky Situation

Photo Credit: www.everydayhealthy.com

Starbucks is definitely one of my favorite coffee places of all time (next to Dunkin Donuts of course). There are some things on the menu that have a "light" option making them healthier than normal, which is why I'm definitely not against their products. However, recently the information that I found out about one of their drinks really creeped me out.  When I was younger and would go to the mall with my friends, we always had to have a Starbucks Frappuccino. This was before I would drink any of the coffee items on the menu.  My favorite was always Strawberries and Creme. Looking back after what I now know, I probably would not get this drink again.

How does the Strawberries and Creme Frappuccino get its amazing pink coloring?! Well, that's the gross part. After a little bit of research, I unfortunately found out how the dye is made. The pink dye comes from crushed up cochineal beetles. Wow, delicious, right? Absolutely not. Starbucks has defended their case on this one, saying that it is approved by the FDA and has been used in food and fabric materials for years (which it has). The kicker to this one is that Starbucks is known for their vegan selections, and adding this little critter into the drink definitely makes it not vegan.

If only there was an option to have it made without the dye, I mean they have options for everything else!  I'd take a plain colored drink over one with crushed beetles in it any day. So, next time you go to order, think about whether or not your drink will come over the counter with color added to it.

Make sweet choices--in food and in life.

Information Source: www.cbsnews.com 

"Fruit" Cocktails

Photo Credit: www.walmart.com

Don't be fooled by the word "fruit" in the title. When we see the word "fruit", we always associate it with the word "healthy". However, it doesn't always mean what you're eating is healthy.  More often than not, I was given little cups of fruit cocktails in my school lunches.  Most parents would do anything to get a little bit of fruit in their growing child.  What they don't realize, is that packing these cute little fruit bowls in their child's lunch is putting more than just fruit in their child's body.

Next time you're in the isle at the grocery store that houses all the hundreds of types of fruit cocktails, check out the ingredients label. The first ingredient will most likely be high fructose corn syrup, not fruit. Newsflash! These snacks are a horrible, horrible, nutrition choice that most people are oblivious to.  High fructose corn syrup has numerous harmful effects on the body--especially a growing child's body. Too much of this substance can lead to diabetes, immune system damage, and even premature aging! Fruit is one thing that you definitely want to get all natural, just to make sure you aren't digesting anything in addition to the actual fruit.

Keep your eyes open for this next time you're throwing a quick lunch together. Real fruit is a necessity, high fructose corn syrup and other yucky ingredients are not.

Make sweet choices--in food and in life.

Microwave Popcorn-- Pop Your Own

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Were you enjoying that movie marathon last night with a bag of microwave popcorn? Delicious, right? The answer is yes. Healthy, right? The answer is a definite no.  There have been many studies done on the oh-so-often used microwavable popcorn, and none of them have come back with positive news.

In microwavable popcorn, the actual popcorn itself is perfectly fine and healthy for you to eat.  The harmful part, believe it or not, is the bag that it comes in.  When you think about it, there has to be something in there lining the inside so that it doesn't burn when you are popping your snack.  To keep this short, sweet, and to the point, I have one word for you all. Chemicals, they use chemicals.  Various types of chemicals are used, depending on the brand of popcorn that you buy.  Most of these chemicals are noted by the Environmental Protection Agency that they could be carcinogens. Yuck, and definitely not something that we all want in our bodies. They're still approved by the FDA. Of course, they've been under a lot of pressure lately because of this.

Making your own popcorn is pretty simple to do.  It's rewarding because you won't be taking in unnecessary chemicals, and you know exactly what you're putting into your popcorn. Take the few extra minutes to make a healthy choice!

Make sweet choices--in food and in life.

Canned Soup--Soup-er Problem

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Most likely there's a shelf in your pantry that specifically houses all of your canned items.  Soup, vegetables, tuna, and anything else that's considered a staple canned item.  All of these things are great for a quick meal or a lazy, rainy day, but simple or not, they still can have some negative effects on your body.  As you'll find out, canned soup can become a soup-er problem.

It wasn't until recently that I started to look at the ingredients labels on canned soup.  I was absolutely appalled. So appalled that I decided that I will not eat most of the soups that are currently in my pantry.  The main issue that I now have with canned soups is the amount of sodium that is in them.  That baked potato with cheddar and bacon bits soup that you've been eyeing up for lunch has 790 mg of sodium...in one cup. Yes, it only has 190 calories, but if you're eating the whole can (which is two cups), you're taking in a whopping 1,580 mg of sodium along with 380 calories.  Who knew that much could be packaged into a small metal can?

Take the extra second to check the ingredients label before buying all of that canned soup.  That much sodium isn't good for your heart.  Choose wisely the next time you're looking for a quick meal.

Make sweet choices--in food and in life.

Trail Mix Not Trailing in Calories

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It takes the perfect combination of ingredients to make your mouth water. We all have our favorite kinds of trail mix.  Mine happens to be the one made with m&m's, cashews, and dried berries.  What we most likely aren't aware of is that this perfect combination comes with a price: calories.  The thing is, this is one food that I don't even think to look at the label before indulging.

The prepackaged trail mix we buy isn't just filled with the obvious ingredients (peanuts, dried fruit, candy, etc.), but it is also filled with sugar, salt, and preservatives.  That sweet but tangy flavor has to come from somewhere.  The combination of a large amount of sugar mixed with a large amount of salt is what has most of us coming back for more, without even being aware.

Most trail mixes have a shelf life of up to a year. Preservatives alert! There is only one way to avoid all of the extra ingredients in trail mix: make your own.  Next time you're in the grocery store, look at your favorite trail mix.  Find all of the ingredients sold separately, and mix them yourself! You're looking at a much healthier choice, and a simple alternative. Take initiative and save yourself the unnecessary extra calories.

Make sweet choices--in food and in life.

Doused in Dressing

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A nice, delicious, healthy salad...topped with a half of a bottle of dressing.  Would you like some salad with your dressing? We all think that we're choosing the healthy option by preparing a salad instead of something fried for dinner, but what you put on top of your salad is really what could be the make or break item between harmful and healthy.  It's usually an easy decision because we all have our favorite dressings.  Is your favorite dressing a good choice for your salad?

There are a few main things included in most salad dressings that make it something that we should watch out for.  First of all, the fat content.  I'm really not sure why some salad dressings are made with such high amounts of fat, but these particular dressings can definitely have an effect on your body after consuming them regularly.  Look out for fat free dressings, which have slightly less flavor, but are way more practical to put into your body.

Salad dressings also contain ingredients that can have a physical effect on your body. Granted, it's only if you abuse the use of salad dressings to the max, but still be aware that there can be physical repercussions for overuse.  Vinegar is the main ingredient in most dressings.  This acidic substance can ruin your nice pearly whites. Vinegar is known to decay tooth enamel.  Don't drench your salad, and this issue is easily avoided.

There are healthy substitutions for these unhealthy salad dressings.  Read labels carefully and only use a small amount. Keep your salad healthy!!

Make sweet choices--in food and in life.

Frozen Meals--Not So Cool

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We all stock up on a few different frozen meals to keep in the freezer. You know, "emergency meals". They're easy to put together and can even be taken on the go. Not enough time to make dinner? Frozen meal.  Too lazy to make lunch? Frozen dinner.  They are definitely handy, but they aren't too healthy.  

When companies make these frozen meals, they make them so that they will last for long periods of time.  They don't want your frozen meals expiring just a month after you purchase them.  Because of this, there are lots of preservatives added into frozen meals.  Something has to be done for them to still look appealing after sitting in the freezer for months on end.  Believe it or not, even the "diet" frozen meals have these same preservatives added. Weight Watchers doesn't calculate preservatives into their point system.  Just three points for Weight Watchers, but a body full of preservatives. Counteractive for sure.  

Frozen meals are also very, very high in sodium.  This goes for frozen food in general.  Salt stops bacteria growth and adds flavor to these meals.  Salt flavor doesn't ware off after a week or two, which is why it is used so often in frozen meals.  It wouldn't be a bad thing if each meal didn't have between 600-1000 mg of it. 

There are other options available for quick and easy meals! Stick to the outer edges of the grocery store, and keep your eyes open for simple options.

Make sweet choices--in food and in life.  

Information Source: www.nutrition.about.com 

Banana Chips--Busted!

Photo Credit: www.murrayfamilyfarms.com

I know that banana chips might not be something that you eat everyday, but they're still a pretty popular food item.  Sometimes we might think to grab a few of these as a simple, healthy snack.  Simple, yes. Healthy, not quite.

If you're going to get banana chips from the kitchen, you're better off just picking up a real banana.  Banana chips, believe it or not, are deep fried.  Anything fried instantly takes away the healthy aspect of the food. Unless the label specifies otherwise, all banana chips go through this process.  One serving of banana chips can have up to 10 grams of saturated fat.  We take in that around that much saturated fat in a full meal, so it's extremely unhealthy to take in that much in a snack, not to mention all of the sugar that is added during the process.

In conclusion, always try to stick to the real fruits and vegetables, if possible. It makes no sense to take in all of that extra fat and sugar if you don't have to!

Make sweet choices--in food and in life.

Gatorade or Gator-addict?

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Baseball playoffs, regular season football, and preseason basketball. I guess you could say that it is definitely a big time of year for sports.  All over the sidelines for these sports we see those big orange containers with that oh-so-familiar lightening strike on the side. That only means one thing-- Gatorade! The players (and tons of other people) drink it like its water, but maybe that isn't the best idea.

We've grown up with Gatorade always being the number one sports drink around.  Recently, they've even come up with different series for different times during your workouts.  It seems like a great idea--we're rebuilding our electrolytes by drinking it, right? Well, sort of.  

Gatorade is filled with a ridiculous amount of sugar. There are 34 grams of it in just 20 ounces. We can assume that when you're in an active state, you're probably drinking about double that just to stay hydrated.  This amount of sugar is enough to pull you in over and over again, making you a Gatorade addict.  It might sound hard to believe, but it is very possible.  I'm not talking about a drug addict that shows visible signs of being addicted to heroine or cocaine, but a simple kind of addict that is very common in our society.  It might start with being tired when you don't drink any Gatorade for a day or two, so you drink some.  Then if you don't have it for 24 hours, you get a slight headache, so you up your intake some more without even thinking about it.  Soon, you're hooked and don't even realize it.

The moral of the story here: sports drinks are helpful but definitely hurtful. It is wise to limit yourself from the start, and just stick more to water than anything.  

Make sweet choices--in food and in life. 

Red Meat- More Healthy or Harmful?

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Everyone likes to indulge in a nice juicy burger or delicious, tender steak once in a while, and that is perfectly acceptable.  For me, its the Sirloin Steak dinner at Texas Roadhouse.  Think about where your favorite place is to enjoy these entrees.  If you're thinking that you like them best when you make them yourself at home, you're right on point.

Red meats that are prepared and preserved for later use have carbon monoxide added into them, so that they can keep the same appealing color that they were originally cut with.  Let's be honest, most of us aren't too interested in ingesting carbon monoxide.  The bright side of this, however, is that freshly cut meats don't need the carbon monoxide injection because they're being sold and used right after being cut. For example, your local grocery store is probably a good place to start looking for fresh red meat.  When you visit the butcher at the back of the store, it might be a little more pricey than simply grabbing from the shelves, but it's definitely worth a few extra pennies.

From now on, think about how recently the red meat that you're about to enjoy was cut.  Then, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Make sweet choices--in food and in life.

Jelly Bean Baffle

Yum, jelly beans! Every kid loves them, especially because they can pick out exactly which flavors they want to eat just by looking at the color.  Parents can give them in small portions, and they act as just the right treat (or wrong treat as you'll find out).

When you look at a jelly bean, you see that nice outer coating that keeps them pretty and shiny until they are eaten.  What that outer coating is made of, however, is definitely not pretty.  To say it in a straight forward way, the outer coating of a jelly bean is made of shellac, which is made of beetle poop. Yummy, right?

Here's what happens: Beetles, called lac bugs, poop on tree branches, and the poop forms into a cocoon like tunnel.  Insects get their nutrients from eating away at these tunnels.  Then, experts go in and scrape off the excretion.  It is heated and the pieces of tree and other bugs are extracted from the poop.  It is then dried flat, where it becomes known as shellac, and it is sold in stores.  Don't get me wrong, there are some good uses for shellac (like paint), but it probably isn't something that you would purposely put in your body.

Next time you're at the store and spot those delicious looking jelly beans, think before you splurge and end up having beetle poop as your treat.

Make sweet choices--in food and in life.

Information Source

Margarine--The Butter Copycat

Photo Credit: www.enjoymargarineeveryday.com 

Is your grocery store decision between butter and margarine ever a difficult one? If it is, it won't be for long.  We've got a copycat on the loose, and its name is margarine.  This look-a-like can fool anyone.  Look to your left, even the ants don't want anything to do with margarine! 

Essentially, margarine was created to replace butter. But the "replacement" also added artificial color, artificial flavor, and trans fat. It, unlike real butter, goes through a hydrogenation process, which isn't good for any food to go through (high heat, pressure, and exposure to metals). It adds time to the shelf life and turns essential oils into trans fat.  Even the margarines labeled "trans-fat free" aren't always truthful! Any brand can use this label if there is less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving. Make sure you're reading labels, but you're better off just staying away from this heart disease prone substance.

Make sweet choices--in food and in life.

Ce"real"

Photo Credit: The Huffington Post

I could bet that most of the time, you start off your day with a nice big bowl of cereal and milk.  What you probably didn't know, is that regardless of what you've been told over the years, that probably isn't the smartest way to get your day going.  So, the question: is the cereal you're eating real? The answer? Probably not. But don't get me wrong, it highly depends on what kind you're choosing to indulging in.

As most of you reading this probably already know, cereal has an insanely long shelf life.  Most foods with a shelf life over a year have one thing in common: preservatives.  Two specific preservatives, BHA and BHT (Butylated Hydroxyanisole and Butylated Hydroxytoulene), are the ones that you should be keeping an eye out for.  Yes, their use is still allowed through the FDA, but that could be changing in the near future.  A study was done on pregnant mice to see the effects of these two extremely common preservatives.  Guess what? The offspring of the moms exposed to BHA and BHT were born with brain malfunctions.

The always-appealing cereal isle definitely isn't appealing to your insides. It's better to stick to the cereals that are all natural, and stay away from the ones that have ingredients that you can't pronounce (or spell!).

Make sweet choices--in food and in life.

Sweet Start

Have you ever eaten something that you thought was healthy and decided to look at the ingredients label after it was already settling happily (or not so happily) in your stomach? We usually don't think twice about eating something that we assume is healthy for our bodies.  Well, I'm here to tell you all about the foods that I've found to be more harmful than healthy, more damaging than delicious, and more sour than sweet.  These are foods that we eat in our everyday lives that are perceived to be good for us, but really aren't.  I will be posting every Wednesday and Saturday night at 9 p.m. with a new shocking food that we really should be avoiding.  Stay tuned and stay healthy!