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

Photo Credit: baileysfroyo.com

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.