Sad but true! 5 foods to avoid

Hi Everyone!


I recently received an email with this excellent list of unfortunate foods to avoid from a great health coach and personal trainer in the Bay Area Brien Shamp. He works closely with a group called Prograde which is the original source for this information.

Brien Shamp is a great resource for health information and how to improve your own life both physically and mentally. He is on Facebook and has videos on Youtube. You can also check out his many websites for more information. Maybe he can help you lose weight or train for a race or just help you feel more balanced!

www.BrienShamp.com
www.Shamp'sBootCamps.com
www.10 DayDetox.com
www.21DayDetox.com

And finally...... The 5 foods to avoid!

Thanks for reading my blog!
That's my take :)




5 Foods You Must Avoid


By Kevin DiDonato MS, CSCS, CES
 
 
Buying local, fresh foods from Farmers' markets, organic farms, or from your local grocer can go a long way for your budget and your health.  However, not everyone can benefit or wants to shop healthy.  Here are the top five foods to avoid or minimize in your diet for a longer, healthier life and a leaner waistline.
 
 
Food #1 Low-fat Foods

Food labeling can be very deceptive when it comes to food geared for weight loss.  Low-fat foods are one of the products to be careful about.  Just because the food says "low fat," does not mean the food is low calorie.  Be sure to check the label and see how many calories are typically in the product.  Most people associate low-fat foods with lower calories, so they tend to eat more.  Do not be fooled by this deceptive labeling technique.
 
Food #2 Sugar-Free Foods
 
Sugar-free foods are geared to people with diabetes or at risk for developing diabetes.  Sugar-free foods have low calories and no sugar. 

However, look at the label under sugars, and you will see something interesting.  Sugar-free foods tend to have sugar alcohols, which is an ingredient designed to give it sweetness.  Most of the time, sugar alcohol is made from sugar products, which can lead to increased calories.  Sugar alcohols carry between 1.5 and 4 calories per gram.  Not only do you get extra calories, but you also can get cramping, bloating, and other gastrointestinal problems if you ingest too much.  
 
Food #3  Commercial Smoothies

Normally, smoothies are associated with healthy eating.  They have skim milk, fruit, and yogurt, so they are considered a great, healthy food.  Some commercial smoothies, however, have many hidden calories from extra sugar.  Some smoothies are also made with ice cream, so you end up ballooning sugar, fat, and calorie content.  Most of the time, the fruit in smoothies is blended up into fruit juice, or fruit juice is added.   This eliminates the fiber that is found in the skin of most fruits.  My advice:  Make your smoothies at home, and leave the commercial smoothies on the shelf.
    
Food #4 Commercial Yogurts

Yogurt, again, has been considered a natural health product containing calcium, probiotics, and other products that have been shown to be beneficial to our health.  Look at the label again, and you might see something surprising.   When looking at the label, some of the first few ingredients in yogurt are different forms of sugar.  All this extra sugar can lead to weight gain and stubborn, hard-to-lose body fat.  So again, read the label and see exactly what is in the product before you choose the yogurt of choice. 
 
Food #5 Sugary energy drinks including items with added vitamins and minerals
 
Energy drinks have been advertised as giving you that extra pick-me-up during the day, and a way to increase the intensity of your workouts.  Energy drinks can contain high amounts of caffeine and sugar, which gives you that initial pick-me-up, but you end up crashing hard later.  Also, some drinks that have added vitamins and minerals, can have loads of sugar as well.  So stop and think before you drink and choose something lower in calories and sugar, maybe something like coffee or tea.

Amazing Homemade Popsicle Recipes!!!!

Greetings! It has been a long time since I last posted. Thank you for checking out my blog while I was away.
I noticed that many of you read a post I did in June about Popsicles. The weather out here in California has been confusing with only short bursts of sunshine and heat where Popsicles would have been a great treat. So.....
I found this great site through Google where they provide many yummy healthy homemade Popsicle recipes. Check out the link below for more details... :)
 http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/50-amazing-homemade-popsicle-recipes-ideas/

 And thank you for following my blog!
 That's my take :)

Amazing Homemade Popsicle Recipes

(and other ideas about good stuff to freeze)

1) Apricot – Mix 2 cups organic apricot juice with 1/2 cup organic soy milk (or organic skim milk) and freeze.

2) Pomegranate Apple Pops (shown above) – via the Pops! Icy Treats for Everyone website – visit to see many other amazing ideas.
3) Homemade chai tea pops.
4) Creamy root beer popsicles. Note you can make basic root beer pops too, but it’ll fizz too much and create a weird airy pop if you just open a can, pour and freeze. Instead, open a can of root beer, let it sit in the fridge for a day til flat. Then pour into molds and freeze.
5) A tablespoon of organic raspberry or blackberry jam mixed with water or milk or juice to thin it out. This is nice for that last bit of jam in the jar.

6) Lavender sorbet or try a milk & honey lavender sorbet mix.
7) Pineapple and carrot juice with some actual pineapple bits.
8 ) Honeyed Peach and Blueberry Pops
9) Plain old carrot juice – or add in some wheatgrass juice if you grow some. Or if you want it more smoothie textured, see a great carrot smoothie recipe.
10) Smashed strawberries and blueberries – this works better with fresh berries; simply mash them up in a bowl, smoosh into molds, freeze.
11) Rocky Road Fudge Pops.
12) Green smoothie pop – puree 1 1/2 cups plain almond milk, organic skim milk, soy milk, or so on (any old milk you like) with 1/2 cups packed baby spinach with the stems removed and 1 1/2 cups frozen or fresh cherries or mixed berries. Make sure it’s blended well, pour into molds, freeze.
13) Lemon raspberry yogurt pops.
14) White peach and flower smoothie – pretty colors shine in this ice pop mixture.

15) Organic pregnancy pop – Brew up some strong organic ginger tea. Mix in some honey (just a bit) and freeze. Ginger pops not only taste great but ginger helps fight morning sickness as well.
16) Apricot Mango – one of Cedar’s favorite juice flavors and it also makes excellent pops.
17) Homemade organic lemonade or limeade.
18) “Glitter” pops – My son Cedar likes these these. Sadly, they take some time so I don’t make them often, but they’re fun. Sprinkle colored sugar into your mold. Fill the mold half way with water. Freeze a while. Sprinkle more colored sugar in. Add more water. Freeze. I can’t figure out how to simply mix the sugar in because it’ll melt and or sink to the bottom. These pops look more glittery if you make them with yogurt – the sugar doesn’t dissolve much in yogurt. Cedar loves ice though. So… we make them with water.
19) Dandelion smoothie pop.
20) Blueberry and Vanilla Parfait Pops.
21) Maraschino-lemonade pops.
22) Organic applesauce – sometimes thick applesauce needs to be mixed with a little water or it freezes funny.

23) Coffee pops – I’m a coffee freak so plain old coffee with lots of cream and sugar, frozen up in molds is fine with me. However, if you want to get super fancy you can add some organic chocolate syrup or even try a homemade Frappuccino recipe then freeze it.
24) Organic fudge pops.
25) Tangerine juice – tangerine lime is really good too.
26) Red beans and coconut.
27) Blend 6 oz fresh raspberries, 1 1/2 cup plain or vanilla organic yogurt, 3/4 cup water and mint (either a handful of fresh mint leaves, or 2 tsp mint syrup) together well and freeze.
28) Blackberry ice cream for push pop style treats.
29) Swirled pudding pops – grab any two flavors of pudding you like, pour into mold, then swirl the pudding flavors together with a knife before freezing. Need an homemade organic chocolate pudding recipe?
30) Strawberry orange juice jello pops – not vegan.
31) Honeydew lime.
32) Fresh pureed peaches, a tablespoon of honey, and whole small wild blueberries. Mix & freeze.
33) Rose and Champagne Sorbet – I have not made this recipe as pops, so I’m not sure how they’d turn out, but if they did work out I think it’s an awesome idea for a green summer wedding. I’m considering trying it with a cheap champagne first to see if the taste comes through. This one is not so kid-friendly obviously.
34) Brew strong green tea, mix in honey, some sugar and freeze.

35) Tomato and Avocado Popsicles (shown above) – a savory ice pop with layers that are too much work for the everyday ice pop lover, but these would make a fab and unique summer party treat.
36) Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie Pops.
37) Mashed bananas, a dash of milk, peanut butter, and chocolate sauce – (mix smooth & freeze).
38) Mango Kulfi.
39) Jello pops with fruit bits. I used to think there was some big secret to making jello pops. There’s not. You make the jello and add some fruit (I like chopped cherries) then you pour it into molds. I think the texture is a little funny but Cedar likes them. If you’re vegan or just don’t want commercial gelatin, you can find vegan jello-type products at most natural grocers.
40) Pureed watermelon mixed with white grape juice.

41) Pink grapefruit, vanilla ice cream & mint pop.
42) Sweet potato pops – cook, mash, mix smooth (adding some soy milk or apple juice to thin it out), sprinkle in a little nutmeg, freeze. These are really strange but good – no joke. I actually found this by accident. I used to make homemade baby food when Cedar was little and he loved sweet potatoes so I’d make a bunch of sweet potato puree at a time and freeze it. One day I had my frozen baby food cubes out and he grabbed one and started licking it. Weird, but, oh well. It’s a healthy pop.
43) Banana & pomegranate
44) Chamomile sun tea pops – just like it sounds. Make sun tea & freeze. I love lemon ice sun tea pops too but I add sugar or honey to mine.
45) Apple cranberry smoothie pops.
46) PLAIN WATER – plain water is way fun to freeze. Every kid I know likes plain ice pops and water is important, we need lots of it to stay healthy. Also, if you’re having a summer picnic, you can make plain water pops with beautiful tiny edible flowers, flower petals, small whole berries, or whole herb leaves in them. Stick them in a bucket of cubed ice to serve and everyone will think you’re some sort of Martha Stewart genius. I’m serious. Make some. People will fawn over you… for freezing water. Go figure.
47) Flavor infused water pops – better than plain water in my opinion. Grab a large mason jar, or regular old juice pitcher. Fill it with H2O, add sliced citrus fruit (one whole fruit should do it), and let it sit in your fridge for a day. Pour into molds, freeze.
48) Fruity creamy swirly yogurt pops.
49) Plum, melon, spinach & celery pops – 2 plums, 2.5 cups of pureed watermelon, 2 cups fresh baby spinach, 2 celery stalk, and about one cup water or light flavored juice. Blend all the produce (not including liquid) to death. Add in enough liquid to get a thick smoothie-like texture, pour into molds, freeze.

50) Herbal pops – Herbal pops are amazing and if you do your research first you can make them with medicinal qualities which is excellent for sick kids (or you). You can use lavender, thyme, basil, and more – really any herb. You’d be surprised at some of the tasty ice pops herbs make. IF you’re nervous try a sample first by making herbal ice cubes. Then you have less waste than whole pops.

To make a basic herbal ice pop mix you can make herbal tea by boiling herbs in a few cups of water for a good long while on your stove and use the liquid for your pops. Or try the alternative sugar method below.
The sugar method -  pound herbs down with a pestle and mortar (or food processor). Add an ounce of super fine sugar and pound to make a paste. Next, boil a liter of water with about 2 ounces of super fine sugar for five minutes. Add the juice of two lemons or not – this step depends on what you’re trying to create. You can add orange juice, lime, etc. You could even just add more water or some saved tea. Mix the herb mixture and the water mixture together. Stir well with a whisk. Cool down before filling your molds.

I know... too many ideas for your next Popsicle adventure but most seem very easy to make. So skip dessert the next time you are out for dinner and come home to something healthy and tasty in your own freezer.

side note - the bolded ones are the ones I have tried and they were YUMMY!

Thanks again to http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/50-amazing-homemade-popsicle-recipes-ideas/ for their great list of ideas from many many sources and for the tasty pictures too....

The Bikini Diet that will kick start your summer!



www.aperfectworld.org/seasons.html



Hi Everyone,

Finally Summer is here and the sun is out! A summer goal for many women is to look great in a bikini (or in whatever you consider your favorite summer attire). For me summer attire means Capri shorts and light t-shirts. In an effort to help everyone look and feel great this summer, I found this great food guideline written by nutritionist Joy Bauer on TODAY Health at http://today.msnbc.msn.com/. I think this could be an easy way to lose weight, get healthy and feel better. Are you up for the challenge?

THE 90/10 PLAN

This plan is based on a 90/10 food strategy: 90 percent healthy foods and 10 percent fun foods. All daily menus have been calculated at approximately 1,400 to 1,600 calories. You can use the following food guidelines to help you.

90 percent healthy

• One serving of high-quality starch with each meal (or three total servings for the day.) One serving = 1 slice whole wheat bread (or, two slices reduced calorie bread), 1/2-cup cooked brown rice or whole wheat pasta, 1 small whole wheat pita bread (70 calories), 1/2 large whole wheat pita bread, 1/2 medium white baked or sweet potato, 3/4-cup whole grain breakfast cereal (120 calories or less), 1/2 cup dry plain oatmeal, 1/2 whole grain English muffin, 1/2 cup peas, corn, starchy beans (for example kidney beans or chickpeas), or acorn or butternut squash.
• Two daily servings of fresh fruit. (They can be eaten with meals or snacks.)
  One serving = 1 medium piece of fruit, 1 small banana, 1/2 mango, 1/2 papaya, 1 cup berries, or fruit salad.
• Unlimited vegetables throughout the day. One serving = 1 cup raw or 1/2-cup cooked. Try to count peas, corn, and potatoes as starch. (See above.)
• Lean protein with each meal. Appropriate portions are 3 to 5 ounces of lean meat, chicken, fish or tofu; or 1 cup skim milk, non-fat yogurt or 1 percent reduced-fat cottage cheese; or 1 to 2 ounces of nonfat or low-fat sliced cheese; or 1 whole egg plus two egg whites.
• Limit the fats. They should be limited at each meal to the following: 1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil, or 1 tablespoon regular salad dressing, or 2 to 4 tablespoons low-calorie salad dressing, or 1 to 2 tablespoons nuts, or 1 tablespoon peanut butter, or 1 tablespoon healthy spread (light cream cheese, soft-tub, trans-fat-free margarine, guacamole, or reduced fat mayonnaise).

10 percent fun

10 fun foods
1 ounce dark chocolate
½ cup fat-free pudding
½ cup low-fat ice cream, frozen yogurt, or sorbet
1 low-fat ice cream pop (less than 150 calories)
7 cups of light popcorn
1 ounce baked chips
1 ounce pretzels
4 licorice sticks
1 cup natural applesauce
1 small bag of soy crisps
10 strawberries with 2 tablespoons reduced-fat whipped topping
1 baked apple with 1 teaspoon sugar and cinnamon
1 frozen banana

Give it a try and see if it can help you! Thanks to TODAY Health for the above information. Please go to their link for more details regarding healthy foods and healthy living.

Happy Summer Everyone! 
That's my take :)

Was it warm enough today for Popsicles? I think so!

Hi Everyone,

The nice weather today got me thinking about one of my favorite summer things: Popsicles! My favorites growing up included Missile Pops, Rocket Pops and Push-Up Pops. Unfortunately, all 3 have quite a bit of sugar and food coloring. Don't worry, there are healthy versions, too. So, first a fun fact about the beloved Popsicle, and then healthy ways to still enjoy them. :)



http://bit.ly/lr3V3R



POPSICLES

The Fact: The Popsicle was invented by an 11 year old who kept it secret for 18 years.

The inventor was Frank Epperson who, in 1905, left a mixture of powdered soda and water out on the porch, which contained a stir stick. That night, temperatures in San Francisco reached record lows. When he woke the next morning, he discovered that it had frozen to the stir stick, creating a fruit flavored ice treat that he named the epsicle. 18 years later he patented it and called it the Popsicle.

A great way to both enjoy Popsicles and be healthy is to make them yourselves. Yes, that's right - Homemade Popsicles! You can add your favorite fruit and juices/milk and you can have tasty original Popsicles.

My favorites:

• Cold coffee with vanilla soy milk
• Mango Orange juice with raspberries
• Pineapple juice with finely chopped strawberries

You can find Popsicle molds on Amazon.com and at local stores such as Crate&Barrel, Target and William Sonoma.

If you come up with great flavors, let me know. I am excited to try new concoctions.
Thanks for reading my blog!

That's my take :)

The fun fact about Popsicles is courtesy of  http://listverse.com/2007/12/17/top-10-incredible-food-facts/

Healthy Movie Snack Options - you won't miss the Large Popcorn at all!

Happy June Everyone,

Thank you for checking out my blog. I have passed my first 1000 hits and then some!

In an earlier blog post we found out how bad movie theater popcorn really is for your health. Today's post will make you smile again.

Below is a great article from Tanya Zuckerbrot (FoxNews) about healthy options for the next time you go to the movies :) So don't be sad because these options are better for your health and your wallet.

That's my take :)

 

Healthy Movie Theater Snacks

By Tanya Zuckerbrot

| FoxNews.co

Most likely, the last time you went to the movies, you bought something from the concession stand. You thought you were doing the right thing, opting for small popcorn rather than getting lured by the special for a large popcorn and large soda. You may have felt righteous ordering the small popcorn without the butter or a bag of fat-free Twizzlers. Despite your best intentions, these seemingly harmless movie theater snacks can still be sabotaging your best efforts to eat well.

Here's the low-down on your favorite movie theater treats and tips on how to make an evening at the movies more diet friendly.

Tanya's Tips_

http://tinyurl.com/5r6pyew

1) Pop your own. Your best bet is to make your own popcorn at home and bring it to the movies with you. Stick it in your purse or under a jacket and they won't even know you're bringing in outside food. Microwave popcorn such as Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop mini bags or Jolly Time Healthy Pop minis are about 100 calories for the entire bag, 2 grams of fat and 5 grams of fiber. That is a savings of almost 400 calories from getting a small bag of movie theater popcorn.



http://tinyurl.com/5vy98h7



2) Bring along other healthy snacks. If popcorn isn't your thing, there are plenty of other healthy snacks that are great to munch on at the movies. Make your own trail mix with nuts, dried fruit and high-fiber cereal or bring along some grapes and cut up apples if you want a bit of crunch. Fruits will satisfy a sweet tooth without adding all the calories in gummy bears or Starbursts.

Popcorn:

Calories	Fat (g)	Sat. Fat(g)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)
Popcorn, buttered, small (5 cups)	470	35	20	43	7.5
Popcorn, buttered, medium (11 cups)	900	50	30	87	15
Popcorn, buttered, large (20 cups)	1,640	126	73	159	28
*Popcorn, microwave (Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop mini bags (6 cups)	90	2	0	24	4

Candy:

Calories	Fat (g)	Sat. Fat(g)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)
Twizzlers (6 oz)	600	4	0	136	0
Reeses Pieces (8 oz)	1200	60	35	138	6
Junior Mints ( 3 oz)	362	6.5	5	75	1
Skittles (6.75 oz)	776	9	7	166.5	0
M&Ms Plain (5.3 oz)	753	31.5	18.8	105	3
M&Ms Peanut (5.3 oz)	762	40	15	91.5	6
Raisinets (3.5 oz)	380	16	10	64	2
Snow-Caps (3.1 oz)	360	16	10	60	4

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and founder of Skinnyandthecity.com. She is also the creator of The F-Factor DietaC/, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being. For more information log onto

.

www.FFactorDiet.com

Read more: http://health.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/01/29/healthy-movie-theater-snacks/#ixzz1OMTe0J8h

Pictures are sited below images found through Google Search Images.