The Healthy Food Review (TM)

Hi All,

It was my husband who actually requested that we give Oroweat Bread Light 100% Whole Wheat (Arnold on the East Coast) a try. He had just gotten back from a business trip and had seen the bread mentioned in Men's Health magazine. 

Enroute with flight delays he had plenty of time to catch up on his reading, and came home with all these pages circled with new healthy products to try.  I'm very fortunate to have a health-conscious husband that makes it easy for me to keep up my healthy eating habits too!

I admit that I was skeptical when I went to the supermarket and saw that Oroweat Bread Light 100% Whole Wheat bread slices looked to be about the size and thickness of a cracker compared to a "real" slice of healthy whole wheat bread.  Yet when you see that it's just 80 calories for a sandwich with .5 grams of fat, 0 grams saturated fat or trans fat, 7 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein, it makes you open your mind.

I gave the Oroweat Bread Light 100% Whole Wheat bread a go and while you do need to realign your thinking to the smaller, thinner slices.  It's kind of cool to reduce a sandwich calorie content by that much.  And if you really want, you could make a sandwich and a half with your calorie savings (assuming light inside content as well).  It also works great for light meal add-ons or snacks, like reduced-fat whipped cream cheese on a slice or organic peanut butter.

I like to toast my bread usually, so given the thinner slice, you must be careful not to over toast Oroweat Bread Light 100% Whole Wheat.

Overall, Oroweat Bread Light 100% Whole Wheat is a winning way to get solid nutrition while saving calories on sandwichs and snacks.  You'll really find you don't need the extra bread of a typical slice once you try it. www.oroweat.com

--Melanie R. Jordan, Author of Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too!  Available 24/7 at http://www.HealthyEatingCoach.com

Don't miss a post--subscribe to The Healthy Food Review feed.  It's easy!  CLICK HERE

Check out more of Melanie's empowering publications on work-at-home lifestyles, foreclosure investing and learn about her Marketing and Infopreneur Consulting and Coaching Services at http://www.SunLoverPublishing.com

"Healthy eating with favorite comfort foods...it's deliciously possible!"

Check out Melanie's other Blog for Las Vegas locals and Las Vegas visitors at http://www.VegasInsideScoop.com

Please note that I do not have an affiliation with any of the companies featured in this post--they are simply products I am personally familiar with.  The views expressed are my opinion only and you should decide, along with your healthcare professionals, on the appropriateness for your personal use.

Copyright SunLover Publishing 2008

Memorial Day weekend is traditionally the start of Summer and BBQ season.  While I'm all for indulging every now and then, as after all we are only human, it's actually very easy to do a healthy food makeover of traditional barbecue food.

Here are several ways to accomplish your Memorial Day barbecue healthy food makeover:

1.  Trade traditional hot dogs for products such as Morningstar Farms Veggie Dogs--each is 80 calories and just .5 grams of fat, 0 grams of cholesterol and 11 grams of protein.  Could you chain eat these and not do damage to your figure?  You bet (not that I am recommending this of course).  Grill them and add mustard and sauerkraut and you will not know the difference!

OR: substitute an extra lean turkey hot dog like Jennie-O which has half the fat of a typical hot dog--but read the label carefully, many turkey dogs are not made with the leanest cuts and could be just as fattening as a traditional beef hot dog.

Hi All,

Just watched an interesting ABC news report video that shows a study about how comfort food binge eating might be biological because stressed monkeys eat more:

http://www.yahoo.com/s/885404

Whether it's biology, psychology or what, it's no secret that eating extra comfort food when you are feeling stressed after a rough day at the office, or a fight with your spouse, is going to put a serious crimp in your healthy eating.  Yet we are only human, so how do you cope when emotional eating urges hit and not kill your overall healthy eating habits?  Here are a few tips:

1.  Keep healthier versions of favorite comfort foods handy so if you eat extra, you're still not doing that much damage. 

Have a crunchy craving?  I know some people will say munch on baby carrots for example, which is good advice when you are in control, but when you're not, the carrots won't comfort you.  Have low fat snacks around like Baked Lays, Robert's American Gourmet Pirate Booty, etc.  You can crunch with less damage to your waistline.

Have a craving for sweet and creamy?  No Ben & Jerry's or Hagen Daas.  Keep one of the seemingly decadent, lighter versions of an ice cream treat around like Weight Watchers Chooclate Chip Cookie Dough Sundae (170 caloires, 3 grams of fat, 0 trans fat) or Weight Watchers Mint Chocolate Chip Premium Ice Cream Cups (140 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, 0 grams trans fat).  Both are available in many other yummy flavors as well.  Not that you should, but you could eat both servings of either of these Weight Watcher's concoctions and not even come close to the calories and fat of a Ben and Jerry's or Hagen Daas.

2.  If you fall off the wagon, get up, dust yourself off and get back on track.

If you do end up giving in to less than stellar traditional comfort food, don't beat yourself up, but don't think "well I've blown it, I might as well eat more crap today".  Shrug it off like when a receiver in football takes a huge hit while making a catch, and get right back to your normal healthy eating habits.  One day of going off the deep end won't kill you, but day two, three, one hundred...just might.

--Melanie R. Jordan, Author of Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too!  Available 24/7 at http://www.HealthyEatingCoach.com

Don't miss a post--subscribe to The Healthy Food Review feed.  It's easy!  CLICK HERE

Check out more of Melanie's empowering publications on work-at-home lifestyles, foreclosure investing and learn about her Marketing and Infopreneur Coaching Services at http://www.SunLoverPublishing.com

"Healthy eating with favorite comfort foods...it's deliciously possible!"

Check out Melanie's other Blog for Las Vegas locals and Las Vegas visitors at http://www.VegasInsideScoop.com

Copyright 2008 SunLover Publishing

Hi All,

While I normally write about healthy eating, Summer is around the corner (who am I kidding--in Las Vegas it's officially here as the mercury topped 107 degrees today).  If you've been pretty good about maintaining healthy eating habits and working out the rest of the year, you'll be looking to show off your buff body for Summer and looking to get tan.

Here's a great post to remind us that while we work to be healthy overall, you've got to consider sun exposure too:

http://www.healblog.net/beauty/how-to-get-a-healthy-tan/

Here are two additional points on healthier sun exposure I wantd to add:

1.  Wear a hat or baseball cap to keep sun off your face and scalp--many skin cancers can develop in the hairline, and you can keep away a few more wrinkles and sun spots.  Don't want to wear a hat?  Use a spray sun screen in your hairline or any thinning hair spots.

2.  Don't forget incidental sun exposure when you are driving or running around doing errands and not specifically spending a lot of time in the sun.  Use a moisturizer for your face and neck that has at least 15 SPF and try one of the new lotions for hands, arms and legs that also has SPF of 15 or more.

I absolutely love Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF 15 UVA/UVB sunscreen , and its new product Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturizing Lotion With Sunscreen SPF 15 UVA/UVB protection for that incidental sun exposure that I haven't always been so good about protecting myself from.

--Melanie R. Jordan, Author of Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too!  Available 24/7 at http://www.HealthyEatingCoach.com

Don't miss a post--subscribe to The Healthy Food Review feed.  It's easy!  CLICK HERE

Check out more of Melanie's empowering publications on work-at-home lifestyles, foreclosure investing and learn about her Marketing and Infopreneur Consulting and Coaching Services at http://www.SunLoverPublishing.com

"Healthy eating with favorite comfort foods...it's deliciously possible!"

Check out Melanie's other Blog for Las Vegas locals and Las Vegas visitors at http://www.VegasInsideScoop.com

Copyright SunLover Publishing 2008

Hi All,

If you or your kids love McDonald's Chicken McNuggets, Wendy's Crispy Chicken Nuggets or any of the typical fast food Chicken Nuggets offered, how do you take this comfort food and make it healthy food?

Simple!  Wait to have your Chicken Nuggets until you get home and choose Morningstar Farms' Chik'n Nuggets or Chik'n Tenders (if you like the bigger pieces), Boca Chik'n Nuggets, or if you have access to a natural foods store or have an enlightened supermarket, you may be able to find the leanest brand, Health Is Wealth. 

All three meatless brands found in the freezer section and ready to eat in minutes, taste delicious (you will never know they are meatless) and will seriously slash the fat content of your Chicken Nuggets by half to two-thirds, have 1 gram or less of saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, no cholesterol and will add some fiber to your meal. 

Now why don't any of the major fast food chains offer these leaner meatless varieties to their customers who want healthier choices or go meatless when they are so easily available--duh?

TIP:  Use a light variety of barbecue sauce for dipping to complement your leaner Chicken Nuggets treat!

Here's how the different brands stack up according to their web sites:

Meatless Varieties:

Boca Chik'n Nuggets are 180 calories per serving, 7 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg of cholesterol, 17 grams of carbohydrate, 14 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber.

Morningstar Farms Chik'n Nuggets are 190 calories for 4 pieces, 7 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 18 grams of carbohydrate, 12 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber.

Health Is Wealth Chicken-Free Nuggets are 120 calories for 3 nuggets, 2 grams of fat, 0 saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 14 grams of carbohydrate and protein and 2 grams of fiber.

Fast Food Varieties:

Wendy's 5-piece Crispy Chicken Nuggets are 230 calories, 15 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 35 mg of cholesterol, and 12 grams each of carbohydrate and protein.

McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (6-piece) are 250 calories, 15 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 1.5 grams of trans fat, 35 mg of cholesterol, and 15 grams apiece for carbohydrate and protein.

If you vote with your wallet, maybe one of the fast food chains will wake up and offer meatless chicken nuggets on their menu for healthy eating--who's first?  Just be sure to give me credit and free meatless chicken nuggets for life for the idea :)!

--Melanie R. Jordan, Author of Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too!  Available 24/7 at http://www.HealthyEatingCoach.com

Don't miss a post--subscribe to The Healthy Food Review feed.  It's easy!  CLICK HERE

Check out more of Melanie's empowering publications on work-at-home lifestyles, foreclosure investing and learn about her Marketing and Infopreneur Consulting and Coaching Services at http://www.SunLoverPublishing.com

"Healthy eating with favorite comfort foods...it's deliciously possible!"

Check out Melanie's other Blog for Las Vegas locals and Las Vegas visitors at http://www.VegasInsideScoop.com

Please note that I do not have an affiliation with any of the companies featured in this post--they are simply products I am personally familiar with.  The views expressed are my opinion only and you should decide, along with your healthcare professionals, on the appropriateness for your personal use.

Copyright SunLover Publishing 2008

Hi All,

What better way is there to say "I love you" to Mom on Mother's Day than to keep her healthy when eating out?   You can have a great time on Mother's Day and not clog Mom's arteries in the process :) 

Here are a few ways to celebrate Mother's Day and still eat healthy when eating out (especially if you are a flexitarian like me and go meatless most of the time, but these healthy eating tips are great for anyone):

1.  Take The Initiative To Suggest Where To Eat--a place that works for your eating needs, yet leaves choice for others.  Generally, I'll do best with Italian, Mexican or Chinese food, Seafood and Salad Buffets/restaurants with great salad bars.  And of course I'll make the most healthful picks possible.  I have a 24/7 place near me in Las Vegas that makes healthy Mexican!

Hi All,

So what's taking McDonald's so long to implement the change they promised us in the oil it uses to eliminate the trans fat in its french fries?  Even today--nearly 6 years later, if you look at McDonald's web site's FAQs, McDonald's claims this is "still a priority for them, but the ability to change the oil is still dependent on the supplies of the oil" they want to use, so they have not yet made the change.

At the time McDonald's got plenty of kudos from the heavy public relations they put out on the change in oil for their french fries.  But where's the follow-through?

While no one would consider McDonald's fries to be heath food (they do have some healthy options like their yogurt parfait and apples, walnuts and yogurt snack), the least they could do is make good on their promise after all this time.  Instead we got another 6 years of artery-clogging trans fat.  And since McDonald's markets so heavily to kids, that means we have lots of children who will still be exposed to trans fat for no good reason.  Time to stop the excuses McDonald's--time to act!

See McDonald's "explanation" about its french fries here: http://www.mcdonalds.com/usa/eat/nutrition_info/nutrition_faq/tfa.html

TIP:  Who doesn't love french fries as comfort food?  Want french fries to be healthy eating?  At home, buy organic brands like Cascadian Farms or Whole Foods 365 Organic to be free of pesticides, GMO's (genetically modified organisms) and hydrogenated oils that equal trans fat.  Or bake them yourself in your oven with organic potatoes.

When eating out, look for places that specifically state that their french fries are trans fat free due to the oil they use (Ruby's Diner's Skinny Fries is one), and if you can find a place that bakes their french fries and uses healthy oil (rare, but it is possible), even better!

--Melanie R. Jordan, Author of Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too!  Available 24/7 at http://www.HealthyEatingCoach.com

Don't miss a post--subscribe to The Healthy Food Review feed.  It's easy!  CLICK HERE

Check out more of Melanie's empowering publications on work-at-home lifestyles, foreclosure investing and learn about her Marketing and Infopreneur Coaching Services at http://www.SunLoverPublishing.com

"Healthy eating with favorite comfort foods...it's deliciously possible!"

Check out Melanie's other Blog for Las Vegas locals and Las Vegas visitors at http://www.VegasInsideScoop.com

Copyright 2008 SunLover Publishing

Hi All,

I love Mexican food--not just for Cinco De Mayo, but year-round!  And as a flexitarian (someone who eats mostly meatless), it is an easy meatless or fish-based choice (for those of you on the East Coast, fish    tacos and fish burritos are standard fare in the West).  But some of the choices you make will be the difference between healthy fare vs. a diet disaster.

So in honor of Cinco De Mayo, here are some tips on making Mexican food healthier:

--Substitute low-fat, high-fiber whole wheat tortillas free of hydrogenated oil for white flour ones.  One of my favorite brands is La Tortilla Factory which makes a low carb whole wheat tortilla found in many supermarkets that is super high fiber (8 grams per tortilla, only 2 grams of fat, no trans fat and 50 calories for the small tortilla).

--Go heavy on the black beans and pinto beans in their natural state for great fiber and protein--get low sodium varieties and just add from the can; if eating out make sure they are not prepared with lard--yuck!

--Refried beans are easily found fat-free with brands like Rosarita--again another dish that can be killed with lard!

There are tons of energy bars out there--some are basically just candy bars trying to masquerade as healthy food, others are nutritious and convenient snacks or meal replacements especially on the go. 

I've tried a ton of them, but hand down, Clif Bars and many of the other members of the Clif Bar family are my favorites.  Not just because of the taste, but because they range from 70% organic ingredients (and it is usually the key ingredients I like to see organic that are) to fully certified as organic, are free of hydrogenated oil (zero trans fat), are free of high-fructose corn syrup, are low in saturated fat, high protein and have a nice amount of fiber to boot.

My husband jokes that I should be Clif Bar's spokesperson because I buy my favorite Clif Bars--Peanut Toffee Buzz by the box.  Plus, at any given time, looking in my pantry, you'll also see Chocolate Raspberry Luna Bars (my favorite) with runners up Chocolate Peppermint Stick and Peanut Butter Cookie, Clif Kid Z-Bars in Peanut Butter or Honey Graham (and no, we don't have kids), and Luna Vanilla Macadamia Teacakes.