The Healthy Food Review (TM)

Thinking about all the potential Halloween candy that is about to be given out this Friday, I am reminded of one of my first-hand accounts about what chocolate and sugar can do to kids' bodies.

My niece, who was 3 at the time, was really into the movie Shrek, so trying to be the cool Aunt in for a visit, I had bought her a teeny-tiny sample tube of Shrek-colored limited-edition mini M&Ms as a treat.  I figured her Mom would dole them out to her over time so no harm done.  My niece has always been a handful and we got into playing while she was snacking on a couple after she had asked her Mom's permission.  I'm an Aunt, not a Mom, and I figured she knew how many she was allowed to have.  The next thing I know the M&Ms had vanished.  Not misplaced, just gone, and apparently in my niece's stomach.

She was fine, but boy was she wired!  My niece often stayed up late night with adults (that's another parental issue), but it's 11 p.m. and we're playing with a high bounce ball on the vinyl floor in the kitchen and she is showing no signs of letting up.  Her Mom comes in annoyed and says "I have to go to work tomorrow, you let her eat all those M&Ms, you deal with it!"  I think we were up till 1 a.m. before she finally was over the sugar rush and crashed.

The moral of the story translates into some healthy Halloween treat tips:

1.  Choose Halloween treats that are not candy.  I've seen pre-packaged bags of pretzels and even mini-granola bars for example.

2.  Choose Halloween candy that is not among the worst offenders in terms of fat and calories like fun size Three Musketeers, York Peppermint Patties, Gummi Bears and Candy Corn.

3.  Portion control is everything!  Dole out the Halloween treats.  My Mom used to let me have just one Halloween treat item a day.  It also used to make the Halloween treats last till at least Thanksgiving.

4.  It is Halloween, it's okay to have treats, just try to make better picks when you can.

It's a challenge to do a healthy Halloween because at home, you can control things.  For Trick or Treating, many healthy snacks you'd want to give out for Halloween are just too darn expensive to distribute in large quantities.  Also, you don't want your efforts to go to waste and end up in the garbage unloved and be the equivalent of the rock that poor Charlie Brown got every time he tried to Trick or Treat.

Plus, many are not in sealed packaging and when it comes to Halloween, safety has to come first.  For example, little raisin packages would be ideal, but they are not sealed.  Even years ago when I was a kid, my Mom automatically tossed any Halloween treat, even from known people that was unwrapped and/or unsealed.

Apple slices or baby carrots have cost and spoilage issues although they are sealed (I can just imagine most kids' faces if they got baby carrots in their trick or treat bag--they would rather have Charlie Brown's rock). 

It would be nice to see healthy treat manufacturers step up with an affordable, sealed Halloween snack solution.  Oh well, maybe next year.

Question: Are you giving out a healthy, sealed, affordable snack this Halloween I didn't think of?  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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

Don't miss a post--subscribe to The Healthy Food Review feed. 

Follow me on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/melaniejor

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/TheHealthyFoodReview

Melanie Jordan is an ACE Group Fitness Certified and licensed Zumba Instructor, Turbo Kick Instructor, ZIN Member and IDEA Member currently teaching Zumba in Western Chicagoland in Oakbrook Terrace, Lombard and Downers Grove, IL for class schedule CLICK HERE.  She is also a Wellcoaches and ACE Certified Health and Wellness Coach.  Melanie is the author of Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! and blogs at The Healthy Food Review. When she's not teaching Zumba, Melanie heads up SunLoverPublishing.com, her media properties, publishing and marketing coaching/consulting company.

Copyright SunLover Publishing LLC 2008 - 2012

Hi All,

After my recent post about Healthy Eating Tips: Healthy Dinners For The Lazy ended up being very popular, I got a lot of readers asking me what healthy frozen food was in my freezer?

You want it, you got it! (Yes that's a Bryan Adams reference.)  So in the interest in helping you learn by example :) here's the current list in no order of preference:

Boca Burger Original Vegan (Big Burger size)

Morningstar Veggie Bacon Strips

Morningstar Chik'n Patties

Morningstar Meal Starters Chick'n

Amy's Organic Cheese Lasagna

Seeds Of Change Fettucini Alfredo with Soy Protein (tastes like chicken) and Broccoli

Nate's Zesty Italian Meatless Meatballs

Rice Expressions Brown Rice Pilaf

Dr. Praeger's Fish Sticks 

Lean Cuisine Spa Cuisine Classics Salmon Basil

Lean Cuisine Roasted Potatoes and Broccoli

Lean Cuisine Macaroni and Cheese

Cascadian Farms Organic French Fries (Shoestring and Crinkle Cut)

Whole Foods Organic Chopped Spinach, Broccoli Florets and French Green Beans W/Almonds

Organic Mixed Garden Vegetables

Flatout Bread Light Italian

Noah's Bagels Whole Wheat Sesame Bagels (imported from Huntington Beach, CA)

Oroweat Light 100% Whole Wheat Bread

Rudi's Organic Honey Whole Wheat Bread

Weight Watchers Mint Chocolate Chip Cups

Weight Watchers Smart Ones Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Weight Watchers Smart Ones Peanut Butter Cup

I opened my freezer to you, now let me ask you--what healthy frozen food is in your freezer...or should be?  Let's give each other some new ideas!  Please comment!

P.S.  If the frozen food association or any of these brands would like to sponsor this blog, do feel free to check out The Healthy Food Review Advertiser Center, your advertiser inquiries are welcome.

And now I'd like to invite you to learn how easy it is to eat healthy (with frozen food or not) without giving up any of your favorite comfort foods by taking advantage of a special limited-time offer from my publisher.  You can get Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! in print paperback and get the e-book at 50% off!  Read the e-book so you can get healthier right away while you wait for the print book to be delivered for your ongoing reference!  Or just get the e-book or the print paperback--it's all good :)

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

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

Don't miss a post--subscribe to The Healthy Food Review feed. 

Follow me on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/melaniejor

Do you have a blog of your own?  Click here to find out about a new project that is helping everyone get more readers in a free, good karma blogger community effort!

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

Check out Melanie's other Blogs and Podcasts:

NEW! NEW! NEW!  Melanie's podcast on infopreneuring--What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM) at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMorePodcast.com

What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know - The Blog For Infopreneurs at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMore.com

Vegas Inside Scoop 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 LLC 2008

Hi All,

For those of you who don't know, October is Vegetarian Awareness Month.  I got my start ten years ago going meatless first as a full-fledged vegetarian and then after a year I converted to what is today known as a flexitarian diet.

A flexitarian diet is the most tolerant and forgiving form of meatless eating.  There are people who call themselves flexitarians who eat only a handful of meatless meals a week and those, like me, who eat mostly meatless, with fish 2-3 times per week and once in a blue moon turkey or chicken--red meat I have not eaten in over 15 years and I do not miss it at all myself. 

As per my previous posts on flexitarian diets, Flexitarian Diets: What They Are And Are They For You, and Healthy Eating Flexitarian Style Is A Way To Go Green, I truly believe that any steps one takes towards more of a plant-based diet is a step in the right direction, and the more the merrier!

I also just commented on this nice piece on flexitarian diets Be Flexible During World Vegetarian Month.

And now I'd like to invite you to get the help you need to get you started on your own flexitarian diet without giving up any of your favorite comfort foods by taking advantage of a special limited-time offer from my publisher.  You can get Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! in print paperback and get the e-book at 50% off!  Read the e-book so you can get healthier right away while you wait for the print book to be delivered for your ongoing reference! 

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

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

Don't miss a post--subscribe to The Healthy Food Review feed. 

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

Check out Melanie's other Blogs and Podcasts:

NEW! NEW! NEW!  Melanie's podcast on infopreneuring--What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM) at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMorePodcast.com

What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know - The Blog For Infopreneurs at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMore.com

Vegas Inside Scoop for Las Vegas locals and Las Vegas visitors at http://www.VegasInsideScoop.com

Copyright SunLover Publishing LLC 2008

Hi All,

Sometimes you just don't feel like cooking a healthy dinner.  And when you start paying too much attention to the fast food ads on TV, or start weakening and are ready to pull into a drive-thru or "to go" restaurant space on your way home, it's easy to get into trouble that ends up showing up on your bathroom scale if you're not careful.

So as a healthy eater, what do I do?  Easy!  To me it's okay to be lazy in making dinner if you're properly prepared for it!  Here are some healthy dinner tips for the lazy:

1.  Stock your freezer with healthy frozen entrees and vegetables

You know how in a building the fire extinguisher sign states "in case of emergency, break glass?"  Make sure that in case of a dinner emergency all you have to do is open the freezer.

2.  Make a healthy entree that looks like a snack into an actual dinner

Most healthy frozen entrees in terms of portion size and calories basically seem like snacks!  And if you don't adapt them to your needs you'll end up rummaging the refrigerator or pantry looking for something else to eat and blow the whole deal.

Add protein and/or a salad or vegetables to turn that healthy dinner entree from snack to dinner. For example, I'll take macaroni and cheese from Lean Cuisine (I wish they used whole wheat pasta like they do for their salmon entrees) and add tuna and either frozen organic mixed vegetables or broccoli if I am okay with boiling water. 

I'll take an Amy's organic healthy frozen entree and add a side salad using organic pre-cut veggies I have on hand.  Or if I am out, I will stop at a McDonald's and just buy the side salad for a buck.

3.  Have breakfast for dinner

Regular readers of The Healthy Food Review blog (I appreciate you massively) know that I am a huge proponent of eating healthy breakfast food for dinner such as: healthy cereal with organic fat-free milk, scrambled eggs or omelets with fat free cheese and veggies (egg substitute or regular organic eggs now and then if your cholesterol is good), or organic peanut butter on whole wheat toast or bagel.  Please see my prior post Healthy Eating Tips: Healthy Breakfast Is Not Just For Breakfast.

And now I'd like to invite you to take advantage of a special limited-time offer from my publisher.  You can get Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! in print paperback and get the e-book at 50% off!  Read the e-book so you can get healthier right away while you wait for the print book to be delivered for your ongoing reference! 

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

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

Don't miss a post--subscribe to The Healthy Food Review feed. 

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

Check out Melanie's other Blogs and Podcasts:

NEW! NEW! NEW!  Melanie's podcast on infopreneuring--What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM) at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMorePodcast.com

What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know - The Blog For Infopreneurs at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMore.com

Vegas Inside Scoop 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 LLC 2008

Hi All,

I first spotted Pop Chips when I was doing one of my "let's roam up and down the aisles and see what's new" trips to my local natural foods store.  Yes I have no life :)

Anyway, there are a lot of great low fat and low calorie crunchy snack choices out there, but personally I had yet to find one that was a great barbecue flavor without partially hydrogenated oil or MSG in it (even in the "health conscious" versions.  So the Barbecue Pop Chips caught my eye in the never-ending quest for a healthy barbecue flavored snack.

The Pop Chips bag only made it to the car before my husband and I had to open it and try them.

Eureka!  Mouth-watering barbecue flavor in a low fat crunchy snack without the bad stuff.  Reminded me of the full-fat Wise Barbecue Potato Chips I had when I was a kid and didn't know any better.

I was at a different store on my recent trip back home to Orange County, CA (which is why I didn't get a chance to post for a few days enjoying nothing but beach, sorry guys) and spied the Sea Salt and Vinegar Pop Chips and based on the success I had with the Barbecue Pop Chips all I could say was "come to Mama".

Another smash hit down memory lane as the Salt and Vinegar Pop Chips tasted like the Wise Salt and Vinegar chips I had in my wayward youth.  Although these are very powerfully-flavored and not for a delicate palate.  So be prepared for some bite.  Actually the bite is a real calorie saver as you would be challenged to eat a full portion of this flavor in my opinion. Although Pop Chips are only 120 calories per serving with 4 grams of fat, zero grams saturated fat, no trans fat and no cholesterol.

Pop chips has an interesting process on how they are made.  I thought they were baked, but they truly are popped through a pressure process that keeps the flavor in without the fat according to the company's web site.  I was also surprised to find that there are nine varieties of Pop Chips, as I have only seen a couple myself.

Pop Chips are a tasty, satisfying addition to the healthy snack foods category.  http://www.popchips.com.

And now I'd like to invite you to learn the secrets of how it is deliciously possible to achieve healthy eating and weight loss without giving up ANY of your favorite comfort foods like chips by getting free access to two chapters from my book "Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too!" Go to http://www.healthyeatingcoach.com/bookexcerpt.html

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

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

Don't miss a post--subscribe to The Healthy Food Review feed. 

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

Check out Melanie's other Blogs and Podcasts:

NEW! NEW! NEW!  Melanie's podcast on infopreneuring--What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM) at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMorePodcast.com

What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know - The Blog For Infopreneurs at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMore.com

Vegas Inside Scoop 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 LLC 2008