To Chatter While You Chew

The Deep Fryers Fry On!

2009-09-11T19:47:00.000-07:00

EEK. So I was off on my return date by about 5 days... but here I am again! Not too much time to detail a blog tonight - that'll come soon - because I'm packing to leave home. BUT. For now enjoy these more deep fried finds...

1. Deep fried butter

http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/2009/09/01/state-fair-fried-foods-duke-it-out/comment-page-1/

2. Deep fried grilled cheese

http://dandyscotchbrawlers.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/grilled-cheese-more-like-grilled-awesome/

3. Deep fried spaghetti and meatballs (on a stick, no less!)

http://timesonline.typepad.com/comment/food_and_drink/index.html

4. Deep fried pickles

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26845282@N00/273588759

5. Deep fried ice cream

http://www.howtomakeicecreamvideo.com/how-to-make-deep-fried-ice-cream

6. Deep fried pecan pie

http://www.newraleigh.com/articles/archive/omg-deep-fried-pecan-pie/

I'll be here tomorrow dears ! (With an actual blog)

Gone!

2009-09-04T07:21:00.001-07:00

Away for the weekend, be back Monday!

Have a wonderful holiday (:

Campus Conundrums: Student Alternatives

2009-09-02T06:42:00.000-07:00

Loot from CVS after a joint trip with a friend.

Ah, living away from home. It's amazing, isn't it. You can eat what you want when you want, you have money to spend, and you have your life to live. Compared to money and living life, quality and quantity of food doesn't seem like that big of a deal. However it's is as big of a responsibility as anything else. Trips to CVS, Target, and Walmart are to be expected, but here are some better snacks to stock up on.

1. Dasani's Fruit Flavored Waters

http://popsop.com/26067

0 calorie drinks like these are great alternatives for fruit juice lovers. Although they don't have the same kick as Gatorade (which is basically dyed chemicals anyway), they are much healthier and don't give your body the same unhealthy boost of sugar, causing a spike in your energy and upsetting the stability of crucial things like your mood, your energy, and your attention span.

2. Fuze Slenderize Drinks

http://coolspotters.com/beverages/fuze-slenderize

If flavored water just wasn't cutting for you - these are another great option. They come with only 10 calories, but they taste amazing. Seriously a great replacement for soda, and though the flavored waters are good because they contain NO empty calories, these only have 10 so they do not do much damage.

3. Baked! Lays

http://bestuff.com/stuff/baked-lays

At around 110 calories per serving (14 from fat) the Baked! Lays originals are a super alternative to, say, Lays original non-baked, which have 150 calories per serving (90 from fat). Although I can't endorse chips as the Item du Jour, this is a lighter option with, in my opinion, a MUCH better taste.

4. Quaker's Chewy 90 Calorie Bars

http://www.quakeroats.com/products/oat-snacks/chewy-90-calorie-granola/chocolate-chunk.aspx

These super little snacks or mini-meals are a great choice as a dessert/treat/pick-me-up, because they are only 90 calories (18 from fat) and I think they taste amazing. Some nutrition bars can have up to 200 calories and taste like cardboard, but Chewy bars are really something to take to the bank, or at least put in your shopping basket during your next trip to CVS.

5. Orville Redenbacher's 100 Calorie Mini-Bag Microwavable Popcorn

1 whole bag of popcorn is 2.5-3 servings, TONS of calories, and sometimes leaves you hungrier than you were before and craving more salt. Mini-bags are an exact serving size of popcorn, so you can eat the whole bag and feel completely satisfied. Also they are only 100 calories! Who can complain?

More Campus Conundrums will come, but for now I have to end this one as is. Muah, dears. More soon.

Shameless Promotion

2009-09-01T21:52:00.000-07:00

http://jrenseyblog.wordpress.com/2009/04/

For the next few minutes while writing this, I am going to set down my pen, remove my spectacles thoughtfully, dab my brow with a pocket 'kerchief, and, while clasping my hands in an introspective way, announce that...

I would like to credit my success in losing weight and maintaining it to a wonderful website, which is also a godsend for this blog because it provides me with all of the great low-cal recipes, exercise corners, and calorie information of the foods used in the Diet Destroyers series.

Check it out:

www.caloriecount.about.com

Diet Destroyers: The Pizza Parlor

2009-09-01T21:44:00.000-07:00

A small shot of the destruction done in one night at a friend's house.

Forget chocolate, pizza is my weakness. Seriously. It is a wonderful combination of tomato sauce, tons of cheese, and thick (or thin! I'm diversified) crust. During my freshman year when our cafeteria was being renovated and the temporary one was a good 15 minute walk from my dorm, my friends and I would often skip dinner and just order in Domino's (conveniently overpriced, but in a small enough way that desperate students like us would still pay for the pizza). My best friend and I sometimes did it twice a week during finals and winter term where it was NOT worth the trek to get to healthy food. We would order the same thing - 1 medium cheese pizza, 1 order of Cinna Stix, and 1 Orange Fanta - and would then divide everything in half. And consume our halves. Unfortunately, there is one major difference between my best friend and I... she has the metabolism of a Nigerian long-distance runner, whereas MINE is more akin to a turtle. A fat turtle. So she continued to stay thin, but I noticed a difference quickly. Talk about The Freshman 15. Anyway, just recently I looked up the calories of the pizza types that I had been eating so long ago. No WONDER I ballooned out like a whale!

1. Domino's Pepperoni Feast Pizza (large)

http://www.dominos-now.com/campus.html

One slice of this meaty wonder alone is 178 calories... 136 of those from fat. In case you're wondering where all that fat came from, reread the title. Pepperoni Feast. Pepperoni FEAST. I hope the combination of those 2 words allowed you to come to an accurate conclusion. Yes, it is from the incredible amount of pepperoni.

2. Domino's Meatza Pizza

http://www.newenglandbites.com/2007/05/papa-johns.html

Aww! Meatza Pizza! It rhymes! A boy in my grade used to order a large Meatza, along with breadsticks and Cinna-Stix, and consume it all himself. Of course, he obsessively worked out, so it made no real difference other than it was generally unhealthy. But most people can't afford to consume an entire Meatza, especially with each slice being 217 calories, 143 of them from fat.

3. Domino's Cheesy Bread

http://smartcanucks.ca/canada-freebies-free-cheesy-bread-from-dominos-with-first-online-order/

This is something I never quite understood. Cheesy bread. As a side to a pizza. Pizza is (at it's purest state): cheese, bread, tomato sauce. Cheesy bread is cheese, and bread. And in case the difference between the two was too extreme for you, there is a dipping container of Marinara sauce, so you can have a practically-pizza side with your legitimate-pizza main course. But even justifying it like that doesn't make the additonal 140 calories (63 from fat) per piece seem more reasonable, so once again I am clueless as to why this is ever ordered.

4. Domino's Breadsticks

http://www.ucfdominos.com/index.php?a=breadsticks

Like the cheesy bread up above, I also don't understand breadsticks. Although I admittedly DID used to order breadsticks (and love breadsticks) a lot, I came to realize that they were an extra 130 calories (63 from fat) in addition to the massive amount of pizza I was eating... A really unnecessary 130 calories when you consider that the crust of a piece of pizza is practically a breadstick AND is already included in the calorie amount of the slice.

5. Domino's Cinna-Stix & the Sweet Icing

http://www.copykat.com/2009/07/09/dominos-cinnastix/

A favorite side among all my friends (and loved, as far as I know, by most everyone who has tried them), Cinna-Stix are really addicting. But the Sweet Icing that comes with it is 100x more so... almost to the point of it being a bit strange how good it was. I checked how many calories were in an order of Cinna-Stix...140 calories (63 from fat)... and wasn't really surprised. They are covered with sugar, after all. Then I checked into the icing... my stomach dropped. That one container of icing is 250 calories (27 from fat). No wonder it tasted so good.

6. Domino's Garlic Dipping Sauce

http://wordosity.com/

This used to be my favorite sauce when I was younger, because I didn't use to like tomatoes (eliminating the marinara sauce) and I found the fake cheese sauce to be too spicy and overpowering when I put it on my food. So garlic sauce was the winner. When I was researching for this blog, I figured, what the heck, might as well see what the calorie content of that is. I didn't expect much, as is apparent. I nearly had a heart attack when I read what I had been putting in my body. One container is 440 calories... with all. 440. Calories. Being. From. Fat.

7. Pizza Hut's Personal Pan 6" Cheese Pizza

http://www.morinnbuzz.com/2009_06_01_archive.html

This shouldn't be TOO bad, right? It's only 6" in diameter, and it's just plain cheese. It's tiny! Well, this tiny pan of pizza brings a whopping 620 calories to the table (234 of them from fat). It's a sad world when things marked "personal" are what really needs to be split.

8. Pizza Hut's Stuffed Crust Pepperoni Pizza

http://forums.montrealracing.com/off-topic/662779-post-picture-your-weakness-food-2.html

If you didn't have enough cheese on your pizza, you can now have it oozing out of your crust! One slice of this baby and you've already packed away 380 calories, 144 of which are from fat. And since when does anyone eat a single slice of pizza?

I am not saying "no pizza." Partially because that would be controlling of me, but mostly because then I would have to abide by that rule too seeing as everything I say on this blog are things I truly believe in. I would recommend only having it maybe 1 time a month. It makes it taste SO much better when it's a true treat because you haven't had it in so long. Also, I would say ix-nay on the eesy bread-chay. Breadsticks aren't that necessary either. A salad makes a refreshing side to a couple of piees of pizza, AND it helps move the greasy carbs and dairy through your system, instead of it all sitting and sticking.

Dumped & Dieting

2009-09-01T20:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.ehow.com/how_4724645_break-off-hurting.html

Breaking up is hard. My first break up was brutal, actually. Young love typically ends badly, especially in my case because apart from my tender age, it was young, summer, going-to-be-long-distance-after-the-camp-where-I-met-him love. After it ended, I bit into everything I could find, and when people gently hinted to me I was being a little crazy, I bit their heads off too. Everything about me at that point was orally related - I was snappy, sobby, and ALWAYS snacking. Although it goes against my whole healthy eating blog, a friend's recent break up with her boyfriend inspired this post. I decided break up BINGING is most assuredly banned, but I cannot wholeheartedly ban the Dumped Delicacies (frozen treats and chocolate) because I know that sometimes you just need something sweet to dull the pain. So. These are healthier alternatives to several pints of Ben & Jerry's and a bag of Hershey's Kisses. It's the calories that are sacrificed in these choices rather than the taste, and they're a much healthier, much less chemically-created (in the case of Hershey's) set of options.

Frozen Yogurts/Dark Chocolates

(Here are a few suggestions...comparative to ice cream's approximate 250-300 calories per 1/2 cup...AND high fat content)

1. Edy's Fat Free Vanilla Chocolate Swirl Frozen Yogurt

http://www.flickr.com/photos/iateapie/3251331049/

Calories: 90 per 1/2 cup (0 from fat)

2. Edy's Fat Free Carmel Praline Crunch Frozen Yogurt

http://www.onsecondscoop.com/2009/08/new-culinary-circle-caramel-pecan.html

Calories: 100 per 1/2 cup (0 from fat)

3. Dreyer's Fat Free Chocolate Frozen Yogurt

http://www.healthcastle.com/product-listing.shtml?catid=6

Calories: 90 per 1/2 cup

4. Dreyer's No Sugar Added Fat Free Chocolate Fudge Ice Cream

http://www.onlyicecream.com/article.asp?articleid=51495&Chocolate-Fudge-Brownie-Ice-Cream

Calories: 100 per 1/2 cup

5. Trader Joe's 100 Calorie Chocolate Bar, 70% Dark Chocolate

http://healthyandsane.com/category/eats-by-ingredient/shrimp/

Calories: 100 per bar, 72 from fat

6. Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Bar

http://healthyandsane.com/category/eats-by-ingredient/shrimp/

Calories: 100 per bar, 42 from fat

Walk It Off

Some girls during a time of sadness love nothing more than to duke it out with their feelings at the gym until they're so exhausted they can't feel anything anymore. I admire those girls. Like I previously mentioned, I would shun all movement, grab a blanket, some food, and mope. But it is crucial in any time of emotional duress that you get at LEAST 30 minutes of cardio a day, to keep your metabolism going. So. Make a playlist of comforting, relaxing songs. Counting Crows, Dave Matthews, Mariah Carey, Mario, whatever works for you. Then, grab your tennis shoes and take a walk around your neighborhood or campus, let the music flow through you and just relax.

One last thought. It is OK and NORMAL to cry. It's actually very healthy and often makes you feel a lot better. But once you have cried yourself out, channel your emotions to bettering your body. Use it as motivation to keep you going at the gym when you are getting tired, and to keep your hand from straying towards that extra piece of pizza. Work it, so you can have a whole new boat load of self confidence and more guys (including your ex!) will desire you when you have reached your desired results. (Honestly, ladies, it's not about men wanting you... but guys are usually drawn to women who have confidence in themselves and their figures. That's why I suggest working it out harder. But of course, the most important person that your figure should please is yourself so if you like the way you look, then just maintain it with healthy eating and regular exercise)

Recipe Break!, Pt. 5

2009-09-01T17:34:00.000-07:00

http://boston2008.drupalcon.org/session/ghop-google-highly-open-participation

Ever find yourself skipping breakfast? SKIP NO LONGER! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It starts your metabolism, it keeps your energy stable, etc. If the skippage is simply because you are trying to cut back on the calories, I recently discovered a recipe for pancakes that have almost NO calories at all (only 26 to be exact, and 0 from fat)! Topped with fruit, fruit spreads, or even some syrup, these are a guilt-free, wonderful start to any day.

The Recipe

**yields approx. 17 pancakes**

Ingredients:

- 3/4 cups cake flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- 3/4 cups skim milk
- 2 egg whites

Directions:

1) Sprinkle dash of salt on egg whites and beat until they are stiff, but not dry.  

2) Add milk to flour and salt. Beat until smooth. 

3) Add baking powder and beat a few seconds more 

4) Fold in beaten egg whites. 

5) Pour batter on a heater skillet or pan until brown.

Read more: http://caloriecount.about.com/low-calorie-pancakes-recipe-r55272#ixzz0Pu9QyG4m

Exercise Corner, Pt 4.

2009-09-01T17:13:00.000-07:00

http://c2texercise.com/index.php/examples/stretchingprogram

Jump on it!

Well, this post is about jumping over it, actually. Jump rope happens to be a GREAT calorie burner... it is an extreme, filled-to-the-brim of cardio activity that disguises itself as a child's game. I am NOT speedy at jumping rope... or attractive while jumping rope... my coordination is so lacking it's almost crippling. But, going at a pretty slow pace and paying attention to the floor and my feet, I can keep it up for a pretty long while. When I was looking up how many calories it burned on caloriecount.about.com, I was shocked!

Calories burned per hour: 531 calories per hour

Which is the same as...

- 2 Grande Starbucks Cafe Lattes (made with Whole Milk)

- 0.8 of a McDonald's big mac with cheese

- 6.7 glasses of wine (3.5 fl. oz.)

- 1.9 Snickers bars

- 2.6 cans of Coca-Cola

- 17.7 carrots

Needless to say. I shall be purchasing my OWN jump rope immediately. My coordination had better deal with it.

Musical Motivation: Exercise Tip

2009-09-01T16:36:00.000-07:00

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IPod_Mini_with_headphones.jpg

    Musical motivation. This is not a new concept. Whenever I go to the gym, or exercise period, I ALWAYS bring my iPod along with me unless I'm working out with a trainer who is giving me instructions I need to listen to. Although I love how good I feel afterward, I am not a person who relishes the feeling DURING working out. My iPod, filled with techno, club music, rap and hip-hop playlists, is the perfect way to ignore the discomfort of sweating and of aching muscles. Today in the gym, I noticed about 95% of the people in there were plugged in to their iPods, MP3s, or whatever music playing device they had on their person.
     A song with a loud, consistent background beat gives your brain something to concentrate on, rather then focusing on, "oh, God, do my legs feel tired." The sound waves going into your brain distract it from the anti-exercise signals, and sometimes if it's a song you really like you'll feel a huge burst of energy while listening because your brain is rewarding you for distracting it.
     That is why music like rap, techno, and hip-hop are great while weight lifting, running, or anything like that. You can even time your reps and steps and breathing with the beat of the music!

     My suggestion to you. Make several playlists of fast paced, loud music specifically for working out. In each playlist, have a different number of songs, so one playlist can be used on a day when you work out for 30 minutes, another for a day when you work out for 45 minutes, and another when you work out for an hour, etc. That way, when the last song plays and your music shuts off, you'll realize your period of exercise went by in a flash because your brain was not devoting all of its attention to how hard whatever exercise you were doing was. It makes exercising go faster, become easier, and also just become a lot more enjoyable and fun.

Diet Destroyers: The American Steakhouse

2009-09-01T16:26:00.000-07:00

http://www.hardrock.com.hk/menu/index.php

Meat and potatoes. What defines Americans more? It's the meal men crave at the end of the day. A huge slab of red meat, with a side of creamy mashers. Nothing better to absolutely stuff oneself with. Unfortunately, with the amount of wine that is usually consumed with a steak-and-potatoes meal, people usually leave steakhouses drastically over their daily calorie allotment.

1. Garlic Mashed Potatoes

http://www.eldoradobbq.com/ordereze/Catering/Summary.aspx

I am totally a mashed potato girl. Honestly. If I didn't have public decency and someone put a plate of good mashed potatoes in front of them, I would probably stick my face in them. Unfortunately, these starchy sides are not light on the calories. Regular mashers are a lot better, but the typical garlic mashed potatoes found on steakhouse menus are about 320 calories (135 from fat) per serving... pretty rough considering it's JUST a side dish.

2. Shoestring Potatoes

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39258668@N00/29297219

Do you ever order the shoestring fries to come along with your meal, and intend to split them with the rest of the table? My family does often. These salty, crunchy, AMAZING bites are just so easy to eat. But just because they go down easy doesn't mean they're healthy... in fact, they do something else with ease too... transform into fat cells. 1 tiny OUNCE of these little guys is 150 calories (81 from fat)... and considering you're probably also eating a salad, a steak, potato side, and drinking wine... it really adds uneccessary hurt to an already painfully heavy meal.

3. Lone Star Steakhouse's Texas Ribeye

http://www.ploughbasted.co.uk/steak.html

A true man's meal, no? Approximately 14 oz. of 100% American beef. It's also approximately 1,092 calories (with a whopping 794 of them from fat). Most people who order this down the whole thing, not including their sides and wine, and easily are a pound heavier in the morning.

4. Sirloin Steak

http://pinegrovemarket.com/cart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1

Although it's less caloric then the ribeye (simply because it's from a different part of the cow so the fat content is different) this cut of meat brings at least 789 calories to the table, with 424 being from fat. Again, because humans have been hardwired since time began to crave heavy, protein-rich meals, most people will eat this entire cut, along with sides and wine.

5. Bread and butter

http://thewanderingeater.com/2007/04/27/an-artful-lunch-at-the-modern-bar-room/

Always, always, always will you find these tasty starters placed in a basket on your table. STAY AWAY. Save your hunger for your meal (and save yourself the calories)! You came to the restaurant for a steak, not for the bread. 1 piece of bread is around 150 calories, with 14 from fat, but the real killer is butter. 1 teeny TABLESPOON is 102 calories with, you guessed it, ALL 102 CALORIES FROM FAT.

When the food is there, it's hard not to eat it. Trust me, I know. That was my biggest problem and it was why I got so heavy. Here are some hints that REALLY helped me cut back on unnecessary calories, and in the long run, my weight.

1. Look up the menu online. Try and do this as early in the day as you can. I understand that often dinner is only decided when it gets closer to the evening, but if you even are considering a steakhouse (or any restaurant for dinner) Google the menu, see what looks good, and plan your daily meals accordingly.

2. Plan your meals accordingly. Decide whether you want to eat little during the day, so you can treat yourself to a larger dinner, or decide whether you want to eat a bit heavier during the day, so you will be less tempted to eat as much for dinner. However, if you do eat heavier, you HAVE to make yourself order/eat less of your dinner than you regularly would.

3. Stay away from bread. Like I mentioned, did you order the bread? Usually, no. DO NOT EAT WHAT YOU DID NOT ORDER. Save room for your dinner, which will contain important nutrients like protein that your body needs, not empty carbs slathered in pure fat. If you really find yourself starving, drink water. Often your body's hunger signals can be confused with the desire for water, so always sip before you eat.

4. Easy on the meat. Red meat is good, there is no denying that. But steakhouses offer a variety of meats, like much healthier fishes and poultry dishes. If you really have to have a cut of steak, order a petite filet, or split one of the larger cuts with a dinner partner. If you eat slowly, and drink and talk between bites, you'll quickly discover you don't need the entire 14 oz. of meat to feel satisfied.

**calorie information found on caloriecount.about.com**

Upcoming: Musical Motivation: Exercise Tips

Recipe Break!, Pt. 4

2009-08-30T17:45:00.000-07:00

http://asweetfantasy.blogspot.com/2007/08/berry-berry-blueberry-muffins.html

Thank-you Caitlin, for bringing your 100 calorie muffins to this planet. Let me just say that I LOVE muffins. Blueberry muffins are the best ever. Usually, blueberry muffins are around 256 calories - 660 calories (depending on the size) with an incredible fat content. But as I was nosing around on the recipe browser of caloriecount.about.com, I discovered Caitlin's masterpieces... 98 calories per muffin, with only 10 being from fat. What a perfect addition to a healthy breakfast.

The Recipe

**yields approx. 12 muffins**

Ingredients:

- 1 cup oatmeal
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup soy milk
- 1/4 cup Egg Beaters
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 tsp. oil
- 1 cup whole-wheat flour
- 1 tbsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp. ginger
- 1/8 tsp. nutmeg

- 3/4 cup frozen blueberries
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1/4 cup brown sugar

Directions:

1) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F

2) First combine all the dry ingredients and lightly mix them, then add all the wet ingredients and mix.

3) Drop batter into muffin pan

4) Cook for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of one of the muffins comes out clean.

http://caloriecount.about.com/caitlins-100-calorie-blueberry-oats-recipe-r88122#ixzz0PiSM2WCo

Recipe Break!, Pt. 3

2009-08-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

http://eatingaroundvirginia.blogspot.com/2008/07/birthday-wishes-and-chocolate-angel.html

Chocolate is a lifestyle. So why are there so few low-fat and low-calorie chocolate desserts? Well, I have hit the jackpot. While on a recipe website, I discovered an almost NO fat AND a very low calorie chocolate Devil's Food cake, with only 114 calories per slice (1 calorie from fat)! Enjoy (:

The Recipe

**serves approx. 12**

Ingredients:

- 7/8 cup flour

- 3/4 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

- 1 cup sugar OR 1 cup Splenda

- 1 tsp. chocolate extract (Helpful Hint: If you are using Splenda, increase to 2 tsps.)

- 1 tsp. baking powder

- 1 and 1/2 cups egg whites (approx. 11 eggs) at room temperature

- 1 and 1/2 tsp. salt

- 1 tsp. cream of tartar

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 F.  

2) Chill a large mixing bowl in the freezer for 15 minutes. 

3) Sift the flour, cocoa, ¼ cup of the sugar or Splenda, and the baking powder together. Set aside.

 
4) Add egg whites to the chilled mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until slightly thickened.

5) Add the salt, chocolate extract and cream of tartar. Beat for 2 additional minutes. Slowly add the remaining sugar and continue to beat for 2-3 minutes, or until the egg whites are thick with small peaks that fold over.

6) Fold flour a little at a time into egg white mixture. Use a whisk, not an electric mixer. Be sure to preserve the airy volume of this recipe's low calorie dessert. 

7) Pour the batter carefully into a dry, clean angel food pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until the top of the cake feels dry. 

8) Remove from oven and turn pan upside down over an inverted funnel. Let cake rest upside down for 1 ½ hours. Turn right side up, cut around the inside of the pan and remove the bottom of the pan. 

9) Serve as is, or with a light whipped topping and fresh berries.

http://caloriecount.about.com/recipe-low-calorie-dessert-2-recipe-r129563

Chuck Norris Foods: The Diet Destroyers - Mexicano

2009-08-30T11:52:00.000-07:00

http://www.nycdailydeals.com/2009_01_01_archive.html

Mexican food. When it's good, it's great. All that cheese, chips, burritos, quesadillas... yum. Unfortunately, if you don't live someplace close to the border, or in the southwestern regions, quality Mexican food is hard to find. Where I live, we have Taco Bell and Don Pablo's. It never seemed like a big deal to me to swing by there, and pick up some chips and a taco or a quesadilla. But, just recently when I started my healthy eating, I got curious as to what I would be consuming in those swing-by's.

**Keep in mind that people who are trying to lose weight should keep their calories-from-fat around 15 per meal, and people who are trying to maintain the weight where they're at should still only have around 35-40 calories-from-fat per meal**

1. Taco Bell's 7-Layer Burrito

http://theangrytiki.com/2009/01/life-outside-bun-tribute-to-taco-bell.html

Here we have the famous 7-Layer Burrito (which, by the way, they've improved to the 7-Layer CRUNCH Burrito). This big boy comes packed with rice, seasoning, a three-cheese blend, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, and plenty of beans. It also comes packed with calories - an additional 520 calories (189 from fat) added to your daily allotment when you've finished this off.

2. Taco Bell's Grilled Stuffed Chicken Burrito

http://www.ehow.com/how_5277711_make-grilled-stuffed-burrito.html

This thing is HUGE. Seriously, much more food than a person needs for a lunch break. Inside this planet-esque burrito, you will find sour cream, an incredible amount of half-shredded chicken, beans, lettuce, tomato, 3 different varieties of cheeses, and lots and lots of seasonings. Oh, and also 670 calories, 225 of which are from fat. One time in Taco Bell (I've only been twice) I was behind a man who ordered three of these. Understandable if he had a family to feed, but he took them to a table for one, began eating the first one as he multitasked by opening the second one AND third one, readying them for eating. Just to do a quick calculation... that man consumed 2,010 calories, 675 of those being from fat, and that's not including his plus-sized fountain drink and container of chips and salsa. In one meal. At the end of the day. (Approximently 3,000 calories go into gaining a pound).

3. Taco Bell's Cheesy Gordita Crunch Supreme

http://www.foodfacts.info/blog/labels/Taco%20Bell.html

Where to begin. Maybe with, "This guy has, in the FIRST taco shell, tons of meat, cheese, sour cream, shredded lettuce, and cheese. And in the SECOND taco shell, if you can believe it, THREE MORE TYPES OF MELTED CHEESE!" Or maybe with, "This guy has, altogether, 610 calories, 333 of which are from fat." So more than half are from fat. By the way, since the average calories from fat of a person maintaining their weight should be, like I mentioned earlier, around 30 calories, the fat content in this thing is the same as 11.1 meals with the RIGHT calorie from fat content.

4. Tortilla Chips

http://www.sogoodblog.com/2007/11/07/would-you-rather-candy-bars-vs-tortilla-chips/

They seem so innocent, placed in brightly colored baskets with bowls of salsa beside them, just waiting to be eaten. Plus, they come with the meal, so you might as well have a few, right? Well. I heard once that, as humans, we were hardwired from the beginning to LOVE fats, sweets, and salts, because back in the day of the caveman those were extremely hard to come by so we'd eat as much as possible whenever we had the opportunity. Today, food industries make sure we get more than enough of those things in everything we eat, but our genetic hardwiring to eat as much of those as possible hasn't changed. So one chip turns into two, which then makes three, and soon the waitress is bringing another basket. These are the worst to eat before you chow down on a quesadilla, because on average tortilla chips are 140 calories, with 63 from fat, per OUNCE. The numbers add up fast, and you haven't even reached your entree yet.

5. Don Pablo's Plain Cheese Quesadilla

http://www.florenceroundhouse.com/special.html

I LOVED these as a kid, when I used to be scared of anything that had been in the vicinity of a pepper. It's just melted cheese pressed between two tortillas, how could anyone resist? Earlier today when thinking of Mexican foods for this blog, I remembered the cheese quesadilla days at Don Pablo's. Interested and not expecting much, I looked up the calorie amount on a great website called caloriecount.about.com, and my stomach dropped. 1 large (8 pieces) plain cheese quesadilla from Don Pablo's is 1,597 calories, 891 of those from fat. Trying to fight back the nausea that had taken over, I looked up the calorie amount for the half (4 piece) portion... 840-something calories, with the calories from fat being in the 400 neighborhood. Yikes.

6. Don Pablo's Guacamole

http://treataweek.blogspot.com/2009/05/simple-guacamole.html

In the summer, nothing is better than some fresh guacamole. Unfortunately, restaurant brands like Don Pablo's are 83 calories for 2 ounces... 73 of those calories from fat. So pretty much, 95% of restaurant and fast food guacamole is solid fat... not very appetizing. If you go to the link under the picture, however, you will find a great blog with recipes for FRESH guacamole, which is much less processed and much more healthy.

To sum it up. It is NOT HARD to make burritos, quesadillas, and the like at home. You can choose ingredients that are much more low-fat and end up with a delicious meal that is much more low-cal, and not to mention a lot fresher! Bring the border to your home and go to the store to find the best seasonings. Cooking with your family, and creating good, healthy food, is a lot more rewarding and healthy than sitting around a fast-food restaurant table for dinner.

**credit for the calorie amounts goes to caloriecount.about.com**

Recipe Break!, Pt. 2

2009-08-30T09:59:00.000-07:00

http://annies-eats.com/featured-topics/have-a-cookie/

Can't live without those cookies? Well. Now you don't have to. Regular chocolate chip cookies, made from following the directions on a Nestle Tollhouse bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips, are 78 calories. That doesn't seem like MUCH, but when you put into consideration that 48 of the calories are from fat, and that the dough that was supposed to have been measured out with a tablespoon (who does that?), then you begin to see why it's a bit of a problem. These low-fat versions of the classics taste great AND are a much better choice when you are craving something sweet.

The Recipe

**yields approx. 12 cookies**

Ingredients:

- 1/4 cup granulated sugar

- 1/8 cup brown sugar

- 1/8 cup applesauce

- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

- 1 egg white

- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

- 1/4 tsp. baking soda

- 1/8 tsp. salt

- 1/4 cup semi-sweet morsels

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)

2. In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and salt

3. In another bowl, stir together white sugar, brown sugar, applesauce, vanilla extract, and egg white until smooth.

4. Combine with the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the batter until moistened. Mix in chocolate chips last.

5. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

6. Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes.

http://caloriecount.about.com/low-calorie-chocolate-chip-cookies-recipe-r168084#ixzz0Pgc0yxOc

Upcoming: Diet Destroyers - Mexico

Exercise Corner, Pt 3.

2009-08-30T09:19:00.000-07:00

http://www.luxuryhousingtrends.com/archive/category/hot-tubs-pools/

It's still summer - so swim.

Reasons why swimming is a good choice: 1) You stay cool and beat the end-of-August heat. 2) You get MORE tan more quickly while you're in the water, because the water reflects the sun's light directly onto you. 3) Just by leisurely paddling around, floating, whatever, you burn a TON of calories! You don't have to be frantically doing laps in the pool to get some exercise. Just by being in the water and moving in a relaxed manner, you're getting exercise in disguise!

Calories burned per hour: 404 calories burned, just by leisurely swimming.

Which is the same as...

- 1.5 Grande Starbucks Cafe Lattes

- 0.6 of a McDonald's Big Mac with cheese

- 5.1 glasses of wine (3.5 fl. oz)

- 1.5 Snickers bars

- 13.5 carrots

**http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-burned-swimming-a541**

Upcoming: Diet Destroyers - Mexico

Italian Conundrums: Split the meal, Split the calories

2009-08-29T12:52:00.000-07:00

http://www.publix.com/aprons/meals/MainDish/SimpleMeal.do?mealId=500&mealGroupId=10

Wow. You always know when you eat any type of pasta that it is a relatively heavy dish. Whether it's covered in olive oil (no health there) or butter (not great either) or a tomato or white sauce, pasta is hard to stop eating and hard to recover from. Not saying there's anything wrong with a nice serving of pasta for dinner with fresh tomatoes, some cheese, and basil, but in most restaurants the portions are made for two people but advertised as being fit for one.

For example.
1. Olive Garden's chicken parmigiana

http://biggestmenu.com/rdr/FL/Orlando/Olive-Garden-Italian-Restaurant-Orlando-1595675/Tour-of-Italy-55741

Breaded chicken, tomato sauce, fettuccine, white pasta sauce, AND enough Parmesan cheese to make the whole plate look white, all in one dish? Sound great, right? It also sounds like enough food to be split between three people, which would be the much better option when eating a dish like this... takes some of the hurt away from the 1,090 calories that comes on this plate!

2. Olive Garden's fettuccine Alfredo

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Recipes/recipe?id=8147099

Ah, nothing better than a delicious, rich bowl of fettuccine with creamy Alfredo sauce. But when a dish like this is savored and eaten slowly, most people who have eaten regular meals during the day can only eat about 1/3 - 1/2 of a concoction like this. The white cream sauce is ridiculously rich, and a lot for our bodies to process. Top that off with all the carbs from the pasta, and you have another dish that would be better split by two than consumed by one. Plus, knowing that the dish alone is 1,220 calories isn't the best feeling to add to the bloated feeling you'd get by eating this whole thing yourself.

3. Macaroni Grill's eggplant Parmesan

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mortonfox/145237160/

Eggplant is a vegetable, right? And tomato sauce... that's not too unhealthy. So there's a little bit of cheese, so what? As a whole, it's a pretty good-for-you dish! WRONG. This huge portion is only Macaroni Grill's LUNCH size. The dinner size is bigger than this. And if a whopping 1,240 calories (576 of those are from FAT) means the dish is healthy, then this meal is probably one of the better choices that the restaurant offers!

4. Domino's Thin & Crispy Pepperoni Pizza, size large

http://www.ehow.com/how_2193638_money-pizza.html

One slice of a large, thin & crispy pepperoni pizza is NOT that sizable. It's pretty much an average pizza slice, and who ever eats just one piece of pizza, especially if the pieces are average in size? People who are aware that each slice of this pizza is 300 calories do. Although pepperoni tastes good, opt for a cheese pizza. If you are really craving that meat, order the smallest size available and do a half and half deal, half pepperoni, half cheese. That way, the most damage you'll be able to do is a maximum of 2 slices of pepperoni pizza (600 calories...EEK) because the smallest pizza is a 4 slice pizza.

So to sum this up, it's really just about portion control. If you feel like it's hard to stop eating what's in front of you even if you are full, ask someone before dinner if they can split it with you. Make sure to get a salad or other healthy appetizer so your stomach doesn't feel shortchanged. And if there is no one to split it with you, mentally draw a halfway mark down your dish, and once you reach that point discreetly douse the other half with so much pepper you couldn't stand to take another bite. (Make sure to offer bites to your family and friends first before doing this).

**All calorie sums are found from www.caloriecount.about.com**

Exercise Corner, Pt 2.

2009-08-29T12:20:00.000-07:00

http://blog.lib.umn.edu/isler010/asianamericanstudies/2009/07/yoga_event_on_campus.html

Hard day at work? No motivation for the gym?

Yoga and Tai Chi are GREAT for the stresses of mind & body

Calories burned per hour: 270 calories burned

Which is the same as...:

- 1 Grande Starbucks Cafe Latte

- 0.4 of a McDonald's Big Mac with Cheese

- 3.4 glasses of wine (3.5 fl. oz.)

- 1 Snickers bar

- 9 carrots

So not only does it burn calories, but it's a great way to end the evening. You'll sleep better. There are othr benefits too... including increased flexibility, increased connection with your inner self, and increased confidence. So don't go to bed stressed and unhappy, pop in a yoga or tai chi video and relax.

Muah loves (:

Upcoming: Mirrored Motivation (And Alliteration!)

Exercise Corner

2009-08-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

Be it on a unicycle, a two-wheeler, or a trike... summer is the perfect time to bike!

Biking is a great way to get places quickly in the healthy way. You burn a lot of calories, and pay more attention to the world around you. So get your tires filled, adjust your seat, and hit the trails!

Calories burned per hour: 542 calories (and that's just going at a regular, moderate pace!)

Which is the same as...

- 2 Grande Starbucks cafe lattes made with whole milk

- 0.8 of a McDonald's Big Mac with cheese

- 6.9 glasses of wine (3.5 fl. oz.)

- 2 Snickers bars

- 2.6 cans of Coca-Cola

- 18.1 carrots

Upcoming: Mirrored Motivation (And Alliteration!)

Chuck Norris Foods: The Diet Destroyers

2009-08-29T09:47:00.000-07:00

The internet is magical. Really. You have an entire world of knowledge at your fingertips, and can learn stuff so much faster than when you would have to go to the library and read about the subject of your interest. Don't get me wrong, reading is super important. But if you had a sudden desire to know how fast a hummingbird can fly, you Google it and BAM! There you have it, 15-20 seconds later. So today, with the help of the internet, I'm going to inform you of foods that might seem like great ideas at the time, but in reality should be avoided at all costs.

Are you ready?

**Keep in mind the average woman's daily calorie intake should be around 1,800-2,000 calories, and the average man's intake should be around 2,200-2500. For those LOSING WEIGHT, however, the average woman's intake should be around 1,200-1,500 calories, and the average man's intake should be around 1,800-2,000 calories.**

1. Marie Callender's Chicken Pot Pie

Most people love chicken pot pie as a winter dish. How could you not? It has all sorts of rich, heavy ingredients, flaky crust, AND a serving of assorted veggies. However, not many people who are busy every day with work enjoy coming home to have to be on their feet all night preparing such a meal. So, they stock up on frozen, boxed meals when they hit the grocery store. Judging by the label, this pot pie is harmless enough... with it only having 520 calories. People, please CAREFULLY read your labels. That calorie amount is for only HALF of the chicken pot pie. A lovely trick to encourage more people to buy it who's eyes go straight for the calorie amount and don't pay attention to much else. You eat the whole thing, as most people probably do, and that's 1,040 calories. Almost an entire day's allotment.

2. Olive Garden's "Tour of Italy" dish

This may seem like a great idea. You're out to dinner with a loved one or some friends, and menus at Italian joints like the Olive Garden seem to have limitless choices. How to choose? Well, hello there. There's an option on the menu for you to have a small serving of lasagna, lightly bread chicken parmigiana, and delicious fettuccine Alfredo... all at once! Do not be fooled by the idea that because you are only having a bit of each, it means you are having less calories. This meal's caloric total is 1,450 calories. Not to mention the breadsticks (150 calories) and the Garden-Fresh salad with dressing (350 calories) you had before your entree? You've had about 2,000 calories. In one meal.

3. Häagen-Dazs ice cream

Who can resist ice cream? Especially the appeal of such a name-brand treat... and all those flavors! My blurb on this is short and simple. 300 calories in 1/2 cup. I haven't even mentioned that fat content. And since when does anyone eat 1/2 cup of ice cream and stop?

4. The Cheesecake Factory's "Chris' Outrageous Chocolate Cake"

I'm not going to lie. I am a dessert girl, through-and-through. The description of this masterpiece on the menu is that it has, "layers of moist chocolate cake, chewy brownie, toasted coconut pecan filling, and creamy chocolate chip coconut cheesecake." I'm sold! But before you open your mouth to order, let me throw in a few other facts, Each piece is 5" high, and weighs 3/4 of a pound. Oh, I almost forgot to mention that it is an appealing 1,550 calories. And this is just a DESSERT. So after a day's calories, including the dinner you just ate, you are adding almost another day's worth of calories by having dessert.

5. Chipotle's "Chicken Burrito"

Fast, easy Mexican food. Perfect on the way home from work or during a lunch break. Plus, it has chicken and beans, so that makes it healthier, right? AND it's cheap. Unfortunately, you don't pay a high price in cash for these burritos but you do pay a high price in healthy. One of these guys is 1,050 calories. That's the same amount of calories in TWO 6" Subway steak and cheese subs AND a scoop of Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream! Even if you ask for your burrito without sour cream and cheese, you still have a unforgivingly whopping 830 calories on your plate.

6. Cold Stone Creamery's "Founder's Favorite" in the Gotta Have It size

AGAIN with the ice cream. And what a creation this is! I know what you're thinking. You're thinking this is a 12-ounce, larger-than-a-softball sized mound of ice cream with caramel, fudge, brownie pieces and almonds. Well, my friends, if that's what you are thinking, you are WRONG. This is so much more than that! Approximately 1,600 calories more, actually. As much as if you had had more than 5 single scoops of ice cream in cones.

Jeans feeling a bit tighter yet?

This is my first in a series of Chuck Norris Foods. In the next ones, there will be more in-depth research about the TYPES of food and the diet destroyers among them (Italian, Mexican, steakhouses, etc.)

Muah dears, more soon.

Upcoming: Mirrored Motivation (And Alliteration!)

**credit for the idea behind this blog to: http://www.cspinet.org/nah/10foods_bad.html**

Recipe break!

2009-08-29T08:47:00.000-07:00

Alright. This isn't the official "post of the day". But. It is a recipe to take to the grave. Regular brownies are high cal and high fat (with a 2" square piece ranging from 120 cals - 243 cals. when you add the icing) but these chocolaty treats are only 71 calories a square, with only 4 of those calories being from fat! The ingredients may raise a red flag to some, but once mixed and baked, the result is a wonderful brownie that won't leave you feeling bloated, heavy, or guilty.

The Recipe

**yields approx. 24 squares**

Ingredients:

- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 egg whites
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce or prune puree
- 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
- 63 grams milk, non-fat

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with nonfat cooking spray.

3.In a medium bowl, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt.

4. In a large bowl, lightly beat egg whites.

5. Add vanilla, applesauce, sour cream and milk. Whisk until well blended.

6. Add dry ingredients and mix until just moist. DO NOT OVER MIX!!

7. Empty batter into pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. The center should still be slightly soft.

8. Cool in pan for a few minutes and continue to cool on a wire rack.

Read more: http://caloriecount.about.com/low-calorie-fat-brownies-recipe-r133844#ixzz0PaQZw6Ky

Later today: Chuck Norris Foods: The Diet Destroyers

Summer Produce Anhillation Begins SOON.

2009-08-28T14:14:00.000-07:00

ATTENTION! Summer is coming a close, and the produce will be disappearing! GET YOUR SUMMERY GOODIES WHILE THEY STILL ARE IN SEASON.

- Peaches: 39 calories for 1 medium peach, 61 calories for 1 large peach

- Strawberries: 1 cup of whole strawberries is 46 calories

- Corn (w.out butter or salt): 1 medium-sized ear is 77 calories, 1 large ear is 123 calories

- Cherries: 1 cup, with pits, is 74 calories

- Tomatoes: 1 large tomato is only 38 calories

The low-cal, delicious snacks, sides, and meals that can be made from these are going out of season! So purchase accordingly from local farmer's markets.
Try and get organic, simply because of the drastic difference in pesticide amounts when compared to non-organic. Also, I forgot to mention... in all the fruit and veggies up above, not one of them have more than 5 of their calories as calories from fat. How could you deny that summer produce is a godsend for decreasing stomachs and thighs?

Caloric Art

2009-08-28T11:02:00.000-07:00

     As promised! I usually won't do two blogs in one day, but I figured Chuck Norris should come tomorrow, because that will be a lot more in depth.

Diet tip 'o' the day: When baking, or cooking in general, make sure to eat 10 minutes before you start. 1 cup of lettuce is approximately only 8 calories (0 from fat) and 1 tbsp. of low-cal/low-fat dressing is usually in the 60-100 calorie area. **SHAMELESS PROMOTION: Wishbone low-cal salad spritzers are only 10 calories, 1 from fat, for 10 sprays. That's only ONE calorie per spray! The Balsamic Vinaigrette brand is my favorite.** By doing this, you cut back on the desire to snack on your creation along the way, you increase the healthy calories and eliminate unhealthy calories, and you save the batter for the cake! Just think about it. 8 calories from lettuce, 10 calories if you use the Wishbone spritzer, and that's an 18 calorie (with 1 calorie from fat) snack or meal that leaves you feeling full AND is healthy!

        You know how for family get-togethers and parties it really helps those hosting sometimes to contribute some food? While on the internet, someone wrote that she purposefully spent a lot of time on the desserts she was asked to bring by making the decorations beautiful. She said that it was much more fulfilling at the parties to get many compliments on how lovely the creations were, and it was much LESS filling at the same time since she was much less inclined to ruin the masterpiece that was her dessert. By turning her sweets into beautiful works of art, she created an aesthetic crowd pleaser AND really lost the desire to eat something that to her was now art!

      The following are pictures I found on sites like Flickr and Google, where others have turned sweet food into art, making desserts so much more pleasing to look at and admire you hardly have room in your brain to consider eating them.

**Wall-E (a character from a Disney-Pixar movie) cake**

http://www.toxel.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/coolcakes04.jpg

**Big Mac cake in custom cake box**

Cool Cakes Co.

**Blackberry cake, for those workaholics out there**

Cool Cakes Co.

**Nutty owl cupcakes**

http://catchingfireflies.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/10/08/owl_cupcakes.jpg

**AND, from a collection of 12, two of my favorites...**

http://www.mrmalique.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/cookiemonster1.jpg

Last but not least! Another baking tip: while baking, fill your sink with warm, soapy water, so you can put used bowls and spoons in the water immediately. This, obviously, prevents you from licking those calories off. Think of it this way, the less you eat while making it, the more (although not completely) guilt free you can be while snacking on the aftermath of your creation.

Muah dears, get those artistic vibes flowing and make art too good to eat!

Upcoming: (as mentioned in the last blog)
Chuck Norris Foods: The Diet Destroyers

No Place to Hide from the Deep Fried

2009-08-28T07:41:00.000-07:00

Fried food. It used to be a thing confined to state fair treats called "elephant ears" and "funnel cakes." But in the past 15 years, more and more things are being deep fried. It started with Twinkies, then progressed to Oreos and Snickers. Now, the deep fryers are in the major leagues, with deep fried pizza, deep fried chocolate-covered bacon (oh yes), deep fried Coke, and deep fried Pepsi rings. I was researching fried foods via google to see what more people than just I thought about this new trend. In response to a blog on a health website, a woman told a story of her friend who, and I quote her quoting her friend, said, "When the kids are in doubt, we deep fry it out." Apparently, green beans, fruits, and other such horrid healthy things are so scary to kids they needed to disguise them under layers of hardened grease and batter.

It gives you a strange view of America today. Not only are we rapidly gaining weight as a nation, but we have to disguise the healthy food AS junk food to get our children to eat it? Does this seem a little WRONG to anyone else here? Is there any thought process at all behind what we are teaching today's kids? A little bit of fried food is ok. I mean, Dunkin Donuts is everywhere and state fairs are what makes a summer, well, summer. But please. Almost all types of diabetes used to only be for adults, and now children are getting it every day due to adolescent obesity. Let's not encourage heart attacks to start spreading like wildfire among our child and teen communities too by clogging their arteries with FRIED green beans!

I wanted to show you all some pictures I found on someone else's blog, to show you where we have headed (credit below each photo).

**Deep fried Coke**