It’s not food – I can tell you that much!

I recently stumbled upon Women’s Heath’s:  Food Additive Glossary. It pretty scary but I think that everyone should have a close look at this article. It will definitely effect your decision at the grocery store on your next trip!

http://eatthis.womenshealthmag.com/blog/food-additive-glossary

Feel free to write in with thoughts!

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• I love it because it has 20 grams of protein in it! Most yogurts have 2 to 6 grams. This is sure to help keep you feeling full and satisfied whether you eat it as a snack or include it in a yummy breakfast.
• I also love it because low fat dairy is great for weight loss! Recent studies suggest that dairy products help eliminate fat from your body!
• Not to mention that protein takes more time and is harder for your body to digest then carbohydrates or fat! What does that mean?
• 1. You burn more calories working to digest protein then you do fat or carbohydrates.
• 2. Because it takes more time to digest, you stay full longer.
• And of course, this product has 150mg of calcium, that’s 15% of your recommended daily intake.

Liberte now makes a Greek Style Yogurt that is rich, thick and creamy and a pretty close (although not a prefect) match to my favorite Fage .

Here are the stats for 175ml (3/4 cup):

Check back in! I’m going to post one of my favorite Greek Yogurt breakfast recipes !

* Monday’s Steps – 10,197! Whoot!

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I posted about these fantastic fiber finds months and months ago – but they were only available in the States at that time. We’ll I’ve got great news, Gnu Bars are now available in Canada!! I recently found them at Noah’s Health Food Store!

CLICK HERE to find out what my favorite flavors are and to read about all the healthy reasons I love this product!

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The best part is – they are free of corn syrup, trans fats and all that other crap. The list of ingredients consists of 4 items: Organic Corn Grits (50%), Organic corn (48%) the last 2% is: expeller-pressed organic sunflower oil and sea salt.

Check out the Stats for 3 Corn Thins:

Yes, you could have 3 of these plain as a snack or you could spread some Laughing Cow Light Cheese and sliced tomato on a couple. OR you could get more inventive!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Crunch

1. 1tsp Natural Peanut Butter
2. 1 tsp Dark Chocolate Chips ( I use Ghiardelli 60% Cacao)
3. 1/2 ounce sliced banana
4. 1 Corn Thin

• Melt Chocolate Chips and P.B together in the microwave for 10 seconds.
• Stir.
• Spread onto the Corn Thin.
• Thinly slice banana on top.
• Finish in the Toaster Oven or Regular Oven at 350 until the Bananas start to warm!
• ENJOY!

Check back for “Chopped Chicken Curry Salad with Fruit Chutney on Corn Thins“  recipe!

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Here is how you turn your Artichoke Heart into a pita replacement!

1. Wash your Artichoke Heart
2. Cut the base stem off and the pointy tips on all the leaves. This is best done with scissors.
3. Place your Artichoke In a boiling pot of water, and let it boil for 30 – 40 minutes.
4. Remove and cool.
5. Serve along side any dip!
6. Pick a leaf off! Use the bottom of the leave (the meat) to scoop the dip and then with your teeth you scrap the leaf so that you get the meat from the plant and a little dip too!

* You can also scoop out the top few leaves and put your dip inside the middle of the Artichoke for a fancied up version!

P.S- The ‘heart’ is the BEST part. it’s hidden under all the leaves at the very bottom of the plant! YUMM!

Now, here is the scoop on the Artichoke:

1. 25 calories in a medium artichoke with no fat or cholesterol!
2. 16 essential nutrients!
3. 12% recommended daily Intake (RDI) of Fiber
4. 10% RDI of Folate
5. 10% RDI Vitamin C
6. Not to mention Iron, potassium, magnesium and calcium to name a few!
7. All these vitamins and minerals can help reduce the risk of certain types of heart disease, cancers and birth defects.

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Armstrong Old Cheddar Cheese Strings are made from Canadian Cheddar! And really, I love them because they taste delicious. It’s a just a way to switch up your cheese strings! They are a 31% milk fat , but are portioned so you don’t have to worry about over doing it.

*150 mg of calcium (that’s 15% of your recommended daily intake).

Really, I should no be calling them cheese strings, Armstrong Cheese snacks are more like a stick. Anyway- they are YUM- MY! They do make two other flavors, but I love the Old Cheddar.

Here is the scoop:

Where can you get these great, yummy snacks? I’ve found them in a really weird place to buy cheese – at the drugstore! If you’re in Canada, Shoppers Drug Mart sells them. If you find anywhere else that sells them, feel free to write in and let us know!

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So, are low fat, low or no sugar, low calorie foods good for us ? Short answer – In my opinion, no.

1. Calories in these types of treats are replaced with chemicals that provide no nutrients. When you eat, your body expects to receive nutrients. When it does not get these nutrients, it wants them- leaving you feeling hungry and wanting more. So after your sugar free snack – your going to feel hungrier and your cravings will get stronger  – inevitably you will eat more.
2. Many give themselves permission to eat more. If you went into a place like Baskin Robbins, you would order your ice cream- eat your portion and leave- feeling satisfied with your treat – knowing that you just ate something sinful and delicious. But (most of us- not all) have a low fat treat and feel like- “Hey! I can have another! It’s low fat!” And another leads to another and maybe another of something else! It was low fat, right!? Well, after 2 or 3 – low fat it is NOT.
3. And if we’re not talking about the sweet stuff, lower calorie and fat products have to replace what they took out with something so that they still taste good. What do they do ? They take the fat out and they put salt and fillers in. CLICK HERE to read about salt and the effects it can have on your heart. Low fat, low calorie food tends to be VERY high in salt.

Here is my personal opinion, you can take it or leave it!

1. If your going to have a treat, then have a treat!  Something with real food in it! Bake a batch of brownies and have one, bake chocolate chip cookies and have two! Go out for ice cream and have 1/2 a cup! These are foods your body will be able to use properly and know what to do with when you eat them.
2. If your eating the REAL DEAL, your going to have less of it because you know that it is high in fat and calories! Chances are, you will consume less calories and fat then you would have if you opted for the low fat version.
3. If you REALLY REALLY WANT IT – BAKE IT! Anything baked is better for you than out of a box! (In moderation of course) You are putting whole ingredients into your food and you can see exactly what is going in it. It’s kind of hard to imagine a batch of cookies you make at home lasting for a year without going stale. Well, think about the chemicals that have to go into the box of cookies at the supermarket in order to make them have a long shelf life. Its not normal.

***PLUS- there are ways to make homemade baking a little healthier using real food - CLICK HERE to read my healthy baking swaps!***

Leave all the chemical ridden foods behind you! If you want a treat, save up for the real thing!

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Bite Sized Shredded Wheat - Whole Grain Wheat.

*Come on! This is an amazing cereal with ONE ingredient! How rare!

Kashi Whole Grain Cereal Puffs - Kashi Seven Whole Grain & sesame ( Hard red wheat, brown rice, whole grain oats, triticale barley, try, buckwheat, sesame seeds)

*All food, no sugar. Try adding 1/4 cup of Grape Nuts or Original All Bran to add some fiber!

Weetabix : Whole Wheat, Barley Malt Extract, Sugar, Salt, Iron, Niacin, Thiamine Hydrochloride.

* Yes, there is sugar in there- but it’s not corn syrup and it’s not some chemical like Aspartam or Sucralose. Plus your only getting 2 grams of sugar in one serving!

Smart Bran – Organic wheat bran, organic oat fiber, organic evaporated cane juice, organic psyllium seed husk, organic barley malt extract, organic oat bran, organic whole oat flour, sea salt.

Grape Nuts – Whole grain wheat flour, wheat flour, malted barley four, salt, dried yeast, soy lecithin. *Enriched with the following vitamin and minerals- iron, vitamin B6, zinc to name a few

Original Kashi Go Lean - Soy Grits, Kashi Seven Whole Grain & sesame ( Hard red wheat, brown rice, whole grain oats, triticale barley, try, buckwheat, sesame seeds), evaporated cane juice, corn meal, corn flour, soy protein, wheat bran , oar fiber, corn bran, honey, evaporated cane juice, natural flavors, calcium carbonate, salt, annattoo color.

* 13 grams of protein and 10 grams of fiber in one bowl! Wow! And no chemicals or corn syrup to boot!

All Bran Original (The sticks) – Wheat bran, sugar, malt (corn flour, malted barley), salt, vitamins (thiamine hydrochloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, d-calcium pantothenate), iron.

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Here is why I love it so much:

• It’s ingredients include : Tomato, Carrots, Basil, Olive oil, Onions, Celery, Salt and Seasonings.
• This sauce has no added sugar, preservatives, thickeners or trans fats. Finding a store bought sauce without sugar or corn syrup is hard to do!

For 100 ml (a little less than 1/2 a cup)

I’ve tried both the Garden Fresh Tomato & Basil and the Arrabbiata (Spicy! But in a good way!) I found the Mediterranean Garden brand at Fiesta Farms. It’s a local grocery store in Toronto, Canada. The Mediterranean Garden site does not have much information on it but have a click – it may be worth a call to see if they sell it in a store near you!.  www.stellarfood.com

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