Kemp’s low-fat frozen yogurt: a winner in my book

Fat-free frozen yogurt at Costco is a weekly treat for me, one of the few I have these days compared to my pre-angioplasty eating ways. And I’ve been amazed at the limited options to find fat-free packaged frozen yogurts in local supermarkets.

Recently, however, I did find a low-fat frozen yogurt, Kemps, which I’ve really enjoyed and plan to buy again. As you can see on the nutrition info here, it has only 1.5 grams of fat per half cup or 3 grams for a cup, which I consider a serving. Salt content is low. Continue reading “Kemp’s low-fat frozen yogurt: a winner in my book” →

May 19, 2014 3

Goldfish and snacking challenges

Snacking on anything I used to snack on has become impossible on my low-salt, low-fat, low-sugar diet. I’ve written about how I’ve found a way to make my own potato chips with no fat and no salt. But they take a great deal of time, so are hardly a handy snack.

Pepperidge Farm Goldfish, once considered a healthy snack, really aren't for me. — Pepperidge Farm Goldfish, once considered a healthy snack, really aren’t for me.

I was reminded of the snacking challenge recently when a candidate for office in our area was handing out bags of Pepperidge Farm Goldfish at my train station one morning. When my children were growing up, Goldfish were considered the healthy snack, better than chips or ice cream or other normal kid fare. Continue reading “Goldfish and snacking challenges” →

May 16, 2014 0

Salt-free, fat-free potato chips: why not make your own

I’ve written about salt-free potato chips I’ve bought as a substitute for the regular potato chips I once loved. But while they were salt-free, they still are fat laden, so I’ve stayed away from potato chips, by and large.

Recently, however, I found a microwave device that promised me potato chips in the micro in minutes, no oil needed. The idea was too good for me to pass up, so I bought TopChips by Mastrad for $20.95 at a kitchen store.

TopChips make salt-free, fat-free chips to satisfy your potato chip cravings.

My wife and I recently bought two potatoes to try it out and I’m happy to report the chips turned out well, although it did take some trial and error. Continue reading “Salt-free, fat-free potato chips: why not make your own” →

May 5, 2014 4

Low-fat cookies: here’s one to try, from Hannahmax Baking

Cookies, especially chocolate chip cookies, were one of my favorite binge foods but since my angioplasty, cookies have been largely out of my diet. I keep searching for low-fat, low-sodium varieties, but few exist. I did find one variety at Whole Foods, but buying those requires a special trip to the one (of three) Whole Foods in my area that carries them regularly.

So I was excited to see a cookie that seemed relatively low-fat and low-sodium at a local Jewel supermarket. The offering, from Hannahmax Baking, was relatively tasty and if you look at the nutrition label on the package, you’d think it was low-fat and low-sodium. Five of these chocolate chip cookies has only six grams of fat.

Hannahmax cookie chips nutrition information.

Continue reading →

April 24, 2014 0

Diet soda and eating more: more sad news

I once used diet soda as a substitute for all the sweet, creamy treats I couldn’t have. These days, I’ve cut down on diet soda along with everything else as I redo my eating and drinking habits since having an angioplasty done 18 months ago. But twice a week, I still allow myself a diet beverage.

So I was sad to read this Reuters article about a new study saying people who drink diet beverages tend to consume more calories. Sad, but not really surprised, since I think people regularly assume if they have diet products, they can eat more than they otherwise would and still be ok.

My Super Big Gulp days are over when it comes to diet soda, but I miss it.

“People who were overweight or obese generally consumed the same amount of calories a day no matter what they drank, but those who chose diet drinks got more of those calories from food,” the article notes.
Continue reading “Diet soda and eating more: more sad news” →

February 21, 2014 2

Sugar and heart disease: is sugar deadly?

Sugar has been the one vice (of fat, salt and sugar) that I have had the most difficulty dropping since my angioplasty 18 months ago. I feel like without it, in things like frozen yogurt and low-fat cookies, my food life would be endlessly boring.

so I was extremely saddened to see reports of a new study linking sugar and heart disease.

nutrition labeling — A 3 Musketeers bar nutrition panel, is sugar the culprit for heart problems, rather than the fat or salt we also need to watch?

A CBS News report on this study states:

“Having a cinnamon roll with your morning coffee, a super-sized sugary soda at lunch and a scoop of ice cream after dinner would put you in the highest risk category in the study. That means your chance of dying prematurely from heart problems is nearly three times greater than for people who eat only foods with little added sugar. Continue reading “Sugar and heart disease: is sugar deadly?” →

February 10, 2014 1

America’s Obesity Epidemic

Infrographics usually don’t grab me, but this one did. I have written about America’s obesity epidemic in a past job and now write about healthcare, which is dealing with the consequences of the epidemic.

Weight was also a struggle for me for many years, until my angioplasty forced me to stop eating all the foods I once loved. The result of that was losing about 30 pounds. So I know we could lick obesity if we simply give up everything that tastes good to our American palates trained to love sugar, fat and salt. We also have to give up our love of cheap food and lots of food for our dollar because the cheapest foods are usually the worst for us.

John

February 6, 2014 0

Salt-free potato chips for Super Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl Sunday is a time for lots of junk food while you’re watching the game, so it can be painful when you’re on a salt, fat and/or sugar-restricted diet. I wrote last year about some alternatives I’d found that included salt-fee chips.

This year, I’ve tested out a new variety of salt-free potato chips that I found at Whole Foods, Michael Season’s. I tried two varieties, Herb Garden Ranch and Asian Bar-b-que. The barbecue variety tasted less sugary than other similar chips, a good thing if you’re watching your sugar.

Michael Season's unsalted chips were very tasty. — Michael Season’s unsalted chips were very tasty.

Season's barbecue chips were my favorite. — Season’s barbecue chips were my favorite.

The nutrition breakdown, 17 chips has 140 calories and 7 grams of fat but only 10 mgs of salt. The fat content is still a little high so I have to limit my intake of these, but they were extremely tasty for being unsalted. I’d recommend them for game day, if you can find them. The company website suggests trying Kroger stores as well as Whole Foods and Amazon sells them too. Continue reading “Salt-free potato chips for Super Bowl Sunday” →

February 1, 2014 5

Irene’s fat-free biscotti, a great baked item

I miss cakes and cookies so much since my angioplasty, but I’m restricted to no more than 40 grams of fat a day and 1,200 mgs of salt, so baked goods are largely off my plate these days. I’ve been searching for some that are low- or no-fat and low- or no-sodium at the same time, with some good results.

A favorite is Irene’s fat-free biscotti slices carried by Whole Foods and until recently by my local Jewel supermarket.

Irene's biscotti slices are expensive, but good when you crave something baked. — Irene’s biscotti slices are expensive, but good when you crave something baked.

Continue reading →

January 27, 2014 1

Vending machine calorie counts are coming

Vending machine snacks are notoriously high in calories, fat, sugar and salt, so I haven’t bought anything from such a machine for the more than a year since my angioplasty. Now, the federal government is requiring machine operators to post calorie counts for everything in them.

The hope is seeing calorie counts will convince people to eat fewer calories. It’s the same logic behind the federal mandate that large restaurant chains also post calorie counts for their foods. Regulators these days are obsessed with the national obesity epidemic and seem to think tackling calories is the best way to fight it. I’m happy for more labeling but think people also need to be seeing how much salt (which contributes to high blood pressure), fat (which can lead to clogged arteries and heart problems) and sugar (too much of which can trigger diabetes) are in every product as well.