Category: smart eating

Use by dates have different meanings for different people

A new study finds that Americans have different ideas what “Use by” dates on food products mean.

Some see them as indications of deteriorating quality while others think they indicate the safety of consuming the food involved, found The International Food Information Council (IFIC) in a study released this June.

“When survey takers were asked what “Best by,” “Best if used by,” and “Use by” dates mean to them, 48% of survey takers say the date labeling indicates when a product begins to lose quality.

“Another 29% believe the dates signal when the food is no longer safe to eat, while 17% think they indicate when the product should be discarded. Just 5% say they do not know the purpose of date labeling on food packaging,” the IFIC says in a PowerPoint presentation it issued on the survey.

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Was it fiber or taste that propelled Olipop and Poppi?

Are Americans so worried about their stomach health that they’re willing to spend more than three-quarters of a billion dollars a year on gut-health-promoting sodas?

That might be too simple an explanation for the rapid growth of competitors Olipop and Poppi, according to a fascinating analyst in the Food Institute site by Dr. James Richardson is the founder of Premium Growth Solutions,rt a strategic planning consultancy for early-stage consumer packaged goods brands.

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Säti Slim — A sugar-free soda option for Memorial Day

I grew up drinking Coke and Pepsi. These days, I tend to drink Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi despite concerns about the sweeteners they use. But when an alternative come along, I’ll try it. The makers of Säti Soda Slim, rolled out late last year, were nice enough recently to offer me samples to review.

“Säti Slim’s ingredients were meticulously chosen to give you that caffeine kick at no expense to your health and wellness. Keeping with Säti Soda’s commitment to providing both function and flavor, Säti Slim includes:

  •  Clean caffeine sourced from 150 mg of green coffee beans for that energy boost and appetite suppression
  • Functional Benefits: Includes PurC, an organic Vitamin C blend from Acerola fruit, which supports immunity, skin health, and acts as a natural preservative & Lion’s Mane supporting cognition and caffeine absorption
  •  Zero-sugar, zero-stevia, zero-artificial sweeteners: Sweetened with only organic monk fruit.
  • Better-for-You Option: A clean, organic energy drink that prioritizes health without compromising on flavor,” explains a company press release.
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But I only had a salad — with a truckload of junk on it

“Oh, I’ll just get a salad,” is what people worried about gaining weight say when they eat out with friends. Salads are low-cal right?

That depends. Places like the Cheesecake Factory load salads with so many unhealthy things they soon become high-calorie, high-fat and high-salt.

Opt for salads without much added to the lettuce.

Indeed, salads made this list from AARP: 12 Foods That May Cause Unhealthy Weight Gain.

“Salads can be loaded with fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals—but what you put on them matters. Piling on cheese, bacon bits, croutons or creamy dressings can pack more calories than you expect. 

“Tip: Keep your portions in check when using calorie-dense toppings and opt for a light vinaigrette instead of creamy dressings. For an even bigger nutritional boost, go for a variety of colorful veggies and lean proteins to keep you full,” says the AARP article.

Other items on the list, such as nuts which are often touted as healthy, may surprise you too.

Even olive oil, everyone’s favorite fat these days, made the list. Quantity matters is the lesson here.

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Seven 100-calorie snacking options

I’m always wary of stories with headlines like 7 Foods Under 100 Calories You’ll Love. Normally those lists involve mostly foods I don’t like to eat, such as nuts.

Eating watermelon doesn't fill me up, although it's high in water content.
A fun snack, although I don’t find it filling at all given its high water content.

But this list from LoseIt! actually has six things I do like to snack on — six out of seven, not bad. The only loser for me is hard-boiled eggs.

The rest — cherry tomatoes, yogurt, edamame, oranges, popcorn and watermelon, are all items I turn to when I don’t want to eat junk food.

Watch for them on sale at your local supermarket and then try them. Pints of cherry tomatoes and watermelon cups tend to be on sale regularly where I live, for example.

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Back at Panera, but not for long

Before my first heart attack in 2012, the Panera chain of fast-casual restaurants was a regular stop for me at lunch time. But the overwhelming amounts of salt in most of their offerings meant I couldn’t go there post-heart attack, as I wrote back in 2014.

This week, however, I found myself with little choice but a Panera, so I thought I would give it another try. Panera salad offerings are plentiful and I found one with a reasonable amount of salt if I used my own oil and vinegar instead of a store dressing. But the tiny size of what I received compared to the high price means I won’t be heading to Panera again anytime soon.

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Better eating can seem like a mountain to climb, but here are some small steps to start the journey

We’re into April now, past the time most people give up on New Year’s resolutions like, “this year, I’m going to eat healthier.”

Stuck at a fast food outlet? Try to find one still offering salads like this one at Buona Beef in Chicago.

Eating healthy in a society drenched in high-fat, high-salt, high-calorie, high-sugar foods can seem like an impossible mountain to climb. If you’re like me, you’ve climbed it many times, only to slide back down when you hear the siren songs of your favorite junk foods.

But don’t give up, here’s an interesting piece called 13 Small Changes You Can Make to Eat Healthier Forever that may help.

The steps really are small, like start your day with a glass of water or eat a vegetable with every meal, but they can add up.

Some, like focusing on fiber and adding more omega-3s (found in such fish as salmon), I’m already doing. Others, like thinking about food as a friend rather than an enemy or getting enough sleep, I still struggle with.

Healthier eating is a journey, not a destination for most of us. Keep walking.

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Hungry after dinner? try these tips

My wife doesn’t believe it when I say it, but I am hungry all the time. After dinner? Still hungry. So this piece, Why Am I Still Hungry After Dinner? Plus, What to Eat caught my eye.

The Crab Pot seafood feast
Eat all this and stillmfeel hungry? You need to read this article.

Turns out what I eat, and don’t eat, along with when I eat during a day, all can contribute to feeling hungry after a meal, the piece on LoseIt.com notes. So can plain old stress, which I constantly feel too.

“Before reaching for an after-dinner snack, it’s important to assess whether you’re truly hungry or just eating out of habit. Staying hydrated, ensuring you’re consuming enough calories, focusing on protein and fiber-rich foods, and savoring every bite of your meal can all make a difference in achieving fullness. Additionally, avoiding overly restrictive habits with sweets can help,” the piece advises.

Check it out for more details. It may help you get your hunger under control.

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Time for our annual hidden sugar primer

When I saw Justvegantoday.com writing this piece about hidden sugars, I thought — haven’t I written about that before? Yes, severel times it seems. But it’s good to have an annual reminder.

Sugar is hiding everywhere in our food supply, be aware.

“Sugar often masquerades under various aliases, making it even more challenging to identify them in an ingredients list. Common names include fructose, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, and dozens more. Manufacturers often use these alternative names to disguise the actual amount of sugar they are putting into products,” Justvegantoday.com writes.

How to combat the sugar rush?

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