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Test Your Canned Foods IQ!

YumSugar — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:00:07 -0800

Canned goods may get a bad rap once in a while, but they deserve an upstanding reputation. Not only is canned food ultra-safe and convenient, but it's also consistently affordable.

If you haven't restocked your pantry with cans yet this year, now's the time to do it - February is National Canned Food Month! How much do you know about this method of preservation, which has saved household dinners for over a century? Find out when you take our quiz.

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Can You Identify These Brands?

YumSugar — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 03:10:31 -0800

February is national canned food month, and even the snobbiest of food snobs out there must surely purchase some sort of canned food, such as tomatoes for homemade sauce. In fact canned foods are so common, I wonder if you could identify the brands by looks alone. I took some nationally recognizable canned food brands and blurred out their logos. Can you identify them?

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Spam Turns 70 - Take a Quiz to Celebrate!

YumSugar — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:03:33 -0800

A little while back, our very own canibits presented me with a loverly can of Spam. Turns out the luncheon meat that you either love or love to hate is turning 70 this year. To celebrate I thought I'd test your Spam knowledge. Think you know what this stuff is made of? Then give it your best shot!

Take the quiz

Diet Tip: Focus on What You Can Eat, Not What You Can't

FitSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:30:00 -0700

When you're trying to lose weight, many people work on only eating healthy foods, and they say no to cakes, cookies, greasy foods, and the like. With diet restrictions, it's hard not to think about all the foods that are off-limits, but instead of mourning for cheesecake and cheese fries, focus on the foods you can eat. Take a glass-half-full attitude, and revel in all the luscious fruits, the savory vegetables, the chewy whole grains, and the creamy lowfat yogurt and cheese. Although it's true they're healthy for you, they're also deliciously satisfying. There are so many healthy foods that offer bold flavors and textures - especially with Summer coming - they're bound to satisfy your sweet, salty, or crunchy cravings.

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Bare Bones: Pet Food Can Cover

PetSugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 03:00:02 -0700

Spring cleaning doesn't have to be limited to actual cleaning. You can take this opportunity to tidy up your daily routine as well. And what better way than to start with your beloved pets, and the food that fuels your pet's body! Since you should be keeping your pet food in a sealed container – to keep creepy crawlies from munching on it instead of your dog or cat – these Bamboo Can Covers ($7) come in handy for those wet food containers. Since aluminum foil doesn't quite make the cut for keeping the food sealed and fresh, this can cover keeps an airtight seal and is inexpensive to replace if your furry friend somehow gets a hold of it, mistaking it for a toy. Plus, it will help your fridge smell free. Not that you don't love the smell of your pet's food, right? Right.

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Campbell's Chicken Noodle BPA-Leaching Soup

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:00:23 -0800

It's uncertain how risky bisphenol A (BPA) is to humans, but I figure better safe than sorry. I threw out my potentially risky water bottles and containers but now a new study from Consumer Reports says there's BPA in my canned goods, too. Metal cans are often lined with plastic that contains BPA to protect the food.

The magazine tested 19 canned food products, finding levels of BPA in each product, including cans labeled "BPA free." The biggest culprits were Progresso Vegetable Soup, Campbell's Condensed Chicken Noodle Soup, and Annie's Home Grown Organic Cheesy Ravioli. Though the FDA has said in the past that BPA is safe in food contact materials, it's now revisiting the issue to see if BPA exposure limits should be revised.

If you are concerned about the effects of BPA, try limiting or cutting out canned goods from your diet. Also, look for foods packaged in glass, paper, or freezer bags.

Healthy Ways to Deal With Thanksgiving Leftovers

FitSugar — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:00:37 -0800

Thanksgiving never seems to be a one-day affair, at least not the food part. Properly stored, leftovers can last up to four days, beckoning you to eat more, more, and then some! This Thanksgiving, resist the urge to overindulge by finding healthier alternatives for your T-day leftovers. Here are a few of our ideas - share your own in the comments section below.

Get rid of them. Buy some inexpensive containers before your meal to pack up leftovers for guests and send friends and family home with the most decadent dishes.
Make a healthy salad. Turkey is packed full of protein and tastes great on a salad. Use leftover cranberry sauce to make a healthy dressing - mix a dab with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Make a turkey curry. Turkey is great in a curry because it easily soaks up the flavors of a sauce. Try using turkey instead of the tofu in our Indian-Spiced Chard recipe.

For more healthy leftover ideas, read more.

Make turkey stock. I always like to have broth or stock on hand because it adds a ton of flavor to my cooking and can be the base of a variety of dishes. Storebought broth usually has a ton of added salt, so I think it's best to make your own. Save the carcass of the bird and break it up into a large stock pot, then add mirepoix, garlic, and savory herbs. Cover the entire mixture by at least two inches of water and let simmer for five hours. If the water level falls below the ingredients, add more liquid to the mix. Cool quickly, store in the refrigerator, or freeze.
Use turkey stock to make a delicious soup. Cut up any extra veggies you have leftover from your T-day meal or ingredients, add some barley or brown rice, throw it in your stock, and you've got a simple, tasty soup.
Puree leftover vegetables. Healthy vegetable side dishes are great to have after Thanksgiving, but give them new life and puree them. A veggie puree can be the base of a soup or pasta sauce. Veggie purees can also add moisture to baked goods.
Make an open-faced sandwich. Everybody loves the day after Thanksgiving sandwich. Make your sandwich healthier by only using one slice of bread.

Dealing With Digestion After the Feast

FitSugar — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:50:40 -0800

Feeling a bit stuffed? It is a common problem on Thanksgiving and can lead to discomfort. Here are a few ways to aid your digestion and detox after your big meal.

After the meal:

Drink herbal tea: ginger tea, chamomile, and peppermint all improve digestion. Warm beverages promote digestion in general, so if you don't have these on hand, any kind of herbal tea will help.
Chewable papaya enzyme can help promote digestion as well.
Don't lie down for two to three hours after eating to avoid indigestion and acid reflux.

Learn how to help your digestive system tomorrow when you read more.

The next morning:

Eat oatmeal for breakfast. It is high in insoluble fiber, which helps get things moving, if you know what I mean.
Drink plenty of water to help the body digest and eliminate waste. Insoluble fiber needs water to help it do its magic.

The rest of the day:

Eat foods high in insoluble fiber at every meal, like carrot sticks with your turkey sandwich (made with whole wheat bread, of course).
Get moving. Exercise stimulates the intestines, and this will get things moving as well. A little sweating helps the body process and burn the extra calories you consumed. Plus a good workout helps eliminate any guilt you might be feeling about having second helpings of almost every dish.
Skip the alcohol for the day after, especially if you imbibed heavily on Thanksgiving. It will give your liver a break while it works to help break down all the fat from your prior day's meal.

Are You on Top of Your Turkey Trivia?

YumSugar — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:30:12 -0800

Today's the big day, and hopefully you've done all the shopping, prepping, and planning ahead that you can. Since you might be spending a lot of time in the kitchen, I suggest you take a short break to talk some turkey.

Because Thanksgiving's the biggest food holiday, I was able to find plenty of interesting facts out there about the shining star of the feast: the big ol' bird. Are you able to tackle all of my turkey facts? Or will the questions prove to be tougher than Auntie May's turkey breast? You'll know when you take the quiz.

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Coke Launches New 90-Calorie Mini Can

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:00:35 -0700

Coca-Cola is giving consumers even more ways to manage their calories with the introduction of its new 7.5 oz. mini can. The 90-calorie can will be released in select East Coast cities this December, with a nationwide rollout set for 2010.

“As the world’s largest beverage company, we take seriously the need to help consumers balance calories consumed with calories expended,” said Sandy Douglas, president, Coca-Cola North America. “The Coca-Cola mini can innovation reinforces the Company’s support for healthy, active lifestyles.”

This announcement is coming on the heels of the company's move to put calorie information of the front of all its packaging. They've also partnered with Healthy Weight Commitment, a group of retailers and food manufacturers committed to reducing obesity in America.

By all accounts it sounds like the soda giant is becoming quite concerned over the nation's growing waistline and its contribution to it. But some argue the company is trying to skirt the impending soda tax. Don't be fooled by the small packaging, the recipe remains unchanged and is still filled with HFCS, but may be a good option for consumers who keep tabs on calories.

Coca-Cola will also be offering the mini cans in Sprite, Fanta Orange, Cherry Coca-Cola and Barq's Root Beer.