Food Review: FAGE 2% Yogurt

On their website FAGE states:

FAGE TOTAL Yogurt is 100% natural. It contains no added sweeteners, thickeners or preservatives. We do not use powder milk, powder cream or powder protein in FAGE, just raw milk, raw cream and live active cultures which come together for a naturally blissful taste experience. In line with our All Natural approach to yogurt making, our milk and cream supply comes from farmers who have pledged not to treat their cows with rBGH*. FAGE is an excellent source of protein due to its unique straining process. Vegetarians can eat FAGE TOTAL and is also suitable for diabetics, pregnant women and people on gluten-free diets. It can also be used to cook with in your favorite recipes since it will not separate in high heat.

FAGE Total Yogurt is a good choice for those who are watching their weight. Skimmed yogurt contains approximately 38 calories, as opposed to an egg with 80 calories, 132 calories for a medium apple, 100 for a boiled potato, 230 for a portion of grilled chicken, and 126 for 100g of tuna in water. While plain yogurt and milk have the same nutritional value and the same number of calories, yogurt is more filling. In addition, yogurt can replace foods such as fresh cream, mayonnaise and sour cream, that have a much higher number of calories, thus making it easier to control weight.

And I believe them.  It's that good.  I like the 2% Honey the best!  I've tried the Peach one and normally I LOVE peach yogurt, but it wasn't as exciting.

I learned something new today.  Instead of trying to stick my spoon in the lil' cup of honey and add to the yogurt, this picture i found today, let's me know there's another option. =)

Digging Deeper into what's in our foods and labeling

What's really in your food and what's it mean on your label:

GPO Access - National Archives and Records Administration: (pulled 9/7/10)
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr;rgn=div5;view=text;node=21%3A2.0.1.1.2;idno=21;sid=64fa2cdef4ee54e80414c2f297540271;cc=ecfr


FDA: http://www.fda.gov/Food/default.htm
regarding Natural Flavoring: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=101.22

It's all in the Butter!

Literally.

I've been reading labels more and more lately.  Me and my cousin were shopping and I was thinking (although the plan is to cut butter out) I can use it sparingly.

NOTE: Links were pulled on 9/7/10.

Smart Balance Ingredients (approx 19 ingredients)
Smart Balance Original: Natural Oil Blend (palm fruit, soybean, fish, canola and olive oils), water, plant sterols; contains less than 2% of salt, sorbitan esters of fatty acids, monoglycerides of vegetable fatty acids, natural and artifical flavors, TBHQ (to preserve freshness), potassium sorbate, lactic acid, soy lecithin, vitamin B12, Vitamin E acetate, Vitamin B6, beta carotene (color), Vitamin A palmitate, calcium disodium EDTA, Vitamin D3.
   
Earth Balance Ingredients:  although it says Non-GMO, it' has stuff...and soy stuff. (approx 8 ingredients)
Earth Balance Original: Expeller-pressed natural oil blend (soybean, palm fruit, canola and olive), filtered water, pure salt, natural flavor (derived from corn, no msg, no alcohol, no gluten) soy protein, soy lecithin, lactic acid (non-dairy, derived from sugar beets), and naturally extracted annatto for color.  Contains soy.

Land O'Lakes Salted Butter:  (2 Ingredients)
Sweet Cream, Salt

Land O'Lakes Unsalted Butter: (2 Ingredients)
Sweet Cream, Natural Flavoring

Land O'Lakes Light Butter:  (approx 14 Ingredients)
Butter (Cream, Salt), Water, Food Starch-Modified, Contains Less Than 2% of Tapioca Maltodextrin, Salt, Vegetable Mono And Diglycerides, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate and Sodium Benzoate (Preservatives), PGPR (emulsifier), Xanthan Gum, Natural Flavor, Vitamin A Palmitate, Beta Carotene (color).

Kerrygold Ingredients
Kerrygold Salted Sweet Cream Butter: Pasteurized Cream, Salt (2 Ingredients)
Kerrygold Unsalted Butter: Cultured Pasteurized Cream (1 Ingredient)

This is kinda scary.  'I Can't Believe It's Not Butter' doesn't show (from what I can view) any ingredients.  It says it's a blend of soybean and canola oils.  I even went to thier parent owner Unilever.
Wait, I found a picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jdickert/2383258134/  It was taken on 4/2/2008 so
I'm not sure if they've changed their ingredients but here is what it's looking like:
Ingredients (from what I can read): (approx 14 Ingredients)
Water, Vegetable Oil blend (Liquid soybean oil, partially hydrogenated soybean oil), natural sweet cream buttermilk?, salt, gelatin, vegetable mono and diglycerides, natural soy lectin (potassium sorbate, calcium disodium EDTA) used to protect quality, lactic acid, natural and artificial flavors, Vitamin A (something?), Beta Carotene (for color).
Or you can check out wikipedia (9/7/10) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Can't_Believe_It's_Not_Butter!

IMHO, I will stick with Kerrygold. In the event I accidently pick Salted vs Unsalted I won't have to worry about having 'Natural Flavoring' in my butter.  What is Natural Flavoring? Isn't it all supposed to be natural?

Per the FDA, here is what Natural Flavoring consists of:  http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=101.22

 or you can read the GPO Access, National Archives and Records Adminstration's site.

What do 300 Calorie Meals Look Like?

This is somewhat helpful.  I remember a long time ago seeing a book at Barnes and Nobles that had pictures of food with the calories.  Plain and Simple.  I haven't seen anything like it since.

I'm sometimes a Visual learner, so this may come in handy.

http://www.diet-blog.com/07/what_do_300_calorie_meals_look_like.php (9/7/2010)

Daily Mile

I just entered my progress for the last 2 days.  Then i looked at my previous history.

I did 13 miles in June.  That was that 2 week period i worked out.

I've done 3 so far, now I need to surpass my previous month log. 

Challenge #2 in 2010

Remember that lil' o'weight challenge recently where I lost 20lbs and won?

Well, right after that I ate gluten.  I ate all the normal foods, fast, homemade, bought etc.  I gained about 4-5 lbs I believe.  Yes, in only 1 week.  The thing that really sucks for my body is once i stray from being Gluten Free, my weight comes back with a vengence.  It must miss me. 

So we started a second challenge.  Some returning competitors and some new.  Funny thing is, you think I'd get back to being 100% GF and drop the weight.  I kinda did but not really.  That same morning, I had a Sausage Egg McMuffin w/Iced coffee and hash browns.  Last night I had a slice of pizza and hot wings at my aunts.  The other day for lunch I went and had a burger from Five Guys and a Iced Caramel Macchiato.  DAMAGE!

I did start walking and went to the track after work.  I've been going with my cousin.  He's into working out so I know he won't tell me, 'I'm tired or I'm hungry, let's eat instead and workout harder tomorrow'. Because that never happens. The workout part.  I tend to say ok and give in or look for excuses when I'm feeling lazy. 

I'll have to post an update on http://www.dailymile.com/ on what I've been doing so I can keep track.

I also found out that I have 3 free training sessions at my local gym.  San Jose Athletic Club.  I love it there but haven't made it a good habit to go as much as I should.

I also need to start my squats and build muscle early on before the challenge ends on Nov 1st.  Muscle weighs more than fat, so our deal is, for each pound you gain, you pay $2.00 or if you don't want to weigh in, you pay a flat $5.00 fee.  The pot right now is at $800 i believe.  We have our 1st weigh in Sept 9th.

My old daily routine included 300 situps, 5-9 miles/day and 60 squats (20 Kick, 20 Prisoner and 20 Sumo).

This article inspired me on adding my squats back in because my cousin just had surgery on her ACL & Miniscus.  http://www.adamringler.com/coaching/lets-keep-our-female-athletes-squatting

I have been told I have tight hamstrings.  And not tight as in a lyric a rapper might tell you.

Happy Challenging!

Recipe: Agua Fresca

Agua Fresca

Well not exactly a recipe, but more like expirement and see. =)

My friend/neighbor next door brought me over some fresh cut watermelon.  It looked good, but I personally have not really liked the taste or texture of it.  But i'll drink an agua fresca!  Ques eso? (or did i just spell Queso?)

It's fresh water made with fruit.  I posted earlier about a Cucumber Juice.

Since the blender was sitting oh so lonely on the counter, I put the watermelon in it, added a little water and some agave nectar.  Also some frozen organic strawberries and a few sprigs of fresh mint.  Blend, blend, blend and double sieve.  I had to double sieve it twice because of the frothy watermelon hid the seeds from the strawberries.

That's it.  Simple.

Recipe: Cucumber Juice

My Aunt Delia made this at a BBQ once and I was hooked.  At first I didn't want to try it.  Usually I have cucumbers on my eyes, in my salad or with lemon and tapatio.  Although I've always wanted to try a cucumber sandwich.  You know the ones you see on TV at some fancy reception with the crust cut off.  Of course it'd be Gluten Free bread. =)

I called my Aunt because halfway while seeding the cucumbers I realized, I don't know how to make this. Did she leave the peel on? Did she seed it? So I called.

We must cook the same.  Without measuring because here is what she said:

Get 1 1/2 - 2 cucumbers, peel them, stick them in a blender with a jar of water and sieve.  Add mint, sugar and lemon to make it cooler.

Okay.  I'm not sure how much a jar equals to, but I had peeled about 5 cucumbers and seeded them.

So i had 7 cucumbers, a big jug of water.

I blended the peeled cucumbers with some water.  Then i double sieved it to get the pulp out. 
I blended a second time but added some mint, too much lemon (use 1, i used 2) and Agave Nectar (suit to your tastebuds).  Sieved again and stored in a water jug with ice cubes.

Im not clear on the benefits other than it tastes really good, refreshing.  Don't let the greenish color fool you.  It's good.  Although my aunt's is way better.  I will sip on this today.

Food Review: Redbridge Beer - Anheuser-Busch

When I started GF, I was told to cut out Alcohol.  It made this lifestyle seem even harder!  I'm not a beer drinker per say, but once in a while I do like a beer.  I prefer Wine or Vodka, maybe Sailor Jerry. 

I was confused at first why it was on my 'No' list.  I'm sure it has something to do with empty calories and all that. 

I realized that beer is made with wheat. DUH! So all beers as I knew it, were out of the question.

I went to dinner one night at Willow Street Wood Fire Pizza and I seen on their wall they noted they had GF beer.  I ordered one and it tasted like regular beer to me.

I found they carry it at Beverages & More and at Whole Foods.  Some restaurants also now that GF is coming out into the world more and more.

So...this is the beer for me if I want one.  I tried another brand from Whole Foods and it was like a thick gross stout.  Not my preference at all.

So, enjoy the weekend with a GF beer! =)

Speaking of Additives and Preservatives

Here are some links to view what your truly putting into your body when eating processed food.

DYE and Health Effects: http://www.feingold.org/effects.html

Additives to Avoid: "E is for Additives" http://www.feingold.org/E-numbers.html

CNN's Common Food Additives (Chart shows Additive Name, Description, Used In, Purpose and Side Effects): http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/indepth.food/additives/table.html

Health Food Safety regarding Additives: http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/health/foodsafety/az1082.html

Food Review: Chex

APB: If you see the Chocolate Chex....let me know. I want a box or two.  I can't find that flavor ANYWHERE!

My cousin found this at Safeway and was excited when I came home and said: "Look, Cuz, this cereal is GF!"  =)

I tried it and liked it.  I believe I should stay away from cereals that have

Honey Nut (love it) but I should be staying away from the ingrediants listed: Sugar, Brown Sugar Syrup.
Chocolate (mmm) and the Cinnamon both have: Sugar, Frutcose =(

All these cereals seem to have BHT added to it to preserve freshness.  (I just learned this a minute ago, while reading the ingrediants).  Umm...it says that is primarily used as an antioxidant food additive, which is also used in costmetics, pharmecuticals, jet fuels, rubber, petroleum products, electrical transformer oil and embalming fluid! Embaling fluid.  wow.  I'm preserving my internal organs a cell at a time aren't I? 

GOODNESS. well, this just killed my appetite for this. I will stick with my faithful Gorilla Munch.

06/09/2015 NOTE: I updated another post with information that chex will be working on removing BHT in their cereal!!!! http://cen.acs.org/articles/93/i8/General-Mills-Remove-Antioxidant-BHT.html

Food Review: Bob's Red Mill GF Pancake Mix

Bob looks like he should be painting pictures of the ocean like the dude from PBS or something nautical.  Ever since Whole Foods doesn't carry the brand I really liked, I've been skeptical on spending money on other brands to just have them sit in my cupboard for 10 years (okay more like a year and it's one of the brands listed at the end of this post).

Well I said, Bob, I always see you here in the market so let's do this.

I did and it worked out!  I made some GF Banana Pancakes last week and they tasted lovely.  I used Agave Nectar of course as my syrup.  I didn't add oil though (even if it said a teaspoon or so).

Follow their directions to make the batter but here is what I've learned.  Wait about 3 minutes after you've mixed to let it stand and so some magical stuff that it's suppose to do (so i read on the internet).  Then add 1 smashed banana (no peel, duh), a teaspoon of good REAL Vanilla Extract and a dash of cinnamon.  That's my secret.  If I have Macadamia Nuts, I would chop them up nice and add for a lil' crunch.  Serve with Agave Nectar (cheapest at Trader Joe's).

Other Brands I've tried
Arrowhead Mills - ummm I'll pass.  I tried once and it just wasn't the same. bleech.
365 (I want to say but not sure) - this one brand was the best.  The batter and taste were great, but Whole Foods doesn't carry it anymore and I'm sad.