NuVal for the New Year

If you’ve ever visited the healthy lifestyle blog, Carrots n Cake (Check out her new blog as well, Trading Up Downtown), you have probably heard of the company NuVal that Tina recently joined. I thought it was a great program from the get-go, and decided the concepts of their idea of healthy living would be perfect for the healthy New Years resolutions that many people strive for. Now that January is half way done, maybe your already lagging on the healthy eating front—if so NuVal is just one of the many nutritional tools available for your use and benefit in 2010.

NuVal in a nutshell--

• Developed by an independent panel of nutrition and medical experts, the System helps you see – at a glance – the nutritional value of the food you buy.
• The NuVal System scores food on a scale of 1-100. The higher the NuVal Score, the better the nutrition.
• Where can you find the NuVal scoring system? It is currently at Price Chopper, Meijer, and HyVee grocery chains—you can also suggest a store on the NuVal website.
• You can even see how your current eats rate on the NuVal scale by clicking here. Find out even more nutrition by the numbers by becoming a member which is free!

So I decided to pick a few of the foods I’ve been eating quite a bit lately to see what my nutritional numbers are based on NuVal’s system. How do you think your foods would be rated on NuVal’s nutritional number scale?

• Egg beaters 100% liquid egg white= 26

I was somewhat shocked by the low count for the Eggbeaters, but regular eggs are only 33, so not a huge difference—I would have thought eggs would have been in the 50-70’s range! Also if you do prefer Eggbeaters over regular eggs, you could choose to go with the ones mixed with yolks which would boost the nutritional number score to 36.

Clif Luna Bars

• CLIF LUNA SUNRISE VANILLA ALMOND: 27

• CLIF LUNA SMORE: 26

• CLIF LUNA LEMON ZEST: 25

• CLIF LUNA TOASTED NTS N CRNBRY: 36

• CLIF LUNA PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE: 27

• CLIF LUNA NUTZ OVER CHOCOLATE: 25

I thought since one of my main snacks on my vacation last week was Luna bars I’d see what they were rated. Unfortunately not too high at all which surprised me since they have so many vitamins and minerals in them.

• 8th Continent Light Vanilla Soymilk=82

• Regular fat-free milk=91

Not a huge difference between soymilk and fat-free dairy milk, which brings me again to this post.

• Butternut Squash=100

Who knew a few sprays of FF cooking spray and 40 short minutes in the oven could produce a healthy squash fry?!

What tools do you use to implement healthy eating choices?

**All information adapted from http://www.nuval.com**

Cloudy with a Chance of..Lara Bars and Pie

I knew it! Mother Nature wouldn’t be too nice for long—it’s cloudy, rainy, and gloom. But instead of letting it ruin my mood, I  just use it as an excuse to go stroll the mall and, oh yeah..write a persuasive essay.

And another reason I cannot be blue—I received my prize package from winning Shannon’s recipe contest for a great cause! I entered my Pumpkin Angel Food Cake with Cinnamon Cream Filling—told you it was a winner! ;-)

Shannon you are such a sweetheart!! See sent me the cutest card and A LOT of goodies!

She knew my kitchen is cupcake themed, so this goes fabulous on my fridge!

But it doesn’t end there. She sent 2 Blueberry Vanilla and 2 Choco PB Honest food bars, coupon for a free Promax bar, and 2 Newman’s Own dog food coupons, since the contest was paired with the Humane Society. My dog will be one happy camper!

And I know you will all be green with envy, but check out all these mini Lara bars!!

And no I am not eating all of them just like they are, I have a little recipe idea brewing..so stay tuned for that!

Now obviously I’ve been flooded with a rainstorm of Lara bars, but that’s not the only treat that’s fallen into my hands. I came up with a brand new pie recipe that was quite the rival to the Lara’s! For some reason I have been craving slices of pie..maybe I just don’t have the patience to wait for Thanksgiving?? So, here’s a knew one that quieted the pie pestering for awhile, but I am already in the kitchen planning a new one for the week =)

Whipped Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Pie

Ingredients:

• 2 c Fiber One Cereal
• 1/4 c whipped butter spread
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 Tbsp Splenda, or other granulated sweetener
• 1 c canned pumpkin
• 2 egg whites
• 1/2 c FF evaporated milk
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 packet cheesecake mousse filling & needed prep ingredients, see below
• 4 Pumpkin Spice Hershey’s kisses, or if you can’t find them anymore, you can omit.

Here’s the cheesecake mousse I used. It’s SF and used 1 cup of Almond Breeze milk to prepare.

 Directions:

• Preheat oven to 375 F. Pulse Fiber One, butter, vanilla, and Splenda in food processor till fine crumbs are formed. Press into the bottom of a sprayed pie pan. Bake for 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile beat pumpkin, egg whites, vanilla, cinnamon, and evaporated milk with a hand mixer until thoroughly blended. Pour on top of crust and bake for 20 min, or until the pumpkin filling is shiny and set.
• Let cool for about 25 minutes, meanwhile following cheesecake mousse instructions. With mousse, plan on beating it with a hand mixer for at least 5 minutes to get it fluffier.
• Pour cheesecake layer over pumpkin.
• Take your Hershey Kisses and curl them with a vegetable peeler to get fine curls and sprinkle evenly across the top.

--This was great! I loved the chewy pumpkin filling contrast with the fluffy cheesecake top. Definitely a pie that is on the lighter side, yet still full of flavor that makes for a satisfying fall dessert!--

*If I haven’t over-sweetened you with this post, head on over to this sweet giveaway!*

Sunday Slurp Smackdown

It’s another round of a weekend smackdown!

If you missed the last round, check it out here.

Today in the ring we have Soymilk vs. Dairy Milk.

I used to think dairy milk was the best with cereal, Oreos, and just to quench my thirst. But then a few years back, I tried 8th Continent vanilla soymilk for a little extra added flavor to my morning bowl. Eventually I tried the original for drinking and thought it was equally good. Some people can’t do soy, others can’t get past the “chalky” texture, and a handful just don’t want to make the switch. When I started drinking it, I never thought I’d drink more soy milk than dairy. A few weeks ago I realized I didn’t even have dairy milk in my fridge! Instead, there was 3 different kinds of soy milk and some almond milk. In conversation with my mom, she told me I needed the calcium, etc., but I reassured her soy has the same, if not better benefits than dairy. [FYI: I have not given up dairy products, or milk, I just don’t buy dairy milk anymore since I use soy for drinking, baking, etc.] This smackdown could go on&on, so it’s a smackdown in a nutshell!

• The Major Difference: One is derived from a plant and the other from an animal.
• Dairy Milk: It’s a product of the mammary gland. As with all other animal-based foods, it's a complete protein; that is, it supplies people with all the necessary amino acids to form proteins. All cow's milk contain 8 grams of protein and 12 grams of carbohydrate per cup. Cow's milk is a rich source of other nutrients as well. One cup provides adults with 30 percent of their daily calcium needs and about 50 percent of their vitamin B₁₂ and riboflavin requirements. Often it's fortified with vitamin D to facilitate the absorption of calcium. Vitamin A is usually added to milk as well. Depending on the selection, cow's milk can have a significant amount of fat.
• Soymilk: It is not technically a milk, but a beverage made from soybeans. It is the liquid that remains after soybeans are soaked, finely ground, and then strained. Since it doesn't contain any lactose, soymilk is suitable for lactose intolerant folks. It's also a popular cow's milk substitute for vegetarians since it's based on a plant source (others include rice, oat, almond, coconut, and potato milk). Soy foods are the only plant-based complete proteins. One cup of unfortified soymilk contains almost 7 grams of protein, 4 grams of carbohydrate, 4½ grams of fat, and no cholesterol. Although soymilk supplies some B vitamins, it's not a good source of B₁₂, nor does it provide a significant amount of calcium. Since many people substitute soy beverages for cow's milk, manufacturers have offered fortified versions. These varieties may include calcium and vitamins E, B₁₂, and D, among other nutrients. If you choose soymilk, read labels carefully to be sure you're getting enough of these important nutrients.

Common Reason Why People Avoid It

• Dairy milk: Cows are pumped with hormones which is believed of course to then be transferred into their milk, which can cause health effects the consumers[us].
  Most cow's milk has measurable quantities of herbicides, pesticides, and dioxins (up to 200 times the safe levels).
• Soy milk: Unfermented soy foods have a high amount of phytic acid, which can lead to the lower absorption of certain vitamins and minerals. Some research claims the isoflavones found in soy foods also contribute to the development of thyroid disorders, breast cancer and leukemia.

The Nutritional Comparison

• Cows Milk(Skim/per 8 oz)-Calories:8o Fat:0g Calcium: 30% RDA Vitamin B12: 13%
• Soy Milk(Fortified/per 8 oz)- Calories:60  Fat:2g Calcium:30% Vitamin B12: 15%

Whatever milky beverage you choose to drink is really a matter of personal preference and your health goals—cheers!

Interested in drinking soy milk? Find out more benefits here.

Who’s side are you on in today’s smackdown?

The Sunday Slurp

 Thank you all for your well wishes with my bars in the recipe contest!

  Today I am taking a break from food and recipes (I know unbelievable right?) and heading to the liquid stuff. Beverages. No beverage recipes though—more so what your beverage can do for you in terms of for your health. Some you may know, others you may not. Whatever the case ask not what you can do for your beverage, but what your beverage can do for you. Cheers!

Lemonade

Grab a glass of this tart treat if you need to increase your energy—research done at the Chicago Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation found that lemons fight fatigue by stimulating a nerve in the nose to set off “wake up” sensors in the brain.

 

Coffee

Reach for the java if you need some help to wake up in a.m. I know a lot of blogger’s already have their standard cup o’ joe in the morning—the caffeine will energize your nervous system so you’ll feel more clear-headed and alert. Beware of sugar and heavy creams as this can harm your waistline. Light milk is a better choice because it provides needed protein and a steady dose of carbs to regulate blood sugar!

 Milkshake
Yes, permission to drink a milkshake! Ladies, this may be your lucky day—milkshakes are proven to prevent and ease cramps and other symptoms of PMS. Research at the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that a diet rich in Calcium and Vitamin D helps reduce the risk of PMS by 40% by possibly altering estrogen levels. For a 160 calorie milkshake, blend up 1 C skim milk and 1 C frozen strawberries. Slurp!

Apple Juice

An apple a day supposedly keeps the doctor away and now research shows apple juice or cider can be just as effective as reducing the severity and duration of a headache as popping an aspirin. If you’re fond of the scent of apples, it can have a therapeutic effect on your body too!

 

 Ginger Tea

Ginger ale is known to help a tummy ache and now adding a dash of ground ginger to regular tea is a alternative to people who have acid reflux or just trouble handing the carbonation of sodas.

Low-Fat Chocolate Milk

Yes, the Nesquik bunny can be your friend and help you to recover from exercise too! Flavored milk contains the optimal ratio of carbs and protein unlike most “recovery drinks” which only supply carbs and replenish electrolytes, but no protein. So switch it up and see if chocolate milk will help you mooooove a little easier.

 Green Tea

As if this miracle beverage doesn’t do enough, now it is proven that it can help you think straighter. Its’ brain-boosting properties may help keep your mind razor sharp. Research revealed that seniors who drank 2 cups of the brew daily were half as likely to show signs of cognitive impairment compared with those who drank the tea only three times a week. So I am thinking as long as I keep up with the word puzzles and get my green tea, my noodle should be good for a long time coming.

BTW, I need some help if you’d be willing!

Does anyone have some amazing recipes

suited for potluck style? I am looking for some grad

party recipes, and who better to ask then the blog buds!