Favorite Greek Yogurts

Since I don't eat meat I needed to find a good source of protein to add to my diet. I decided to get myself in the habit of eating greek yogurt and taste-tested all the brands in my local grocery store to find my favorite. Here are the results.

Fage, pronounced "fa-yeh" (they seem to be very particular about their pronunciation)- This is great if you are looking for a thicker, slightly sour type. I would stick to adding your own fruits or a sugar-free jam because their fruit and yogurt combo packs are high in sugar.
Stonyfield's Oikos- The Oikos vanilla flavor may be my all-time favorite greek yogurt. It is less sour than the others and has a consistency that is closer to plain yogurt.
Chobani- Their vanilla flavor is almost as good as Stonyfield's, but has slightly more sugar. If you are looking for a thicker yogurt that is not quick as thick on Fage, I would chose this brand (in the vanilla- 120 calories, 16 grams protein, 13 grams sugar).
Brown Cow- Brown Cow's greek yogurt is very comparable in taste to Stonyfield's (in the vanilla- 130 calories, 23 grams of protein, 9 grams sugar).

Oatmeal

Maybe its the Scottish in me that makes me love oatmeal, but I stick by my claim that oatmeal is the best thing to eat for breakfast. The fiber fills you up, the whole grains are good for you, and it's a good supply of iron.
I love Whole Foods' 365 Organic Multi Grain Instant Oatmeal with Flax. It has only 140 calories and 4 grams of fiber.
Add any (or all!) of these fabulous additions : dried or fresh fruit (especially berries!), soymilk, chopped nuts, splenda or truvia, and/or granola. Since my office has tons of different coffee creamers, I add half of a tsp of hazelnut coffee creamer.

Here are links to delicious recipes from some of my favorite Food Network stars...
Ellie's Cherry Vanilla Oatmeal
Robert Irvine's Oatmeal w/ Apple Brown Sugar

If you plan on losing a few pounds...

If you plan on losing a few pounds why not do it for a good cause?
Visit the Pound for Pound Challenge and for every pound you pledge to lose, the Pound for Pound Challenge will donate 14 cents to Feeding America, which is one of the leading charities for fighting hunger in the U.S. Each year Feeding America helps over 25 million Americans! The 14 cents from the PFP Challenge is enough to donate a pound of groceries to your local food bank. This is so easy and costs nothing!

Quinoa with Swiss Chard and Cremini Mushrooms

adapted from source

Quinoa is a grain high in protein, fiber, and iron, so it's a great choice for vegetarians.
With only 238 calories per serving, there is definitely room for a little dessert!
Ingredients
1 cup quinoa
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 lb. chopped swiss chard
Pinch of red pepper flakes
1 clove chopped garlic
12 ounces sliced cremini mushrooms
1 tsp dried thyme
1 Tbsp. grated Parmesan
Instructions
-Combine quinoa in saucepan with 2 cups water and bring to boil, cover, let simmer about 15 minutes until the quinoa fluffs.
-Heat 1 tsp of the olive oil in skillet over medium heat, add swiss chard and red pepper. Cook the chard until wilted (~8 minutes). Add salt and pepper and remove chard to plate or bowl.
-Add the remaining 2 tsp. of the olive oil into the same skillet and add the chopped garlic over medium heat. Cook until its golden brown and then add the cremini mushrooms. After 3 to 5 minutes stir in the swiss chard and add the thyme. Stir in the quinoa and serve with parmesan. Serves 4.
139% Vitamin A
57% Vitamin C
11 grams Protein
26% Iron
5 grams Fiber


Photograph by Blake Royer

Dieting without exercise

Research at the University of Michigan suggests that about 25% of the weight one loses from just dieting (no exercise) can be lean muscle, bone and/or water. Exercising will result in losing the fat, not lean muscle.

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I guess being called a "fat-ass" isn't so bad

I came across this article that those of us with curves will love!
WebMD: Booty Research
Basically it says that some fat stored in the thighs and butt is good for you, especially instead of fat around the midsection. Some body fat in these areas has been linked to lower rates of heart disease.
Of course this is no reason to start downing bags of fried chicken and deep-fried cupcakes because that, undoubtedly, will lead to heart disease.
I also think its interesting to know that there a some scientists devoted to studying butts...

Movie Review: Food, Inc.

Everyone that eats food should see this movie! Food, Inc. is a powerful documentary that provides a look at the meat industry and production of produce in the U.S.
The movie is not intended to gross people out and turn them into vegetarians, it just provides an opportunity for Americans to see where their food is coming from. However, you may be influenced to buy foods that are grown locally, in season, and organic. The documentary also exposes the big corporations that have not only put farmers out of work, but sued them for everything they own for violating ridiculous laws.
Some interesting facts I learned from this movie:
-Over 90% of our food products contain corn in some form.
-One hamburger patty can contain meat from over a thousand different cows.
-Many meat-production companies recruit mexican citizens to illegally immigrate to the U.S. offering claims that they will be employed and safe from deportation (which turns out to be untrue).

Food, Inc. was created in 2008 by Robert Kenner

Tip for your New Years Resolution

If you are like many Americans who vow to become more healthy in the new year, then here is a site that can help you keep your resolution.
-Register at www.stickk.com. Select or create your goal and then you can set the stakes and connect to people who will help support you in your efforts to keep your resolution.
Remember to be realistic and specific with your goal!
Good Luck :)