Judge fines McDonald's for Obese Employee

This cracks me up!!!!

http://www.lex18.com/news/judge-fines-mcdonald-s-for-obese-employee/

I'm going to sue my work for making me cynical! Run some laps, buddy!!

"Healthiest" Candy

It's inevitable. We're all going to be eating candy this weekend. I'll be right there with you - but there are some "healthier" choices out there that might make you feel a little better about yourself. Remember, when it comes to candy, the best thing to do is portion control. If you see a friend in need with one too many Snickers' wrappers next them - please intervene!

"(Note: This list is based on macro-nutrient amounts. The lower choices have higher sugar and less calories, but the higher choices having more protein.)


10. 3 Musketeers (1/2 a bar)
100 calories, 3g fat, 17.5g carbs, 15g sugar, .5g protein

9. Heath Bar (1/2 a bar)
110 calories, 6.5g fat, 12g carbs, 12g sugar, .5g protein

8. Butter Finger (1/2 a bar)
115 calories, 4.5g fat, 19g carbs, 12g sugar, 1.5g protein

7. Kit Kat  (1 two-piece bar)
115 calories, 6g fat, 14.5g carbs, 11g sugar, 1.5g protein

6. Hershey Bar (1/2 a bar)
115 calories, 6.5g fat, 12.5g carbs, 11g sugar, 1.5g protein

5. Almond Joy (1/2 a bar)
135 calories, 8g fat, 16g carbs, 12.5g sugar, 1g protein

4. Snickers (1/2 a bar)
140 calories, 7g fat, 17.5g carbs, 15g sugar, 3g protein

3. Baby Ruth (1/2 a bar)
140 calories, 6g fat, 16.5g carbs, 13.5g sugar, 2g protein

2. Peanut M&M’s (1/2 a bag)
120 calories, 6g fat, 14g carbs, 11.5g sugar, 2g protein

1. Pay Day (1/2 a bar)
155 calories, 8g fat, 17.5g carbs, 15g sugar, 3g protein"

Winner!!! Hersey's Special Dark Chocolate (1/2 bar)

90 calories, 6g fat, 12.5 carbs, 10.5g sugar, 1g protein

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Be smart, and stay in control!!!

Make sure to check out next week's posts for RECIPE WEEK!!!!

Jennifer DiDonato's MADEFITTV health and fitness entertainment

Sarcopenia: What?!

Sarcopenia is a condition associated with loss of muscle mass in older adults. There is not a clear cause of this muscle wasting, but many would agree that it has to do with inadequate protein intake and lack of resistance training. The effect happens in both men and women, but woman expecially are suseptible. It was recently found that women over the age of 35 are at risk of up to 1lb of muscle loss per year.....unless you counteract that loss with protien intake and resisitance training!!!

This is an issue for a couple reasons 1: your strength will decrease and 2: body composition starts to change....and not where you want it to:) Think......a natural fanny pack. Not good, right?! One of the reasons that metabolism slows down as you age is that muscle mass decreases. A pound of lean muscle mass burns FAR more calories than a pound of fat. So, the less muscle and more fat your have, the fewer calories you burn on a daily basis just....sitting there.

If you are at risk for sarcopenia, you need to power up on some LEAN PROTEIN!
Try these suggestions to enjoy high-quality protein throughout your day!!

Breakfast:
- Try adding a couple scrambled eggs to your current bowel of cereal
- Add a little spice to a breakfast burrito with 95% lean ground beef cooked in a taco seasoning mix
- Add low-fat cheese to an omelet
- Add a quick tablespoon of peanut butter to your oatmeal
- Pour 12oz of low-fat or fat-free milk to drink with your breakfast bar

Lunch:
- Add a hardboiled egg to your salad
- Add yogurt as a side item
- Grab a handful of almonds for desert
- Spread peanut butter on rice cakes

Dinner:
- Mix 95% lean ground beef meatballs into tomato and speghetti dishes
- Use lean pork or beef sirloin strips in a stir-fry loaded with fresh broccoli and carrots
- Make ground turkey tacos and top with low-fat cheese

So, get out there and pump some iron and reduce your muscle loss!!!!!

Prenatal Vitamins and Hair Growth

There is a popular myth out there that prenatal vitamins are good for hair and nail growth. Unfortunately, this is exactly that.......a myth.
The improved skin, hair and nails a woman experiences during pregnancy is actually due (most likely) to pregnancy hormones:(
Sorry ladies - you going to have to find another way to get those golden locks you've always dreamed of!!

The Convenience Store Diet

"I'll take 2 of those withered hot-dog things, a Coke, some Fritos, a couple bags of Combos, a Laffy Taffy, and some clogged arteries to go." Yum/Ugh. We have all been forced into the convenience store meal at some point in our lives. (Some of us maybe chose to eat there on occasion - you know who you are.)
Regardless, the options for healthy eating are pretty slim. However, its not impossible to grab something nutritious from your corner store.

Here's how:

You need to be conscious of 2 things: portion sizes and nutrients provided. If you find something that is portion controlled and is providing you with some sort of nutrient, you're not doing too bad!

Safe bets:

1st: Head to the Fridge for your calcium

• Low-fat Milk Chugs (there's chocolate too!)
• String cheese
• Yogurt

2nd: Head back for the fillers:

• Fresh Fruit is provided at majority of gas stations now
• Select single bags of peanuts for a quick protein boost
• Whole grain crackers (instead of greasy chips)
• If buying a deli sandwich, pick one that is stacked with veggies and skip the mayo
• Try whole grain peanut butter crackers
• Single serving whole grain cereal containers
• Beef Jerky (although high is sodium, it is a protein packed snack)
• Dried fruit

• Nugget pretzels (take longer to eat than other kinds:)

3rd: If wanting something warm:

• Look at the frozen section for lean pockets (a regular at most stores) and pop one in their customer microwave
• Try the Cambell's Soup at Hand (Portion controlled and easy to eat in the car)

4th: For the sweet tooth:

• Animal crackers
• Teddy grahams

There are no excuses for lack of healthy options. You can make good choices ANYWHERE!!!!!

Whip it, whip it good!

Did you know that Reddi Whip whipped cream only has 15 Calories in every 2 tablespoons? It is one of my favorite coffee toppers and I LOVE it over strawberries. So, no reason to feel guilty now, pile that creamy goodness on!!!

Happy Friday!!

I can freeze WHAT?!!

Before modern day refrigeration (aka Kelly Ripa's Electrolux), people cooled their food with ice and snow. The first "cellars" were holes dug into the ground lined with wood or straw and packed with snow and ice.


Needless to say, we've come a long way! The science behind refrigeration includes the process of removing heat from an enclosed space or substance, to lower its temperature. A refrigerator uses the evaporation of a liquid to absorb heat.  The American, Oliver Evans, designed the first refrigeration machine in 1805. I think someone else might have done something similar first, but I guess his marketing team wasn't as strong. Oops.


The first usable fridge was made by Jacob Perkins in 1834. In the beginning, refrigerators  used the toxic gases as refrigerants. Several fatal accidents occurred in the 1920s when gas leaked out of refrigerators. With further research, Freon was discovered. In just a few years, compressor refrigerators using Freon became the standard. Come to find out, this endangered the ozone layer of the entire planet. Again, oops. In 1842, the American physician John Gorrie designed and built an air-cooling apparatus for treating yellow-fever patients (too keep their rooms cool). His basic principle of compressing a gas, cooling it by sending it through radiating coils, and then expanding it to lower the temperature further, is the one most often used in refrigerators today.

So, there's the history. Now, time for the practicality. The freezer is your best friend in the kitchen. The more you can freeze, the longer your food will stay edible, and the more money you will save. Try some of these ideas to help utilize your freezer and save yourself some $$$!!

• Store breakfast foods that have been made (sausage biscuits, eggs, waffles, pancakes) in tightly sealed wrapping (zip lock bags or Tupperware). Also, you can mix raw eggs (yolk and white) and pour into ice cube trays for later use. 2 cubes = 1 large egg.

• Save all "non-edible" vegetable leftovers (the tops of onions, end of carrots, cellery tops, broccoli stems) in a container for a homemade soup stock.
• Freeze old coffee in ice cube trays to add to too hot or iced coffee later.
• Freeze left over wine in ice cube trays for cooking purposes or for soup stocks later.
• Spices and coffee grounds stay fresher in the freezer longer.
• If bananas are about to go bad, throw them in the freezer. The peel will turn black, but they are still good for smoothies!
• Not food related: If you need to clean a stuffed animal that can not be washed, place it in a freezer bag and place in the freezer for at least 8 hours. Then, run it through the dryer on high to warm back up!
• Freezing Myth: Freeze popcorn for a better pop! (fewer uncooked kernels). NOT TRUE. The reason popcorn pops is because of its moisture content. The freezer will most likely decrease the kernel's moisture content resulting in fewer kernels popping.

Happy Freezing!!!