Is this real life?

I find myself having to ask myself this David After Dentist question about once a day. This moment was provoked yesterday when I saw a commercial for the following product.

I know we're fat. I know we're lazy, but this combination of super fat and lazy is just too much. God forbid you walk the 20 feet to the f-ing frozen cookie aisle to grab some cookie dough. Why don't we just put the dough on the pizza...right on top of the pepperonis...save us the effort of actually have to pick up 2 items as we eat. The less chewing the better, I say!!  

Even more repulsive is the following item.

I know what you are thinking, but WYNGZ are a fabulous side dish to have with pizza. What are wyngz? Duh, Brah. They're super dro. I like to call them chicken bitlits. I love that Honey BBQ.

Check out this photo of mechanically separated chicken. Makes me want to grab some Mcy-D's nuggets!

To read more about this photo  - Click Here

Seriously, people. We need to cut this $hit out. Let's do the math:) Pretend that you would have 3 people split one of these delicious duos (even though you know you'd crush the whole thing).

1/3 of the contents in the Pizza and Cookies box - meaning 1/3 of the pizza and 1/3 of the cookies:

960 Calories, 48g fat

What about the WYNGZ?

1/3 of the contents in the Pizza and Wyngz box:

750 Calories, 21g fat

Mother of god. No further comments.

What is Bento?

I hadn't heard of it either until recently. Bento is an individual takeout or home-packed meal introduced by the Japanese. A traditional bento consists of rice, fish or meat, and one or more pickled or cooked vegetables, usually in a box-shaped container. They are common in many places throughout Japan, including convenience stores, bento shops, train stations, and department stores; however, many choose to make them at home.
Bento can be elaborate, called kyaraben or "character bento". Kyaraben is typically decorated to look like popular Japanese cartoon (anime) characters, among others. Another style "oekakiben" or "picture bento", is decorated to look like people, animals, buildings and monuments, or items such as flowers and plants. There are even Bento contests!!

None of this would be interesting except Bento recipes can be quick, easy and nutritious. EVERYTHING WE ARE LOOKING FOR!!!

There are tons of sites dedicated to Bento, some are specifically for children and typically a little more decoration based - smiley face rice balls, etc:)

http://justbento.com/category/filed-under/kids

 and some are more geared towards adult meals.

http://justbento.com/recipes
http://lunchinabox.net/recipes/

 
  This is my favorite site I have found so far!! http://happylittlebento.blogspot.com/ 
 

Happy Bentoing!!

 
 
 

Guilt-Free Cocktails for the Summer

Summer is passing by quickly, but before it gets away, celebrate with a cocktail....a no-guilt cocktail!!

Sent in by my sister from Working Mother magazine, these cocktails are great options for the season! 

Sweet and Tangy:

Skinny Mimosa:

Pina Colada Cooler

Slim Screwdriver

Sour Apple Martini



The Navy Seals got nothin' on this guy

Yes, I know that this is a nutrition blog, but it is still important to remind ourselves to get enough physical activity!! Are you getting as good of a workout as this guy?

Magically turn those fish into beers and this method might work for some people:) Happy Friday!! Get out there and get active!!!

Hot Dogs = Cancer?

Yes, I'm a judger. I judge pregnant woman smoking outside the Walmart exit door. I judge people who can't afford produce, but somehow find the cash for their Camel's. I judge people who continuously feed their children McDonald's...even with apple dippers. I judge motorists who don't wear helmets going 80 on I-75.

I judge these people for consciously putting themselves or others in harms way...avoidable harms way. If this pattern holds true, then I need to be judging myself and everyone else at the 18 cookouts I went to this summer. Apparently we were all putting ourselves in harms way as well. I would like to put a formal apology on the record to my friends and family...I'm so sorry for bringing colon cancer to the lake this summer...twice.

Did you know that eating 50g of processed meat (about the amount in 1 hot dog) per day, increases your risk of colorectal cancer by 21%?  “A hot dog a day could send you to an early grave,” says Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine's nutrition education director Susan Levin, M.S., R.D. “Processed meats like hot dogs can increase your risk for diabetes, heart disease, and various types of cancer. Like cigarettes, hot dogs should come with a warning label that helps racing fans and other consumers understand the health risk.”

It's a big statement, but if we have warning labels on cigarettes due their cancer causing ingredients, then what's to stop them from labeling every hot dog, soda, candy bar, and tater-tot out there?

A review in the journal Diabetologia found that those who regularly eat processed meats increase their risk for diabetes by 41%; however, it might be that processed meat is usually part of an overall unhealthy diet leading to an array of diseases...not that processed meat causes diabetes or cancer.

Regardless, I think I'll find a new cheap, easy way of packing dinner for the lake!

Further reading:  "Billboard Near Brickyard Warns NASCAR Fans of Cancer-Hot Dog Link"

F as in Fat

In the world of public health, our real-life success story has been the decrease in smoking rates that has occurred. Now, after several years of attacking the obesity epidemic, it looks like this is not a success story quite yet.

A study completed by the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), shows some very scary stats...including.

■Twelve states now have obesity rates above 30 percent. Four years ago, only one state was above 30 percent.


 ■Adult obesity rates for Blacks topped 40 percent in 15 states, 35 percent in 35 states, and 30 percent in 42 states and D.C.


■Rates of adult obesity among Latinos were above 35 percent in four states (Mississippi, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Texas) and at least 30 percent in 23 states.

■Meanwhile, rates of adult obesity for Whites topped 30 percent in just four states (Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and West Virginia) and no state had a rate higher than 32.1 percent.

■Nearly 33 percent of adults who did not graduate high school are obese, compared with 21.5 percent of those who graduated from college or technical college.

Read the full article here - it is really an interesting piece and definitely worth your time!!

- Thank you, Abby, for the awesome link!!!

My Morning Oatmeal

Kroger should pay me for this advertisement:) Anywho, this is what goes into my morning oatmeal.

100% Whole Grain Oats               1/2 cup     150 Calories
Natural Creamy Peanut Butter       1 Tbs        95 Calories
Light Brown Sugar                        1/2 Tbs     20 Calories
Wheat Germ                                 1 Tbs        25 Calories
Fat-Free Milk                                1/2 cup     40 Calories
_____________________________________________
Total                                       330 Calories, 15.5g Pro, 6g Fiber

How can you add more protein and/or fiber to your breakfast?

Happy Monday!!