Did you know:
- A 20 oz soda has 17 teaspoons of sugar which = 200 calories?
- A 20 oz sports drink has 9 teaspoons of sugar which = 125 calories?
- A 20 oz fruit flavored drink has 18 teaspoons of sugar which = 220 calories?
Even 100% juice can pack in the calories...and quickly. Consider how quickly you can drink a glass of cold OJ or cranberry cocktail. Now think about how long it takes to eat and enjoy that actual fruit. You get more enjoyment and nutrients from the fruit and it's more filling. Also, remember that a serving of juice is not a pint glass....it's only about 1 cup...so keep this in mind if you do drink juice on a regular basis.
Or try a juice and soda water cocktail. I like to mix soda water and juice to make a bubbly, healthy drink. I fill the glass with about 75% soda water or seltzer and 25% or less juice. Any juice will work. I like orange juice or cranberry juice...or even the two together!
If you find you like the soda water cocktail you might also like flavored fizzy (soda, seltzer, sparkling) water. You can easily find lots of flavors at most grocery stores and a wider variety at specialty stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. My favorite is mint, available at WF. It tastes like an Andes Mint without the calories or sugar!
Do you have a favorite healthy drink or cocktail (of the non-adult variety)?
Or try a juice and soda water cocktail. I like to mix soda water and juice to make a bubbly, healthy drink. I fill the glass with about 75% soda water or seltzer and 25% or less juice. Any juice will work. I like orange juice or cranberry juice...or even the two together!
If you find you like the soda water cocktail you might also like flavored fizzy (soda, seltzer, sparkling) water. You can easily find lots of flavors at most grocery stores and a wider variety at specialty stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. My favorite is mint, available at WF. It tastes like an Andes Mint without the calories or sugar!
Do you have a favorite healthy drink or cocktail (of the non-adult variety)?
i know i've talked about this before, but breakfast smoothies? Like buying fresh strawberries and raspberries and putting them in a blender with skim milk or something? Isn't that good and filling? I know a lot of the smoothie places are lots of sugar, but using fresh fruit and skim milk or something isn't bad right?
ReplyDeleteoh oh oh...and here's a question. I've seen a lot of recipes lately that call for flaxseed? whats the deal with it and why do we need/not need it? Where can u find it? will it help fill u up? what types of things can you put it in.
ReplyDeleteI consider smoothies a dessert or a meal replacement rather than a "drink" primarily because of the calories. The typical, average sized smoothie can pack in around 400 calories, and most have more if they are bigger or have extras added.
ReplyDeleteThe ones at the smoothie places don't really have added sugar, as far as I know, unless you add a bunch of stuff to it, like chocolate sauce, etc. But to be honest, I have only been to those places a few times because I think they are overpriced. Those smoothies do have a lot of calories, relatively speaking, but that's the nature of the smoothie.
No, smoothies aren't bad. I just think they are deceiving. People think "fruit, good....milk, good...peanut butter, protein powder, etc, good so therefore smoothies are good and the bigger the better!" And they don't realize how many calories they are consuming. And no, in general, they are not as filling as eating the fruit or food itself.
But smoothies can useful for the rare person who doesn't like fresh fruit and wouldn't eat it otherwise, or for the person who doesn't get enough calcium, or for someone who can't chew well or doesn't have a big appetite (like some older adults or people who are sick.) I also think they are great for athlete's and those who need the extra calories.
I am certainly not saying not to make/drink them. Just be aware of what you are drinking and that it is more like a meal than a beverage added to a meal. They can be a nice treat as an alternative to ice cream or as a quick breakfast for someone who wouldn't otherwise have time or the appetite to eat and needs more fruit and/or calcium in their diet. Just be cautious of portion sizes and remember that you might be hungry very soon after.
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Flaxseed contains omega-3 fatty acids which is lacking in the diet of most Americans. It also contains soluble fiber, which can help move things along, so to speak. It also may help lower total cholesterol. But any highly unsaturated oil will do that, particularly if substituted for saturated fats. There are also claims that it can prevent heart disease and cancer. However, according to information from UC Berkeley, these claims are overstated and research has not confirmed this connection.
If you want to try it, you can find it in bulk at Whole Foods and specialty stores. I don't recall seeing it at regular grocery stores, but I wouldn't be surprised if some are carrying it...it might be in the health food or supplement aisle.
Typically people sprinkle it into food or drinks. You can add it to anything, but it does have a taste, so I think most people try to hide it in things. I've heard of people putting it on salads and baking it into muffins.
It is typically recommended that you buy it ground or grind it yourself...as it is easier to digest.
I don't think it will help fill you up, even though it does contain fiber, because you don't use a large quantity of it.
Do you need it? No. Is it a magical food that will cure health problems? Probably not. Does it have some health benefits? Probably. So if you wanna try it, go for it. Just don't over do it. More is not better and can actually hurt you. I would recommend checking out this site for more information on how much to eat, what form you should take it in, and for safety precautions:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/flaxseed/NS_patient-flaxseed/DSECTION=dosing
I hope that helps!