Going Gaga for Greek

Recently, I've noticed that more of my roommates are snacking on Greek yogurt.  Seriously, if  you open up our fridge you would think you were at the dairy section at a grocery store.  Seems silly but ladies are going gaga for Greek yogurt all over the country, especially in the Northeast. The Greek yogurt business has grown over 100 percent every year for the last three years, making it one of the fastest-growing food categories of all time according to financial services firm UBS.  Not bad.

I personally love yogurt, it makes for a quick snack or meal and is affordable!  But I never get Greek yogurt, so I wondered, is Greek yogurt better than regular yogurt.  Here’s what I found J

Nutritionally, Greek yogurt is higher in protein than regular yogurt, with plain Greek yogurt providing about 19-21 grams of protein per 6 ounces.  Regular yogurt has 6-7 grams per 6 ounces.

This doesn't mean that Greek yogurt is healthier than regular yogurt, but if someone is looking to add more protein to their diet, Greek yogurt is a better option. It also has less carbohydrate than regular yogurt, since some of the whey is removed. *

But if you're concerned about getting more calcium in your diet, you might want to stick with regular yogurt.

"Greek yogurt has slightly less calcium per ounce than regular yogurt, because some of the calcium is removed with the whey. A 6 ounce serving of nonfat plain Greek yogurt has 200 mg calcium (20% Daily Value) versus 300 mg (30% Daily Value) in Greek style nonfat plain."

I tried Greek yogurt after finding this information out and I like it, but it does have a very bland taste.  Here’s a recipe from self magazine that can help add some excitement!  And believe me, it made such a difference.

~ To add flavor to plain Greek yogurt, we suggest stirring in fresh, dried or frozen fruit (like berries or bananas, chopped apples, pears, etc.), which add fiber and natural sweetness; spices that bring out the natural sweetness in the yogurt, like cinnamon, nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice; and/or nuts and seeds (like walnuts or sunflower seeds) which add flavor and healthful fat~

Not convinced? You can do what I do and add a drizzle of honey or maple syrup (about a teaspoon does it) because unfortunately I have a sweet tooth that dominates my life.  It adds the right amount of sweetness for me and I still get that protein.

I am officially Gaga for Greek yogurt. 

My favorite brand so far is Chobani, but I’d love to try other ones.  Comment your favorite kind!

Healthy Tips at a Glance

So I’ve heard a lot about “superfood’s” recently, and I literally picture an apple with a cape on…So what is a so called superfood?  It’s food that is packed with anything essential for your diet, for example, peanut butter!  Peanut butter is a protein powerhouse, it’s packed with vitamin E and monosaturated fat.  And now that we don’t fear the f word, we all can eat the good fat and not feel bad about it because we know that this kind of fat doesn’t elevate our cholesterol levels and it helps make our skin glow J  Allergic to peanuts?  Try almond butter!

So we understand what a superfood is, but what constitutes a super breakfast?  Eggs are pretty popular, so what’s better, a Western Omelet or Eggs Benedict? A western omelet contains 480 calories as opposed to eggs Benedict which contains over 1,000!  So whenever you’re craving eggs, go for the omelet.  Egg whites are an even better solution because it doesn’t contain that sneaky cholesterol.  

Either way, if you’re wanting to splurge, which I have been wanting to do lately (I’ll blame it on the weather, and not on my laziness J ) then splurge in the morning, because you’ll have the entire day to use up the energy you've consumed.  As much as American culture pushes a big dinner, breakfast and lunch should be the biggest meals. It will keep your energy levels consistent during the day and by night when you go to bed, there won’t be food sitting in your stomach going to waste.

Hope these tips help, and of course, leave any tips that work for you!

Eat Right News

A huge part of staying in shape is working out, but that's not all of it.  What we eat matters too!  Clearly this fact is not news to people, but allow me to elaborate.  I can’t even tell you how often I hear of my friends trying fad diets, like cutting out all the fat from what they eat.  It just doesn't work, your body needs fat.  Fat is something in my diet that helps me stay on track, and surprisingly, in shape.  The fat?  Omega 3.

Go Fish
If you're not eating much seafood, you could be missing out on some wonderful weight-loss benefits.  A new study by researchers at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania found that four grams of concentrated fish oil daily may increase muscle mass while reducing body fat.  Now don't freak out if you don't particularly like fish, you can take fish oil pills like I do!

Now that we cleared up some fear about 'fat' I want to share some helpful tips I came across in Fitness magazine. 

"I eat my banana with a spoon because that way it feels like I'm eating dessert." - C.O, 22

"I cook all my food on Sunday and then portion meals into plastic baggies.  People think I'm weird when I pull a bag of chicken out of my purse, but it keeps me on track." - M.G, 22

Feel free to leave some tips on what helps you stay on track!

Favorite work out of the week

Ever since my junior year of high school, I've been very conscious of getting myself moving at least three times a week.  But like anyone, I find myself bored of the same routine.  I make an effort to try different gym classes, like a step class, but none of them kept my interest.  And by not keeping my interest, I literally would have to bribe myself to go to the class.  Needless to say, I would not keep up with the classes. 

Lucky for me, I have come across a workout class that I look forward to going to every day.  And it's not arm crunches with a spoon and ice cream, it's a workout called Zumba.  Zumba is a workout that is a fusion of Latin and International music that creates a dynamic, exciting, and effective fitness system.  It's literally the most fun I’ve ever had during a workout, and every time I'm done with an hour of dancing, I’m exhausted!  This is such an amazing workout I encourage anyone to try it!  You don't have to be a good dancer either, so do not feel self conscious to attend a class. Check your local gym for classes, or order a zumba dvd.

My roommate is a Zumba instructor and though she only teaches the class twice a week, her and I make up routines in our living room at any given time.  I'm starting to feel like Shakira, hopefully my abs will look like hers too... :)