Bananas about BANANAS.

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Kelly Diamond

Bananas are perfect. No, really. They are. They even come in a natural carrying case (Ha! The peel! Get it?). But in all honesty, bananas are great. They taste great, they’re cheap and they’re packed with a whole bunch of healthy reasons to eat them. For instance:

There are about 110 calories in a banana
Bananas are safe and pure enough for baby’s first solid food
Bananas are a terrific, heart-healthy food
Banana are a nutrient dense food that’s ideal for any diet or weight-loss program
Bananas are fat-, cholesterol- and sodium-free
Bananas provide an excellent source of vitamin B6

* Nutrition facts adapted from ChiquitaBananas.com

As if that’s not a reason enough to eat bananas, these recipes are another:

GRANNY’S BANANA CREAM PIE

HOMEMADE BANANA FRO-YO

BANANA AND TOASTED WALNUT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Banana crazed like us? Share your favorite recipes!
Social Grocery // Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest

Donate a pint! (No, not ice cream.)

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Kelly Diamond

January is National Blood Donor Month! If you have never donated before, why not start now and kick the year off with something good? So search for some blood drives near you — check your local churches, schools, hospitals and donation centers, for a start — and go donate a pint!

To help you out, here’s a few pointers*:

BEFORE YOUR DONATION

Maintain healthy iron levels in your diet. Eat foods like spinach, red meat, fish, poultry, beans, iron-fortified cereals and raisins!
Get a good night’s snooze the night before.
Before your donation, drink an extra 16oz of water. You want those veins shining through!
Eat a healthy meal before your donation, trying your best to avoid fatty/greasy foods. Tests for infection in your blood can be affected by fats that appear in your blood for several hours after eating fatty foods.
If you are a platelet donor, remember that your body has to be asprin-free for 2 days before giving a donation.
Remember your donor card (if you have one) and your license (or 2 forms of other ID).

DURING YOUR DONATION

Wear short sleeves or a shirt with sleeves that can roll up over the elbow.
Let them know if you have a preferred arm/vein from previous blood donations or tests.
Relax! Listen to music, read or chit chat with some of the other donors.
Be sure to take the time to grab a snack and drink from the refreshment center immediately after donating.

AFTER YOUR DONATION

Drink lots of fluids in the 48 hours following your donation.
Avoid strenuous activities.
Light headed? Take a breather and lie down.
If bleeding occurs, apply pressure to the area and raise your arm for 3-5 minutes.
If you start to bruise, apply a cold pack to the area.
Feel good about your donation! Go you!

*Tips adapted from the American Red Cross.

Have you donated blood before? Tell us about your experience.

Social Grocery // Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest

What the tea?

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Kelly Diamond

Now I’ve never been the biggest tea person. It’s one of those things where I try to be, but always end up with a half-finished cup of now cold tea, or dump it out because I added too much honey or too much milk. (It’s not like I don’t try — I have an entire cabinet full of the stuff!) But as much as I struggle with drinking tea over coffee, the fact of the matter is that tea is just better for you. Please note that I am writing this blog post while making myself sip this enchinacea tea — with loads of honey, of course — due to the cold that has invaded my body. The health benefits alone should be enough to make most of us make the switch. With that said, here’s the rundown on types of tea and why you should be drinking it.

WHITE TEA
White tea is the purest of teas (meaning the least processed — uncured and unfermented). It has little caffeine content and contains healthy antioxidants. This tea is a light tea in color and flavor and is best for skin and complexion. There have been studies that show that white tea has the most potent anticancer properties in comparison to other teas.

GREEN TEA
Green tea is the beverage of choice in Asia, making it the most popular. And with 5-10% caffeine, lots of healthy antioxidants, cholesterol maintenance, skin and teeth benefits, and healthy blood sugar maintenance packed into each cup, I can certainly understand why it’s so popular. There have been studies that show antioxidants found in green tea may help to interfere with the growth of bladder, breast, lung, stomach, pancreatic and colorectal cancers. It also helps to prevent clogging of the arteries, burn fat, help with stress on the brain, reduces risks of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and strokes. Basically, it’s the miracle tea (in my own opinion). You should be drinking it.

OOLONG TEA
Oolong tea is a semi-fermented, sweet and flavorful tea with 15% of the caffeine in one cup of coffee. Ooolong teas are helpful when it comes to weight loss and lowering bad cholesterol levels. Definitely a keeper.

BLACK TEA
Black tea, a fully fermented tea, is one of the most common types of tea — being that many enjoy it iced and it is the base for other teas, like chai. It contains 20% of the caffeine in a cup of coffee. Like many other teas, black teas help maintain cholesterol levels (that are already normal), and is great for keeping your cardiovascular function and circulatory systems in check. Studies have shown that black tea may help protect your lungs from damage caused by exposure to cigarette smoke and it may help to reduce the risk of stroke.

HERBAL TEA
Herbal teas are made from herbs, fruits, flowers, seeds or roots steeped in hot water. They have lower amounts of antioxidants than other teas. While there has been little research on the health benefits of herbal teas, there have been claims that they help with weight loss, the common cold and sleep. Herbal teas are typically caffeine-free and many are rich in vitamin C. It has been found that CHAMOMILE TEA is beneficial for diabetics and stunting the growth of cancer cells. ECHINACEA TEA is a great aly in fighting the common cold. ROOIBOS TEA has been claimed to possess cancer-fighting properties.

* Tea facts found on WebMD.com and Teavana.com.

What are your favorite types of teas and additives? Honey, milk, sugar?
Social Grocery // Facebook // Twitter

Picking at Bones With Lots of Bones To Pick–National Food Stamp Challenge

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Nichole Magoon

November is one of my favorite months–mostly, for the delicious meal I engorge myself with on the 24th (and for a few days after that!). But, I also enjoy it because it reminds us to be truly thankful for some of the things we”re very privileged to have in our lives.

Recently I found out about a food challenge in Vermont sponsored by Hunger Free Vermont called the 3SquaresVT challenge (named after the state”s food stamp program). It simply asked people to change their eating and shopping habits for one week to live on the state”s average food stamp allowance: $38.

As a single twentysomething, this wouldn”t be too far of a stretch for me. Resort back to the college ramen and PB & J diet, cut out a beer allowance, and I could survive. But honestly, not for long–I couldn”t do it for weeks and weeks. And if you added kids into that mix? It was a scary thought.

I scoured the internet for more information and found a similar challenge on a national level called the SNAP/Food Stamp Challenge created by FRAC, the Food Research and Action Center.

It challenges others to live on the national food stamp budget of $1 a meal, or $3 a person a day. $21? I was dreading $38! If you want a fun and interesting read, FRAC took it one step further and asked members of congress to participate in the challenge. Click here to read their responses and how cutting their budget to $21 severely impacted their meals and food challenges.

When a budget is so restrictive, every factor that one might usually use in the store (nutrition, health, environmentally friendly) goes out the window–Just the price tag. Fresh fruits and produce are out of the question. Forget organic or diet specific foods, or even whole grain or whole wheat. It”s a whole lot of white breads, pasta, and rice. Is living on $21/week possible? Sure. But more importantly, can you receive all the nutrients you need and still eat healthy on $21/week? That, well, I”m just not sure.

Personally, I”d be picking at bones to savor the last little pieces of food–and now I have quite a few bones to pick with the food stamp system.

Could you do it? Could you feed yourself (and/or your family) on $21/person/week? Let us know, we want to hear your thoughts on this one.

Facebook || Twitter || or comment below

Cereal: A bowl full of history.

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Kelly Diamond

Not sure what it is about cereal. There are so many different kinds, so many different flavors. Spice it up with fruit, eat it plain. Even eat it without milk! Cereal is a big deal — I mean, it even has its own aisle at the grocery store (that”s when you know you”ve hit the big time). For a food that”s such a staple in the breakfast routines of many healthy eaters, I”ve realized that I don”t know much about it. Do you?

I decided to do some research. Did you know that the creation of Corn Flakes was actually an accident? In 1894, Will Keith Kellogg (get it, Kellogg”s?), while researching new healthy diets for patients at the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan, experimented with boiling wheat and made a great discovery. While his original intention was to come up with a bread substitute, he realized that after boiling, the wheat berries rolled out into individual flakes. He tried baking them and the result was a crunchy, tasty cereal (then called “Granose”) that was a hit with the patients. It was after this success that Kellogg attempted the process with corn — leading to the start of the classic cereal we love, Corn Flakes. Other favorites came later, like Kellogg”s All-Bran in 1916 and Kellogg”s Rice Krispies in 1928.

Cereal has come a long way since then, with so many different flavors, shapes and treats (granola, nuts, marshmallows, dried fruit, etc.) in each one, you could go months without eating the same cereal twice. What”s your favorite type of cereal? A great way to check out trending cereals is by browsing on Social Grocery. Here are the top 4 most popular cereals on the site as of today:

Do you agree? Cheerios, another classic, takes the cake as the most popular cereal among Social Grocery users. Not only does Cheerios have heart-healthy benefits, there”s just something about it that makes you feel like a kid again. Not to mention, it”s delicious with fruit — I personally love it with some sliced banana!

Are you a cereal person? What”s your breakfast of choice?

+ Social Grocery
+ Social Grocery on Facebook
+ Social Grocery on Twitter

A time to sneeze, a time to wheeze.

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Kelly Diamond

Allergy season. Sufferers know what a burden allergy season can be — on your body, your productivity and your social life. Even putting aside the aches and pains, the itching, the coughing, the sneezing, congestion .. it”s a disaster and none of us enjoy going through it. In addition to the stares and ignorance from co-workers, family and friends that confuse our symptoms with that of the flu or cold, it”s hard to always find relief. (Not sure about you, but most allergy meds I”ve tried have not made much of a difference.) The thing we don”t necessarily think of is that it takes more than just a pill and some tea to help ease the effects of allergy season.

First of all, it”s important to realize what your symptoms are. Many people have allergies and don”t even realize it, mistaking their sneezing for the common cold. According to Michael A. Kaliner, MD, (Medical Director, Institute for Asthma and Allergy) there are some determining factors when it comes to allergies vs. colds. While colds last about a week, allergies usually last in 2-4 week chunks of time. Also, when you are suffering from allergies, you will experience itch in your eyes, nose and/or throat. However, when you have a cold you may feel uncomfortable in these areas, but you will not itch.

If you are experiencing the itch and are tired of suffering, give these articles a read:

10 ALLERGY MYTHS
This article from Discovery Fit & Health addresses common allergy myths like allergies being all in your head, that moving to a place such as the desert will help your allergies, and that whole “allergic to pet fur” thing.

10 HOME REMEDIES FOR ALLERGIES
This list from TLC offers some great (and easy) remedies to help ease your allergies in the home. One that we may not think of is to bathe before going to bed — by doing this, we are getting rid of all the pollen and other allergens that may have caught onto our hair and skin throughout the day, meaning we”ll have less of a reason to wake up in a coughing/sneezing fit during the night.

9 FALL FOODS TO FIGHT YOUR FALL ALLERGIES
This list from Rodale.com lists autumn favorites that may help our fight against allergy season — such as broccoli, kale, pumpkin, etc. In addition, they give us a few pointers to look out for foods we should not be eating. These include apples, bananas, melons, honey (WHAT?!), etc. You may be surprised by what you find!

Are you an allergy sufferer? What”s your favorite remedy?

+ SocialGrocery.com
+ Social Grocery on Facebook
+ Social Grocery on Twitter

Feeling less than energetic?

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Kelly Diamond

Are you familiar with this scene? I would be lying if I said I didn”t feel like this practically everyday. I”ve never been the best sleeper — but it”s the worst when you actually do get a full night”s sleep and you still feel like a dead weight. All. Day. And as much as I love my coffee, I can”t drink it all day, every day. I mean, as delicious as an all-coffee diet sounds, that whole “UNHEALTHY” neon sign is blinking in my brain. Nice thought, though.

The problem is that while we may get enough sleep at night (or not), we still have to take care of ourselves during the day. This means eating right and not skipping meals. I”m not sure about you, but it”s unlikely that I ever take the time to actually eat breakfast each day — more than likely I”m running out the door or I”m just too exhausted (see above) to even move, let alone make a meal.

To get your body started off on the right track, start your day off with a quick breakfast — like a whole-grain cereal with milk or a low fat yogurt with fresh fruit. Eating as you start off the day helps boost your metabolism (common sense, right?), so try not to skip it, if possible. Apples or grapes are a great on-the-go breakfast if you don”t have time to sit down and enjoy. In addition, if you can go without it, try to switch out your AM coffee for green tea, instead. If you can”t imagine giving up the java altogether (I”m not strong enough, either) maybe switch out your second and third cups for green tea, instead.

If you start to feel tired before lunchtime, have a snack! It is recommended that we snack between meals — this doesn”t mean having 5 meals a day, but keeping your body fueled and energized. Great between-meal snacks are things like almonds, fresh fruit, salsa and chips, cottage cheese and whole-grain crackers, celery with peanut butter, etc. Also, don”t forget to stay hydrated! Water is your best friend. Literally.

By eating a great breakfast and fueling up between mealtimes, our body should get that extra boost it needs — without the need for excessive energy (such as coffee, energy drinks). This way, your body can energize itself naturally without the caffeine crash, which means a happier you and less headache. Sign me up!

What”s your favorite energizing breakfast? Share with us:

+ SocialGrocery.com
+ Social Grocery on Facebook
+ Social Grocery on Twitter

A day dedicated to coffee!

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Kelly Diamond

Happy National Coffee Day!

We hope you had your cup of joe this morning in celebration. Whether you”re an espresso, iced, cream no sugar, or even blended (Frappuccino or Coolatta, anyone?) type of person, we wish you a very happy and caffeine-induced National Coffee Day.

And while you sip your java, feel good about it. Why? There have been researches that show coffee drinkers are less likely to have type 2 diabetes, Parkinson”s disease and dementia. In addition, they have fewer cases of certain cancers, heart rhythm problems and strokes. (WebMD)

This doesn”t mean to load up on the extra cream and sugar, however. And don”t start yourself on an all-coffee diet, either. While your average cup of to-go 16 fl oz coffee is only 14 calories, add half & half and sugar to that and you”re consuming a whopping 125 calories — just for your morning cup, alone. More of a latte person? 143 calories for your 14 fl oz cup. Adding sugar and whipped cream? We”re up to 382 calories. YOWZA. (myfoodapedia.gov)

Basically, don”t drink the extras everyday. As a treat every now and then, go ahead — order that Frappuccino and feel GOOD about it. Just don”t do it on the daily. Opt for your favorite coffee flavor and some light creamer instead. Hey, even add some sugar while you”re at it — 44 calories for the whole shebang (myfoodapedia.gov). With calorie numbers that low, we think you could even drink two cups. Caffeine up!

What”s your favorite way to drink your morning java?

+ SocialGrocery.com
+ Social Grocery on Facebook
+ Social Grocery on Twitter

The art of bento!

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Kelly Diamond

Bento, as defined by Dictionary.com, is “a meal, usually served in a lacquered or elaborately decorated box that is divided into sections for holding individual portions of food.”

My personal opinion is that bento box lunches are AWESOME. They”re all so colorful and creative — almost too great to eat! Do yourself a favor and Google image search “bento box,” you won”t regret it! I was amazed myself by how realistic the portrayed characters are — it”s hard to believe these are made out of FOOD.

Here are a few favorites:

I can”t get over how cute these pandas are. The hot dog cheeks kill me.

Whether or not you”re a Hello Kitty fan, you cannot deny that this bento is well made. Love, love, love the bees! I think any elementary-aged little girl (or even some adults I know) would enjoy getting this in their lunch.

I included this bento simply for the radish mice! They are insanely cute. (And I don”t even eat radishes.)

This bento box trend just takes the usual AM lunch packing session to a whole new level. Not sure about you, but now the old “brown bag it” and “throw it in a plastic grocery bag” routines just sound lazy. Luckily there are many websites, blogs and books to help out newbies like us on this food creativity adventure. Not to mention, it looks incredibly fun and would be a great project with the family!

Are you already a seasoned bento box master? Share your creations with us!

+ SocialGrocery.com
+ Social Grocery on Facebook
+ Social Grocery on Twitter

Healthier options come to vending machines.

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Kelly Diamond

If you”re anything like me, you feel a need to make healthier choices; but when it comes down to it, actually eating right can be a challenge. You”re constantly faced with unhealthy, convenient foods that give a satisfying illusion but in reality are unsatisfying for your body”s well being. Sound familiar to you?

One of the worst places for me is the workplace. If you work in an office and have your own cubicle or desk, you know what I”m talking about. You fill your drawers with things like pretzels, peanut butter and candies for whenever you might have a craving to snack. Unless you work in a small office, chances are you don”t have the option of keeping many healthier items like fruits, veggies and yogurts in the break room fridge. In my own personal experience, many-a-time my foods would be thrown out, consumed, or lost among all the lunch bags of my co-workers. Basically, it seemed like a lost cause to attempt to eat healthier at work.

But then, a silver lining. When I first started working here, I found a better option to the cheddar cheese pretzels in my cubicle — a new type of vending machine that offered healthy choices. Fresh Healthy Vending is a company from San Diego that has started a new trend of offering healthy and organic options as opposed to the generic potato chips and candy bar you”ll find in a typical vending machine.

I”ve now become spoiled with things such as Pirate”s Booty and a fresh Chobani yogurt when I feel hungry at work. Not only do I feel better about my choices, I don”t feel weighed down by the grease and saturated fat that comes along with a bag of big brand chips. Also, I love trying new items from the vending machine, finding them on Social Grocery and sharing them with my friends. (Just one of the many uses of Social Grocery put to action!)

Here are a few example items you”ll be able to find in a Fresh Healthy vending machine:

Here at Social Grocery, we love brands like Clif Bar, Naked Juice, Tazo Tea and Barbara”s. Now we can enjoy them without having to run to the store each time we”re feeling the need for a snack. Have you seen these vending machines in your area? There is an increase in healthier vending machines across the country — in shopping malls, office buildings, gyms and schools. While a tad pricier than your average vending machine, do you think they”re worth the cost?

Talk with us on SocialGrocery.com, Facebook and Twitter!

Fridge Notes

Tag Archives: health