Fruit2day

Marci Anderson - Friday, June 26, 2009

I was recently handed a free sample of a new product called Fruit2day.  According to the sales rep, it's 2 servings of fruit in a bottle for just 110 calories.  Here's what I have to say about the benefits listed on their website:

1.) Easy, on the go way to drink your fruit.
Fruit, by nature is great for eating on the go.  Apples, oranges, bananas, grapes, nectarines, and pears are a few pieces of transportable fruit that come to mind.  This product has to be kept refrigerated which pretty much makes it less convenient and easy to consume...

2.) Reap the benefits of 2 servings of fruit in a drink.
Hardly.  Just check out the ingredient list.  There are small chunks of whole fruit which are added to an "all natural fruit puree."  This is what I call glorified fruit juice which inherently lacks the benefits offered by whole fruit (i.e. the satiating and nutritional benefits of fiber, phytochemicals, and many antioxidants lost in processing). 

3.) Tastes delicious.
The flavor did taste good but the chunks made it totally awkward to drink.  If you don't mind chunks of fruit fowing into your mouth while trying to swallow juice at the same time, you might like it.

4.) Endorsed by a Dietitian.
Well, many people endorse products for money...

One thing the company didn't list was price.  I called a couple of grocery stores in the area that were listed on their website as carriers.  Unfortunately they didn't have it in so I don't know the cost.  But most grocery store fruit is less than 50 cents a serving.  I doubt a processed and packaged fruit drink can be that!

Don't be fooled with fancy advertising.  Stick with real, whole, non-processed food as much as possible and you'll be better off.
 

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Larabars

Marci Anderson - Monday, June 22, 2009

We are all looking for easy ways to eat well on the go. Hence, the creation of THE BAR. Yes, if you walk the aisles of any convenience store or supermarket you just may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of them! In fact, as a dietitian, one of the most common questions I get asked is "what (if any) bars do you recommend?" My response is always the same- Larabars!

The reason I love Larabars is simple: They are made out of nutritious, whole food ingredients that I can pronounce. Plus their calorie content and distribution of fat/carbohydrate/protein will actually keep you full for a couple of hours...rather than leaving you hungry and pekish one hour later like most granola bars do. I take issue with the fact that we rely so heavily on processed, packaged food ingredients in our diets but realize we are all pretty darn busy. So Larabars combine the convience factor with nutritious ingredients rather than manufactured "stuff".

Let's compare the Larabar with one of the most popular protein bars on the market, the Luna Bar. The Luna Bar website states that "We are proud of the ingredients we use. Everything is 100% natural, as organic as possible, and contains no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Use this ingredient glossary to find out more about what’s in our food." Yes, you'd certainly need an ingredient glossary to interpret what the heck they are feeding you!

Here's the ingredient list for their Caramel Nut Brownie Bar: LunaPro ® (Cocoa Soy Rice Crisp [Soy Protein Isolate, Organic Rice Flour, Alkalized Cocoa], Organic Toasted Oats, Organic Roasted Soybeans, Organic Soy Flour, Organic Flaxmeal), Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Caramel (Organic Tapioca Syrup, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Inulin, Organic Palm Kernel Oil, Soy Protein Concentrate, Organic Tapioca Maltodextrin, Water, Salt, Natural Flavors, Organic Soy Lecithin), Organic Coating (Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Palm Kernel Oil, Organic Cocoa, Organic Soy Lecithin, Organic Vanilla), Walnuts, Inulin (Chicory Extract), Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Unsweetened Chocolate, Organic Cocoa, Organic Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Organic Chocolate Flavor, Sea Salt.

Now let's check out the ingredient list for the Cinammon Roll Larabar (my personal favorite): Dates, Walnuts, Almonds, Raisins, Cashews, Cinnamon.  Plus they are gluten, dairy, and soy-free.  A great option for food allergies.

So the next time you are searching for an alternative to all of the processed bars and snacks, check out some "real food options."  They may be just as convient and even tastier...your body will thank you for it. :)
 

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Taste of Cambridge

Marci Anderson - Wednesday, June 17, 2009

For those of you living in the Cambridge and are interested in eating good food while supporting a good cause, check out Taste of Cambridge.  Celebrate the diverse restaurant scene in Cambridge in good conscience.  All proceeds are donated to two charities: Youth on Fire and Club Passim's Culture For Kids/Music Speaks.  A huge vendor lists includes a few of my very favorite restaurants in Cambridge: Garden at the Cellar, Ole', Small Plates, and Veggie Planet (and many more fabulous restaurants).

Event Details
Location: The Charles Hotel
Date: Thursday, June 25th
Time: 5:30-8:00
 

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How much does Oprah weigh now? Who cares!

Marci Anderson - Tuesday, June 16, 2009

As a registered dietitian/nutritionist who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, a recent New York Times article caught my attention.  The title? "Bingeing on Celebrity Weight Battles."  While Ms. Oprah Winfrey seems to have ignited the public's interest of her own weight struggles back in the 80's, the need for celebrity self-disclosure on everything weight related seems to be on a expeditious rise. 

Quite frankly I'm annoyed and concerned about how this feeds our nation's (and my clients') very disordered view of body shape and size, diet, and exercise.  Celebrities bounce from one extreme to another, while many Americans drink it in with increased fascination and a belief that they ought to model such behavior.  So I've been thinking of the pros and cons of celebrities posting their weight loss stats, strategies, caloric intake, and exercise routines. 

While I haven't come up with many pros, I have developed a strong list of cons:

1.) Leads to unrealistic expectations in terms of appearance, which feeds disordered eating and exercise behaviors
2.) Increases the likelihood of depression associated with body dissatisfaction
3.) Sets forth a model of comparison based on unhealthy behaviors. "If Melissa Joan Hart eats 1400 calories, I should too."
4.) Feeds cycles of weight loss and and weight gain as a result of following a diet/exercise regimen that cannot be maintained long-term
5.) Suggests that your value as a person is extrinsic (i.e. weight) rather than intrinsic

My list of pros:
1.) Great examples of how overly restrictive diets and eating patterns don't work....Can you seriously eat pre-packaged Jenny Craig for the rest of your life?  I think not.
2.) Proves that having a personal chef, personal trainer, and nutritionist at your beckon call cannot fix it all!  Good nutrition and a health body image are an inside job!

Please feel free to add to my lists!  I'd love to hear your feedback.
 

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Cooking Light's Guide to Organics

Marci Anderson - Sunday, June 07, 2009

I live in Cambridge, where a lot of people have already bought into the world of organics and buying food locally.  But as a nutritionist, I still get a lot of questions about whether or not it's worth it to buy organic.  So I thought it'd be fun to share with you a great video from Cooking Light, one of very favorite magazines and websites.  The video echoes many of my thoughts and feelings about going organic.  Enjoy!

Editor's Guide to Organics from Cooking Light
 

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