blog #73: worst beverage ideas from TIME

I came across this cool slideshow on TIME.com called "Top 10 Bad Beverage Ideas."

Can you believe that there are beverages flavored like Thanksgiving foods such as green beans? I've seen Jones Soda before during my first few years of college. I was first introduced to this soda when I learned that people can submit artwork to be placed as the label, which I think is creative and artistic, but now the flavors are main courses for holiday meals? GROSS!!

I had to learn more about this idea so I went to their website, which promotes their "holiday pack." 

"This pack contained five new seasonal flavors which included: Green Bean Casserole Soda, Mashed Potato & Butter Soda, Fruitcake Soda, Cranberry Soda, and Turkey & Gravy Soda." 

If food-flavored soda sounds too gross, just wait until September for an unusually weird drink for those obsessed with vampires called Tru Blood Soda. Apparently, it will taste "slightly tart and lightly sweet."

You can actually vote for whatever order you think is best after you navigate the slideshow

Personally, I’d rather actually eat food than drink the flavored carbonated form of it, but what about you, my readers? 

blog #72: Breakfast ideas: how to get your oats in

I hear it all the time: “I don’t eat breakfast.” I’m always shocked. No breakfast?

It is imperative to start the day off well-fed, with a balanced meal of complex carbohydrates and protein like oatmeal with nuts and fruit. I like old-fashioned (not instant) oats, or steel-cut oats, which I make at home. Oats don’t take long to make, but if you have to purchase oats on-the-go, I recommend:

#1. Jamba Juice oats with banana (but not the blackberry or apple, because these processed fruits are syrup-based, which contain a great amount of processed sugar.)

Good: All are slow-cooked, steel-cut oats (higher in protein). Choose banana, which is made with fresh fruit.

Bad: Syrup versions.They range from 300-340 calories and have no fresh fruit. The syrup version isn't TERRIBLE but sliced bananas is a better option (and only 280 calories.)

#2. Starbucks’ “perfect oatmeal”

I hardly think that Starbucks’ oatmeal is perfect. Starbucks oats are instant, which means that there is a higher level of processing as opposed to steel-cut or slow-cooked oats.

Good: The oatmeal comes with 100 calorie packs of nuts, dried fruit, and brown sugar so that you can individualize your meal.

Bad: It’s processed, instant oats.

I recommend to only use one packet of your choice and then save the other packets for snacks later! (Distribute your calories!!)

#3 Buy grocery-store instant oatmeal

If you bring a packet of oats to work with you, all that you need is a bowl and water to make your own oatmeal.

Good: Cheap and portable. You can customize your bowl with fresh fruit.

Bad: You need to have access to a microwave or hot water and a bowl (plan ahead: you can do it!). It’s also still processed oats.

jamba juice syrup version:

blog #71 Absorption of iron is increased by Vitamin C

Iron is an important nutrient.

Recommended Dietary intake of iron for males is 8 mg/day and for females is 18 mg/day.

Lack of iron can cause anemia, which limits exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between blood and tissue cells.

Iron sources: Meat, leafy greens, beans, whole grains, and eggs

Types of iron: heme vs. nonheme (animal based vs. plant based)

Good sources of iron contain >10% of U.S. RDA (recommended daily allowance)

iron from animal-based sources is absorbed at a rate of about 15 percent where iron from plant-based sources is only absorbed at a rate of 3-8 percent.

 So if you are a vegetarian, vegan or you just don’t eat much meat, then how do you get adequate iron in your diet?

Absorption of iron is increased by consuming it with Vitamin C. Also, acidic foods, such as tomatoes, can provide some dietary iron when cooked in a cast-iron pan. So cook your lentils in tomato sauce in a cast-iron pan for extra iron if you are vegetarian/vegan!