YumSugar

Let's Dish: Do You Ever Buy a Food Product For Its Name?

Mandy Harris — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 08:30:47 PST

We'd all like to think our purchasing decisions are based on careful reasoning and planning, but let's face it: sometimes we choose products using much more shallow criteria. It's difficult, for example, not to be drawn to a wine bottle or snack bag that's got your name on it - I mean, it's practically meant to be! Do you ever buy food products simply because they use your name? If so, tell us which ones!

Let's Dish: What Products Will You Buy Generic?

partysugar — Wed, 12 May 2010 04:00:51 PDT

The other day my dad and I got into a discussion about the generic brand food at supermarkets. We both purchase items - such as flour, napkins, and bottled water - from 365 Everyday Value and Western Family. However, there are other ingredients we most definitely will not buy generic; butter, cheese, and cola come to mind. Since I'm sure you have similar grocery store habits, I want to know about them.

Which food products will you buy generic and which generic items do you avoid?

Source: Flickr User anokarina

How Well Do You Know Health Food Brands?

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:00:00 PDT

There are so many companies out there making wholesome, healthy food. If you do the grocery shopping or spend a lot of time reading labels, I'm sure you know all the good brands. Let's see how well.

Question 1 of 10

Which company makes this cereal?

Do You Track What You Eat in a Food Journal?

Leta Shy — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:53:01 PST

No matter how much you exercise, if you're looking to lose weight, changing your diet should also be a priority. And watching what you eat has become so much easier with the availability of iPhone apps, websites, and fitness monitors that can track exactly how many calories you're consuming every day.

Most food trackers have vast databases that make inputting every single thing you eat relatively simple: just search for the specific brand or type of food and add how much you've had (there are several good sites to choose from; FitSugar editor Michele recommends My Fitness Pal). But while being aware of what exactly you're eating is an important aspect in any weight loss plan, food trackers may not be for everyone. It can be hard for some to remember to log every single thing they eat, or it can even turn all-consuming if tracking your food leads you to obsess over every calorie.

What's your take on food journals - do you track your food?

Khloé Kardashian Odom Tells Us Women and Girls Shouldn't Be Shy About Their Bodies

Annie Scudder — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:00:01 PST

While Kris Jenner is making headlines for promoting a very adult product - arousal oils to be exact - her daughter Khloé Kardashian Odom is appealing to a younger audience. Khloé has teamed up again with U by Kotex, the eccentric line of pads and tampons for young women. Khloé told me that she loves that the line is "trying to destroy the old-fashioned belief that we have to be so discreet" and that it also supports the charity Girls for a Change. During fashion week, a fleet of branded U by Kotex taxis will be picking people up at Lincoln Center and in the Meatpacking District, and donating up to $100,000 to the charity. I chatted with Khloé, and she opened up about the awkward years in the Kardashian household, as well as her move to Dallas for love. Keep reading to find out all about it!

TrèsSugar: Why did you team up with U by Kotex?
Khloé Kardashian Odom: I love their packaging, the neon colors, the black boxes, they're trying to make everything so chic, and fun, and vibrant, like it's OK. Especially if you're in high school and you're pulling out one of those tampons or maxi pads, it's not as embarrassing. I love being able to let women, and especially younger women, know that it's OK to talk about this and to ask questions.

TS: Would this message have appealed to you when you were younger?
KKO: I am so thankful that I had older sisters, because I had a really tough time in school. I was always bullied in school. If it wasn't for my older sisters always making me feel like everything was OK and being able to ask them questions, I don't really know how I would have gotten through those years. I love that this brand is almost like an older sister but on a larger scheme. They're letting everyone know that this is what happens to everybody and it's awkward for everyone.

TS: So who did your older sisters talk to? Did your mom fill that role?
KKO: Kourtney told me that she didn't even tell my mom she got her period for the first year and a half. She said she told her friend and her friend just told her what to do. To me, I find that so weird. But that's Kourtney. Kim was always very open about it, but I think Kim got hers first, and I think Kourtney got jealous. Kids are weird! I don't get what that jealousy is. I'm like, "Honey, please. Be grateful that you don't have it." It's so funny that I'm 27, and my sisters are 16 and 14. I'm not so much older than them, but the comfort in talking about your bodies grows so much.

TS: Do you have an awkward or funny memory from that time?

Find out Khloé's answer, as well as the scoop on Dallas, when you keep reading.

Link Time: Ever Wondered What the Obamas Eat on Super Bowl Sunday?

Camilla Salem — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:05:52 PST

What the Obamas ate on Super Bowl Sunday - Food Republic
West Coast vs. East Coast brand names - HuffPost Kitchen Daily
The real deal with boxed wines - The Daily Meal
How McDonald's Chicken McBites pissed off pit bull owners - Grub Street Boston
The United States of Chocolate is a place we're proud to live in - FN Dish
Green tea soup? Yep, it's a thing - My Recipes
Your microwave could be the most useful appliance in your kitchen - Real Simple
Rethinking the five-second rule - HuffPost Food

The Non-Football Fan's Guide to Enjoying the Super Bowl

Emily Co — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:05:02 PST

Last year, an average of 111 million viewers tuned in to watch the Super Bowl. Many of you non-football fans will be attending some sort of Super Bowl party, so to prevent yourself from being the wallflower, read these tips that might make your Sunday a little more fun.

Read up a little on the star players. Before you know what you're getting into, read up a little bit on the teams and the star players. I found this nice cheat sheet by Rumpus.net that features minibiographies of some of the stars. Once you've read up on them and know who's who, memorize several of their numbers so you know who you're following.
Learn key football terms. Yes! Touchdown! Wait . . . does that mean we won? To better follow along what's happening and to prevent confusion about the football terms being thrown around by commentators, try to learn what the terms mean. The Bleacher Report has a basic list of football terms for those who need the breakdown.
Pick a team. Now that you've read up a bit on football, it's time to pick your team! You can pick it based on the star players, the team your friends are rooting for, or any other reason you choose. Once you have a team in mind, your competitive nature might start showing, and that's when the fun really begins.

Read on for more tips.

The Simply Surprising Reasons French Women Have Enviably Glowy Skin

Jaime Richards — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:02:00 PST

When Bertrand Thomas and his wife, Mathilde, (pictured above) launched Caudalie in 1995 with just three items on the roster, it was the first company to use the antiaging benefits of grape-seed polyphenols in skin care. Since then, the vinotheraphy-based brand has launched a full range of products, using practically all parts of the grape, from skin to stalk. In fact, its radiance-boosting Beauty Elixir ($16 to $46), which contains grape fruit extract, is so popular, even Victoria Beckham has been tweeting about it.

But what is it about French women that makes them seem so pleasantly content and perfectly complected? In the NYT best-seller, French Women Don't Get Fat, author Mireille Guiliano describes a lifestyle that is full of variety, where deprivation is replaced by savoring things to the fullest. And when it comes to beauty, Thomas explains it's a similar mindset: "Balance is the key word: French women balance food their food and balance their lifestyle." To see just what Thomas means on how French women get it right, keep reading.

Dunkin' Donuts Is Banking on All-Day Sandwiches

Susannah Chen — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:15:17 PST

Looks like Starbucks and McDonald's aren't the only two chains who want a piece of breakfast between bread: starting this week, Dunkin' Donuts introduces two new sandwich offerings, to be offered at DD locations throughout the day - including breakfast, of course.

The new sandwiches will "be familiar, but with a twist," said Stan Frankenthaler, Dunkin' Brands' executive chef and head of product innovation. The Ham & Cheese Bakery Sandwich contains Black Forest ham, white cheddar, and a creamy dijon mustard sauce; Turkey, Cheddar, & Bacon is made with turkey, white cheddar, bacon, and ancho chipotle sauce. Both are made to order on a croissant, bagel, or the new baked-fresh-daily French roll.

The announcement of these all-day sandwiches arrives just as Taco Bell rolls out its First Meal menu of breakfast items. Still, Dunkin' is quick to explain what differentiates the brand's ham and bacon sandwiches from similar breakfast sandwich offerings already on the market. "We think our bakery leadership is a real differentiator in our brand," Frankenthaler told us. "Our guests already know us and love us for our fresh bagels (we're the number one retailer of bagels in the United States) and croissants."

Providing all-day options is "extremely important for Dunkin’ Donuts," he added. "Breakfast sandwiches are popular with our guests, and they like the flexibility to enjoy them throughout the day."

With first Taco Bell and now Dunkin' Donuts taking the mornings to another level, it's clear that the fast-food AM wars won't be letting up anytime soon. Will you try a new sandwich from Dunkin' Donuts?

Source

What to Look For in a Wok

Susannah Chen — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:28:28 PST

Enjoy cooking Chinese at home, but want to take your skill set to the next level? Then get yourself one of China's most integral cooking tools: a wok.

"A wok is essential to Chinese cooking," said Ching-He Huang, host of the Cooking Channel's brand-new Easy Chinese: San Francisco. But, she warned me, it's just as important to find the right version for you, as there are many different selections on the market. Here's what to look for.