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Taste Test: Lance Cracker Creations

Susannah Chen — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 13:32:24 PDT

As a schoolkid, I grew up eating the same thing for lunch every day - a whole wheat deli meat and cheese sandwich with a pear and baby carrots. Our Michelle Obama-approved pantry had nary a cracker, chip, cookie, or cake in sight. So it was a bit like finding lost treasure every time I managed to get my hands on a four-pack of Lance Captain's Wafers at school. When I recently discovered Lance had released a new line of all-natural snack packs, the 10-year-old in me couldn't resist giving them a try.

Cracker Creations are described as "seasoned crackers with a cream cheese filling" and tout "real cheese, real vegetables, and 5 grams of whole grain per serving." They come in boxes of six individually sealed cracker twin-packs, in two savory flavors. Find out what we thought of them when you read on.

Taste Test: Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Cheddar Explosion

YumSugar — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:20:22 PDT

I eschew processed foods, but with a few glaring exceptions - like anything with processed cheese. (Yes, I already realize I can't reconcile sustainably raised seafood and organic, local produce with Velveeta chile con queso. And no, I have no plans to ever change that.) You should've seen the cheesy grin (no pun intended) that spread across our faces when a giant box of Kraft's latest macaroni and cheese arrived. With an active name like Cheddar Explosion, how could one not feel a blast of giddiness? We were excited to test it out, and I even used the occasion as an excuse to make the stovetop original for comparison. What were our ultimate thoughts? Find out when you keep reading.

Diet Tip: Stock Your Kitchen With Healthy Convenience Foods

FitSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:00:00 PDT

If you're watching your waistline, you're probably watching what you eat, too, not to mention exercising regularly as well. Yay for you and your healthy and possibly new habits, but in truth they can sometimes leave you hungry. Set yourself up for success by loading your cupboards and fridge with healthy convenience foods. Stock your kitchen with ready-to-eat snacks that are healthy, delicious, and packed with fiber. These will satisfy your cravings and keep you feeling full longer, so you're less likely to return to the kitchen for more snacks. Here are some ideas:

Fresh fruits like bananas, apples, pears, and berries
Real fruit and veggie juices
Frozen edamame
Tomatoes (slice one and sprinkle a little cheese on top)
Hummus and whole grain crackers

What else makes for delicious and quick snacking ideas? To find out

Containers of low-fat or drinkable yogurt
Granola bars
Dried fruit and nuts
Whole grain bread and real nut butter (peanut or almond)
Mini carrots
Cans of soup
Cooked brown rice (store it in the fridge)

What else do you keep in your kitchen for healthy snacking in a pinch?

Source

What 100 Calories Really Looks Like: Nuts

Susi May — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:11:04 PDT

Nuts are one of our favorite foods. Convenient for snacking, they're loaded with protein and healthy fats. But nuts are also high in calories (and some more than others), making it necessary to watch portion sizes when noshing on these nuggets of energy. From almonds to walnuts, we've created a visual breakdown of the most popular nuts so you can see just how many it takes to hit the 100-calorie mark.

Save Money, Help the Planet With These DIY Healthy Snacks

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:28:48 PDT

Eating healthy isn't always cheap, but it's a must if you want to improve your overall health. If you choose to buy organic or exotic options like dried blueberries - $13 for a small bag! - snacks can quickly eat up your food budget. Find out how to nosh on healthy nibbles and still have money left in your wallet.

Cheese sticks: Instead of buying individually wrapped cheese sticks, save money and avoid plastic packaging by making your own. Buy a block of your favorite cheese for a few bucks- mozzarella and monterey jack work well - and cut the block into long wedges for a grab-and-go snack.
Nut butter: Nut butters are great on toast, crackers, or sliced fruit, but if you buy organic jars, you can spend almost $8. Try this instead: buy huge bags of unsalted raw nuts, pour a cup in the food processor, and make your own. You can even make mixed nut butter with a few of your fave nuts and seeds. Spoon the creamy mixture into a glass container to store in the fridge.

Keep reading for more money-saving snack tips.

Bento: The Original Boxed Lunch

Sara Yoo — Fri, 11 May 2012 05:05:56 PDT

Many of us wish we brought our lunch to work more often, and while leftovers and sandwiches are delicious options, sometimes we're looking for out-of-the-box ideas. Might I suggest you start searching in the box with a bento lunch? This Japanese boxed lunch has a long history, but these days it's a delicious, healthy, and convenient lunch option, perfect for Spring picnics or munching at your desk. Ready to learn more about bentos? Just keep reading.

Phone It In: Free Apps to Help You Drop Pounds

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:03:47 PDT

Losing weight is a difficult struggle for most, but you don't have to go at it alone. For busy women wanting to drop pounds, being able to keep track of weight-loss goals on their phone is not only convenient, it offers the support and motivation needed to follow through. Here's a list of the best weight-loss apps - and they won't cost you a dime!

Lose It!: Fill in some important info about yourself, including age, height, current weight, goal weight, and how many pounds you want to lose per week and you're ready to go. The app tells you how many calories you should have each day to meet your weight-loss goal, and also keeps track of the calories you consume each day and the calories you lose via exercise. The "My Day" feature gives you a quick snapshot of your day, how many calories you've consumed and burned, and how many cals you have left. Easy to use and easy to read.
Easy Weight Loss Tips: We could always use more advice on how to lose weight, and this little app offers quick diet, exercise, and nutrition tips to help you on your quest, such as, "Keep a bowl of cut-up vegetables in a see-through container in the refrigerator."

Keep reading to hear about two more free weight-loss apps.

12 Tips to Shrink Your Bill When Eating Out

Emily Co — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:04:07 PDT

Although staying in to eat is a lot cheaper than going out, foodies can't help but indulge in their favorite restaurants once in a while. Food is one of the biggest joys in life, and nothing is better than sharing a good meal and conversation with the ones you love. In fact, the restaurant industry in America makes about $1.7 billion on a typical day, according to the Restaurant Association. That's a lot of money we're spending meals out! On your next food outing, be sure to keep these tips in mind to shrink your bill:

Use Coupons: Go to Restaurant.com and enter in a coupon code for restaurant.com that'll get you a $25 voucher for only $q0. You can find the coupon code by searching online at sites like RetailMeNot.com. Buy a local Entertainment book worth $15 that will give you lots of buy one get one free coupons for restaurants.

Earn Rewards: Do your research on sites like Mint and Credit Card Guide and figure out which credit cards give you the best rewards for your diner bucks. Oftentimes, if you're a loyal member of a mileage program, you can even earn some miles by eating at the restaurants the airline partner up with. For example, Southwest has a Rapid Rewards Dining program that credits three points for every dollar spent with their restaurant partners.

Skip the Drinks: Sodas, alcohol, and other non-tap water drinks tend to be overpriced at restaurants. Get water with your meal, and if you're really itching for a particular drink, wait until dinner's over and head to a convenient store to buy it.

Order the Kiddie Meal: The meals for kids are generally cheaper and most of the times are the perfect size for adults! This option is also great for portion control and your wallet.

Read on for more tips to save when dining out.

9 Eco-Unfriendly Moves That Are Losing You Money

Emily Co — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:51:07 PDT

Earth Day is coming up and although we usually celebrate by telling you what you should do, sometimes it's easier to listen to advice on what you shouldn't do. Not being environmentally friendly adds a huge cost to your wallet and your environment. Here are a couple of eco-unfriendly moves you should avoid doing:

Not using public transportation: Even if you do have a car, try to switch off with public transportation intermittently. The less cars out there, the less pollution and greenhouse gas emissions are generated. You'll be saving the environment and money on gas as well. Further, taking public transportation is even known to help you lose weight as well.

Not unplugging your electronics: Leaving your electronics plugged in when you're not using them means that the gadgets will keep sucking up the energy when not in use. The average household actually loses about $200 a year from vampire energy usage, so make sure you're unplugging your appliances when you're done. Here's a tip: try to attach your gadgets to the same power strip so all you need to do is switch it off to disconnect several appliances at one go.

Not bringing your lunch to work: If you keep eating out every day, not only are you wasting money, but you'll also be adding more waste to landfills because of the disposable packaging used to contain your to-go food. Make your own lunch and use tupperware and cutlery that you can easily wash and reuse again.

Not borrowing from and sharing with friends: Start making it a habit to share and borrow items from friends. For example, pass around a book or magazine that you guys are both interested in. There's no point in buying items (like power tools, a fancy dress, DVDs, etc.) that you will only use occasionally, because it's an unnecessary expense that will just add to the clutter in your home. Read these guidelines for borrowing from your friends without annoying them.

Read on for more

Healthy Habits of a Smart Snacker

Laura Marie Given — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 02:08:20 PDT

If you regularly get the munchies between meals, but can't seem to quit the afternoon cupcake habit, it's time to make over your snack routine. Whether you're into midday treats or late-night noshing, here are five simple ways to improve your snack selections:

Be a Savvy Shopper
How and when you navigate the grocery store can have a major impact on your eating habits. Bring a full grocery list and shop soon after you've eaten. If you head out when you're hungry, you'll end up grabbing unhealthy foods you'd otherwise avoid. Here are five healthy grocery shopping tips to follow.

Contemplate Your Kitchen Arrangements
If the potato chips are out on the counter and fruit is hidden in the fridge, guess what you'll reach for? Make it easy on yourself by keeping healthier snacks in an easy-to-reach place. When it comes to more indulgent picks, stow them away in a drawer or on a higher shelf. That way, you'll have to make a conscious effort to grab them, which means an extra second or two to consider your options. Learn how to organize your kitchen for healthy eating here.

More healthy snack tips after the break!