Airport Mishap, Larabars, and Giveaway Winners!

Firstly, I have missed the blog world! My brief 2 1/2 days in Chicago were jam-packed with family, friends, and food. I look forward to catching up my blog-rollers today at some point!

Mom and I did manage to squeeze in a step class yesterday morning. It was supposed to be step + strength, but she decided to kick our butts with an hour of step. It annoyed me to great lengths that the instructor of the class did her helicopters going the opposite way I've learned...so I had trouble keeping up with those because my body knew what it wanted to do already!

And then my luck continued at O'Hare Security...

Background story: In April (I think it was April) heading back to Tulsa from my Bachelorette Party, I forgot about a can of hairspray in my carry-on. My bag got searched and my poor, over-loaded packing skills allowed for "Tickle His Pickle," lingerie, personal lubricants, and all other sex-related personal items given to me by friends, to spew from my suitcase as the older gentleman searched the bag and stander-byes pointed, snickered, and laughed. I tried explaining that it was my Bachelorette Party this weekend and I was heading for home, but I just received an annoyed "whatever, nympho" stink eye. A-w-k-w-a-r-d.

Fast-forward to yesterday when my handbag didn't make it through the scanner. A gentlemen asked me to step to the side, and asked if there was anything in my bag he needed to know about, as he searched my bag. Told me not to touch anything. He pulled out books, iPod, magazines, wallet, sunglasses, gum...the usual. He ran the bag again and again it looked suspicious. In the VERY VERY bottom of my bag was a paring knife I had brought to work to cut up an apple WEEKS ago. So the security guy 1) thought I was lying because I didn't tell him it was in there when he asked (didn't know!!!!), 2) it was shoved to the bottom, and 3) it was wrapped in a paper towel and Ziplock. Thank goodness I don't look like a crazy person? Scarily, that same knife was in my bag coming from Tulsa to Chicago. Hmmm. Anyways, husband was pretty embarrassed.

Thankfully we're driving up for Christmas? :)

While in Chicago, I was able to visit my personal paradise: TRADER JOE'S!!! I don't know what was more exciting, the wine sample guy being from south Tulsa and nearly demanding we try every wine he had, or that I finally found these LARABARS everyone's been raving about! Trader Joe's was a much-needed fix in this RD's heart. Oh, and Chianti...had to get SEVERAL bottles of the various Chianti's TJ's carries...Mmm!

Ends up, these LARABARS are worth the chatter. I tried the "Cherry Pie" bar this morning and it was delicious! These bars are 190-210 calories and loaded with MUFA's and PUFA's...mostly MUFA's! They're like a protein bar in consistency, but the protein content is low-to-moderate -- the bars are high in fat and carbohydrates. The "Cherry Pie" LARABAR contained NO sodium, 350 mg potassium, 4 grams of fiber, and 5 grams of MUFA's. The ingredients? Get ready.....dates, almonds, unsweetened cherries. The bars are gluten, dairy, and soy free and also contain 2 grams of omega-6's. Wish it was omega-3's but nonetheless, thumbs up, LARABAR!!

Lots to try!

Complaint: Size. I wanted more!!

And, of course...Newman's Own Organics GIVEAWAY WINNERS!!!

Allison and Andrea!!

Giveaway 1: The Cookie Monster

Newman's Own Organics Champion Chip Cookies (Chocolate)

Newman's Own Organics Ginger Hermits

Newman's Own Organics 54% cocoa Dark Chocolate Bar

Winner of Giveaway #1: Allison!!!!

(THANK YOU for the pumpkin pancake recipe -- making them tonight!!)

Giveaway 2: The Smorgasborg

 Newman's Own Organics White Cheddar Soy Crisps

Newman's Own Organics California Prunes

Newman's Own Organics 54% cocoa Espresso Dark Chocolate Bar

Winner of Giveaway #2: Andrea of Andrea's Wellness Notes 

Send me your addresses, ladies and I'll hopefully get those out to you tomorrow!

Mrs.RD44@gmail.com

Thank you to all for participating!!

Off to pick-up our pup who's been at over-night camp for 3 days now...can't wait to see baby girl! Have a wonderful Sunday, bloggies!

20 years of nutrition headliners

Well, I would first like to announce my initiation into the Foodie Blog Roll - yay! I hope to draw in more randos to my blog and continue the flow of comments, feedback, opposition, and support of my thoughts, ideas, and interests. And for all you lurkers, help me out and click "follow blog" up there at the top. I need to appear more popular in the cyber world!! Half kidding...but really, I've received many emails and comments from people I'm not sure I know IRL (in real life) and/or know that they follow my blog. Anyways..

Found an interesting article highlighting nutrition headliners making their way in nutrition over the past 20 years. I found them really interesting, so maybe you will (:cough:should:cough:), too! A lot really has changed about what we know and what we've adopted into our diets. Here's a snapshot [1].

New pyramid. We've changed the way we measure portions and we've added exercise. Also, the "use in moderation" section is done-zo. There's also a customizable "My Pyramid" available online. When you plug in your sex, age, height, and weight...the details of a suggested diet are laid before you. For free. Ahhh technology!

Food labels. The CNN article states, "In 1994 when the Food and Drug Administration required products to carry nutrition facts labels that listed the amount of calories, calories from fat, total and saturated fat, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, sugar, cholesterol, sodium, vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron per serving." Today, 50% of adults peek at those labels. Continue doing your part, America! The information is accurate in invaluable in your weight management and health endeavors.

Fish and omega-3's. Need I say more? Eat'em love'em...and quite possibly...supplement'em.

"Fat is not a four letter word". AMEN! I think this is my favorite one! Fat is essential in the diet. Labels are including information on saturated, trans, mono- and polyunsaturated fat. Embrace the new information and use it to your benefit. Anybody have any any guacamole...? It's true, even the Sonic will serve a whole wheat bun if you ask. Up the complex carbohydrates! The Whole Grains Council and their stamp has assisted consumers in choosing healthier grain options. Ever see a red heart on your whole grain bread? It's not for decoration, I assure you.

Food for what ails you. Food works for you in preventing chronic disease and assisting in weight management. Food can help lower your cholesterol, keep your bowels regular, and regulate your blood sugars to an extent...just to name a few perks. What we eat predicts our level of satiety and satisfaction, and cooking and meal time provides enjoyable times and memories for all. Food is power, truly...and food + knowledge is invincible.

Cheers! Drinking to good health is recommended! Maybe this is my favorite headline.,.I'm not sure. Probably...as I blog enjoying a glass of wine from a local winery! But not just wine -- water and milk and others. And consumers are becoming aware of the calories they consume in liquid form. Many consumers are now opting for water or other low-calorie and calorie-free options like Crystal Light.

Variety. Not only is NO food a forbidden food, but we're expanding our palates. More Americans are familiar with and consume ethnic foods and a larger variety of foods than in decades past. We've all heard "eat your colors" or "eat the colors of a rainbow daily" -- this is emphasizing variety. And now too we see that consuming our nutrients through the diet versus a supplements is more strongly encouraged. It's amazing how quickly headliners go to rule of thumb, isn't it?

Go fresh. Farmers markets and the availability of fresh (organic) produce, meats, and other foods are gaining speed in the world. Stores such as Trader Joe's (which isn't in Oklahoma...leave me to pout), leave consumers with a cost-effective, fun means of freshening up, and lightening up their diet. Or should I say "bulking up" since all that produce is packed with fiber!!? Anyways, freshness is taking on a huge role in consumer choices as of recently.

Awesome article! Thank you, CNN!

I'll leave you with a few pictures of our Lily. She's nearly 20 weeks old and is just a doll. She got a new, big girl bed this week. Can you tell we are proud, proud parents!?

[1]. Squires, Sally. The 10 Most Important Nutrition Stories of the Last Two Decades. CNN Health. September 8, 2009.

Just one more reason to hate "three-two" beer

I live in Oklahoma. ::slight shudder:: Yeah, yeah....it's not that bad. Actually, I'll even confess to enjoying it here. However, Oklahoma's liquor laws cause me some serious angst.

When we first arrived in Oklahoma my husband's work friends cued us in. Here you cannot buy alcohol on Sundays or after 9pm on any day, all beer sold in liquor stores is room temperature, you cannot buy liquor or wine anywhere but a liquor store, beer in grocery stores is no more than 3.2% ABV (your standard domestics run between 4.2% and 5.0% ABV), and most everything served in a restaurant, sporting event, etc. is "three-two". You can, however, find imports (at room temperature) that contain their proper alcohol content (typically 4.8%-5.6% ABV) in liquor stores. Call me a Yankee, Yupee, whatever...but I want to be drinking the real deal when I choose to partake.

My better half would get embarrassed when I narrowed my beverage selection at a restaurant by asking, "What's NOT 'three-two'?" It'll be a long life with that attitude, baby. Give credit where credit is due - I haven't made the 45-minute commute to Arkansas for the real stuff. Yet.


But the dietitian in me got to thinking...there's gotta be something good about this "three-two" stuff (one source actually reported 70% of alcohol-related deaths being attributed to the consumption of three-two beer!). Anyways, I deduced that because there's alcohol missing, this beer must be lower in calories compared to its domestic brothers and sisters made right. Logical, si?

Wrong.

For the record, my bachelor's is in "FOOD Science and Human Nutrition", not "Food and Beverage Science and Human Nutrition". Luckily, too. The latter wouldn't sound as impressive on a resume. (Although, my undeclared minor was certainly beverage-related coughcough). Anyways...

What makes a light beer lighter is not the (large) reduction in alcohol content, but rather the carbohydrate content. While my logical side thinks, "But how many more carbs can you take out of a Miller Lite containing a mere 3.2 grams of carbohydrates in a 12-ounce serving?". No wonder Bud Light wins my vote. It comes in at 6.6 grams of carbs per serving, doubling its archrival Miller Lite. Dammit! At least Bud Light has drinkability. Moving on...

A standard 12-ounce bottle contains 355 ml. If a domestic beer serving is typically 15 ml of "alcohol" (1/2 ounce), a "three-two"beer has 11.4 ml of "alcohol" (juuussst shy of 2/5ths ounce). Not a huge difference despite it's "three-two" contents. If you don't believe me, Google "milliliter".

At least we're not the only deprived ones -- Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, and Utah are in this with us. In all seriousness, true source of all my angst surrounding this issue revolves around the fact that until Oklahoma liquor laws change, there will be no Trader Joe's in our new home state. Sigh.

Gotta jet - off to Arkansas.