BellaSugar

Smarter Eats: Use Chalkboard Labels on Jars

FitSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:30:28 -0800

Take a peek into my kitchen cabinet for a healthy eating tip. If you can't tell from the picture those are jars with chalkboard labels. I've been using them for almost a year now and for two good reasons: health and money.

I love nuts but find that it can be easy to eat too many at one sitting. I use the chalkboard labels to remind myself of the nutritional breakdown of the stored nut and its serving size. For instance, on my almond jar I've written 20 almonds equal 180 calories, 14g fat, 7g protein, and 6g carbs. This method has been a really great way to keep me from overindulging.

Having these jars is also an incentive to buy from the bulk aisle. Most food, especially organic, is cheaper when purchased in bulk. Plus buying in bulk cuts down on wasteful packaging, and I don't confuse things that look alike. The labels create an easy way to remember cooking ratios - if I'm storing a whole grain or beans, I write the name of the grain and the ratio of the grain to how much liquid it needs to cook.

You can either buy chalkboard jars for cheap or make your own using chalkboard paint. As an alternative you can use paper or sticky labels but using the chalkboard method helps cuts down on waste.

Get the Most Nutrition For Your Dollar

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:15:08 -0700

It can be hard to find healthy foods that don't break the bank - as I've mentioned before, nutrition often comes with a high price tag. A new tool may be what consumers need to find the biggest health bang for their buck.

The Affordable Nutrition Index (ANI) is a rating system that evaluates food based on its health and price value, and over 300 foods were evaluated and given a nutrition-value-per-dollar score. Basically the ANI is a list that lets consumers know what items are the most nutritious while also having the smallest price tag.

The food scores were based on the levels of nine essential nutrients - protein, fiber, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, and E - and what to avoid - saturated fat, added sugars, and sodium.

To see which foods ranked high on the ANI, read more.

Though the complete list has not been released, highlights of it were introduced at the American Dietetic Association's Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo:

Carrots, sweet potatoes, and broccoli are at the top of the ANI scale. Other veggies that rank high are peas, string beans, squash, and lettuce.
Oranges and bananas are the top fruits, while raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, grapes, nectarines, and apples also rank high.
Vegetable soups especially of the low-sodium variety are also seen as being good values.

All You Can Eat - Recession Buster or Fat Maker?

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:00:15 -0700

Taybarns restaurant is introducing a new dining concept to the English - all you can eat. It's nothing we haven't seen in the United States. We have all-you-can-eat baked potato and pizza bars, endless breadsticks and salad, and the kind of buffets that would make Elvis weep if he was still kickin' it in Vegas.

The Taybarns message is clear: "Enjoy as much as you like, as many times as you like. All for one fixed price!" That fixed price gives you a 111-foot counter filled with pizza, Chinese food, carving stations, fry stations, desserts, and more. The English are going crazy for the buffet-style chain, and while neighboring restaurants continue to close, Taybarns is on the up.

During tough economic times, giving people the most bang for their buck seems like a smart business model, but at what cost? As reported by the BBC, not everyone likes Taybarns. They think the chain encourages unhealthy eating habits and will cause England's collective waistline to expand.

It's a common argument, and one that's been batting around in the US for some time. Is it the fault of (insert any fast food giant here), or does the responsibility fall on the individual? Does walking into Taybarns rob a human of their free will, and why isn't healthy food more accessible to the masses?

Would You Barter to Get What You Want?

SavvySugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:00:36 -0700

Old-school savings are back in a big way. The recession has created a new generation of coupon clippers and deal hunters. But, it's not just about groceries and retail - even on big items, like home renovation. There's a trick to saving: try bartering.

I'll admit, the idea of bartering seemed a little beyond me - not just a retro throwback, but more like a nod to the real olden days. In actuality, bartering today is surprisingly sophisticated - and can get you a lot more than you might imagine. For instance, Camille Tominaro, whose vacation home needed a little renovation, used a little bartering innovation to get the job done. She posted her bartering proposal - a free vacation stay in her home, in exchange for the construction and improvements on the house - on Craigslist, and voila! Painters and carpenters responded to the add, did the work, and enjoyed their stay in the newly renovated house, as agreed upon.

Obviously, just as you would during a monetary transaction, be mindful of who you're trading with, look for references, and as a precaution, keep it local when you're trading services. So, what do you think? Would you try bartering as a saving solution?

Is Your Car's Brand a Part of Your Identity?

SavvySugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:00:48 -0700

Thanks to the recession, consumers are questioning their brand loyalty for just about everything. People who once faithfully bought one brand of paper towels or detergent are switching to lower-cost, generic versions to save money. These brand name concessions seem small, but what if the downturn coincided with your time to buy a new car - could you be faithful to your brand of choice?

Sure, when it comes down to it, a car is just a car - it gets you from point A to point B, and so, serves its purpose. Still, others would argue that, today, cars aren't just the things we drive - they become extensions and statements of who we are and what we believe. To a certain extent, some might view their car's brand with the same staunch loyalty with which they view their political party affiliation.

Still, over the course of the past year, this is all changing. Only about 20 percent of car shoppers stayed with the same brand when they purchased a new vehicle, whereas in the past, nearly four out of five American car shoppers were faithful to their car brand as repeat customers for years - or even across generations. So, tell me, how much does your car's brand matter to you?

7 Small Ways to Save Big When You Eat Out

SavvySugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:30:19 -0700

People are definitely eating differently thanks to the recession. But cutting food costs doesn't mean you still can't enjoy eating out. Tough times for consumers means empty tables at restaurants - and to fill them, restaurants are making menu changes and slashing prices, or offering discounts. Just take a look at how you can save on your next meal out.

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Study: Employers Think Recession Has Caused Fake Sick Days

SavvySugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:00:33 -0700

Is the recession making workers sick? All signs point to yes - at least where attendance records are concerned. CareerBuilder’s annual survey on absenteeism says one-third of workers have skipped work when they were feeling fine at least once this year. Twenty-eight percent of employers think more employees are absent with fake excuses due to increased stress and burnout due to the recession.

The nationwide survey suggests many employees are using sick days for mental health days, but more than one in 10 workers who played hooky admitted to calling in sick because of something work-related. Reasons include wanting to miss a meeting, give themselves some more time to work on a project, or avoid a boss, colleague, or client. To see some of the most unusual excuses employees gave for missing work, read more.

I got sunburned at a nude beach and can’t wear clothes.

I woke up in Canada.

I got caught selling an alligator.

My buddies locked me in the trunk of an abandoned car after a weekend of drinking.

My mom said I was not allowed to go to work today.

A bee flew in my mouth.

I’m just not into it today.

I accidentally hit a nun with my motorcycle.

A random person threw poison ivy in my face and now I have a rash.

I’m convinced my spouse is having an affair and I’m staying home to catch them.

I was injured chasing a seagull.

I have a headache from eating hot peppers.

Have you ever made up a wacky excuse to get out of work this year?

Are Hot Waitresses a Sign of Tough Economic Times?

SavvySugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:00:19 -0700

Economists love to find patterns among their data and analysis; some of them are easy to get behind, and others are kind of a reach. Hemlines are the most talked about economic indicator - typically, hemlines rise during tougher times. The Great Recession brought out a whole bunch of economists sharing alternate indicators like fraying elastic on men's underwear, the increase in long distance relationships, and even the Hot Waitress Index.

According to Time, the Hot Waitress Index follows the theory that an abundance of attractive waitresses in big cities are a sign of tougher economic times. It assumes that when things are looking up, these women have access to other opportunities like marketing, modeling, and hosting parties. Have you seen evidence of the index during the recession?

Source: Flickr User Loimere

Fantasy Gifts Get Made-Under

SavvySugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:00:57 -0700

So maybe you weren't actually going to purchase the $20 million submarine for sale in the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog, but it doesn't hurt to look, right? Well, actually that may not be the case, anymore. In light of the recession, retailers are scaling back fantasy gifts traditionally offered around the holidays. Take a peek at the scaled-down luxury gifts of the season.

Photos courtesy of Neiman Marcus and Source

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Recession Proof Your Workout: Beg, Borrow, and Deal

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:00:50 -0700

Despite Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's claim that the recession is over, most Americans aren't buying it. I'm not sure what you think of Bernanke's outlook, but the last two years of economic downturn have taught me a lesson in frugality I won't be forgetting anytime soon.

My husband bought a new bike recently - new to him anyway. After visiting nine different bike stores and confronting the truth that he could not afford to put thousands of dollars toward a bicycle, I directed him to Craigslist. Not only did he find the bike of his dreams, he ended up having a few to choose from. Within a week of looking he found a barely used 2008 Cannondale for $650, a bike he saw at a store a week earlier for $1,250.

I've used Craigslist quite a bit but never for pricier items because it seemed to risky to me. After this experience I'll be turning there when I'm on the market for something new. A quick look on the site yesterday showed hundreds of barely used elliptical machines, stationary bikes, and treadmills averaging around $200; that's at least an 80 percent discount off retail prices and has me seriously considering buying a piece of equipment for my home.

Have any of you had good experiences using Craigslist to find fitness equipment?