Eat This, Not That- knowing your Genes and what's good for you

You may be familiar with the “Eat This, Not That!” diet craze that has been the focus of numerous books as well as regularly featured on the Today Show and in Men’s Health. The idea is simple: substitute a less healthy option with one that gives you more bang for your caloric buck. For example, instead of ordering a large burger and fries at the drive-thru window, consider ordering a grilled chicken sandwich and some apple slices. Easy concept, right?!

Well, we wanted to put a little spin on this idea and bring you “Eat This, Not That!” diet solutions straight from individuals who have all taken the Weight Management Genetic Test and have implemented new eating habits as a result.

 Carb Reducer:
When you are a Carb Reducer, it is important to find low and healthy carb options that are still enjoyable. 

Love breads, bagels and pastas? Kenny G. from Henderson, NV says eat this, not that: “…recently I changed the type of bread I eat from mass supermarket high carb bread to Julian Bakery bread with total of 1 carb, no preservatives and gluten free.”

Spud lover? Sally N. from Rochester, NY says eat this, not that: “Instead of potatoes, I will eat cauliflower or broccoli, foregoing butter and using a little spice to kick it up a notch.”

Peanut butter connoisseur? Kenny G. says eat this, not that: “I also changed the type of peanut butter I eat from supermarket brand to one that doesn’t contain hydrogenated oils and other preservatives.”

At fast food restaurants: Sally N. says eat this, not that: “When I am out and about and caught in the fast food line, I will choose the veggie burger, minus the roll, and ask for extra lettuce and tomatoes to make it my way. It comes in a nice little dish with a cover.”

Interested in finding more Carb Reducer-friendly recipes? Check out the Low-Carb Dinner Recipes page from BetterRecipes.com 

Fat Trimmer:

Cut the fat! When you are a Fat Trimmer, it is important to monitor your daily fat intake while still finding delicious and healthy options.

Meat eater? Tracy H. from Summerville, SC says eat this, not that: “Something else I don’t have to give up is having burgers. I can have what is called a Greek garden burger. It is a veggie burger on a whole wheat pita instead of beef on a white bun.”

It is all about the substitution: Sally N. says eat this, not that: “I use ground turkey instead of beef in recipes like meatloaf and stuffed peppers.”

What came first, the chicken or the egg? Instead of cooking with or eating eggs, consider eating egg whites or egg substitutes.

Can’t forget about the potato chips: If you’re having a salty snack craving, consider opting for the baked chips as a healthier option.

Want to find more alternatives to fatty foods? Check out the Healthy Meal Makeovers page from the Food Network. 

Better Balancer:
 
Being a Better Balancer is all about balance and finding low-calorie ways to still enjoy the foods you love! Here are some suggestions from Nicole B. in Boston:

Got milk? Instead of cooking with, or drinking, whole milk (which is full of calories from fat), try a reduced 1% or skim milk. Not creamy enough? Many dairy alternatives, such as almond or soy milk, provide a more creamy texture and still offer a low-fat alternative to whole milk.

Snack attack: Everyone needs a snack every now and then but it’s what you fuel your body with, is what makes the difference. Eat this, not that: instead of chips or crackers, try opting for  nuts, seeds or legumes.

Sweet tooth! When looking for something sweet, consider picking up fresh or dried fruit instead of a candy bar; it may not have rice crispies in it but fruit has its own natural sugar.

Know your genes
http://ubefit.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-our-genesdna-affect-our-weight.html

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Eat This, Not That- knowing your Genes and what's good for you

Who’s Your Daddy? Guess 8 Surprising Ownerships in the Food Industry

Can you guess which megacorp on the right owns each of the young brands on the left?
Solution after the jump.


Click to enlarge

In many cases, these baby brands don’t prominently display their parent company logo on their packaging or website because they want to retain an innocent, healthy image, one that is long gone in the multi-billion dollar conglomerates.

Here’s the list:

1. Stoneyfield Farm, a producer of organic dairy products led by visionary entrepreneur Gary Hirshberg, is owned by French Danone Group, manufacturers of conventional Dannon Yogurt. It’s not full ownership, rather a majority stake.
2. Horizon Organic is part-owned by Dean Foods, one of the largest conventional dairy and soy companies in the world.
3. Cascadian Farm, purveyor of organic cereals, is owned of  General Mills. The brand is part of Small Planet Foods, whose portfolio includes Larabar and Muir Glen. General Mills acquired Small Planet  in 2000, to the dismay of some fans of Cascadian Farm.
4. Not to be outdone, Kashi is owned by Kellogg’s since 2000.
5. Ben and Jerry’s, eco-loving cows and all, is owned by Dutch food conglomerate Unilever.
6. Honest Tea, Odwalla, Dasani water, and Sokenbicha Japanese tea are all owned by Coca Cola.
7. Naked Juice is owned by PepsiCo.
8. Jenny Craig, the fitness empire, is owned by Swiss Nestle. They now have an entire line of foods for weight loss…

What you need to know:
Many of the companies started out as small regional players. But getting shelf space in supermarkets is incredibly difficult. As are the distribution logistics when you want to grow from one metro area to several, or to expand nationally.

Becoming part of a big food corporation solves these two issues nicely. It usually brings in a tidy amount of cash to the founding team as well.
Sounds like a win-win. But what can be the downsides?

• Degradation of product quality. This can happen because corporate HQ now demands cost cutting measures every quarter. It can also happen as a result of opting to work with cheap (i.e. Chinese) ingredients rather than more expensive locally sourced inputs.
• Reformulation of products. Example: Cascadian Farm customer noticed a funny new taste one day. it turns out the cereal tripled its sugar count!

This doesn’t always happen. But it happens enough.

What to do at the supermarket:
Next time you pick up a cool and healthy looking brand thinking it must be from a small family run business, think again…

 Source

Who’s Your Daddy? Guess 8 Surprising Ownerships in the Food Industry