FoodBozo.com

Can you get off your couch to grab a snack during the overtime grand-final of the Canada-USA Olympic hockey game?

If you’re willing to escape the theater & drama and you want to risk missing hockey history, keep the following advice on effective & healthy snacking in mind: Snacking.

Most of us snack for two different reasons. The first one is because we’re hungry. The second one is because we aren’t.
Snacking when we’re hungry can be good or bad depending on how much and what we’re snacking on.

Snacking because we are mad, sad, happy, crabby, tired, upset, bored, or lonely is not a great idea no matter what you chose to eat. It’s this disconnect between hunger and eating that can lead to mindless noshing which always leads to tight pants.

Figuring out the reasons why we eat is a mission we all need to do on our own. It’s not a trivial exercise and it may just be the key to your personal health journey. The next time you reach for a bag of chips, a box of cookies, or whatever is handy at the time ask yourself this question: How do I feel at this moment? You’ll be surprised how often what you’re feeling has nothing to do with hunger.

The perfect hockey food to eat while enjoying the Canada-USA Olympic hockey gold medal game is the newly famous japadog- Japadogs – Multicultural Hot Dogs:

Imagine eating one of these…

…during this

Vancouver always touts its multiculturalism proudly, and so does Japadog on Burrard and Smithe, where “east meets west deliciously” as tastethehappy puts it. Its fusion food in a bun. More precisely, they serve hot dogs with a Japanese makeover. I know, its hard to imagine if you haven’t seen it before, and I had trouble explaining it to my coworkers without visual aid.

There is now question that apples are one of the favorite foods at FoodBozo.

With such a wide variety of taste & uses, apples are versatile, portable, healthy, and scrumptious. Read up An apple a day:

An apple is the perfect portable snack. Eating just one apple a day can reduce a woman’s chances of developing breast cancer by 17% according to a study done at Cornell University.

At the end of February the produce aisle always looks a tad bleak. I’m already chomping at the bit for my first Ontario strawberry sighting, but June is a very long way off. What’s a local-loving produce person to do?

I did the once over in the fruit and vegetable department and discovered a bounty of local foods like parsnips, one of my favourite veggies, cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, beets, potatoes, and apples – another gift from the nutrition Gods – are all waiting to ride home with you in your reusable grocery bags.

When it comes to cooking I’m a bit high maintenance (HM). I may be a foodie, but I do not enjoy spending endless hours in my kitchen when I could be doing more exciting things such as meandering through Kensington Market or ice skating on the Harbourfront in Toronto.

Find this great recipe at Kale and Mushrooms with Walnuts, Tamari and Lemon…in Five Minutes!

Gross Alert! Fecal Bacteria Found in Bagged Salad Greens-

Even prewashed, nay, triple-washed bags of salad mixes aren’t so clean after all. Consumer Reports tested 208 bags of salad greens from 16 different brands and found that 39 percent of the samples had traces of fecal contamination. Researchers also found that mixes containing spinach had higher levels of bacteria and that greens tested at least six days before their “use by” date had lower levels of contaminants. Luckily, no traces of deadly pathogens like E. coli or salmonella were found. But still, the thought of cow poo on my baby arugula is totally gross.

John Mackey, the eccentric CEO of Whole Foods, is literally putting his money where his mouth is — provided his employees put less food in theirs. In January, Mackey released a letter to Whole Foods “team members” announcing a new incentive program aimed at making its employees as synonymous with healthy living as the high-end grocery chain itself. In addition to enjoying an existing 20% discount on in-store products, staff will now be able to obtain up to an additional 10% off their weekly order of apple cereal bars and organic black beans if they meet certain health requirements.

But here’s where it gets complicated. Those who sign up for the voluntary program will be screened based on four indicators — cholesterol count, blood pressure, body-mass index and a nicotine-free lifestyle — and then be placed at the bronze, silver, gold or platinum discount level. The minimum requirements for an employee to reach the bronze level (for a 22% discount) are a cholesterol count less than 195, a blood pressure of 140/90, and a BMI of less than 30. Those aiming for the full 30% platinum discount must have a BMI of less than 24. Smoking disqualifies employees from any additional discount above the standard 20%, as does a body-mass index of 30 or higher (which, on the BMI scale, represents obesity).

Continue reading Whole Foods controversy.

White chocolate grapes must be incredible and difficult to resist.

Want to make some? See the White Chocolate Grapes recipe.

These are amazingly addictive and easy to make. Grapes are dipped in white chocolate then peanuts and the result makes a beautiful presentation that is great for appetizers or desserts.

Probiotics are your intestine’s good bacteria. Here are some important facts about using them to maintain a healthy gut, and where to find them.

What are probiotics?
Long story short: probiotics are good bacteria. Your digestive system is home to lots of bacteria, some good and some bad. A healthy “gut flora,” as this assemblage of microbes is called, contributes to healthy immune and digestive systems. When there is an imbalance between good and bad bacteria, you may become vulnerable to infections, including yeast infections and urinary tract infections. Diarrhea is also a common symptom when the delicate balance is lost between the two kinds of bacteria.

Discover more about these “bacteria” by reading Give me five…facts about probiotics.

Nutritionists have long warned of the perils of hot dogs: fat, sodium and preservatives to name a few.

Now, the American Academy of Pediatrics wants foods like hot dogs to come with a warning label — not because of their nutritional risks but because they pose a choking hazard to babies and children.

Liz Szabo writes more here; Pediatricians call for a choke-proof hot dog.

• This week’s medical crisis: Hot dogs

Drinking coconut water has many benefits. Coconut Water is naturally

• Low in Carbs
• 99% Fat Free
• Low in sugars

Coconut water contains organic compounds possessing healthy growth promoting properties that have been known to help

1. Keep the body cool and at the proper temperature.
2. Orally re-hydrate your body, it is an all natural isotonic beverage.
3. Carry nutrients and oxygen to cells.
4. Naturally replenish your body’s fluids after exercising.
5. Raise your metabolism.
6. Promote weight loss.
7. Boost your immune system.
8. Detoxify and fight viruses.
9. Cleanse your digestive tract.
10. Control diabetes.
11. Aid your body in fighting viruses that cause the flu, herpes, and AIDS.
12. Balance your PH and reduce risk of cancer.
13. Treat kidney and urethral stones.
14. Boots poor circulation.

Discover more about Coconut Water’s benefits at Drinking Coconut Water Benefits.

Here are additional links offering information about Coconut Water:

• Seven Benefits of Coconut Water
• Properties of Coconut Water
• Health Benefits of Coconut Water