Healthy Snack Ideas at Starbucks

Posted on 03/10/2013 by sbonham

It is that beautiful time of year when the colors on the trees start to change, everyone goes apple picking and the kiddies are sent back to school. We also start to realize that those “extra few pounds” we put on over the summer need to come off! However, did you ever think that your “daily morning coffee”, “cup or tea” or “snack” from Starbucks could actually make a difference in this weight gain? Guess again. You would be shocked at how important the choices you make are when considering your health and waistline.

Most often when I go to Starbucks, I avoid getting a treat/baked good because of the million calories! Instead, I often opt for a white hot chocolate instead and feel really proud of myself (can still get rid of that chocolate craving without eating the giant brownie that I secretly want more than anything in the world). You would be shocked to know that, a white hot chocolate from Starbucks (with which cream and 2% milk) is EQUAL TO EATING 12 FRENCH CRULLERS FROM COUNTRY STYLE!!! …so I could have had that brownie I secretly wanted and it wouldn’t have made a difference anyways!

Yep, a Starbucks “white hot chocolate”, has 490 calories!!!! That is just insane. Now keep in mind, this is including the whipped cream and 2% milk …but who doesn’t get the whip cream on their hot chocolate? 😉

Have no fear though, there is a better option which still includes “chocolate”. The crazy thing about all this, is that a regular “hot chocolat”e from Starbucks has HALF THOSE CALORIES (290 calories total) and only 9g of fat (versus the 19g of fat in the white hot chocolate!!!). Who would have thought?! ..a much more healthy snack idea for your mid-day break or “pick-me-up” on the way home from work.

So why is the”white hot chocolate” more calories?

Simple. It is more processed. As if Starbucks melted the chocolate and spent hours making it! We have all seen the 100 syrup pumps behind the counter of “artificial flavors/sweeteners”. This is just a guess, but lets face it, to get all their products tasting soo amazing and consistently getting us to come back day after day, they most likely had to add more sugar and artificial flavors.

We wanted to show you how important the choices you make are in your everyday eating. What may be “perceived” as less calories is not always the case. So next time you feel like a hot drink, opt for a “hot chocolate” at Starbucks as a healthier snack idea.

Feel free to leave a comment if you liked this article. I can post more healthier snack/lunch ideas if you are interested.

What To Look For On Your Shampoo Label? Phthalate Free and Sulfate Free!

Posted on 02/10/2013 by sbonham

Eco-Savy recently wrote about the importance of sulfate-free shampoo’s, but have you ever heard about “phthalates” in your shampoo products? More often than not, they are there, and are often partially responsible for that that lovely “orchid must” or “citrus zing” smell that has lured you into buying the particular brand in the first place. Unfortunately, chances are, you have been taking in a dose of these hormone-disrupting phthalates with every squirt,smear or slather, whether the scent aggravates your senses or not.

Phthalates are not just found in shampoo products, they are found in personal care products, makeup, fragrances and toys. Indeed they are hard to find on labels and often hidden behind the word “fragrance”. However, you can and should look for the phrase “phthalate free“.

Dibutyl phthalate (DBT) and diethylhexyl pthalate (DEHP) are two of the phthalates that have been banned from toys but are still found in cosmetics here in Canada. However, back in 2007, 72% of the deodorants, perfumes, hairsprays /mousses/gels and lotions tested in a report called “Not Too Pretty” by Health Care Without Harm and Environmental Working Group contained at least one phthalate.

Fortunately, consumers are growing wiser and becoming more self-educated in navigating themselves through the marketplace and reading labels (hopefully Eco-Savy has been helping you in this journey too!). As a result, corporations are getting the message. A great example of a popular brand that is making it’s shampoo, conditioner and body lotion toxin-free is Crabtreee & Evelyn (refer to image below). A few years ago we would never have recommended their products to you because of the amount of parabens, sodium-lauryl sulfate (SLS) and pthalates in them. However, this new line of products by them says RIGHT ON THE LABEL that there are NO phthalates, sulfates or parabens in this particular shampoo product. We were so excited about this, we just had to share it with you. Note however to still read the label on their products to ensure they have not just done this for this one shampoo/conditioner/body lotion line.

Healthy Snack Ideas

Posted on 27/09/2013 by sbonham

After much research on searching what people in Canada and the USA are searching for online (in terms of organic/health/natural products) the answer became very clear. Consumers today are looking for “healthy snack/breakfast/lunch ideas”!!

The problem today, is that there is just soo much information on bioproducts and organic health products, that it can be really overwhelming to piece everything together. Once a week, eco-savy will be posting health meal ideas for you and your family and tips on great products.

Healthy Snack Idea- Seaweed!

Below you will find an infographic on a great “healthy snack” that most people enjoy while getting sushi, but don’t know how to enjoy it much beyond that – IT’S SEAWEED. You can purchase seaweed at your local grocery store. Eco-Savy recommends “Natures Emporium” as the best place to buy organic seaweed.

Healthy Food Ideas For Runners

Posted on 23/09/2013 by sbonham

Sleep and Weight Loss

Posted on 19/09/2013 by sbonham

Did you ever think that the more you sleep, or stick to a particular pattern, the less you will eat?! I sure didn’t!!

New research by Dr. Scott Isacc, indicates that people who sleep two-thirds of their usual amount (five hours instead of eight, for example) eat an average of 549 EXTRA calories the following day. THAT’S A LOT!!

Experts believe that getting too few Z’ a night can actually upset the balance of appetite regulating hormones. Specifically, “resistance to leptin-a hormone that regulates body weight – increases, which levels of ghrelin, a hormone that signals to your brain that you are hungry, also increase,” says Dr. Isaacs, author of Hormonal Balance: How to Lose Weight By Understanding Your Hormones and Metabolism. (Side note: I highly recommend the book! It is soo informative and fully of incredible scientific research that makes sense to everyone!..I posted the link below if you are interested in purchasing it. It is written by a doctor too, so it has more credibility!!!)

Great Weight Loss Plan Book

This just shows how your body is willing to work WITH you when it is used to a particular pattern. Indeed, according to Dr. Isaacs, just a “small change in your sleep schedule can make a big difference in your health.” Not to mention your ability to BURN MORE CALORIES.

Did you like this article? Interested in your thoughts – please leave a comment and tell us what you think?