Bad News Bears: The Frightening Truth About Salad Dressing

Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

Let me set the scene: You're at a restaurant. Your friend gets a burger. You're tempted to do the same thing, but you fight the urge and finally settle on a salad. You feel great. You pat yourself on the back. You say 'Great job, Self. I'm proud of you.' Then post-congratulations, you slather that salad with salad dressing and down the drain goes your attempt to eat healthy and consciously.

So what happened? Where did you go wrong? You thought you were doing so good!!

Let me break it down for you... that salad dressing is sometimes worse than the burger you just passed up!

Most store-bought salad dressing contains hydrogenated oils, preservatives and artificial flavors. They're usually packed with sugar and are high in fat to top if off. When you consider that a serving size of salad dressing is usually only 2 tablespoons and the average person (me included) uses much much more, your caloric and fat intake skyrocket.

To burst yet another bubble, choosing a salad at fast-food chains can be the worst idea you've had all day. Now I know most of you NEVER EVER eat at fast food chains (wink wink), but just in case you do, check out these salad stats...

• Wendy's Mandarin Chicken Salad - 540 calories and 25 grams of fat
• Arby's Chopped Farmhouse Chicken Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing - 650 calories and 46 grams of fat
• Chick-fil-A's Chick-n-Strips Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing - 620 calories and 39 grames of fat
• Taco Bell's Chipotle Steak Taco Salad - 900 calories and 57 grams of fat

With that being said, it's extremely easy to make your own salad dressings, meaning YOU control what goes into your body. Your salad suddenly becomes healthy again, and you can pile on the dressing if you so choose!

Click the link below for some healthy and EASY salad dressing recipes...

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/10-delicious-diy-salad-dressings/#axzz20EsYCMcy

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia: The Seed, Not the Pet

Image courtesy of whatscookingamerica.net

You remember those infomercials with the catchy jingle and the crazy haired plants growing out of terracotta figurines! Well, there's much much more to this whole chia thing!

Chia originated in South America. It was a staple in the Mayan and Aztec diets. The word 'chia' is actually the Mayan word for 'strength'. The running messenger would carry a pouch of chia with them as they ran for a surge of energy.

Now you can buy the chia seeds in stores and online. Here's why you should pay this seed a little attention!

It's extremely versatile - Chia has a mild, nutty flavor that easily mixes with other foods. You can add it to pretty much anything!

It keeps you hydrated - Chia has an amazing water-absorption quality, helping to prolong hydration, especially during intense workouts.

It's gluten-free - Chia can be substituted for most grains on a gluten-free diet!

It provides you with major endurance - If you eat chia seeds with food, the seeds work to slow the conversion of carbs to sugars, meaning energy is released more steadily.

It's a great source of antioxidants - Chia is said to have 3x more antioxidants than blueberries!

It's a complete protein - Chia contains ALL the essential amino acids. Your body naturally makes 12 of the essential aminos, but it's up to you to get the remaining 9 from the food you eat. Chia is a great way to do this!

It cleans 'your pipes' - Once it's in your system, chia bulks up and sweeps through your intestines, helping to clean up your system.

It's cheap and long-lasting - Chia is very affordable, and the dry seeds can last up to 4-5 years without going bad or losing their nutritional value.

Try adding chia seeds to your granola, cereal, yogurt or salads. The possibilities are endless! Instead of adding nuts to my salad this weekend, I threw on some chia! It gave it the same crunch without a distinct taste!

Here are some recipes to get you started...


CINNAMON CHIA SEED GRANOLA:
http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/meal-ideas/quick-and-easy-chia-seed-recipes?page=2

Image courtesy of shape.com

CUCUMBER CHIA SEED SALAD:
http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/meal-ideas/quick-and-easy-chia-seed-recipes?page=6

Image courtesy of shape.com

CHIA SEED CITRUS COOLER:
http://www.glueandglitter.com/main/2011/02/22/chia-seed-citrus-cooler/

Image courtesy of glueandglitter.com

So what are you waiting for? Grab some chia seeds today!