3/30/2009

Top/Bottom 10

I've been formulating a top 10 list of foods in my head today (both because I love them and because they are good for you), and after reading an article about the 10 worst restaurants in America today, I've been mulling over the bottom 10 as well. For your reading pleasure:
Top 10 foods (in no particular order)
1) Oatmeal. Not only is it delicious, it seems like every day they are finding yet another way that oatmeal is good for you.
2) Yogurt. Although it's usually packed with enough sugar to be a candy bar, this is yet another amazing food that keeps getting better and better for your health. Not to mention that yoplait as turned it into a veritable dessert itself with all it's amazing flavors.
3) Apples. The old adage "an apple a day..." really seems to ring true. And, it's another delicious way to keep the doc away. Even better, there's a different apple for every taste bud - from super duper sweet, to very tart!
4) Tacos. Generally low cal (if a corn tortilla) and delicious, you can't go wrong with a little Mexican zest!
5) Eggs. High in protein and versatile, eggs are definitely on my list.
6) Whipped Cream. 'Nuff said.
7) Hot Cocoa. No matter the weather, a hot drink can soothe the mind and body.
8) Beans. They may be the musical fruit, but there's so much power packed into those little guys. My personal favs are garbanzos and black beans, but, like apples, there's a variety out there to meet everyone's taste.
9) Crystal Light. mmm. My mouth waters just thinking about all the yummy flavors. Gives water a whole new meaning for me.
10) Popcorn. A whole grain that doesn't feel like a whole grain. Skip the butter and salt and use a little "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" spray and some salt-free popcorn seasoning and you've got yoursefl quite a power-packed little treat!

And now, the bottom 10:
1) Peanut Butter Twix. Evil incarnate. Ha.
2) Graham Crackers. They act like they might have some redeemable quality because they are a "cracker" after all. Liars.
3) Chips. Lets take a starch and deep fry it in fat. Sounds like a winner.
4) Gatorade, Powerade, any other ade. Somehow this idea came up to convince people that there is something powerful about drinking 20 ounces of sugar after a workout. Stick to water, people.
5) Bloomin' Onions (or any other version of this atrocity). How they can take a 45 calorie onion and turn it into a 2300 calorie catastrophe is not only a miracle, it's a sure indicator that ingestion by humans is not intended.
6) Oreos. They may be milk's favorite cookie (and apparantly my hip's as well), but these little guys pack way too much fat to be anywhere near the good list. And now they've started putting more filling inside? Look away. And don't even get me started on those cakester versions...
7) Fruit Snacks. Like the graham crackers, these little guys try to pretend like they are full of the same nutrients as fruit or a dried fruit. It's a front - they are more like gummy bears, candy really.
8) Donuts. I love donuts, but they are bad. Just bad.
9) Corn Dogs. I once watched how these were made on TV once. Maybe it's just the fact that I saw them mass produce hot dogs (beginning with a look at the meat that goes into them), but I find these to be an unsettling foodstuff.
10) Juice. Mostly a combination of sugar and water, juice takes so much of the nutrition out of the fruit. I vote that you just eat the apple and pass on the juice. Better yet, poor yourself a cup of cranberry crystal light and munch that apple for fewer calories than the juice!

Please note that these are just my opinions and you are welcome to continue eating that oreo and/or donut in your hand. :)

Happy eating.

Amanda

3/24/2009

Update Time!

Just a quick update on what's going on in our lives.
Rubio is adapting famously to his sight impaired condition. He has figured out how many steps it takes to get to the top of the stairs out of our apartment and pulls so hard on his leash because he wants to run (he has no idea what a bad idea it would be for him to run crazy...lol...he'd smash into everything from bushes to lightpoles)! I joined a Yahoo! group for blind dog parents and have gotten some great tips. I'm going to be fashioning him an toy later this week that we should be able to play fetch with. He brings me his hot dog (stuffed) all the time, but when we toss it, he can't find it. So, hopefully his new ball I'm going to make will solve that problem.
Geoff has a midterm this week and hopefully life will slow down for him just a little bit once it's over. It's been awhile since I had to do the school thing, and it just reminds me how much work it was and how proud I am of him for sticking it out.
The weather teased us with spring last week...and now it's freezing again. We went on a couple bike rides this weekend and played 16 holes of Frisbee Golf (the course is two holes short...how bizarre is that?). I'm terrible at Frisbee Golf, but remain hopeful that maybe I'll get better as time goes by. Geoff gets better and better every time. It puts me to shame. ha. Hopefully once this storm passes, we'll get to enjoy some more great weather. I love not having to wear a coat!
I guess that's kind of what's going on...missing out on a lot of details, I'm sure!

3/17/2009

Blindness...

Well, I've been putting off writing this post because it's not good news! And sometimes I like to believe that if I don't talk about it, it's not real. However, the purpose of the blog is to keep people updated on what's going on in our lives and I suppose that includes the not-so-good happenings as well.
Geoff and I found out on Saturday that Rubio has gone completely blind. :-( He has what they call Retinal Detachment and it is a genetic condition that is rare, but is seen in Shih Tzus and a handful of other dogs. There is potentially a surgery that they can do to reattach the retina, but we are waiting to hear from a vet in California as to whether Rubio is a good candidate for this procedure.
Rubio is handling the transition like a pro. He's a bit clumsier than he used to be (which, for those of you who know him, was already pretty clumsy) and a bit more tentative. Walks outside can be kind of scary with all that noise! But, he's happy as ever and loves to go for car rides and walks and chew on his toys (although fetch is understandably no longer in his fortay).
We love our little guy and sight or no sight, he's going to be the most loved dog around! Please send your prayers and love his way. I know he's a dog, but he can still feel love and comfort.

3/04/2009

Schizophrenic Weather

Well, Saturday turned out to be a glorious (okay, it was still pretty chilly), sunny day in the 'vo, so Geoff and I embarked on our first bike ride of the year! Our bikes were a bit worse for the wear after the harsh winter, so Geoff got them all oiled up and running smooth and we were off!
We rode down to Provo Lake on the Provo River Trail and then wound our way back home on whatever roads we felt like taking.
It felt great to have the sun on my face and the wind in my hair.
Unfortunately, the forecast says snow this weekend - so there won't be a repeat performance.
Is it spring yet?