We’ve all heard it…eating white pasta is bad for you! “Traditional” White pasta is made from refined white flour and is a very unhealthy processed food. Refined white flour is so processed, and has all the nutrients stripped out, so much so that our bodies hardly recognize it as a food.

Pasta is something most of us love and miss when doing the hCG diet. If you choose wisely you can introduce pasta into your diet. That is if you choose wisely! There are a few choices such as whole grain, Dreamfields, brown rice pasta, Ezekiel or my favorite – Quinoa (http://www.quinoa.net/) pasta!

Choose this:

Quinoa (pronounced “keen wah”) is a plant-derived protein discovered in South America and is similar to rice. The word Quinoa means “mother grain.” Although it’s commonly thought of as a grain, it’s actually closer to a leafy green vegetables and is very easy to digested. Quinoa is not only a good source of fiber and protein it is packed with amino acids, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants and phytonutrients.

Quinoa begins as a gluten-free grain-like seed and can be ground into flour to make several types of nutrient-rich pasta. There are numerous varieties on the market, including spaghetti, fettucini, shells and elbows.

Do Not Choose This:

The carbohydrates contained in pasta made from refined white flour will release sugars into the bloodstream quickly. This causes a steep rise in blood sugar which can contribute diabetics and obesity. It also raises your blood’s levels of the LDL (bad) cholesterol which can lead to heart disease and high blood pressure. Our bodies have a hard time digesting such a refined food and as a result it hangs around in our bodies and ends up storing as fat. Most of those fat cells are generally being deposited and store in the mid-section.

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The market for Stevia has started blossoming into quite the selection as many manufacturers are jumping on the Stevia bandwagon. Most grocery stores and even corner markets now carry some form of Stevia. But before you just purchase a package of Stevia, make sure you check the ingredients. Many brands have added ingredients that are harmful to our bodies. Today I’m focusing on the white powder form, usually found in little packets.

Although Stevia is not technically a sweetener, it’s an herb that just happens to be sweet. And since Stevia is not a sugar it does not affect blood sugar levels, in fact it is proven to regulate blood sugar and is also known to help lower blood pressure. It’s the only “sweetener” I believe you can consume every day.

 Choose This:

SweetLeaf is the only chemical-free, zero-calorie, zero-carb, zero-glycemic index, 100% natural sweetener there is. It’s made by taking the highest quality leaves of the Stevia plant and extracting their naturally sweet taste with only cool, purified water. No chemicals. No alcohols. No additives that cover up the great taste nature created. It has been said that Stevia may help individuals improve insulin production (great for diabetes sufferers) and can help with hypertension (high blood pressure).

Do not choose this:

Stevia in the Raw – has Dextrose and Maltodextrin listed in the ingredients. There are other bad choices on the market, including Whole Food’s 365 brand so make sure you check the ingredients before purchasing.

Why do these companies ruin such a good thing? Here is an excuse, ha-em, explanation, of why Stevia in the Raw is using these ingredients. (www.steviaextractintheraw.com)

What is dextrose and why is it added to Stevia Extract In The Raw?

Dextrose is a natural carbohydrate derived from corn. Many sugar substitutes in powder form contain dextrose because it is a natural ingredient and does not change the flavor of the sweetener in the blend. In our packet product, dextrose is used to dilute the very potent Rebiana extract to make it measurable for consumers; it does not alter the naturally sweet flavor of the Stevia.

What is maltodextrin and why is it added to Stevia Extract In The Raw Cup For Cup?

Maltodextrin, like dextrose is a natural carbohydrate derived from corn. Many “cup for cup” sugar substitutes in powder form contain maltodextrin because it is a natural ingredient that does not change the flavor of the sweetener in the blend. In our cup for cup product, maltodextrin is used to dilute the very potent Rebiana extract to make it measurable for consumers in cup for cup sweetening equivalency as a sugar replacement; it does not alter the naturally sweet flavor of the Stevia.

The truth is that both of these ingredients are harmful for us. I could write a whole blog post on just this topic, but for now I’ll just give you the skinny version.

Dextrose – Dextrose is simply a form of glucose. Some food packagers like to use “dextrose” on their packaging instead of “glucose” because consumers have negative associations with glucose. Dextrose is derived from starchy food ingredients like rice, wheat, or potatoes but it is usually GMO (Gentically Modified Organism) Corn.

Maltodextrin – It is produced from rice, potato or corn starch. It is known to contain MSG and it doesn’t need to state that on the ingredient label. It is also known to affect blood sugar levels and cause tooth decay.

I also do not recommend Truvia because it is a blend of Stevia, erythritol and natural flavors. Erythritol is classified as a sugar alcohol. Sugar alcohols are sugar substitutes that are either extracted from plants or manufactured from starches. Sugar alcohols are not completely absorbed into your body and therefore can cause gas and bloating. The process in which manufactures make erythritol is usually by fermenting sugar in GMO corn. Nothing processed like this is good for our bodies.

I understand there is some controversy on these sweeteners and many say you can have them, in moderation of course. But I find it interesting that many doctors will tell diabetics not to consume these at all and only have Stevia. So, my view on this is why consume something that will effect our bodies in a negative way when we can simply choose to enjoy the benefits that Stevia has to offer? Remember, it’s all natural, and should be closest to nature as possible and Sweet Leaf Stevia will give us exactly that. So, choose wisely and buy Sweet Leaf Stevia!

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Most nutritionists agree that breakfast is important. In a 2005 study, women who didn’t eat breakfast took in an average 100 calories per day which equals out to about 10 pounds per  year. They also had a 10% increase in insulin, 9% increase in cholesterol and 17% increase in LDL (bad Cholesterol).

Although cold cereal is not one of my regular breakfast foods, I do recognize sometimes we just need to eat it due to convenience or just because kids love it! I buy cereal, but mostly I find myself serving it to my grandkids or cooking/baking with it. Cereal is also very handy to have when traveling. It makes for a nice crunchy snack and fun to throw on a boring salad.

I personally think we should “think outside the cereal box” to find a breakfast of champions. There are so many healthy choices for this very important meal of the day! If time is an issue, here is a recipe I make the night before and then it’s ready in the morning. http://miracleskinnydrops.com/2011/05/overnight-apple-cinnamon-oats/

Choose This:

If you really want boxed cereal, here is a list of “Carol Approved” cereals. Be careful and always check ingredient lists. For example, Kashi is on my list of recommended cereals, however, only the 7 Grain Puffed Rice. All other Kashi cereals have some type of sweetener or oil in them, so I don’t recommend any others.

Post Shredded Wheat
Uncle Sam
Kashi 7 Grain Puffed Rice
Nature’s O’s
Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Cereals

These have the best ingredient listing and they taste good. I was concerned they would taste like cardboard, but I quickly found out they didn’t! I occasionally add fresh organic berries on mine, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc., and I also sprinkle on extra milled flaxseed to up the nutty flavors.

Do Not Choose These

I am appalled at myself for giving my sweet babies Cheerios or Kix when they were so little. Kix should not be “mother approved”! If only I had knows about the evils of sugar and had the knowledge to find a better cereal choice. About 5 years ago, when I put on extra weight, I decided I needed to make more healthy choices. So, for months I ate Raisin Bran every morning for breakfast. I also followed with what I thought was a healthy diet throughout the day. I just couldn’t figure out why the weight kept creeping on me. Only later did I realize that the very food I thought was healthy and would help me lose weight, did just the opposite.

Even though the package states it is nutritious, most of the boxes of cereal you find on the shelf are processed to some extent, and contain sugars or unhealthy oils. When we eat cereal (or other packaged foods for that matter) our bodies are not able to absorb the nutrients because of the preservatives. Additives impede digestion, therefore, the nutrients will not be fully extracted from the food and cannot be absorbed and utilized by our body. When we put something foreign in our body it does not know what to do with it, so it is not absorbed or utilized and it is sent to the liver where it just sits. Adding toxins to our liver will make us gain weight and feel sluggish, along with many other “side effects”.

How can our bodies absorb the vitamins and minerals that a box of cereal claims it has with all that junk in it? Refined sugar, rancid oils, artificial flavors, artificial colors, etc cause havoc in our bodies. These additives obstruct the performance of a vitamin or a mineral in our bodies so we need to avoid them as much as possible.

A few recipes where I use cereal:

Chicken & Broccoli Casserole

1 (10 oz) pkg. frozen cut broccoli cooked according to directions on package.
1 large egg
1 c. safflower mayonnaise
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 cup mushrooms, chopped
1/2 c. Greek yogurt
1 c. grated cheddar cheese
1/2 – 3/4 c. crushed Uncle Sam cereal
2-3 Tbsp. melted butter
2-3 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed

Place cooked broccoli in 9 x 13 pan. In large bowl, beat egg and then add mayonnaise, onion, mushrooms, yogurt chicken and cheese. Mix well and add to broccoli. Melt butter and add cereal crumbs and then sprinkle on top. Bake at 350º for 30 minutes.

On my yogurt

I sometimes crush Uncle Sam cereal and mix with melted butter for this recipe.

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Choose This:

Bun-less / Protein Style Burger

There are a number of restaurants that now serve bun-less burgers, and if you don’t see it on the menu, you can still ask for it. Carl’s Jr. is by far my favorite in the fast food department. It’s their Low Carb Six Dollar Burger. I order it without the cheese and light on the sauce. It’s very yummy! Another fast food favorite is In-N-Out Burger. It’s called “Protein Style” and it is on their “secret” menu, but you can order it at any restaurant. The meat comes wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun and you can get a single or a double patty.

Do Not Choose This:

It goes without saying that white bread is not a healthy choice. However, you need to be aware of restaurants who serve their burgers with wheat buns. Eating whole grains is the wisest choice. So, whether you purchase hamburgers in restaurants or buy buns in the store, make sure it says 100% whole grain. Sometimes you will see “Whole Wheat” which also means the product is a whole grain.

Watch and avoid these phrases:

Wheat Buns/Bread – usually this is just wheat flour, which is just refined white flour. Same with Enriched Wheat Flour or Unbleached Enriched Wheat Flour. Enriched flour means that is has been refined. Also, 100% Wheat is not acceptable. Make sure it says “Whole” along with the word wheat.

Multi-Grain – this means that the product contains more than one type of grain. These are not whole grains and usually are refined. Many of this type of bread usually has sugar added as well.

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Most of us love ice cream and can’t wait to savor in the creamy dessert after we complete Dr. Simeons protocol. This weeks choose wisely is to help you make the wisest choice when you are ready to dive in to a creamy ice cream treat.The best way to enjoy ice cream is to make it yourself. It is the least processed and is fun for the whole family. I purchased an ice cream maker after I stabilized and have enjoyed ice cream numerous times. I usually make vanilla but every once in a while I will take extra time and make my favorite Chocolate Chip Mint ice cream. See below for a few of my favorite recipes:

Choose This:

Purely Decadent made with Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert (Vegan, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free)

INGREDIENTS: ORGANIC CREAM, ORGANIC WHOLE MILK, NATURALLY MILLED ORGANIC SUGAR, ORGANIC COCOA, ORGANIC VANILLA FLAVOR, CAROB BEAN GUM, GUAR GUM.

If you are not one to make it yourself or don’t have an ice cream machine, then this is one of the brands I love. I love the fact that it is made with coconut milk so it could almost be considered a “healthy” snack! I love the vanilla and the mint chip variety. Not only is this yummy, but since it’s made with coconut milk it’s great for those don’t do well with dairy products. The ingredients do include agave nectar as a sweetener, so it’s not for everyday consumption.  Another good brands I’ve tried and liked:

Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss http://www.coconutbliss.com/

Stonyfield http://www.stonyfield.com/

This is for their After Dark Chocolate.

INGREDIENTS: ORGANIC CREAM, ORGANIC WHOLE MILK, NATURALLY MILLED ORGANIC SUGAR, ORGANIC COCOA, ORGANIC VANILLA FLAVOR, CAROB BEAN GUM, GUAR GUM.

Do Not Choose This:

Breyer’s Vanilla Bean ½ Fat


Don’t be fooled the name nor by the claims on package making it appear to be a good choice.
Ingredients: Milk, Skim Milk, Sugar, Cream, Natural Flavor, Carob Bean Gum, Beta Carotene (Vitamin A).

Check out these recipes:

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Strawberry Ice Cream

Easy Ice Cream

1 can (14 oz) coconut milk
2 Tbsp organic carob powder (or cocoa powder)
2 Tbsp raw honey
1 very ripe banana
1 -2 tsp organic vanilla
Throw everything in a food processor or a blender and mix well. Transfer to ice cream machine and process.

Quick creamy “ice cream”

frozen bananas
frozen coconut milk ice cubes
stevia
coconut milk
Blend for about a minute. (Bananas are best if eaten after stabilization)

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Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) has been used as a home remedy for years for numerous reasons including including increased energy, weight loss and aiding in digestion. It contains many nutrients which include minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and iron, and vitamins including vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, and vitamin B6.

Choose This:

Organic, unpasteurized and unfiltered ACV contains the “mother of vinegar”, which is the floating particles you see in the bottle. The more raw and unfiltered the vinegar is, the more mother you see. Organic ACV with the mother has as many benefits as the apple itself.

To enjoy it’s benefits, is recommended that you have 1 – 2 tsp. with 8 oz of water before each meal. to enhance absorption of vitamins and minerals from your food. You can also use it in dressings, marinades or add to shakes.

Do Not Choose This:

Any vinegar that is clear has no nutritional value because pasteurization and filtration destroy the enzymes and nutrients naturally found in raw organic apple cider vinegar.

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Choose Wisely #12- Raw Nuts

Nuts have so much nutritional value as long as you consume them raw or when they are properly roasted. Nuts are loaded with vitamins, minerals, protein, healthy fats as well as very rich in fiber so it’s important not to lose the wonderful benefits by improper processing. Most nuts are low in saturated fats and high in unsaturated fat which we need in our diets.

Choose This:

Your best bet is to choose raw nuts whenever possible to avoid the oxidation that can occur during roasting of nuts. If you choose to roast your own you can do so by stirring raw nuts in a skillet over low – medium heat until lightly roasted. Another method is to spread the nuts on a baking sheet and place in a 250 degree oven, tossing them occasionally until they are done (about 30 minutes). You can lightly coat before you roast nuts in Coconut, peanut or extra virgin olive oil. (Do not choose vegetable, soybean, cottonseed, corn or grapeseed oil). Lightly sprinkle with sea salt or cinnamon, if desired. Store in refrigerator or freezer.

Nuts are high in calories and should be limited to a daily 1 ounce serving. Grabbing a handful as a snack a few times a day usually results in gains. This amount of nuts should be saved as an occasional snack or an easy travel companion. Mixed in a trail mix along with seeds, raisins and coconut flakes cuts down on a higher amount of consumed nuts and still gives the satisfaction of a crunchy snack. I like to think of nuts more like a condiment, sprinkle it over yogurt, oats, salads, veggies, and in your favorite recipe. The possibilities are endless on how you can get this healthy food into your diet and keep the portion control at bay.

Do not choose this:

Most manufacturers put the nuts through a process using unhealthy oils or very high heat to roast their nuts. This process takes any healthy fat molecules and turns them into harmful free radicals. Roasting nuts may alter and damage the polyunsaturated fats that nuts and make them more vulnerable to oxidation making them more rancid. Roasted, chopped, and ground nuts go rancid more quickly than whole raw ones.

Also, many manufacturers process the nuts in a facility that also processes common allergens like wheat. So, unless you know all the details of the process, it is best to purchase raw nuts and consume raw or roast them yourself. Nuts purchased in containers are also very high in sodium.

Always read the ingredients. These appear to be healthy, and even though they are not roasted in harmful oils, they may contain unhealthy ingredients.  You will see on this list the hidden sugar maltodextrin.

Ingredients: PEANUTS, SEA SALT, MALTODEXTRIN, CORNSTARCH, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS. CONTAINS: PEANUT. MANUFACTURED ON EQUIPMENT THAT PROCESSES SUNFLOWER SEED, TREE NUTS.

Try These Raw Nut Recipes:

Healthy Trail Mix

Candied Nuts

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There are many uses for Mayonnaise in our diets so it’s important to pick the wisest choice for our bodies. If you choose the best Mayonnaise, you can enjoy it occasionally guilt-free. Use it on sandwiches, salads, deviled eggs, as well as use it in your favorite recipes.

Choose This

Safflower Mayonnaise
Ingredients: Expeller Pressed Safflower Oil, Whole Eggs, Grain Vinegar, Filtered Water, Egg Yolks, Salt, Egg Whites, Dehydrated Cane Juice, Spice, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Honey, [Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E) Ingredients not Found in Regular Mayonnaise], Natural Flavors, Paprika Extractives (for Color).

Safflower mayonnaise uses expeller-pressed safflower oil.  At this time, Safflower mayonnaise is the only mayonnaise I can find on the market that does not contain soybean oil or canola oil.

Expeller-pressed means the manufacturer uses a chemical-free mechanical process that extracts oil from seeds and nuts. The temperature reached during this process depends on the hardness of the nut or seed. The harder the nut or seed, the more pressure required to extract the oil, which in turn creates more friction and higher heat. There is no external heat applied during this process, therefore it is a wiser choice than the hexane-extraction method used for many conventional oils.

Do Not Choose This:

Make sure you always check your ingredient lists! Here is the reason why I think these brands are not a wise choice. Besides the sugar in some brands, most have soybean or canola oil in them.

Soybean Oil: Most soy beans grown in the US are genetically engineered to allow farmers to use large amounts of herbicides. They are treated with acid baths, high heat, and additives such as nitrates before they are made into soy products. Most of the soybeans grown in this country are for producing soybean oil, which is then hydrogenated and turned into trans-fat.

Canola Oil: Manufacturers put this oil through a process using very high heat. When you do this, you are destroying the healthy qualities of the oils. This process takes any healthy fat molecules and turns them into harmful free radicals.

Best Foods: INGREDIENTS: SOYBEAN OIL, WATER, WHOLE EGGS AND EGG YOLKS, VINEGAR, SALT, SUGAR, LEMON JUICE, CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA (USED TO PROTECT QUALITY), NATURAL FLAVORS

Best Foods Light: INGREDIENTS: WATER, SOYBEAN OIL, VINEGAR, MODIFIED CORN STARCH**, WHOLE EGGS AND EGG YOLKS, SUGAR, SALT, XANTHAN GUM**, LEMON AND LIME PEEL FIBERS** (THICKENERS), (SORBIC ACID**, CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA) USED TO PROTECT QUALITY, LEMON JUICE CONCENTRATE, PHOSPHORIC ACID**, DL ALPHA TOCOPHERYL ACETATE (VITAMIN E), NATURAL FLAVORS, BETA CAROTENE**.
**INGREDIENT NOT IN MAYONNAISE

Many are drawn to Duke’s mayonnaise because it is naturally rich in Omega 3 ALA (alpha linolenic acid), is trans-fat free and unlike other brands, is sugar-free. However, the very first ingredient is Soybean Oil and this ingredient is why I don’t choose it.

Ingredients: Soybean oil, eggs, water, distilled and cider vinegar, salt, oleoresin paprika, natural flavors, calcium disodium EDTA added to protect flavor. Contains: Eggs

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Coconut is an amazing food and is a great addition to your every day menu. Coconut is sometimes frowned on because it is considered high fat, but the key here is it is a healthy fat and our bodies need it. Coconut is composed of medium chain fatty acids which are used as energy and are not stored in the body. Click for information about coconut oil and its benefits.

Coconut supplies vital nutrients for sustaining healthy cells in your body. This amazing food carries a vast array of vitamins, minerals, EFA’s and amino acids as well as anti-fungal, anti-microbial, and anti-viral properties.

Coconut flakes are derived from the meat of the coconut. When compared to the rest of the plant, the meat is the most nutritious part. Coconut flakes are packed full of flavor and make a healthy addition to shakes, Greek Yogurt, salad, granola, trail mix and even alone as something to nibble on.

Choose This:

Bob’s Red Mill is a good healthy choice. This brand is unsweetened and sulfur free.

Another brand that is really good is Wilderness Family Naturals.

The coconut is removed from the shells, and washed in pure, filtered water (no chlorine is present). The coconut is then shredded and slowly dehydrated at 98.6° F (37° C). The result is shredded, raw coconut that tastes great, has a wonderful texture, and contains the nutrients found in coconut.

Do Not Choose This:

As always, read ingredient lists! This one is pretty obvious as to why you shouldn’t choose it!

INGREDIENTS: Coconut, Sugar, Water, Propylene Glycol To Preserve Freshness, Salt, Sodium Metabisulfite

Try these Coconut Recipes:

Trail Mix Recipe

Healthy Trail Mix
4 c. raw nuts of choice
1 c. raisins
1/2 c. unsweetened coconut flakes
1/8 c. pepitas (Pumkin seeds) and/or sunflower seeds
Unsweetened fruit (optional)

Chocolate Crunch Bites

¼ c. coconut oil
1 oz unsweetened chocolate (I use Bakers)
2 Tbsp. vanilla (no added sugar) whey protein powder
1 Tbsp. unsweetened carob powder
½ tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. stevia
¼ c. creamy peanut butter
½ c. raw macadamia nuts, chopped fine
¼ c. raw almonds, chopped fine
¼ c. unsweetened coconut flakes, chopped fine

Melt coconut oil and chocolate in a saucepan on low heat. While the chocolate is melting, mix the rest of the ingredients together in a bowl. Add chocolate coconut oil and mix well. Spoon in ice cube tray and freeze.

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Choose This:

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Jif recently added Omega 3 fish oil into their peanut butter and proudly splashes it on their packaging so choosy mom’s choose Jif to get in the all important Omegs 3’s. First, it’s a mere dusting of fish oils, 32mg to be exact. This number is what food companies proposed to the FDA to be the number required in order to be labeled as ‘High in Omega-3’ or ‘Good source of Omega-3.’ But the FDA didn’t approve it because it wasn’t enough. So, they can add it their foods but just can’t make fancy claims about it. Okay, so it’s not enough Omega 3’s to claim anything, but it still is in there so that good, right? No. If this isn’t enough to convince you not to choose Jif, take a look at the ingredients. Sugar and the hydrogenated oils are listed first so you know they trump the fish oils that are added. Manufactures are known to use the cheapest oils which are already rancid and full of free-radicals. Then, in order to take the smell out of fish oils which are used, you need to cook them in hydrogen gas at a high temperature as most oils are processed.  Since the peanut butter doesn’t smell fishy, you know this type of processing has taken place which causes more harm than good.

JIF Omega 3 Peanut Butter Ingredients:
MADE FROM PEANUT BUTTER [ROASTED PEANUTS, SUGAR, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: MOLASSES, FULLY HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OILS (RAPESEED AND SOYBEAN), MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, SALT], ANCHOVY* AND SARDINE OIL*,TILAPIA GELATIN, TOCOPHEROLS AND CITRIC ACID (ANTIOXIDANTS). *A TASTELESS, ODORLESS SOURCE OF OMEGA-3 DHA AND EPA.

Most peanut butters on the market are going to have harmful ingredients. You should always check the ingredient panel before you buy any peanut butter.

Choose This:

Peanut butter should have one ingredient: Peanuts. May be a hint of salt. That’s it. There are a few good ones on the market but my personal favorites are Costco & Whole Foods 365 brand. They are very good & don’t need a lot of stirring. The saturated fats in peanuts are healthy fats because it is from a plant source. According to the latest research, a diet rich in peanut products helps reduce cholesterol, as well as lower your risk for heart disease. I have peanut butter daily, either mixed in my chocolate, or added to protein shakes and I also dip my apples and celery in it.

Don’t fall into the marketing hype! Smart Balance is NOT smart and choosy mom’s should not choose Jif

Laura Scudder’s All Natural Peanut Butter Ingredients:

PEANUTS, CONTAINS 1% OR LESS OF SALT.

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This will be a version of choose this and not that.  We want you to make wise choices at the grocery store which can be somewhat confusing.  The Greek Yogurt industry has exploded and is becoming mainstream in all the grocery stores.  However, there is good Greek Yogurt and bad.  This new section will help you pick the right foods and make wise choices on your selections of products.

Choose This:

• Total 2%

• All natural. Lowfat (2% milkfat). Grade A. We oppose the use of rBGH. The farmers who supply our milk and cream pledge not to treat their cows with rBGH. The FDA has said no significant difference has been shown, and no test can now distinguish, between milk derived from rBGH treated and untreated cows.

Do not Choose This:

Ingredients: Cultured Pasteurized Grade A Nonfat Milk, Milk Protein Concentrate. Contains less than 1% of: kosher gelatin, Vitamin A acetate, Vitamin D3.

Milk Protein Concentrate is what is left over when the higher quality substances in milk have been extracted for other, higher quality products. MPC is sold in a powdered form (but is NOT powdered milk – which is made from …actual milk) and is considered to be a dairy waste product.

Note From Carol on other Greek Yogurt options Fage Total, 0% and 2%:

Basically we are weighing in on two different yogurts. The Yoplait vs the Fage. When I picked the 2% to be featured it was for a few reasons. Probably the biggest being the availability to find in the stores. You cannot find Fage Total as quickly as you find the 2% or the 0%. I live in AZ where I have access to a lot of choices, but I know some of you don’t have that luxury and it’s frustrating when we suggest something you can’t find, especially something you can’t order online. I know this is unfortunate but it is reality. Thankfully the stores are on to us health nuts and it is getting better

I did a LOT of research, including contact Fage. I really believe that Fage is the best Greek yogurt on the market. It is by far the best tasting (to me) and the most creamy. As most of you know, I normally suggest that you do not to use fat free or low fat products because the manufactures have added so many bad ingredients. When I looked closer at the entire line of Fage PLAIN, they didn’t have these bad ingredients. In fact each product, 0% 2% and Total all have really good ingredients. So, you will see the difference is the nutritional panel. The saturated fats, sodium, vitamins, etc. Believe it not, the Fage 2% has the highest protein count which is key for P3 and maintaining and another reason why I am featuring the 2%.

I contacted Fage they assured me that their products are all produced with the least amount of processing and all very high quality ingredients. I will find my notes and post them.

So, basically, this post is to tell you to NOT eat Yoplait, but to eat Fage. You can eat all 3 plain yogurts. Total, 2% and 0%. I eat 2% as I know I am getting enough good fats in my diet. If you are beginning P3 and you need to get more good fats in then you can surely use Fage Total. If you can find it.

Enjoy Any Fage PLAIN but don’t get the ones with added fruit. Some have sugar and corn starch added.

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