A new good snack

Quaker True Delights Multigrain Fiber Crisps  Blackberry Pomegranate

http://www.quakeroats.com/products/rice-snacks/multigrain-fiber-crisps/wild-blueberry.aspx

I have no clue how healthy they are for me, but they SEEM healthy. 
17g whole grain
good source of fiber
but 8% (23g) carb, 6g sugar

Questions du jour

Everything says I'm supposed to eat almonds...but whoa...all that fat! Am I really?  (because I could totally eat a bunch of almonds...so I'm skeptical about a healthy food I like). 

I'm also seeing lots of things saying to eat dried fruit, but have you seen the sugar and carbs in dried cranberries (my favorite salad topping)?

If I get my triglycerides under control by cutting way back on my desserts, do I have to watch sugar as much?  Or is my focus now that LDL (which, incidentally, I found out that dark chocolate is supposed to reduce LDL...does it really?  Where can I get it?)

BREAKFAST TODAY

small bowl of Special K along with a Yoplait Fat-Free apple yogurt

AM SNACK

Apple

LUNCH TODAY

1/2 a subway sandwich (Italian on wheat, with lettuce and cucumbers), water, pineapple yogurt

Incidentally, I also worked out for 15 minutes (before lunch), and it's now been about 15 minutes since I finished lunch, and I am STILL hungry!!  >:-|

My quest to find a decent healthy cereal...

Today's choice:

Organic Full Circle Golden Flax (multigrain wheat flakes, oats, granola clusters, and flax seeds)
1000 mg Omega-3 Fatty acids per serving
Excellent source of fiber
Cholesterol free

BUT...

38g carbs. 9g sugar

Dried cranberries=bad??

Who knew/?  This is one of my favorite salad toppings.  Checked the label, and there is a TON of sugar AND carbs in those.  So, NOW what can I put on my salad??  Guessing Chow Mein noodles are out too.

Dried cranberries nutrition label

Still researching...

Google'd the question:  How many grams of sugar is allowed per day.
Found the following article from the March 5 Chicago Tribune:
Daily Sugar Limits: How Much Sugar Should You Eat?

For the first time, Americans now have a benchmark: No more than 25 grams of added sugar a day for women (not much!)  and 37.5 grams for men (hey, how come they get more??), according to new guidelines established by the American Heart Association.

TIPS

•Sweeten your own yogurt and gradually cut back.  Okay, so yogurt is pretty much my only source of calcium it seems (not a milk drinker, cheese eater, etc.).  I like my Yoplait fat free.  The one I ate today had 14g of sugar.  How am I supposed to get calcium?

Use your added sugars in a way that enhances flavor of already nutritious foods, such as flavored yogurt (okay!) or chocolate milk (okay!), rather than a soft drink or candy.

Eliminate sugars that don't come with other nutrients. If you have a sweet tooth, try limiting portion size (I can do this!)—though others who have given up sugar say it's best to go cold turkey.

All sugars, even ‘natural sugars' such as honey or agave nectar, for example, should be counted when trying to decrease total sugar intake. Many people believe because it's all-natural that it's better for you. It all counts towards sugar.  And, see, this is what frustrates me.  Here I try to eat fruit (apples, bananas, etc.) and it seems like I'm just adding to the sugar!

Pay attention to how many times sugar is listed in the ingredients by any of its names. Kellogg's Smart Start, for example, has 14 different references to sugar. (why doesn't this surprise me...I like this cereal). 

OTHER QUESTIONS:

• What about sugar substitutes?  Can I still have those?
• What is the difference between blood sugar and triglycerides.  I know my trig level...no clue on blood sugar.  

FOOD TODAY SO FAR:

1 1/2 c. dried cheerios

water

small sliver of banana bread

small 1/2 sliver of raspberry danish

Chicken deli-meat on whole grain wheat bread

Strawberry fat-free yoplait light yogurt

AND...I did 20 minutes of cardio before lunch (do I exercise before lunch or after?)

More questions, while I'm at it...

So, how much sugar did those orange slices have in them?
I didn't even think about calories in that bread...should I be looking at calories in addition to carb/sugar?
I am still hungry and would love some dessert.  But alas...what could I have.  One cookie, that's all I need. 

BrownBerry Oatnut Bread

And another link...

Nutrition Facts

• Serving Size 1 slice
• Servings Per Container 16

• Amount Per Serving
• Calories 120 Calories from Fat 20
• % Daily Value*
• Total Fat 2 g 3%
• Saturated Fat 0 g
• Trans Fat 0 g
• Cholesterol 0 mg0%
• Sodium 230 mg10%
• Total Carbohydrate 22 g7%
• Dietary Fiber 2 g8%
• Sugars 4 g
• Protein 4 g0%

• Vitamin A 0%
• Vitamin C 0%

• Calcium 4%
• Iron 8%

• Niacin 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calories needs.

In my quest to start eating "whole grain bread", I discovered this bread at our local Piggly Wiggly and LOVE it.  In fact, I just ate the last slice, so now I have to figure out if I want to try another brand or keep getting this one. So, it's good for fiber (4 grams in 2 slices), good for whole grains (13g), no high fructose or corn syrup.8g protein, no transfat.  But for someone watching carbs/sugar, is it okay?  How does it compare to other whole grain bread?  I get 14% of my carbohydrates by eating a sandwich using this bread.  Is that good? Bad?  Only 4g sugar...does bread usually have sugar? 

Lunch today:

Sandwich (2 slices Oatnut bread, probably 4 slices of Oscar Meyer Deli Fresh Shaved Chicken Breast)

Three orange slices

Water