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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, March 5, 2009

SHAPE UP
Free Calorie Bargains just a click away

By Charles Stuart Platkin

Here are a few of my latest Calorie Bargain findings:

OIKOS ORGANIC GREEK YOGURT

The why: This fantastic Greek yogurt from Stonyfield Farm is fat-free, has only 90 calories and contains just a handful of natural ingredients. Although Greek yogurt is a bit of an acquired taste, if you are used to eating artificially flavored yogurt, you'll love it once you get hooked. Add some sliced banana or strawberries and you've got a delicious, mega-healthy snack.

The health bonus: Just one serving has a whopping 15 grams of protein. Wow — that's about 30 percent of your daily requirement. Plus, it's got about 20 percent of your daily calcium needs.

What we liked best: It's low in calories and you get all the yogurt benefits, including probiotics. You can print coupons off the Web site for the yogurt (and for other Stonyfield products).

What we liked least: The yogurt is not available in all major grocery stores, so it may be difficult to find. Also, it's fairly pricey.

What it replaces: Other nonfat yogurts full of artificial sweeteners. (Many nonfat yogurts are made with either NutraSweet or Splenda.)

Ingredients: Cultured pasteurized organic nonfat milk with five live and active cultures including acidophilus, bifidus and casei.

Nutritional information per serving: 1 container (5.3 ounces): 90 calories, 0 g fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 60 mg sodium, 6 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 15 g protein

The price: About $1.89 per 5.3-ounce container.

Where to buy: Find a store at www.oikosorganic.com/StoreLocator.

ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP'S SHOPPER'S GUIDE TO PESTICIDES IN PRODUCE

The why: Did you know that peaches, apples and sweet peppers have the highest percentage of pesticides? And that onions, avocados and pineapples have the least? The reality is that many of us are on a budget, and sometimes we have to make tough choices about when to save and when to splurge. This chart, produced by the Environmental Working Group, can help you figure out which fruits and vegetables are worth the organic splurge.

The health bonus: Pesticides cannot be good for you and are certainly something to avoid. Take a peek at this quote from famed foodie Michael Pollan: "For me the awakening came in a potato field in Idaho. The farmers sprayed fungicides that were so toxic, they wouldn't go into the field for five days afterward because they were so worried about the effects of the chemicals."

What we liked best: You can print out the information and take it to the supermarket.

What we liked least: The information is not new — we would like to see it updated annually.

What it replaces: Buying either all organic or no organic foods.

The price: Free.

Where to find: www.foodnews.org/fulldataset.php.

GLUTTONYISABLISS.COM AND THISISWHYYOUREFAT.COM

The why: Ever wonder why you might be overweight? Just take a peek at either of these sites and you'll wonder no more. Both simply have photographs posted by visitors of foods that are extremely high in calories. For instance, chocolate-covered bacon, a deep-fried cupcake with chocolate syrup and sprinkles, etc. The idea behind the Web sites seems to be to show you how ridiculous these foods look.

The health bonus: Hopefully seeing how disgusting this food is will serve as a reminder not to indulge.

What we liked best: The pictures are easy to view, and at least to me the food looks unappetizing.

What we liked least: It might entice you to look for and taste this very fattening food.

What it replaces: Seeing the food in person.

The price: Free.

Where to find: www.gluttonyisabliss.com and www.thisiswhyyourefat.com.

Charles Stuart Platkin is a nutrition and public-health advocate, and author of "Breaking the FAT Pattern" (Plume, 2006). Sign up for the free Diet Detective newsletter at www.dietdetective.com.