Quick & Healthy Recipes: Easy Peezy (Healthy!) Sweet "Cream"

Now that high temperatures are finally back in the Northern hemisphere, the cold breakfasts that seemed so miserable a few months back are suddenly the perfect way to start the day.

I don't know about you, but I LOVE a bowl of fresh fruit and whipped cream. It makes for a great dessert, but it's certainly not the healthiest way to start your day.

Alas, here is my couldn't-be-any-easier recipe for a healthier cream that adds body, creaminess, and flavor to whatever you pair it with!

YIELDS: 1.5 cups

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup raw cashews
1 cup cold water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon coconut extract

DIRECTIONS:

Combine all ingredients in food processor and mix until a smooth consistency is reached.

For best flavor and texture, refrigerate for at least 4 hours before consuming.

This tastes absolutely wonderful mixed with a cold bowl of fresh fruit!

NUTRITION INFORMATION (per 1/4 cup serving):

141 calories
6 grams fat
1 gram saturated fat
30 milligrams sodium
1.4 grams sugar (naturally occurring)
4.6 grams protein

Excellent Source of: copper, magnesium, manganese
Good Source of: potassium, zinc

You Ask, I Answer: Coconuts/Coconut Oil

I have a question about coconut oil and lauric acid.

[A] co-worker was doing some research online, and found out that coconut oil is supposedly antimicrobial.

The main fatty acid is lauric acid, which supposedly helps boost metabolism by activating the thyroid.

Is there any truth to those statements?

-- Brandon
(via the blog)

Coconut is a controversial fruit. Although almost entirely made up of saturated fats, there are plenty of books and websites dedicated to its "miraculous" weight-loss and healing properties.

However, two red flags immediately go up.

Number one? Most websites that hail coconut oil as a holy food that cures you of all ills while simultaneously helping you look years younger inevitably -- and predictably -- end up hawking some sort of coconut product.

Number two? My "BS" radar always beeps loudly when one food is referred to as a "miracle" or "cure-all".

The links between coconut oil and thyroid function have never been even remotely established in any studies. I believe that "fact" stems from an article in health and diet supermarket trash tabloid Woman's World, which is as reputable as a Vegas used car salesman.

Although lauric acid is one of the "least unhealthy" saturated fats, it certainly doesn't justify including massive amounts of coconut oil in your diet.

Before I continue, let me share one of my biggest nutritional pet-peeves. I always find myself counting to ten and taking deep breaths when I hear someone say something along the lines of, "but there are tribes in Polynesia that LIVE on coconuts and their heart disease rates are really low!"

The problem with that statement is that those Polynesian tribes also have extremely different lifestyles, dietary patterns, and environmental factors affecting their health.

Extracting only the coconut eating and adapting it to a traditional United States diet does not guarantee YOUR risk of heart disease is suddenly going to match that of a random member of that Polynesian tribe.

With that out of the way, let's continue.

My verdict on coconut oil? For the time being, treat it like you would all other saturated fats. Don't shun it, but do keep it to a certain limit (if eating 2,000 calories, aim to consume no more than 20 grams of saturated fat a day).

Also, I would much rather you consume coconut meat (or shredded unsweetened coconut) rather than coconut oil, as the actual fruit provides more nutrients.

If antimicrobial properties of food are your thing, coconut oil is not the only source. Garlic, green tea, cumin, and cayenne pepper also have antimicrobial components.

Made With... Clogged Arteries in Mind?

Baskin Robbins' latest offerings include "Made With..." sundaes, which add popular candies to your ice cream experience.

The "made with M&Ms" sundae, for example, consists of"three scoops of made with M&M's ice cream, layered with hot fudge and M&M's, topped with more hot fudge, marshmallow, whipped cream and more M&M's.""

Alas, this sundae is only available in one size, which adds up to:

1,090 calories
30 grams of saturated fat (approximately a day and a half's worth)
120 grams of added sugar (that's 30 teaspoons)

The "made with Snickers" sundae ("three scoops of made with Snickers ice cream, crushed Snickers pieces and caramel layers, topped with caramel, hot fudge, whipped cream and Snickers pieces", pictured at right) clocks in at:

1,000 calories
25 grams of saturated fat
93 grams of added sugar (approximately 23 teaspoons)
710 milligrams of sodium (70 more grams than a McDonald's Filet-O-Fish!)

What truly irritates me about these products is that if anyone happens to crave these sundaes, their only options are these nutritional horrors.

As we are all too aware, buying a sundae and throwing half of it out is not a reasonable expectation. Neither is having half and taking the rest home.

Why can't Baskin Robbins make this standard size a "large" and also offer a "small" sundae consisting of one scoop of ice cream and, consequently, a lot less of fudge, whipped cream, and candy pieces?

Why must an ice cream treat turn into a caloric abomination?

Food companies and fast food chains love to talk about "moderation", so how about offering it?

Quick & Healthy Recipes: Not-Really-Chocolate Dip

This is one of my favorite desserts to make for guests.

It takes no more than five minutes to prepare, is rich in body and flavor, and makes for some surprised looks when you tell your guests the "secret" ingredient (which, believe it or not, is impossible to taste)!

I like to serve this as a dessert dip for fresh strawberries, frozen sliced bananas, and whole wheat graham crackers.

YIELDS: 1.25 cups (ten 2-tablespoon servings)

INGREDIENTS:

1 medium avocado, ripe
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa/cacao powder
1/3 cup sweetener of choice (I prefer to use agave nectar for its subtle flavor)
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
5 Tablespoons water

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine all ingredients in food processor.

2. Process until mixture is smooth in texture and uniform in color.

3. Store in airtight container in refrigerator for at least 4 hours.

NUTRITION INFORMATION (per serving):

72 calories
1.1 gram saturated fat
2.5 grams fiber
5.5 grams added sugar

Enjoy!

Quick & Healthy Recipe: No-Bake Brownie Truffle Bites

I can't think of an easier, quicker recipe.

My favorite part of serving these is telling people the rich dessert they are enjoying takes no more than five minutes to prepare!

Added bonus: each bite is a good source of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients!

YIELDS: 12 bites/balls

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup raisins
5 tablespoons cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder (pictured at left)
2 tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt

OPTIONAL ADD-ONS:

1 1/2 tablespoons ground flaxseed/oat bran/wheat germ
1 1/2 teaspoons coconut extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS:

Grind walnuts in food processor.

Add raisins and blend.

Add remaining ingredients and process again.

Scoop out mixture, in the shape of small truffle-like balls, onto baking sheet.

Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Enjoy!

NUTRITION INFORMATION (for 3 "bites" without add-ons):

205 calories
3 grams saturated fat
5 grams fiber
5 grams protein

Excellent source of: copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium

Good source of: fiber, folate, monounsaturated fat, thiamin, vitamin B6, vitamin C

You Ask, I Answer: Velveeta

What in the world IS Velveeta exactly? Cheese?

If so, why is it less expensive and "more melty" than cheddar, like all their commercials say?

-- Corey Clark
(location withheld)

Velveeta, which has been "pleasing families since 1928" (at least that's what Kraft says), is processed cheese.

This is different than pure cheese, as it contains added milkfat, water, and some emulsifying agent (in order to mix the fat and water evenly.)

A look at the ingredient list reveals:

Milk, water, milkfat, whey, whey protein concentrate, sodium phosphate, milk protein concentrate, alginate, sodium citrate, apocarotenal (color), enzymes, cheese culture.

In case you're wondering, alginate is a thickener and emulsifier derived from a brown algae (similar to carrageenan.)

Velveeta is very far from achieving "100% cheese" status. It's not even 51% cheese (if that were the case, it could be sold as a "pasteurized prepared cheese food").

Since it is approximately 40% cheese, though, it has to be legally advertised as a "pasteurized prepared cheese product."

Its low cost comes down to the fact that Velveeta is, in essence, "washed down" cheese.

This is also the reason for its unique melting properties. Its chemical makeup is different from traditional cheese, which is why it does not react to heat in quite the same way as, say, a slice of Swiss cheese.

While we're comparing the two, let's take a look at their respective nutrition facts.

One ounce of Swiss cheese contains:

106 calories
8 grams of fat
5 grams of saturated fat (25% of a day's worth)
54 milligrams of sodium (a mere 2% of a day's worth)
8 grams protein
22% of the Daily Value of calcium

One ounce of original Velveeta, meanwhile, adds up to:

80 calories
6 grams of fat
4 grams of saturated fat (20% of a day's worth)
410 milligrams of sodium (17% of a day's worth)
5 grams of protein
15% of the Daily Value of calcium

Velveeta's sodium value is even higher than that of higher-in-sodium cheeses like cheddar (174 mg per ounce) and provolone (245 mg per ounce.)

For what it's worth, Velveeta sales experienced quite a spike in 2008.

Kraft executives also explain that Velveeta sales increase approximately 50 percent on Super Bowl Sunday!

Quick & Healthy Recipes: Sweet Quinoa Breakfast

Here's a delicious -- and healthy! -- alternative to oatmeal for these wintry days.

YIELDS: 1 cup (2 servings)

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup prepared quinoa (follow instructions on box; as with rice, you can make one large batch and keep it in the fridge for later use)
1/2 cup milk of choice (dairy, soy, almond, rice, etc.)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (if using unflavored milk)
2 teaspoons honey or agave nectar
1 tablespoon raisins
1 tablespoon raw walnuts or pecans
2 tablespoons oat bran

INSTRUCTIONS:

Place all ingredients in saucepan.

Turn stovetop burner to high and place uncovered saucepan on top. Bring mixture to a boil.

Once boiling is reached, lower heat to simmer and cover saucepan.

Turn heat off after 5 minutes. Let saucepan sit on stove for a minute.

Uncover saucepan, stir, and transfer contents to bowl.

Top with 2 tablespoons oat bran.

NUTRITION INFORMATION (per serving; assuming recipe is made with unsweetened soymilk):

330 calories
1.2 grams saturated fat
100 milligrams sodium
6.5 grams fiber (2.5 grams soluble)
11.5 grams protein

Excellent Source of: fiber, manganese, monounsaturated fat, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, thiamin

Good Source of: iron, niacin, riboflavin, protein

Numbers Game: Answer

Del Taco's "Macho" bacon-and-egg breakfast burrito starts the morning off with 1,030 calories, 100 percent of a day's worth of saturated fat, and 73 percent of a day's worth of sodium.

From a caloric standpoint, that's equivalent to almost three and a half Egg McMuffins!

Interestingly, consumer behavior reports are showing large increases in breakfast-to-go purchases.

According to the 2008 New American Diner Study twenty percent of consumers "always or often" eat breakfast away from home on weekdays.

On another note, isn't it rather pathetic that manliness is somehow equated to hyper-caloric, unhealthy eating?

Numbers Game: A Little Too Much-O

Del Taco's "Macho" bacon-and-egg breakfast burrito (pictured at right) starts the morning off with _____ calories, _____ percent of a day's worth of saturated fat, and _____ percent of a day's worth of sodium.

a) 1,200/76/91
b) 1,030/100/73
c) 980/62/84
d) 870/120/67

Leave your guess in the "comments" section and come back on Monday for the answer!

You Ask, I Answer: Palm Fruit Oil/Vegan Baking

What's your take on palm fruit oil in general, and spreads like Earth Balance in particular?

I'm interested in trying vegan baking, but I want to keep my saturated fat intake low.

The Earth Balance Web site makes palm fruit oil sound like health food, but I'm skeptical.

What do you think?

-- Lisa (last name withheld)
Phoenix, AZ

Although palm fruit oil is a healthier choice than palm kernel oil (I am amazed at how often people interchange the two!), I wouldn't classify it as a health food.

Whereas 85 percent of palm kernel oil's are saturated, palm fruit oil's fat content is divided 50/50 between saturated fats and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats.

Additionally, palm fruit oil provides higher levels of vitamin E than palm kernel oil. This is significant since one of vitamin E's roles consists of inhibiting LDL cholesterol oxidation (believed to be a considerable risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease.)

Even though palm fruit oil is one of the healthier trans-fat-free vegan alternatives for baking, you can still take further steps to decrease the amount of saturated fat in your recipes.

One of the best things you can do is substitute some of Earth Balance called for in a recipe with applesauce.

Applesauce makes for a perfect fat substitute since it cuts calories while providing a good deal of moistness (low-fat baking that simply cuts fat without using a suitable replacement tends to be dry and dense.)

Luckily, you don't need to do any math in your head -- it is a 1:1 swap!

If, for instance, your recipe calls for one cup of Earth Balance, I would recommend using half a cup of Earth Balance and a half cup of applesauce (even a 60/40 ratio would be fine.)

Have fun with your vegan creations!

PS: In the accompanying image, the palm kernel is the white center; the surrounding orange-colored fleshy part is the actual palm fruit.

You Ask, I Answer: Dunkin' Donuts Healthier Options

Dunkin' Donuts recently came out with their new line of "DDSmart" options.

I am wondering what you think of them.

-- Dennise O'Grady
Bay Head, NJ

Dunkin' Donuts defines its DDSmart options as those that are "reduced in calories, fat, saturated fat, sugar, or sodium by at least 25 percent compared to base product or other appropriate reference product" and/or "contain ingredients that are nutritionally beneficial."

Technically, then, a 600 calorie muffin laden with sugar and saturated fat could be labeled "DDSmart" if it meets criteria #2 (healthful ingredients) by adding a sprinkle of ground flaxseed.

In essence, they are setting up guidelines that enable them to label some not-so-great options as "DDSmart."

This is why corporate, self-imposed nutrition criteria is always slightly suspect.

Consider, for instance, the inclusion of a 450 calorie blueberry muffin. It's a "DDSmart" option simply because it contains a quarter less fat than a traditional blueberry muffin.

What you aren't being told is that there is only a sixty calorie difference between the two muffins.

Dunkin' Donuts is counting on people to think "oh, it's a low fat muffin! It must be low-calorie, too!"

This nebulous advertising clearly demonstrates why calorie labeling is so crucial.

Another odd DDSmart choice? The egg and cheese English muffin, which provides a quarter of a day's worth of saturated fat and a third of the sodium daily limit.

If healthful ingredients is what they are looking for, why not at least bump the fiber content up by using 100% whole wheat English muffins?

The least offensive item -- apart from low-calorie coffees made with skim milk -- is the egg white and vegetable flatbread sandwich.

The multigrain bread contains some whole wheat flour and the entire sandwich clocks in at 290 calories. Still, you're looking at 680 milligrams of sodium.

The smartest thing you can do is not depend on fast food companies for your daily breakfast needs.

You Ask, I Answer: Skim vs. 2% Milk

I'm still confused about which kind [of milk] to buy.

[Reduced fat, or 2%] tastes better than skim, but is it too high in fat for daily consumption?

-- Anonymous
Via the blog

"Reduced fat" (2%) milk isn't really that high in total fat.

An eight-ounce cup of it contains 123 calories and five grams of fat.

This certainly isn't as high as the 13.5 grams of fat in a tablespoon of olive oil or the 164 calories and 14.3 grams of fat in a serving of almonds.

The main concern with reduced fat and whole milk is the amount of saturated, not total, fat.

Whereas that serving of almonds I mentioned above only provides 1.1 grams of saturated fat, the cup of reduced fat milk contains 3.1 grams of saturated fat.

That said, I think there is too much milk hysteria.

It is one thing to worry about using whole milk in a 24 ounce latte (where half the beverage consists of milk).

However, someone who only drinks one cup of coffee with two tablespoons of milk in it each day should not be that worried about the type of milk they use.

Consider the facts below:

Two tablespoons of skim milk contain 12 calories and 0.1 grams of saturated fat.

Two tablespoons of reduced fat (2%) milk contain 16 calories and 0.4 grams of saturated fat.

Two tablespoons of whole milk contain 19 calories and 0.6 grams of saturated fat.

That is one situation where I suggest using two tablespoons of whatever milk you like best, since the differences are rather minimal.

Additionally, if someone is already cutting calories, drinking their sole cup of coffee with whole -- rather than skim -- milk may help feel less deprived and, therefore, stay more motivated with the rest of their new eating regimen.

Ready, Set, Scramble!

Scrambled tofu is a highly polarizing brunch entrée.

Many people -- including myself -- love the fluffy texture and savory tones, while others gag just reading those two words on a menu.

In my experience, though, most carnivores who think tofu is the creation of demonic forces with bland palates end up changing their perception of the soy-based food after a few bites of a well-made tofu scramble.

The one kink is that, as delicious as it is, its preparation involves the chopping and dicing of many vegetables.

As wonderful a brunch dish it is, I often find it hard to motivate myself to prepare it on a lazy Sunday morning.

Imagine, then, how pleased I was to stumble upon Fantastic World Foods' tofu scrambler seasoning.

All you need to do is buy a package of extra firm tofu (found at most supermarkets' produce section), crumble it in a bowl, add the seasoning, mix it all up, and then heat everything in a slightly oiled pan.

Best part of all? Each seasoning packet clocks in at 800 milligrams of sodium, meaning that even if shared by just two people (that's quite a bit of scramble!), you are only getting 400 milligrams a piece.

The ingredient list is also a pleasure to read. Barley flakes, dried vegetables, and a variety of spices are the main ingredients.

There is no "onion flavoring" or "celery flavoring," but actual onions and celery. Imagine that!

In total, a tofu scramble prepared this way and shared by two adds up to:

262 calories
1.3 grams saturated fat
400 milligrams sodium
4 grams fiber
21 grams protein

Accompany it with a slice of whole grain toast topped with a tablespoon of your nut butter of choice and you have a nutritious breakfast that is ready to be served before the coffee is done brewing.

Numbers Game: Answer

Taco Bell's new limited-offer Fully Loaded Nachos contain 17 grams of saturated fat, 4.5 grams of trans fat, and 2,190 milligrams of sodium.

(NOTE: Daily saturated fat intake should not surpass 20 grams; trans fat recommendations are set at 0 grams per day; daily sodium consumption should be below 2,300 milligrams )

Some more figures to make you go "yikes" -- this "dish" contains over one pound of food and clocks in at 1,390 calories.

Which means more calories, sodium, and saturated fat than a Big Mac with a side of large fries and a large soda.

Seems like thinking outside the bun isn't always such a good idea...

Numbers Game: Fully Loaded Arteries

Taco Bell's new limited-offer Fully Loaded Nachos contain _______ grams of saturated fat, _______ grams of trans fat, and _______ milligrams of sodium.

(NOTE: Daily saturated fat intake should not surpass 20 grams; trans fat recommendations are set at 0 grams per day; daily sodium consumption should be below 2,300 milligrams )

a) 15/2.5/2,560
b) 18/2/1,980
c) 14/3/2,340
d) 17/4.5/2,190

Leave your guess in the "comments" section and come back on Wednesday for the answer.

Leaving Out Vital Information

Vending and food service company Next Generation has introduced Vitalities, a sticker-based initiative which "provides customers the ability to make selection based on healthy snack and beverage alternatives, while still having the flexibility to select name brand product options."

In essence, products that meet certain health criteria -- created with the help of a Registered Dietitian -- get a sticker next to their item code.

On the food side, the following categories are offered: lower in fat, lower in sugar, lower in carbs, and "higher energy."

Why are they leaving out the most important concept-- CALORIE information?

Consider the following. To qualify as "low in sugar", a product must meet one of the following criteria:

* Sugar Free
* No Sugar Added
* Contains less than 4 grams of sugar

These divisions are very helpful for snack companies because they don't evaluate their products from a whole nutrition profile.

Per the above mentioned standards, something like Sugar-Free Reese's Peanut Butter Cups would receive a "low in sugar" sticker (and therefore seem like a healthy choice) despite offering 6 grams of saturated fat (30% of a day's worth) in one 180-calorie serving.

Similarly, a bag of Skittles can receive a healthy-sounding "low-fat sticker", all while offering 250 calories and 12 teaspoons of sugar!

I am also perplexed by the "lower in carbs" sticker. Unless someone has diabetes, there is no reason to believe that low carb figures by default indicate a healthier choice.

The beverage stickers are slightly better, as they are divided into these four categories: lower in fat, lower in calories (yay!), lower in caffeine, and higher in nutrients.

My concern here is the "lower in fat" label, which makes no mention of calories in its criteria:

* Less than 2.5 grams of fat per 8 ounce portion
* Skim and 1% milk
* Flavored waters
* Juices
* Energy drinks

Notice that soda can not qualify for this sticker. Fine and dandy, but sweetened flavored waters (often containing just as much sugar and as many calories as soda) can.

This initiative is a start, but I would much prefer vending machines post calorie information on items.

After all, unless people have those figures memorized, they are unable to see them until they have already made their purchase.

Yum-mega Treat

As regular Small Bites readers know, I am a big fan of snack bars.

I can't tell you how many times they have saved me -- and my wallet -- from junk food hell (i.e.: Bronx Zoo, Six Flags, Broadway intermissions.)

I also like to name names, which is why I have given very high praise to Lara bars, Clif Nectar bars, Pure bars, GNU Flavor & Fiber bars, and Kashi's "Tasty Little Crunchies" granola bars.

Although each of those bars is uniquely different from the others, they all provide high-quality nutrition in a delicious way.

Today, my list expands to include Nana's Omega-Fiber Cookie Bars.

These bars are most reminiscent of Flavor & Fiber, and even have a similar ingredient list.

Each bar offers 130 calories, 1 gram of saturated fat, 40 milligrams of sodium, 8 grams of sugar, and 5 grams of fiber.

Certainly a great lunchbox treat -- and an even better snack to have handy at the office when thoughts of the King Size Crunch Bar in the nearby vending machine start to take over.

Here's the ingredient list for the double chocolate flavor (vanilla almond is my favorite, though!):

Fiber Mix (Whole Wheat Flour, Oats, Wheat Bran, Psyllium, Flax Seeds, Millet, Chicory Root), Fruit Juice (Apple, Pear, Grape), Rice Dextrins, Chocolate Chips (whole grain malted barley and corn, unsweetened chocolate, soy lecithin as an emulsifier, and pure vanilla), Dutched Cocoa, GMO-Free Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Dried Apples, Raisins, Rice Crisp Cereal, Rice Syrup, Vegetable Glycerin, Baking Powder (non aluminum), Natural Flavors

I do have two suggestions for the Nana's team, though:

1) No need to advertise your bar's Omega-9 content. It is not an essential fatty acid, so we don't need to particularly seek it out in food.

2) The 250 milligrams of Omega-3 are great, but it would make them a lot more absorbable if you included ground -- rather than whole -- flax seeds in your fiber mix.

Still, these are certainly worth making room for in your pantry.

You Ask, I Answer: Mock Meats

From a nutritional standpoint, what do you think of fake meats like Tofurkey or Boca [soy-based] burgers?

Seems like they are a kind of vegetarian junk food.

-- Christine (last name unknown)
Via the blog

Soy burgers, hot dogs, and turkeys are a great way to add protein to a meal while keeping excess calories, saturated fat and cholesterol at bay.

I personally love to throw in some soy beef crumbles into my chili recipe for a burst of meaty texture.

When I want to indulge in some vegan comfort food, Boca's meatless chicken nuggets hit the spot.

The main concern with these types of foods is their high sodium levels.

Remember, the more processed a food, the higher its sodium content (one exception to this rule is smoked fish, which is not processed, but simply has a high amount of salt added on.)

So, yes, it is fairly accurate to think of these foods as "vegetarian junk food" in the sense that they should not be daily staples. There are far more nutritious choices out there.

Granted, not all mock meat offerings are very high in sodium.

One Boca Burger patty, for instance, contains 280 milligrams and just 70 calories.

If you are enjoying it with some steamed broccoli and a baked potato, the entire meal should not surpass the 450 or 500 milligram mark.

Other brands, however, can offer as much as 450 or 500 milligrams of sodium in just one patty.

As always, be sure to check the label. You want to choose varieties offering no more than 300 milligrams of sodium.

It is also worth pointing out that many "fauxburgers" are made from a mix of soy and wheat gluten, providing some of them with as much as 4.5 grams of fiber per patty. Certainly a nice bonus!

In the same way that an omnivore should not eat hamburgers on a daily basis, a similar principle can be applied to meatless alternatives.

Enjoying them once or twice a week is not a problem, but the bulk of the diet should not come from the frozen foods section.

Numbers Game: Answer

A 24-ounce limited edition Jack in the Box eggnog shake contains 1,450 calories, 225 percent of the daily saturated fat recommended limit, and 3 grams of trans fat.

(NOTE: Trans fat recommendations are set at 0 grams per day.)

If this "special edition" shake is available after December 31, they should change its name to "The Resolution Breaker."

To put it in perspective, this beverage has more calories than an entire 12-inch Domino's cheese pizza (with regular -- not thin -- crust)!

And if you thought the 3 grams of trans fat were bad, check out some of the other options on Jack in the Box's menu.

A 10-piece order of mini churros delivers a jaw-dropping (and heart-stopping?) SEVEN grams of trans fat!

An order of French Fries from the children's menu may seem innocent with its 220 calories, but it also delivers 3.5 grams of trans fat.

So, dear president-elect Obama, how about igniting heart-healthy change with a national trans fat ban?

In The News: Lean Times, Leaner Burger

Starting Monday, the double cheeseburger will disappear from McDonald's dollar menu.

It's not that customers don't love it -- it's actually the chain's best-selling $1 item!

In its place? The same burger with just one slice of cheese, a different name, and a slightly heftier price tag.

The McDouble -- the end result of McDonald's strategy to increase profits after the cost of commodities like wheat skyrocketed over the past year -- is set to debut in 14,000 McDonald's restaurants on December 1.

Retailing for $1.19, this new version offers 50 fewer calories (390) and 25 percent less saturated fat (8.5 grams, or roughly 42% of the recommended daily limit) than its predecessor.