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The Clubs at Charles River Park is a full-service Boston health club. Owned and operated by Massachusetts General Hospital, the club features indoor and outdoor pools, group fitness classes, a state-of-the-art fitness center and more.
Author Archives: Be Fit Nutritionists
Cracking The Truth About Eggs
Have you been told to avoid eggs because you have high cholesterol? At one point, it was thought eggs were damaging to our hearts, but we now know they aren’t nearly as harmful as they were once cracked up to be.
Going back about 45 years, Americans were consuming about 320 eggs per person per year: that’s almost one egg per day. Once fat and cholesterol in the diet became more concerning, eggs were pinpointed because of the cholesterol found in their yolks, and egg consumption dropped drastically.
So what do we know now? Read more»
Nutrition Comments Off
Recipe: Curried Chicken Salad
This slightly sweet spiced chicken salad is satisfying and crunchy. It works equally well sandwiched between two slices of whole grain bread as it does scooped on top of a bed of greens. Read more »
Recipes Comments Off
Take Part in Whole Grain Sampling Day
Take part in Whole Grain Sampling Day on Wednesday April 4th. The Whole Grains Council here in Boston is hosting this event with the goal of getting people to say “whole grains, where have you been all my life?!”
Whole grains contain more vitamins, minerals, antioxidants (disease-fighting compounds), protein, and fiber than refined grains (like white flour). They’re also quite tasty.
Organizations all around the country will be participating in the event, including Mass General. At lunchtime on April 4th, the hospital’s Eat Street Cafe will be serving a line-up of whole grain salads at the salad bar. Look for their lemon mint bulgur, roasted barley corn, and nutty soba noodle salads.
They will also be offering pepperoni and chicken and garlic pizza on whole grain crust, in addition to their daily whole wheat veggie and cheese pizzas. Samples will also be provided!
Here are some health facts about the whole grains being offered:
- Bulgur has more fiber than many other whole grains, including quinoa, oats, millet and buckwheat. It also cooks very quickly, making it an easy whole grain to have on the table in a flash.
- Barley can lower cholesterol and keep your digestive system healthy.
- Corn is actually a whole grain! It has the highest level of antioxidants of any grain or vegetable.
- Buckwheat (found in soba noodles) is a gluten-free whole grain that contains zinc. It may also help feed the healthy bacteria in your gut. Both zinc and these friendly bacteria are important for a healthy immune system.
For additional ways to get in wholesome whole grains, try:
- Making whole wheat pasta for dinner
- Having whole wheat pita and hummus for a snack
- Substituting 1/2 the all-purpose flour in a recipe for whole wheat flour
- Cooking quinoa instead of couscous as a side dish
- Putting granola in your yogurt
- Checking that your bread lists “whole wheat flour” as its first ingredient
- Popping popcorn for a snack
You can find more information about whole grains and the event on the Whole Grains Council’s website.
Nutrition Comments Off
Foods That May Be Sabotaging Your Weight Loss
You eat right and exercise, but the pounds just aren’t coming off? Look out for these foods in your diet.
Fruit Smoothies
These drinks can pack over 300 calories and 60 grams of sugar: that’s more sugar than a bottle of soda.
Food Fix: Look for varieties that are made with fresh fruit (not fruit concentrate) and avoid smoothies with added sugar, ice cream, or sorbet. Most importantly, ask for the smallest size available.
Salads
A little of this and a little of that can add up quickly. For example, a restaurant chicken cobb salad can have between 600-1000 calories and may contain more fat than 10 donut holes.
Food Fix: Limit your portion of high-calorie toppings like dressing, croutons, bacon, and cheese. Watch out for words like “crispy” (which means the item has been fried) and always ask for your dressing on the side. Try to pick an oil-based dressing, such as a vinaigrette, and use half of what is provided.
Nutrition Bars
Some bars contain up to 500 calories; however, they often come in small packages that do not appear very calorie-dense.
Food Fix: Need a snack to tide you over? Look for a bar that has fewer than 200 calories with at least 3 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein to help fill you up without weighing you down.
Chicken Burritos
It has beans and chicken, so how bad can a burrito be? Add cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and rice to the large tortilla that burritos are often served on and you have a 1,000 calorie meal.
Food Fix: Order your burrito without the rice, use the beans as your protein, and limit the toppings. Or get the whole thing, but only eat half.
Flavored “Waters”
Flavored water is a good way to get fluid, as long as it isn’t filling you with empty calories. Some brands add a lot of sugar. Also, the vitamins added to many flavored waters are often excessive for most people.
Food Fix: Look for products with fewer than 10 calories per serving and no added sugar. If you don’t like plain water, try adding some lemon juice or calorie-free flavor packets like Crystal Light.
“Light” Olive Oil
“Light” refers to the oil’s flavor and color. Light olive oil has the same amount of fat and calories as any other oil.
Food Fix: Olive oil is a healthy fat, but it’s still a fat. Limit your portion to 1 tablespoon at a time.
Avocado
Avocado has received a lot of attention for its healthy fat, but healthy fat is healthy when it is used as a replacement for other fats. 1 avocado contains over 300 calories and about 30 grams of fat: that’s approximately the amount of fat that is in 5 tablespoons of mayonnaise.
Food Fix: Limit your portion to 1/4 cup of sliced avocado or 2 tablespoons of guacamole.
Fitness and Exercise Comments Off
Beautiful Beans
Throughout history and around the world – from Egypt to China and India to the Mediterranean – beans have been a culinary staple, with one notable exception: the U.S. We often overlook the humble bean. It’s a shame because beans are healthy, satisfying, economical, and earth-friendly. Read on to learn how to incorporate these beautiful beans into your diet. Read more »