What’s for Dinner? Sustainable Sushi You’ll Love

You'll probably always need to book weeks—even months—in advance for a seat at Masa, but these days, sushi is coming under new scrutiny. For many environmentally conscious eaters, the tide is turning against sushi as its popularity is leading to the decline of many of our favorite items on the menu.
 
Presently, 70 percent of the world's fisheries are being over-harvested, resulting in the depletion of the fish that we love to eat as sushi—fish such as yellowtail, Atlantic halibut, bluefin tuna, Asia farmed tilapia, Atlantic salmon and red snapper.

What are some environmentally sound choices you can make when dining on sushi? 

Black Cod. The most ocean-friendly kinds of Black Cod come from Alaska and British Columbia. Also known as sablefish, black cod is harvested at a sustainable rate. This heart-healthy fish contains comparable levels of omega-3 fatty acids to salmon, and makes for a delicious and slightly sweet slice of sashimi. 

Albacore Tuna. Order fresh albacore tuna during its peak season, which occurs from June to late fall. The most sustainable types come from British Columbia and the United States, and are protected by the US/Canadian Tuna Treaty, which ensures albacore tuna fishing doesn't exceed sustainable levels. A popular and tasty selection, albacore tuna is high-protein, low-carb and loaded with omega-3. 

Alaska Wild Salmon. Unlike many other fisheries around the world, salmon harvested in Alaska is protected by the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) of Alaska, a pact that conserves the salmon resources in the North Pacific Ocean. This species of salmon is known to enhance brain function and regulate cholesterol levels. It's also void of added chemicals, preservatives, pesticides, growth hormones and antibiotics. Alaska wild salmon roe is AOK too.

Ready to put your newfound sushi knowledge to the test? Download a free pocket sushi guide from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which outlines the best and worst seafood varieties to consume in different parts of the country. Remember to ask your server about the origins of the fish on the menu.

Or simply dine at a sustainable sushi eatery (and forget keeping tabs on which fish to eat). Tataki of San Francisco, Calif. is the original Mecca of sustainable seafood, while Mashiko of Seattle, Wash. is a newer but equally delicious establishment. (We couldn't locate any wholly sustainable sushi restaurants in the Big Apple, though we'd love to hear about them, dear readers, if you know of any!)

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Supermarket Shockers & Swaps: Kid Food Edition!

Think you're making smart choices when it comes to shopping for yourself and your kids? Read on, and check out Hungry Girl's guilt-free swaps...

Cereal: Cap'n Crunch vs. Kashi Honey Sunshine

Sure, Cap'n Crunch doesn't appear to be super-sugary. But looks can be deceiving -- 12 grams of sugar per serving is actually pretty high for kids' cereals these days. A much better option is Kashi's Honey Sunshine cereal. Each 3/4-cup serving has HALF the sugar and packs a nice amount of fiber (5 grams) and protein (2 grams). Not to mention, it's all-natural and features seven whole grains. And the taste is very similar to Cap'n Crunch. Go, Kashi!

More from Hungry Girl: Family-friendly recipes!

Fruit Drinks: SunnyD Tangy Original vs. Capri Sun Roarin' Waters 

SunnyD is just a juice drink -- how bad could it be? While it's a better pick than most regular sodas, every 8-oz. serving contains a whopping 14 grams of sugar! You're WAY better off buying Capri Sun Roarin' Waters. Each pouch has half the calories (30) and nearly half the sugar. It's totally kid-friendly (you get to stab a straw into your juice pouch!), but it's also perfect for parents on the go.

Bread: Arnold Country White Bread vs. Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Sandwich Bread in Soft White

The problem with Arnold Country White Bread is that the two slices it takes to make a sandwich amounts to 240 calories and 3 grams of fat -- and that's before you load the sandwich with deli meats and cheese! You're much better off going with Pepperidge Farm's new Goldfish Sandwich Bread in Soft White. Not only are these bread slices adorable (they look like smiling goldfish -- CUTE!!!), but they're also a smart pick nutritionally. Each "slice" is actually two adjoining pieces (just like those trendy, flat sandwich rolls), with just 120 calories and 2g fat, plus 3g fiber and 3g protein. Nice!

More from Hungry Girl: Everything you need for awesome bagged lunches!

Fruit Snacks: Fruit Gushers vs. Funky Monkey Snacks

Just because Gushers have the word "fruit" in the name, don't let that fool you into thinking they're good for you. They're "fruit flavored" and full of added sugar. Instead, buy freeze-dried fruit (100 percent real fruit!), like Funky Monkey Snacks. These come in fun flavors (such as JiveALime and Pink Pineapple) and colorful kid-friendly pouches. Plus, there's one full serving of fruit in each bag. You'll also find some great freeze-dried-fruit options in the baby food aisle. (Yes, you read that right!)

Crunchy Snacks: Pretzels vs. 94% Fat-Free Microwavable Popcorn

Although pretzels are lower in fat than potato chips, they have very little nutritional value and aren't that filling. So switch out those pretzel sticks for some 94 percent fat-free microwavable popcorn. You'll get tons of fiber (4 to 5 grams) plus some protein (3 to 4 grams) in every serving. Enjoy a single-serving bag solo, or make a larger bag and watch a movie with your family... Guilt-free viewing!

More from Hungry Girl: HG's Ultimate Movie-Viewing Snack Mix!

CHECK OUT THE LATEST COOKBOOK FROM HG...

HUNGRY GIRL 300 UNDER 300: 300 BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER DISHES UNDER 300 CALORIES!

It's meal-mania! 560 pages of easy and delicious guilt-free recipes! Now on shelves everywhere and available online... Click here NOW to order!

Don't miss season 2 of Hungry Girl, airing Sundays at 10am/9c on Food Network!

For a daily dose of guilt-free tips, tricks, food finds, recipes and more, visit hungry-girl.com and sign up for free daily emails!

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Bad foods you should be eating-2

Eggs

The bad rap: A significant source of dietary cholesterol, egg yolks are off-limits for those concerned about heart health.

The good news: Medical experts now emphasize that saturated fats and trans fats are bigger culprits in raising blood cholesterol than dietary cholesterol is. Plus, eggs are super-satisfying: in one study, people who ate a scrambled-egg-and-toast breakfast felt more satisfied, and ate less at lunch, than they did when they ate a bagel that had the same number of calories. Egg yolks contain lutein and zeaxanthin, compounds that research links with reduced risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in people over 50.

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Are Triple Double Oreos worth 100 calories? We tried them!

After months of anticipation, the new Triple Double Oreos are finally in stores. Affectionately referred to as the "Big Mac" of sweets, it's three layers of cookie, one layer of original creme, and one layer of chocolate creme.

Obviously you know that the calories in all of that sugary cookie-creme goodness add up. But even managing your expectations, the calorie count is staggering: 100 calories and 1.5 grams of saturated fat for just one cookie!

Are Triple Double Oreos really worth splurging on? We got a hold of a package to find out ...

More from The Stir: Eating Jell-O Could Mean You're a Cannibal

The general consensus in The Stir office after sampling them: The overall taste of Triple Double Oreos just isn't good enough to warrant all the extra calories. Here are some of complaints that came up over and over again in our taste test:

• The most common criticism was that the three layers of crunchy cookie made it crumbly and "too hard to eat." And, if you are one of those people who twist off the top of your Oreos and eat them one layer at a time, you'd better quit your day job because you'll be here a while.

• "Too much crunch, not enough creme."

• "The chocolate creme had a chemical taste." Or, "It wasn't chocolate-y enough."

• "Way too sugary."

But here's the thing almost every member of our staff pointed out: A regular Oreo with two cookies and one layer of vanilla creme is practically perfect on its own. And at only 50 calories a pop, it's one of those sweet treats that (provided you can limit yourself) most people don't feel guilty indulging in now and again. Adding all those extra layers -- and, subsequently, the calories -- is unnecessarily messing with a good thing. Why bother? Sometimes you really can have too much of a good thing.

Have you tried the new Triple Double Oreos?

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Are RI'ers Couch Potatoes or Fitness Buffs?

I always think of Rhode Islanders as an active bunch.  I picture bikers and runners along the beaches of Newport or along the river in Providence. (Yes, they're starting to come back after our awful winter!).  I notice gyms on practically every other corner in the city and the suburbs.  I listen to my friends talk about their yoga or strength-training classes.  But it appears we're a bit lazier than I thought.  

This morning I read an article with a link to the 2010 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Report on Physical Activity.  I clicked expecting Rhode Island to be in the top 10 most active states.  We were near the bottom of the pack, above the national average, but below all of the other New England states.  

The CDC calculated the proportion of adults 18+ who get the government recommended amount of physical activity per week...that's 2.5 hours of moderate physical activity per week or 1.25 hours of intense physical activity per week (or a combo of the two).  

The national average is 64.5.  The Rhode Island average is 66.3. 

What about our kids?  The CDC recommends students in grades 9-12 get an hour of moderate and/or vigorous exercise daily. Rhode Island high-schoolers ranked above average, but again no where near the top of the list.  The national score is 17.1 and the Ocean State score is 24.1.  

Wondering what state is the most active?

Adults #1 Vermont 73.3

Students #1 Oklahoma 29.4

Wondering about the laziest state? It's Tennessee, where only 51.8% of adults get enough physical activity.

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The Day I Unleashed My Inner Vixen

Have you unleashed your own inner vixen? She's waiting!

Recently I began writing a book about my personal experience with weight loss. It was such an amazing experience that I had to share it with others who have also struggled with emotional eating and obesity. I work as an Admissions Representative at a university. It's a stressful job with long hours sitting behind a desk. I'm married with one son, own a house with a two-car garage and have a dog, named Charley.

Here's my story: After nine years of working at the school, the hours grew longer and my butt grew wider. I got to the point where I found myself grossly overweight and deeply depressed. Then one Memorial Day a few years back, the depression turned to despair when I saw a photo of myself on the beach.

 

I was humiliated and disgusted with what I saw. I remember falling to the floor and sobbing. How could I have let myself get this way? I was successful in all other areas of my life; why wasn't I successful at losing weight? That day I started searching inwardly for an answer; later that week the answer came while at work.

I had asked my assistant to do a project for me. She said she couldn't because she was scheduled to go to the gym for a class. When I asked her where she worked out, she suddenly became very quiet and shy. She seemed almost embarrassed to tell me. After pressing her further, she eventually pulled up their website to show me. She was going to a pole-dance fitness class! It was at a women's-only alternative fitness center called Vixen Fitness.  I was intrigued. How cool was that?

After she left my office I shut the door and picked up the phone to call them. I set up a private lesson. The girl on the phone was very helpful and sweet. When she told me to put on shorts and wear high heels for my lesson I thought I was going to die! However, I did as instructed. To help set the mood; I brought in Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet."

You see the 80s were my decade when I was healthy, happy and single. Those were the days of the hair metal bands and Tawney Kitaen was the video vixen. So I thought it would be fun to rock out to a few 80's tunes. Little did I know that this lesson would change my life the way it did.

The lights dimmed down and the song went on as I followed the instructor through the routine. After just a few minutes swinging around that pole and letting my hair down I had a sense of freedom that I hadn't felt in years. I looked in the mirror and didn't see the fat girl that was in the beach photo earlier that week. I saw a beautiful, sensual woman that I hadn't seen in 20 years. I saw the person that I really was: beautiful, loving, strong, and sensual. It was an epiphany.

The woman that I longed to be was staring at me right there in the mirror. She was my inner vixen. And I did not want to let her go. After years of running around between work and my son's sports practices, cooking and cleaning, and everything else that goes along with day-to day living, I realized that I had put my own needs and desires last on the to-do list. I made a decision that day to be the woman I desire to be. What I discovered was that the fat was not the problem. It was the result of not loving myself. Once I learned how to be true to myself the weight just started coming off. That day I set a plan in motion to dress like her, walk like her, talk like her, think like her and be like the confident and sexy woman that I knew I was.

Since that day I've lost 45 pounds! I have also partnered with the Orlando based fitness center that helped bring back my sexy, Vixen Fitness .  I've also been writing my book, which is appropriately called A Vixen's Guide to Weight Loss  and I'm continuing on my weight loss journey. I'll be starting a 90-day fitness program based on the theory of muscle confusion.  It's called V-90Fit, which we're starting soon at Vixen Fitness.  Wish me luck!  Or better yet, come take the classes with me and together we can reach our goals!  Until next time, Love, Hugs and Pink Lipstick Kisses!

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