Tag Archives: Oktoberfest

Celebrate Oktoberfest with a Healthier Menu

Oktoberfest, a two-week festival held each year in Munich, Germany, was originally created to celebrate Bavarian culture. Today, people honor Oktoberfest all over the world with festivals and celebrations that feature German food, beer, music, rides, and games.

While Oktoberfest is well underway in Germany, you can fashion your own Bavarian celebration wherever you are. The food served at Oktoberfest celebrations tends to be rich and starchy (think: pork chops, potato salad, pretzels and beer.) Luckily, dieters overseas can lighten their favorite German fare to fit their healthy lifestyle – and even save room for a brew or two.

Instead of roasted pork or pork hocks, try Pork with Apple Sauerkraut.

Pork hocks, though often inexpensive, often require long cooking times in order for the tough meat to be made palatable. Instead of roasting or braising meat in added fat, pick a simple pork tenderloin that is quick and lean.

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Health Buzz: Dangers of Sleep Eating, HFCS’s New Name and What Embarrasses a Biggest Loser

This week’s hot health buzz from DietsInReview.com:

HFCS: Changing the Name Doesn’t Change the Products

The Corn Refiners Association thinks that high fructose corn syrup has gotten a bad rap. Some would say deservedly so, considering the 20% decrease in consumer consumption. They’ve applied to have the name changed to “corn sugar.”

What is Sleep Eating?

Sleep walking itself is dangerous, but when it’s coupled with unconscious mid-night eating, it can have unhealthy repercussions.

Healthier Beer Choices for Oktoberfest

This week the Oktoberfest celebrations kick off in Germany and the shots, if you will, can be heard around the world. See our picks for delicious beers that are also not as heavy on the calories.

Dr. Oz’s Just Ten Pounds Weight Loss Challenge
Earlier this week, Dr. Oz announced his “Just 10 Pounds” weight loss challenge. Even if you need to lose more than 10 pounds, setting a small goal will help you get there.

Jillian Michaels Wants Healthier School Lunches
In a personal letter to Congress that she’s shared with the public, Jillian wants to see our kids being fed more nutritional fare, and she wants the government to do something about it.

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Healthier Beer Choices for Oktoberfest

When you hear “Oktoberfest“, what comes to mind? If you are anything like me, it’s beer. Beer can be a caloric bomb, though, next bringing to mind the term “beer belly”.

Beer doesn’t contain fat; however, it does have tons of carbohydrates, protein and alcohol- and that’s it. Beer is the epitome of empty calories, giving you all the calories with no vitamins, minerals or redeeming health qualities whatsoever. A gram of carbohydrates has 4 calories, a gram of protein 4 calories, and a gram of alcohol has a little over 7 calories. This is why different beers can have higher calorie counts in relation to their alcohol content.

To keep things in perspective, I found this information online at realbeer.com: “A five-ounce glass of wine contains about 125 calories; one ounce of distilled spirits, 90 proof, 75 calories. Beyond the world of alcohol: an eight-ounce glass of milk has 160 calories, one ounce of potato chips 160 calories, a banana split 550 calories, and a Burger King Whopper 650 calories. Oh yeah, just six French fries have 12 grams of fat (about as many calories as a light beer).” (more…)

Germany’s Obesity Battle

For many of us, it’s the land of beer, strudels and schnitzel (usually breaded and fried veal). Maybe the rich food and Oktoberfests are catching up with Germans.

Germany is looking to reverse the country’s obesity problems with a massive government initiative. The program will cost almost 50 million and includes:
Oktoberfest
– Education on healthy eating and sports
– Tougher standards for school lunches
– Voluntary measures for the sweets industry to stop targeting children under 12 with advertising
– Clothing companies to stop using “anorexic” models
Computer game manufacturers are being encouraged to develop products that make players move about

There’s political opposition from people who believe it will just create a bureaucratic mess.