Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Trader Joe's Spotlight: Organic Vegetarian Chili

 I've had my eyes peeled for Desk Food: items I can keep in my desk drawer at work and pull out any time for a Clean meal when I forget my lunch, etc. Right now - the pickins have been slim. The drawer has canned tuna, canned pineapple tidbits ( in water! ), and Pure & Simple hot grain instant cereals. *Sigh* I'm ready for something else. I'm ready...for Fall. Hot soup on a cold day. Warm meals.



Trader Joe's organic vegetarian chili fits all my parameters. It is Clean / On this side of the border Clean, it is filling, it will live happily in my desk drawer until called into service, and it will be warm.

If you didn't read the label to know there is tofu in it, you'd swear those little bits are meat. It has a satisfying psuedo meaty taste, but this isn't hot chili so if you like it hot - have your sriracha in hand when sitting down to eat.

I tasted it cold, right out of the can. I liked the taste. Then I heated it up. Perhaps, I heated it too much. I found there to be a slightly "This is not the beef chili you are looking for - move along " aura to it once it was really hot.

Will I buy another can to keep in my desk drawer? I think so.

Do I think having a portion of homemade chili in the freezer at work for emergency eats might be better than the organic vegetarian chili from TJ's? I think so.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

What Do Your 4 Lbs Say About You?



The average American eats approximately 4 pounds of food a day. Sometimes more, sometimes less - but around 4 pounds is average. 

If someone examined your daily intake - what would they see? What would they surmise about you? Does the person who eats this food in a 24 hour period take care of his/her body, or is this person eating carelessly and without regard to their well being and health? 

Check out these famous pictures of weekly food intake from countries around the world, compared to the one for the United States:

 China - lots of vegetables, grains, and a little meat. There is a little alcohol in there, too - but that isn't the focus for this pic. A mainly vegetable centric diet, with meat and grain added.




Eqypt:  Again, lots of fruit and vegetables with some whole grain bread and a little bit of packaged food in there as well. On the whole, pretty healthy.



The United States: An embarrassment of poor nutrition. Fast food, processed meats, snack foods, beer, sodas, and sugary juices. The only healthy items on that table are the grapes, tomatoes, and the milk.



What do the 3 pictures above imply about how these people eat and live? Do they take care of themselves? Who is healthy? Who is not?


Every day, we make decisions on our nutrition. Eat this, not that. But back to your 4 lbs of food.

Approximately...
  • 4 pounds of raw veggies will provide 400 calories
  • 4 pounds of raw fruits will provide 1000 calories
  • 4 pounds of cooked whole grains/legumes provides 1600 calories
  • 4 pounds of nuts/seeds provides about 10,000 calories
  • 4 pounds of Lucky Charms, Pop Tarts, Cheese provides about 10,000 calories

If we eat 4 pounds of energy-controlled, whole, real food – we get lots of nutrition with a calorie count that our body can handle.

What’s our poundage portion?

Most people in the U.S. are consuming (on average) the following amounts of food each day:

2.0 pounds of meat, dairy and eggs
1.5 pounds fruits and veggies
0.5 pound grains
0.5 pounds added sugars, fats and oils
= 4.5 pounds
= about 3,700 calories per day

What if we switched this around?

2.5 pounds of fruits and veggies
1.0 pounds of grains and legumes
0.3 pounds nuts/seeds
0.3 pounds meat, dairy and eggs
0.1 pounds added sugars, fats and oils
= 4.2 pounds
= about 2,075 calories per day (this isn’t really that much, especially if you’re physically active.)

If we prioritize and eat nutritious, real, controlled energy foods – there isn’t much room left for the energy dense, fake foods. You only have about 4 pounds to work with each day.


Thanks to Ryan at Precision Nutrition for some of the info above 

Monday, August 29, 2011

Is Eggbeaters Clean?



Q:  Is Eggbeaters Clean? I've always cooked a cup of Eggbeaters in the microwave for a quick breakfast at work. Now that I'm trying to eat better, I was wondering if Eggbeaters is Clean?



A:  Technically, Eggbeaters is not Clean. A Clean food would be a freshly cracked organic egg, whisked and then microwaved. You'd consume the egg as you find it in Nature - so that would be the 1st choice. Eggbeaters is a processed product, so it would be considered "Unclean."

However...

If you examine the ingredient list for Eggbeaters ( Original Eggbeaters, not any flavored version ) , you'll find the following:

Ingredients: Egg Whites. Less than 1% Natural Flavor, Color ( includes beta carotene ), spices, salt, onion powder, vegetable gums, and maltodextrin.

99% of Eggbeaters is just egg whites. Only 1% is other stuff, and the majority of that 1% is spices and salt.

Sodium content of a 1/4 cup serving of Original Eggbeaters? 115 mg.
Sodium content of a single, organic egg? About 75 ( naturally occurring ) mg.

So is Eggbeaters Clean? In my opinion, it goes into the "Border Food" bucket - a food you can safely eat occasionally, but on a daily basis you are better off going for the traditional Mother Nature approved egg delivery system: an organic egg in the shell.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Pea, Broccoli, and Feta Pasta Salad

I'm not a big fan of British chef Janie Oliver, but when I saw this recipe in a magazine while waiting for my son's haircut - I was instantly intrigued. It is meant as a "going back to school / pack you child something Clean in their lunchbox." I'd like it for a lunchtime salad or as a nice cool side dish.


Pea, Broccoli, Zucchini and Feta Pasta Salad  






  • 1box Plus, Penne - whole grain
  • 3 cups organic broccoli ( small florets work best )
  • 1 c zucchini, chopped
  • 8 tsp Red Wine Vinegar
  • 2 tsp Prepared Dijon Mustard
  • 2 tsp Honey
  • 6 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2/3 cup Organic Peas (frozen)
  • 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1/2 cup Fresh Mint
  • 1/2 cup Parsley
  • 8 oz or more Organic Feta Cheese

Directions

1. Cook penne in a pot of boiling salted water according to package directions. Add the broccoli florets and chopped zuchinni  for the last three minutes of cooking. Drain.
2. Meanwhile, combine the vinegar, mustard, honey and olive oil in a small jar with a pinch of salt and pepper. Shake well with lid on.
3. Toss the pasta and broccoli with half of the dressing in a large bowl. Stir in the peas and red pepper flakes and leave to cool.
4. Once pasta is cool, add the chopped herbs and feta. Toss with the remaining dressing, add salt and pepper to taste, and divide up among lunch boxes.



Friday, August 26, 2011

Irene & Me






Just a quick note: I'm in the path of Hurricane Irene, and it will be on my doorstep in the next 12+ hours. I'm not really concerned - I live a few hours inland, and have a well stocked house. My family and I could live happily off the grid for well over 2 weeks before we might need supplies. However - the electric company in my area is *ahem* less than optimal, and slow to react to emergencies. I might lose power for a few hours. It might be a few days.

If you come back in the coming days and see my daily tidbits haven't been updated, and I haven't posted anything new...my power is off, but I'll be back as soon as I can.


First an earthquake, now a hurricane. Next week: plague of locusts.

Of course, somebody made a takeoff of "Come On, Eileen" - Worst James Rowland impression EVER.
 





Edited to add: Well, it is Sunday - and the hurricane was a non-event for those of us in the DC area. Windy and rainy for sure - but otherwise...we never lost power. 
Back to your regularly scheduled Clean programming...

Which is Worse? Fast Food Breakfasts Go Head To Head

The same people who brought us the "Which Food Has More Sugar?" Quiz  have a new food comparison quiz up:
Which Is Worse? Battle of the Fast Food Breakfasts


I'm not saying EITHER choice is Clean - but recognizing what is a better food choice is vital when eating Cleanly. Being a Clean is deciding in real world situations ( where you don't have Clean foods with you ) "What is the right choice? Which is the lesser of 2 evils?"

Can you make the right decision?

Burger King Bacon Egg Biscuit, or their French Toast Sticks?




McDonald's Breakfast Burrito or Sausage McGriddle?

 

 

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Paleo Friendly Cauliflower "Rice"

When I Stumbled upon this recipe for rice made from cauliflower,  I just stared at the monitor with a little disbelief. What an AMAZING idea. It looks just like white rice! Paleo friendly "rice", too!




Cauliflower Rice

This is the basic preparation for transforming cauliflower florets into a rice alternative – season as you would any rice dish.


1 head cauliflower
1 tablespoon butter of coconut oil
1 shallot or onion finely chopped (optional)
Sea salt and pepper to taste


1. Coarsely chop and wash cauliflower florets.
2. Pulse cauliflower in a food processor until it resembles rice grains.
3. Heat the butter or oil in a wide skillet and and saute onions if using. Add the cauliflower “rice” and saute until softened – do not overcook.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Some optional variations;
Curried cauliflower rice – add 1 tablespoon turmeric or curry powder.
Herbed Rice – Add 1/4 cup of chopped fresh parsely, cilantro, mint or other herbs.
Chinese “Fried Rice” – add 2 eggs to the middle of the pan with the cauliflower and stir until the eggs start to cook. Begin incorporating it with the rest of the cauliflower until cooked. Season with naturally fermented soy sauce and green onions.
Rice salad – mix in chopped cucumbers and tomatoes and season with an oil and vinegar dressing.



Thank you, Real Food Digest! - Color me impressed!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Rethink Dinner - Have an Omelette!




A facet of Clean Eating is recognizing that your body is a machine - a machine that requires premium, high grade fuel in order to function properly.

Processed foods filled with man made chemicals, preservatives, and fat/calories/sodium? Low quality food.

Unprocessed, unadulterated foods with vitamins, minerals - as close to how they naturally occur? High quality food.


Your body doesn't care if it is 8 am or 6 pm. It wants healthy food, period. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are man made parameters as to what is acceptable to eat at certain times of the day - but you body wants what it wants: healthy food, no matter the time.

Eliminate the concept of "dinner" from your vocabulary. Have an omelette for your late meal. Stuff it with veggies, lean meats, fish, a sprinkle of organic cheese.

You can have omelettes on the table in just a few minutes, making you and your family a nutritious, filling, and Clean meal with little effort. Serve with a side vegetable and perhaps a salad, and you've got a lovely meal. 

If you have been "omelette deficient" in the past because perhaps you've never made one at home, check out this video to walk you through the steps to a perfect omelette. It is actually very easy once you get the hang of it! I searched multiple youtube videos, and I think Jamie Oliver explains it well.




Try out a few other recipes, too!

Allrecipes.com - Chili bean Cheese Omelette

Cheffresco.com: Shrimp Avocado Omelette

Allrecipes.com - Mushroom Spinach Omelette

Prevention.com : Vegetable Omelette




Tuesday, August 23, 2011

What is Agave Nectar?

     Agave nectar is often promoted as a Clean alternative to sugar products and is mentioned in Clean recipes as well - but what is it? What does it taste like? Where can I buy it? And most importantly - what is it best used in?




Like maple syrup, agave nectar is the concentrated sap of a plant : the agave plant ( which looks a little like an aloe plant ) When the agave has grown to 7-10 years old, the leaves of the plant are cut off, revealing the core of the plant (called the "pina"). When harvested, the pina resembles a giant pineapple and can weigh in at 50 to 150 pounds.

To make the agave nectar, sap is extracted from the pina, filtered, and heated at a low temperature, which breaks down the carbohydrates into sugars. Lighter and darker varieties of agave nectar are made from the same plants. Because of the low temperatures used in processing many varieties (under 118°F) raw foods enthusiasts generally regard agave nectar as a raw food.


The taste of agave nectar is comparable, though not identical, to honey. Many people who do not like the taste of honey find agave a more palatable choice. It also has none of the bitter aftertaste associated with artificial sweeteners.

Most brands offer two types: a light and a dark. The lighter syrups undergo less heating and a more thorough filtration to produce a more mildly flavored product that is neutral enough to be used in many culinary applications. The darker syrups are filtered less, and the solids left in the syrup make for a stronger nectar with a flavor sometimes compared to maple syrup.

Some people feel that agave nectar is a harmful sugar - just as processed as high fructose corn syrup. I feel that agave nectar, like honey and stevia - have a place on the Clean table. Nobody is telling you to drink nectar directly from the bottle. But a teaspoon in your tea is lovely, and as a substitute for sugar in baked goods? Agave nectar works great. 

Agave nectar is now more widely available than it used to be. You can find it in the organic section of most grocery stores, and sometimes in the baking section right along side sugars and honeys. 


What do you think of agave nectar?

Monday, August 22, 2011

3 Secrets To Making Clean Eating A Lifestyle, Not a Short Term Change

One of the ways people who are most successful with Clean Eating stay on path is to have the mindset that they aren't on a diet - they have changed their nutritional intake and this change is now a function of their lifestyle. If you view Clean Eating as a temporary change, you will have a hard time succeeding. Thinking "Well, I won't eat that Pop*Tart now, but I'll be eating that in 6 weeks" will make it difficult to avoid temptations and challenges to your new life without processed foods. Embrace it fully. You'll have the most success.



Here are 3 sound tips to making Clean Eating a lifestyle change:

1. Diversify your diet and include all foods. A balanced meal is one consisting of carbohydrates, protein and fats (yes, fat!). Carbohydrates provide quick energy, protein builds muscle, and fat sustains energy for up to four hours. You can’t lead an active lifestyle without fuel. Eating meals and snacks that contain carbohydrates, protein and fat is the best way to feel satisfied and have sustained energy.

Start by including foods from all of the food groups in your diet, such as low-fat milk and dairy products, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats like seafood, beans, eggs and nuts to create balanced meals. Aim to have at least three food groups represented in each snack or meal, and the variety will ensure you get the energy, vitamins and minerals you need.

2. Customize and individualize your diet. Incorporate your personal values into your food choices, and set realistic goals that you know you can accomplish. Don't force yourself to eat certain foods that you know you dislike, just because they are healthy. Don't like tomatoes? Don't eat them. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to healthy eating. You are unique and therefore your diet approach should be as well. Is it important for you to buy local food? Are cost and convenience your priorities? Do your cultural traditions take precedence? Consider all of these factors as you take small steps toward your healthy eating goals.

3. Enjoy what you eat. How do you balance weight management with “enjoying” food? Taste, flavor, satiety and pleasure are all important parts of eating, and these factors should be a part of your healthy eating plan. With some savvy meal planning and preparation, you can balance your diet across all five food groups and still include some of those “indulgences” without feeling guilty.Being prepared is a key. You will enjoy Clean Eating much more if you have foods at hand that are acceptable, rather than scrambling at the last minute for something to eat!

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Persistance


The kanji above read "Persistance" - but other interpretations of this can be Endurance, Inner strength, Strength of Heart, and sometimes - Courage.

See the top image - the little swoop with the two dots in it? It mimics the heart. It is meant to draw the human heart into the word's meaning - to imply that inner strength, persistance...comes from an inner resource...your heart.

This word is so important to me, I carry it on my flesh. A reminder that through my strength of heart, I can accomplish anything. I can persist. I can endure.

It has come to my attention that for some, the change to Clean Eating is hard. Removing processed foods, and steering clear of temptations is a daily struggle.

I say to you - Persist. Endure. Make every day a challenge to keep processed foods away.


The only journey is the journey within. - Rainer Maria Rilke
Continuous effort is the key to unlocking our potential. - Winston Churchill
Fall seven times, stand up eight. - Japanese Proverb
It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer. - Albert Einstein
Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another. - Walter Elliott
Don’t be discouraged. It’s often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock. - Author Unknown
If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking. - Buddhist Saying
Keep on going, and the chances are that you will stumble on something, perhaps when you are least expecting it. I never heard of anyone ever stumbling on something sitting down. - Charles F. Kettering
Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second. - William James
Difficult things take a long time, impossible things a little longer. - Author Unknown
Don’t let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use. - Earl Nightingale
Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity. - Louis Pasteur
If you are going through hell, keep going. - Winston Churchill
Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go. - William Feather
Paralyze resistance with persistence. - Woody Hayes
All right Mister, let me tell you what winning means… you’re willing to go longer, work harder, give more than anyone else. - Vincent Lombardi
Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. - Thomas Edison
Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did. - Newt Gingrich
How long should you try? Until. - Jim Rohn
Our greatest glory lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. - Author Unknown
You can’t let go and still win. - Author Unknown
It is perseverance which distinguishes the strong from the weak. - Author Unknown

Friday, August 19, 2011

MASSIVE Ground Turkey Recall - Got Some of These Brands in Your Freezer?


From thedailygreen.com




Months after illnesses were first reported, and days after the Department of Agriculture first issued an alert about salmonella contamination in ground turkey, Cargill has initiated one of the largest meat recalls in U.S. history.

Cargill is recalling 36 million pounds of ground turkey produced since February, though by now much of it would have been consumed. It's unclear how much meat is still on the market. Cargill is a $108 billion global food, farming, financial and industrial company, and through its subsidiaries it is one of the largest producers of beef and turkey products in the U.S.

The USDA has identified 79 people from 26 states made ill by exposure to Salmonella Heidelberg, a multi-antibiotic resistant strain of bacteria traced to a Cargill plant. One person has died, and officials believe the actual number of people made ill is much larger than the reported cases. Illnesses began to appear in March, but the USDA only warned consumers about the outbreak on July 29.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a growing concern, in great part because the meat industry routinely doses livestock with antibiotics in order to prevent disease on crowded, unhealthy feed lots. It's one of the chief concerns expressed, repeatedly, by food and environmental advocates who criticize the "industrial" food system. Whether or not this particular strain of salmonella originated because of feedlot conditions is unknown.

The New York Times reported:
Federal data shows that 10 to 15 percent of ground turkey typically is contaminated with salmonella. Federal data from tests in 2009 also showed that more than three-quarters of salmonella samples found on ground turkey was resistant to at least one type of antibiotic.
Those who thoroughly cooked the meat, and properly washed up after preparing food, are unlikely to have become ill, since cooking ground turkey to at least 165-degrees and washing hands and utensils with soapy water for 20 seconds is typically enough to kill the bacteria and prevent infection.

The ground turkey recall includes the following products with the establishment number "P-963" inside the USDA mark of inspection, with use or freeze-by dates of Feb. 2, 2011 through Aug. 23, 2011:
  • 10 lb. chubs of Honeysuckle White Fresh Natural Lean Ground Turkey with Natural Flavorings
  • 10 lb. chubs of Unbranded Ground Turkey w/ Natural Flavoring 2 Pack
  • 80 oz. (5 lbs.) chubs of Riverside Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring
  • 10 lb. chubs of Natural Lean Ground Turkey with Natural Flavorings
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Fresh Lean HEB Ground Turkey 93/7
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Fresh HEB Ground Turkey 85/15
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White 93/7 Fresh Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring
  • 4-1 Pound Packages of Honeysuckle White Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring Value Pack
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Fresh Ground Turkey
  • 48 oz. (3 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Fresh Ground Turkey
  • 19.2 oz. (1.2 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey
  • 19.2 oz. (1.2 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White Taco Seasoned Ground Turkey Colored with Paprika
  • 19.2 oz. (1 lb. 3.2 oz.) trays of Kroger Ground Turkey Fresh 85/15
  • 48.0 oz. (3 lb.) trays of Kroger Ground Turkey Fresh 85/15
  • 20 oz. (1.25 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey
  • 48.0 oz. (3 lbs.) trays of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey Family Pack
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey
  • 19.2 oz. (1.2 lbs.) trays of Honeysuckle White Seasoned Italian Style Ground Turkey with Natural Flavorings
  • 20 oz. (1 lb. 4 oz.) trays of Safeway Fresh Ground Turkey with Natural Flavorings
  • 19.2 oz. (1.20 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 93/7 Lean Ground Turkey
  • 48 oz. (3.0 lbs.) trays of Honeysuckle White 93/7 Lean Ground Turkey Family Pack
  • 19.2 oz. (1.2 lb.) trays of Fit & Active Lean Ground Turkey 93/07
  • 19.2 oz. (1.2 lbs.) trays of Giant Eagle Ground Turkey Fresh & Premium Lean
  • 19.2 oz. (1 lb 3.2 oz.) trays of Kroger Ground Turkey Fresh Lean 93/7
  • 20 oz. (1.25 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 93/7 Lean Ground Turkey
  • 16.0 oz. (1 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White Ground Turkey Patties with "Use by" or "Freeze by" dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) trays of Kroger Ground Seasoned Turkey Patties Fresh 85/15, with "Use by" or "Freeze by" dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11
  • 16.0 oz. (1 lb.) trays of Shady Brook Farms Ground Turkey Burgers with Natural Flavoring with the following "Use by" or "Freeze by" dates: 07/09/11, 07/10/11, 07/11/11, 07/15/11, 07/16/11, 07/21/11, 07/22/11, 07/24/11, 08/01/11, or 08/04/11
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Spartan Ground Turkey
  • 48 oz. (3 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey
  • 40 lb. Bulk Packed Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring for Food Service Use Only
  •  





This is more an FYI than anything else. If you cook your ground turkey thoroughly and make sure to use good kitchen habits ( like not contaminating things with raw turkey, washing hands, washing cutting boards in the dishwasher... ) you are fine. 
But if you have any of the brands above in your fridge or freezer...do not eat.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Ian's Whole Wheat Panko Bread Crumbs



I never thought a lot about bread crumbs until I started Clean Eating. It's bread. Little pieces of bread. I didn't even contemplate what kind of bread it could be - just...it's bread bits. 

Now, I know better. Now, I look, investigate, question. 

I've been looking for a Clean substitute for breadcrumbs for a while now. I add them to meatloaf and meatballs, and as a coating for baked foods like chicken tenders, etc. 

I used to use Progresso bread crumbs. Ingredients? 40. 



Gross! I can't believe they'd stick that much...stuff...in plain old breadcrumbs. I see 4 sugar ingredients and partially hydrogenated oil. Ugh.

When I found Ian's bread crumb products, I was very very pleased. Ingredients? Just 4 in the whole wheat plain bread crumbs.



 They also sell an Italian flavor that has 9 ingredients



I found Ian's at my normal grocery store, but in the "organic and gluten free" area of the store. I find myself in that aisle more and more often...



Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Greek Yogurt Review, Part V

I'm not a big fan of Activia yogurts. Owned by Dannon, they've made some pretty aggressive marketing claims about their yogurts and lost a $45 million dollar lawsuit against them for false advertising concerning the digestive benefits of Activia and DanActive ( you might have noticed Jamie Lee Curtis no longer talks about regulating your bowels in those commercials - they can't say that anymore! ) But mainly, Activia yogurts are not Clean due to the excessive sugars added to their yogurts.

So, not missing a beat, Activia now has a Greek yogurt in their lineup. In the interests of being fair, I bought a cup of the vanilla flavor and brought it home- knowing full well, it isn't Clean and I wouldn't be recommending it for Clean Eating.



Ingredients: Cultured Grade A nonfat milk, water, sugar, fructose, milk protein concentrate, modified corn starch, contains less than 1% of: maltodextrin, modified food starch, natural vanilla flavor, malic acid, potassium sorbate ( to maintain freshness ) sodium citrate, Vitamin D3, natural flavors

Why do they have to put so much junk in their yogurt?? Why the added sugar? Other companies make yogurt just fine and dandy with 3 or 4 ingredients...

The nutrition label was a bit much, too.
Calories in 6 oz? 190
Sodium : 135 mg
Potassium: 450 mg ( this, however, is very good for a yogurt! )
Total carbs: 34 grams
Sugars: 29 grams ( ugh! That is one of the highest on the market for a 6 oz serving! )

I ate it, knowing I had been good earlier in the day, and would be "good" that night as well. It was creamy, but without that distinctive Greek yogurt tang we've come to expect ( Probably a 1 out of 5 on the tangy scale ). Like Greek yogurt one step down from "with training wheels on it" - it was that far removed from the Greek yogurts we've come to expect on the market today.  I found it overly sweet, and a little odd mouth feel at the end which wasn't gritty - but it detracted from the creaminess of the yogurt.

Activia Greek yogurt is just their attempt to jump on the Greek bandwagon with a product that is more sugary pudding than anything else.

Skip it. Unclean, and you deserve better. And shame on Jamie Lee Curtis for promoting such unhealthy carp.