Yep. Greediness is back in style. You can eat 16 camels, horses,
donkeys, elephants, and other wild animal (crackers) for the low, low
cost of 120 calories. No sneaking required. No guilt necessary.

Go ahead and smack your sweet tooth into submission the smart way. 

Animal Cracker Notes

• Calories: 120 for 16 cookies
• Fat Calories: 15
• Total Fat: 2g
• Sodium: 105mg
• Carbs: 24g
• Fiber: Less than 1g
• Sugars: 7g
• Protein: 2g

I compared several different brands of animal crackers like the ones in
the picture and the nutrition facts were the same. But Beware! This
does not apply to Barnum's Animal Crackers. That brand has about 140
calories and 36 fat calories for 10 cookies. Check the label on your
animal.

Welcome, animal crackers! You just made the Healthy
Snacks Cheat Sheet. But why do you call yourself crackers? You're a
cookie, for goodness sake.

You know the drill. I eat food, then I talk about it. So today I hooked up with the Fat Man (who's workin' on slim) to share the scoop on Subway's new Tuscan Chicken Melt. Go check out my Taste Test on FatManUnleased.com.  

Who cares if sugar is the main ingredient in Entenmann’s Multi-Grain Chocolate Chip Cereal Bars. It’s also made with natural stuff like whole grains, cocoa, vanilla, water, and eggs, so it’s gotta be good for you, right?  I can either savor the indulgence of grazing on this soft & chewy cereal bar with its chocolate chips and cakey cookie texture, or I can freak out over the sugar situation and eat an apple
instead.

But wait! I already ate an apple today….and a fruit-packed smoothie before that….and it’s chicken breast with brown rice & veggies for dinner, so it’s okay if I break for this 130 calorie sweet & tasty treat. You can do the same, but if your calorie consumption is through the roof just stop right here and go for a power walk. Okay?

There are obviously better, more nutritiously-packed cereal bars I could be toting to work or feeding my greedy kids, and I actually do. Quaker Chewy, Fiber One, and Nature Valley Granola Bars all keep permanent residence in my cupboard, but I was enticed by Entenmann’s multi-grain claim and I’m loving sweet taste, moist & chewy bite, plus all the chocolate chips. They’re a great, once in awhile snack to satisfy your sweet tooth without the threat of sabotaging all your hard work at the gym.

Warning! Only take one cereal bar and put the box away. These are very addictive and will train wreck your healthy efforts if you can’t eat just one.

Cereal Bar Notes

• Price Paid: $1.99 for 8-count box
• Calories: 130*
• Fat Calories: 45
• Total Fat: 5g
• Sodium: 100mg
• Carbs: 22g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugars: 12g
• Protein: 1g

*Nutrition label lists 130 calories, but Entenmann’s website lists 150 calories. Who knows?

Entenmann’s Mulit-Grain Cereal Bars also come in Apple Cinnamon and Strawberry varieties, so pick your poison and eat yourself some healthy junk food. I did.

Reactions from the Taste Test Crew

Health-hater Husband: “Why would I want that crap. Get it away from me.”

Four Greedy Kids: No official comments, but they held a wrestling match for the last cereal bar. Enough said.

Yum Up! to: Sugary cereal bars disguised as healthy food.

Yuck Down! to: The temptation to eat more than one. If you’re still developing your discipline, don’t even buy it.

View the complete Taste Test Directory and Fast Food Cheat Sheets.

I'm not going to lead into this with a bunch of wordy introduction. In short, some people are idiots and other situations are really weird. Just read the news…..

Woman Can't Breastfeed Around Pool

Nope, this is not about her pulling out her milky boob in public to the outrage of standers-by. She was banned because no food or drink is allowed in the pool area. Full Story.

Men Steal Cow

No big deal you say? What if they stole it because they are unemployed and hungry. The cow was shot with an arrow and roasted. Full Story.

Inmates Forced to Grown Own Food

Tough economic times are hitting the Ohio prison system. Pancakes are banned from the menu to cut costs. As a concession, the "good inmates" are allowed to work the land and grow their own food. Stupid? No. But it does change the meaning of doing "thyme".  Full Story.  

Office Workers Cleanout Refrigerator

Not a big deal unless the fridge has been unplugged. The rotten food was so hazardous that 911 had to be called. A HAZMAT team was sent to the AT&T building in San Jose. The site was evacuated and seven people hospitalized. But what about the woman who actually cleaned out the fridge? She has allergies. She couldn't smell anything. Full Story. 

Photo credit: altemark

 

I work in the city and travel through the rough part of town to take a
shortcut to the highway home. I took this picture when I stopped at a
red light. The very first time I saw a man in this condition on a
street corner I called 911. I thought he was dead. It turns out
that people like this are just unconscious from sippin' on way too much
of the alcoholic beverage, ya know?

The
man in the picture is a reminder that anything I consider good and
enjoyable can go overboard and spiral out of control if I don't
practice moderation and maintain balance in my life. I've never
researched the whole psychology behind why people overindulge and lose
sight of what's important, but I don't want to become that person.

This
is a quiet week at Yum Yucky because I felt compelled to spend more
time with my husband and children. We're not really doing anything new
or special, just hanging out and enjoying one another's company.
This is how memories are made.

(I also have a big 'ole pile of laundry to catch up on, but don't tell anyone. Okay?)

Have
you taken inventory of your life lately? Is there an overindulged
situation going on that's caused you to lose focus of your priorities,
or is everything peachy keen? Assess your situation often to keep your
life in balance.