Kristen’s Healthy Living Journey

by Cascade Ice on March 9, 2011

The Flavorful Life is featuring several “healthy living journey” stories from Cascade Ice fans around the country, where guest bloggers tell us their thoughts on how they face challenges and come up with new ideas to pursue better health and fitness lifestyles. The following is a post from Kristen Morgan of Port Orchard, WA.  

It was many months ago I decided to kick the soda habit, only I didn’t.  My friend and I had decided we wanted to be healthier, drop a few pounds and I knew my soda habit was a little out of control, considering it was about the only thing I ever drank.  I tried several other flavored waters and water mix-in packets.  They were either too sweet or left a weird after-taste.  But while at the local Puyallup Fair last year, a booth caught my eye.  The very nice girls at the booth let us try several different flavors before purchasing a refreshing drink.  And so, my love affair with Cascade Ice began.

It wasn’t until several months later, just after the New Year, that I saw them in the grocery store and decided to buy some more and give my New Year’s resolution a fighting chance.  They were on sale for a $1 each so I grabbed a few.  It wasn’t until a few days later I reread the label and realized there were only 2 calories and no sugar. 

I am now hoping Cascade Ice Waters will be able to help me kick this soda habit and drop those few pounds I am looking to lose.  I know I am going to have fun trying all the flavos and kicking sodas to the curb once and for all!

Healthy Recipe: Fruit Pizza

by Cascade Ice on March 7, 2011

When you think of pizza, you think of cheese, meat, lots of sauce and maybe some veggies tossed on top. It is an American favorite but it isn’t always the healthiest option. Research published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association explains that around 40 percent of children’s total calorie consumption came from sugar additives and solid fat. Six foods resulted in 50 percent of the total empty calories and pizza and soda were at the top of the list. Since pizza is such a family favorite, but isn’t always so good to our waistlines, we wanted to share a different, healthier take on pizza that is not only tasty, but can be a fun, at-home kitchen project with the kids!

Ingrendients:

• 1 premade crust (pastry crust or low-fat sugar cookie dough)
• 8 ounces softened low-fat cream cheese
• 1/2 cup confectioners sugar*
• 2 cup sugar-free cool whip
• Fruit of your choice

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Flatten the dough onto a 6″ pizza sheet and bake until firm to touch, about 11 to 15 minutes. In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese, sugar and cool whip. Spread the crust with the cream cheese mixture and decorate with sliced fruit.

Enjoy!

*If you’d like to make a sugar-free version using sucralose, just combine 1/4 cup of sucralose and 1/4 cup of corn starch in a blender to make a confectioners sugar substitute.

Cascade Ice Organic Waters are Ashley Koff Approved!

by Cascade Ice on March 4, 2011

Registered dietician, Ashley Koff, recently featured our Cascade Ice Organic water line as an Ashley Koff Approved (AKA) stamp of quality nutrition for optimal health.

As a registered dietitian, Ashley is committed to helping consumers, healthcare practitioners, and the media easily identify products that can contribute to a healthy lifestyle.  The AKA stamp means “Yes, you can” and “Yes, you should.” Ashley is also the consulting dietician on the CW’s new show, “Shedding for the Wedding.”

To check out Cascade Ice Organic Sparkling water on the AKA list, visit www.ashleykoffapproved.com under “Ashley Koff Approved.” 

Addicted to Sugar? Really?

by Cascade Ice on February 22, 2011

Could you be addicted to sugar? A recent article that includes a Q&A with Dr. Naomi Stotland (who leads an obesity research group) suggests that factors like stress can cause people to choose sugary, high-fat foods. For some people, savory food like french fries or pizza is their weakness, but for most women in particular, its sugar.  Stotland says that women are driven to eat sweet food because it makes them feel good, stimulating the part of the brain that feels pleasure.

Stotland even goes so far as to say that people can become addicted to sugar, just like cigarettes, drugs and alcohol. Certain people experience high-fat, sweet foods, as a mind-altering substance that affects how they feel.

Her word of advice to combat sweet cravings? Avoid having foods and drinks at home and work that you will be tempted with. You can also switch out full-sugar versions of certain products with sugar-free versions.