STYLE of SPORT | Gear & Apparel Curated for the Stylish Sports Enthusiast

As winter starts to thaw, we put away the puffers, and peel off the layers, many of us have a spring awakening by what’s left underneath. The body is not as toned as we’d like, and there is a spring realization that it’s time for a spring cleaning. The search begins for a quick fix: a restrictive diet, cutting out a food group, intermittent fasting, a juice cleanse – something radical to lose that winter weight fast. But what if the answer was a back-to-basics approach of 3 balanced meals a day, real food, and eating more, not less?

Robin Barrie Kaiden MS, RD, CDN, CSSD, one of the nation’s leading experts in wellness, nutrition, and fitness, and frequent contributor to CBS, NBC, ABC, Parenting, and Forbes.com, among other media outlets, says of her 2-week Reset program, “It’s not a strict diet where you lose a pound only to gain three the next week. I want to teach people lifelong healthy habits to take with them going forward. The only way to lose weight and keep it off is to change your habits.”

Kaiden is a graduate of Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences and an Exercise Science minor. She has a Master of Science Degree from Columbia University as well. Her post graduate work was at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, studying nutrition and dietetics at the hospital level. Read More

CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: KETTLE BRAND AVOCADO OIL POTATO CHIPS; SIETE CORN CHIPS; CASE SANCHEZ REAL GUACAMOLE; PRIMAL KITCHEN BUFFALO RANCH DIP

 
With just hours to go until Superbowl kickoff, time to load up on your favorite snacks for the game. No need to sabotage your healthy eating with all the tasty alternative chips and dips available at most grocery and convenience stores.

Robin Barrie Kaiden MS, RD, CDN, CSSD, one of the nation’s leading experts in personal wellness and nutrition, recommends crunchy snacks like organic popcorn, chips, and nuts cooked in olive or avocado oil. Avoid refined vegetable oils like corn oil, sunflower oil, and safflower oil.

Says Kaiden, “I love Kettle Brand Chips made with avocado oil. For tortilla-style chips, my favorite are Siete. They are grain free made only with cassava flour, avocado oil, coconut flour, chia seeds and salt!” Read More

It’s late at night or you’re stuck someplace… in a waiting room, at the office, in between classes. You’re hungry, a bit peckish, or maybe just bored. There’s a vending machine down the hall. It’s filled with chips, candy, cookies, and other snacks. You’d like to at least try to be healthy and are wondering what to have. Popcorn? Trail Mix? Pretzels?

The good news is most vending machines have much healthier snacks than they used to. You can generally find Skinny Pop, Sun Chips, Kindbars, and other more nutritional offerings. We asked our go-to nutrition expert Sarah Wragge what are the smart food choices when the vending machine is the only option. Here’s our guide to what to eat and what not to eat before you make your selection.

GOOD CHOICES

Sarah’s overall rule of thumb is: “If you are peckish or bored, push through. There is a time to feast, and a time to famine! Keep those insulin levels low and power through until your next meal to tap into your body’s fat stores.” BUT… if you are really hungry, and the vending machine is all there is: Read More

 
If there’s one food many sports enthusiasts try to avoid, it’s likely junk food. According to a study done by Kent State University researchers, it’s not so much for the nutritional value, but more the guilt associated with eating these foods. In fact, the study shows that one’s knowledge of the unhealthiness of fast food is not enough to stop people from eating their favorite burgers, pizza, or fries. Rather, it’s the guilt about fast food consumption that urges one to stop eating their favorite meals. But what if junk foods can actually be beneficial for your sports performance?

Junk Food Consumption for Sports Enthusiasts

Let’s be clear, junk foods are unhealthy when consumed on a regular basis. However, Lars Nybo of the University of Copenhagen shares that athletes and fitness enthusiasts might benefit from eating junk food, depending on their discipline. Nybo points out that athletes must combine the right diet with their training, which is why some athletes need to load up on carbs during the final 48 hours before an event, while sprinters or shot putters can get away with eating junk food for breakfast. Read More

 
Reese’s or Justin’s… m&m’s or Unreal… the original or “healthy” brand… which one is really better for you? When it comes to candy what you think might be the healthier treat could be a trick. We consulted with our go-to nutrition and wellness expert Sarah Wragge to find out which is really the healthier version of the most popular candy and chocolate bars this Halloween.

PEANUT BUTTER CUPS (2 per serving)

If you stick with the Organic Dark, Sarah says that Reese’s is actually better on the ingredient list than Justin’s. While they have relatively similar ingredients, the soy lecithin in Justin’s, even though it is organic, is an ingredient you might want to avoid. Soy is a common allergen for many people. Lecithin is a food additive generally used as an emulsifier or lubricant, the processing of which involves chemical solvents. Read More