"eatingwell" news and stories

Chicken sausages are lower in fat and calories than most pork or beef sausages, but they aren't known for having as much flavor as the two meatier varieties. This isn't to say that they're bad, just that they tend not to be as crave-inducing as their counterparts. But because some chicken sausages aren't all that satisfying doesn't mean that none are. EatingWell magazine set out, in their most recent issue, to do a taste test of 27 different varieties of chicken sausages to find out which ones were the most worth-eating, both when it came to flavor and health.

After an exhaustive and filling trial, EW's tasting panel narrowed the field down to eight top picks from five manufacturers. They all had approximately half the calories and one third of the fat of the average pork sausage, but were still very tasty. The winners included:

• Al Fresco: Buffalo Style, Sweet Italian Style, and Teriyaki Ginger
• Applegate Farms: Chicken & Apple
• Bilinski's: Mild Italian Style; Spinach & Garlic
• Casual Gourmet: Tomato, Basil & Mozzarella
• Coleman Natural: Cilantro

EatingWell magazine ran a feature article about Niman Ranch, which works with a network of family farmers that adhere to strict standards to produce high quality beef, pork and lamb. Their guidelines include treating animals humanely, feeding them all-natural feeds, and allowing them to mature naturally, rather than in an unnatural, forced way. Niman Ranch is often regarded as an excellent example of a company that goes above and beyond the bare minimum standards set by the USDA for "natural" meat production. In addition to Niman Ranch, EatingWell included a list of other companies that pride themselves on the quality of their meats and the treatment of the animals in their care. Check out their whole list for more information on the individual companies, but the brands whose cuts made the cut are:

• Coleman Natural Foods
• Dakota Beef 
• Laura's Lean Beef
• Maverick Ranch Natural Meats
• Niman Ranch 
• U.S. Wellness Meats 

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Whether you like them or not, there is no escaping the fact that natural peanut butters are healthier than their more processed counterparts because they contain no trans-fats. It can be hard to decide on a brand when you have reached for the same Skippy or Jif brands for so many years. EatingWell magazine took the time to review several brands and the health-conscious taste testers - ranging from a toddler to an attorney - picked their favorites:

• Nut ‘N Better Organic: Creamy - Smooth and silky, this peanut butter is sold under the Safeway Organics "O" brand.
• Smucker’s Natural: Creamy - With a very peanutty flavor, this brand was named "the crunchy-lover's smooth" and can be found in most grocery stores.

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Snack bars are the new granola bars. This isn’t really a news flash, but I certainly never thought of them this way. They were, by and large, previously marketed as energy bars, designed to deliver an extra dose of calories to hard-working athletes or as meal replacements for busy people. Many people don’t use these as meal replacements, though, and eat two or three a day as snacks, hence the new "snack bar" designation. Though most of the bars have 200-250 calories and less than 6 grams of fat, some can have more than 10 grams of fat and over 300 calories. Eating two or three of these adds up – and quickly.

This month, EatingWell magazine rounded up some of the best snack bar options, based on the following criteria: 225 calories or less and less than 3 grams of saturated fat, as well as at least 5 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber. The goal was to find something worth eating nutritionally as a snack and was filling enough to hold you over until your next meal.