Smart Dine™

Channel 2 investigates health food meals

Sharon — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 16:52:06 +0000

Finally, a story or investigation on truth and labeling. For the last several years, I have wanted to see this as this was so important to me when I owned and operated Smart Meals®. Many of you know, we were one of the few if not the only “healthy take out” food company which did test it’s food to ensure accuracy. We used an outside laboratory, Silliker Labs in Chicago and spot checked through the years to make sure our stats fell well within the acceptable range with what we provided to our customers. It was like a report card and Smart Meals® was on the honor list!

After watching this story and listening to the comments made on the information found, I was a bit disappointed. First, at the end of the day it does all average out, but if I’m spending my money on a specific item for the reason of weight loss, I do expect that item to be what it says it is or close and I do want to know that each company cares about how they derive these statistics and works hard to insure they are as accurate as possible. As a customer, I don’t want to hear excuses, after all I’m on a budget and this kind of healthy take out is not particularly cheap.

Second, for a business to state that they are not a food manufacturer and that is the reason for inaccurate labeling is unacceptable. It is not even acceptable with the Federal government. As some of you may know, restaurant chains of 20 or more are required to state the calories on their menus and also provide accurate nutritional information to their customers. There is a reason for this. Every business should strive to give their customers the very best product and service, always. As Ms. Anding stated, “In order to get it exactly right, it would always need to be a 4-ounce chicken breast. It would always need to be an exact half cup of rice.” She is absolutely correct and I can assure you it can be done because at Smart Meals®, we did it for 16 years. It’s called measuring. Each menu item was placed in a container by using a scale and measuring cup. Most Smart Meals®’ customers came to us to lose weight and buy healthy prepared, accurately portioned foods; they came to buy both food and a service. This is the core of healthy take out and in my opinion it is important.

Finally, I have tried many selections from the various healthy food retailers in Houston and most of them have been very tasty and generally I have enjoyed the food. Each has their own flare on what they provide. Personally, I do doubt the accuracy of many labels I have read, but that is due to my experience in this industry and due to my own investigative research by testing some competitors foods. This is not a new problem to some of these business’s and some customers figured this out on their own already. The bottom line is there are some great healthy take out options available, it’s up to you to do your due diligence and ask that business questions you need to feel comfortable about your purchase just as you would on any other purchase you make for yourself. You are the customer. For me, it lessens the credibility of the message and/or product when mistakes are consistently made and I would probably be more of a consistent customer if I knew there was more of an effort made in correct and accurate labeling. But, due to my experience with Smart Meals®, I am probably just more particular on this area

If weight loss is your goal, a few questions you may want to ask the retailer when shopping for your meals are:

1. What kind of turkey do you use?

2. What kind of cheese is in this?

3. What kind of beef are you using?

4. Do you follow a recipe which has been somewhat standardized?

5. How do you measure the portions you are placing in each container?

6. Have you ever or do you now analyze your foods at an outside laboratory or how do you derive your nutritional statistics on each label?

I think it’s good to know, I ask these questions and I have been asked these questioned in the past when Smart Meals® retail store was open.

Here is the link to Channel 2′s Investigative story. Enjoy!

In good health,

Sharon Reitman

Why Grass Fed Beef-Is It the Healthier Choice?

Sharon — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:48:42 +0000

I pulled this great article from another website onlygrassfed.com. which sums up a lot of the answers to questions regarding grass fed versus grain fed beef.

Taken from: “Health Benefits Of Grass Fed Beef”

It has been well documented that products from animals raised on pasture are healthier for humans. From a nutritional standpoint, grass-fed beef is so completely different than grain-fed beef that you might think the meat came from two different types of animals. In fact, 100% grass fed beef is so good for you that it is actually considered a “health food”.

One of the biggest differences between grass-fed and grain-fed beef is overall fat composition. Grass fed beef is rich in all the fats now proven to be health-enhancing, yet low in the fats that have been linked with disease. The complete opposite is true of grain fed products.

Fat Profiles Of Grass Fed Beef

Grass-fed beef is high in nutrients and contains all 22 amino acids, including the eight essential amino acids, which must be supplied in our diet.
Grass fed beef is leaner than grain-fed beef with much less saturated fat (also making it lower in calories, about 100 fewer calories per 6 ounces).

Data from J. Animal Sci 80(5):1202-11
Grass fed beef is high in Omega 3 fatty acids (60% of the fatty acids in grass are Omega-3s). However, the supply of Omega-3s drop each day that an animal spends in the feedlot.

Omega 3s Vanish In The Feedlot

Grass fed beef has the recommended 3:1 ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 fatty acids. General consensus is that a healthy diet needs to maintain a 4:1 or lower ratio of Omega 6:Omega 3. People whose diets exceed that ratio are at a higher risk for degenerative diseases such as Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer and Diabetes ( grain-fed beef can have ratios that exceed 20:1).
Grass-fed beef is a great source of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) a recently discovered good fat that helps reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, and a number of immune disorders.

Fat Ratios Key To Optimal Health

Maintaining Healthy Fat Ratios is one of the keys to maintaining optimal health.Nearly every biologic function in the human body is somehow interconnected with the delicate balance between omega 6 and omega 3 essential fatty acids. These fatty acids are considered essential nutrients critical to human health. But the human body is not capable of producing these essential nutrients, so we must get them from food.

In the United States, extensive use of vegetable oils and grain feeding of livestock have led to diets that are very high in Omega 6 and low in Omega 3 fatty acids. This fat ratio imbalance is a top contributor to the rise in degenerative diseases.

But the health benefits of grass fed beef do not stop there.

Grass-fed beef is an excellent source of Vitamin A (10 times more than grain fed), and is higher in Vitamin E (3 times more than grain fed beef).
Grass-fed beef is higher B vitamins, calcium, magnesium and potassium.

Health and Safety

Finally, when it comes to health and safety from food borne illnesses, grass fed beef is the clear winner.

Grass-fed beef is safe from Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as Mad Cow Disease (MCD).
The risk of E. coli infection is typically much lower in locally sourced grass-fed beef. The cattle are cleaner at time of slaughter and are typically processed by a skilled local butcher who takes great care to ensure the meat does not come into contact with feces. See our blog (The Daily Beef) for a more detailed comparison of E. coli risks between factory farmed beef and local, pasture raised beef.

Grass Fed Beef Scorecard

Grain Fed vs Grass Fed Beef
	Grain-Fed Beef	Grass-Fed Beef
Added Hormones	Usually	No
Fed Antibiotics	Usually	No
Fed Grain	Yes	No
Omega 6:3 Ratio	20:1	3:1
CLA (conjugate linoleic acid)	Low	High
Beta Carotene, Vitamin E & A	Low	High
Total Fat	High & Saturated	Proper Balance
E. Coli Risk (ground beef)	High	Very Low

When animals are raised in pasture where they are able to forage on their natural diet of grass, they live low stress, healthier lives. They dine on nutrient rich foods and are so healthy that there is no need to treat them with anti-biotics or other drugs. It seems like a simple concept but is somehow lost on most of us. Optimizing the welfare of the animal leads to healthier, happier animals which in turn optimizes the welfare of the people who eat them. Experience the grass fed difference and spread the word.

Springerhill Ranch Grass Fed, Natural & Lean Beef Products Here

Weight Loss or Management & Your 2012 Resolutions

Sharon — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:56:00 +0000

My Personal Weight Management, Health, Exercise and Fitness Goals:

This is a tough area for me as I tend to be an over achiever, but this year I’m going to try my best to be moderate and not set myself up for failure. My overall goal is always to maintain a certain weight/body composition which is appropriate for my height and overall body type. I like feeling strong so weight training is always a part of my plan. This year I want to try other “fun” ways of exercising. I’m dying to get over to Kicks and join the Houston Sports & Social Club and get on a kickball league. Yes, there are adult leagues where you can play like you did when you were a kid and it’s great exercise too!

Here are some of my personal 2012 fitness goals:

Goal 1: hit the gym at least 4 days a week–even if for 20 minutes to weight train at least one body part.

Goal 2: jog at least 3 days a week and incorporate other forms of cardio such as fun cardio like dancing and team sports (adult kickball league). I also want to try and have a goal of one long run on the weekend at least twice a month, something more than 6 miles up to 10–what I used to do and really have missed lately.

Goal 3: do more yoga, core and flexibility training, try for at least one class a week, but ultimate goal would be 2 per week.

Goal 4: make my own spin playlist so I can utilize a spinning bike for cardio-it’s a great workout, I just like my own music!

Goal 5: try and jog before I get on the computer in the morning at least twice a week–this is a tough one as I’m glued to my MAC.

Goal 6: “reward” myself for making the effort by treating myself to something I normally wouldn’t do such as a facial or airbrush tan or a new workout outfit (my personal favorite)–Luke’s Locker and there are several Houston locations.

Goal 7: feel confident in this gorgeous bikini I purchased last year and did not wear once! Ok, this is not a resolution but will be a great reward for all of these

Goal 8: as far as diet, I want to focus on drinking green tea every afternoon, I love the

Green Tea

Stawberry Sencha from Path of Tea.

Goal 9: make the time once a week to prepare some of my favorite healthy meals to take with me, I used to do this when I first went to Keith Klein in the late 80′s–the best fitness advice, “pack a cooler bag, be prepared!”

Goal 10: consume less sugar and I’ve already made great progress last year by swapping Merlot for relaxing tea so now I want to cut back on the simple carbs, Dr. Roxanne has great info on these benefits. I think this is a good start and definitely attainable, after all, Spring is right around the corner!

New Year’s Resolutions-Not Just For Weight Loss

Sharon — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:39:44 +0000

The holidays are over and we’re all finally here–the first week of January 2012. It’s time to take an inventory on what worked well, what didn’t, and what you’d like to accomplish in the new year ahead. To me, January represents that unique time of year when all of us seem to be on the same page for setting new goals. It can be very exciting…I know I am excited for what will be in 2012. I thought it would be helpful to share with you my goals, I hope you’ll share some of yours. They do say when you write it down it happens! I have several topics, so I have divided mine up and will blog on each separately. Today, I want to talk about career. For me, my career over the last year & a half has been in flux with lots of decisions and change. I’m 48 years old and change at this age is a bit scary but can be equally exciting

CAREER GOALS

I’m a firm believer in teamwork so I welcome your comments and suggestions, I believe together especially in this highly technological world we all live in; we can help each other reach our goals. I am amazed how much I continue to learn from people just by observing how they overcome a certain difficulties in their life. Many of us don’t realize how we affect other people in our circle and how we can influence and be of support unknowingly. I just read an article written by someone special to me who reminded me of how important it is to say “thank you” for even the smallest things we take for granted from the people in our lives. The smallest acknowledgement can mean so much to someone. This is not always easy to remember, so try and take note of those who have helped you or deserve a thank you; I am going to make that extra effort this year. Too many times I have thought this but didn’t make the time to do.

Goal 1: I want to be able to provide some of Smart Meals® famously popular items such as our SmartWraps® and make those conveniently available for you to purchase again.

Goal 2: I want to continue to consult and work with other companies who have similar goals. I want to work with others who share my work ethic of providing a product of quality and integrity.

Goal 3: I want to help you find the best choices for your unique weight loss and/or fitness goal, similar to a personal shopper would for clothing or design.

Goal 4: I want to provide a directory through Smart Dine™ of healthy menu options available in all restaurants and take out businesses so you can easily find what you want and be assured that the menu item meets your specific criteria.

Goal 5: I want to continue to work with my good friends, Dr. Roxanne Edrington, DC, CCN, Keith Klein, CCN, and Carol Lapin, RD and others who have specific areas of expertise in the health and fitness field.

Goal 6: I want to utilize my vast experience in this health, diet, fit, weight loss/management space particularly related to smart food choices and how you can benefit most from them.

Goal 7: I want to continue to challenge myself in areas I was afraid to dabble in before such as writing this blog and learning to be an effective public speaker, move outside my comfort zone.

I love the idea of working from home and consulting, this is very different than what I have done at Smart Meals® before. With the state of our economy, I know that many of you may also be questioning what you have done in the past or perhaps where you are now with your career just as I am, but if one this is crystal clear to me it is I have to do something I am passionate about and I am very passionate about this.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Sharon

Anything Is Better Than Nothing

Sharon — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:33:53 +0000

Yesterday as I left the gym, I literally had to say to myself, “Anything is better than nothing Sharon.” Due to the time change (which I really do not like,) colder weather and of course the holidays, my motivation level to get to the gym is less than good. As soon as the temperature drops below 60 degrees, I just want to wear my sweats and sit by the fireplace. Sound nuts to you? I’m from Erie, Pennsylvania, so winter is my least favorite season, I just have always loved hot, sunny weather–Houston works well for me

We all know that we feel so much better after the gym, so why is it so hard to get there?? And, really when I say the gym, this can apply to any form of exercise: walking at the park, playing tennis, or anything that requires physical activity. The gym seems to be a broad term these days with a larger meaning–that of “working out.”

So, what should you do when you are feeling unmotivated to work out?

Here are some things I do:

1. Have a packed gym bag in your car at all times with a change of clothes and a few snacks such as nuts, protein bars or protein shake so you’re not too hungry and end up going through the drive through instead.

2. Join an inexpensive gym which has several locations throughout the city you live in for convenience, sometimes it’s easy to pop in to a gym on the other side of town in between errands and get a quick workout in.

3. In your mind think of a few times in the day you could get to the gym, have a general plan in your head and a backup in case the first time doesn’t work out.

4. Find a workout friend you can meet for accountability–this will make your workouts more fun too, talking while doing cardio definitely makes the time go by faster.

5. Load your iPod with your favorite music and Podcasts, this is another great way to zone in while working out (my favorite motivator.)

6. Find a picture of someone who is fit and post in an area where you will see everyday–even a few pictures, make it fun and know that all of us have the potential to get fit regardless of how long it’s been since you worked out.

7. Buy a workout journal to track progress (add a picture in here too) or download an app for your phone.

8. This may apply to women buy a new workout outfit–Luke’s Locker is my favorite, wearing something you like, feel and look good in will definitely keep you going back for more.

9. Always, make sure if you have not exercised regularly, that you seek out your doctor’s recommendation, be safe with your plan.

10. Use the mantra, “anything is better than nothing!!” If you find that you are talking yourself out of going to the gym or jogging, say this to yourself and just start, you’ll be surprised at what you end up accomplishing.

Bottom line, “anything IS better than nothing.” Everyday you don’t make it to the gym or exercise is one more day you are further from your goal instead of closer. Your workouts will all add up even if they only last 15 minutes and you just work one muscle group. Remember, diet is 70% of it, the exercise will expedite your progress and keep your mind and body healthy, so don’t overwhelm yourself with thoughts of one hour cardio sessions and one hour weight training, instead, just get there, you’ll probably end up doing more than you think! See you at the gym

So Many Choices-Where Should You Go?

Sharon — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:41:23 +0000

“Wow! Houston today has more choices of “healthy grab and go” than ever. Retail stores offering healthy convenient meals seem to be on every corner, especially inside the Houston 610 loop. That wasn’t always the case. When I started working in the healthy food industry more than seventeen years ago there were just a few places to go for healthy eating, like Diet Gourmet, Lean Meals, and the company I founded, Smart Meals®. However, beginning with the opening of My Fit Foods in 2004 everything changed. My Fit Foods experienced remarkable growth in Houston, and then aggressively expanded into Dallas, Austin and San Antonio. Like moths to a flame, the huge success of My Fit Foods has attracted many others with their own unique take on the large, but still growing “healthy grab and go” scene. Personally, I think it’s great that there are so many healthy eating options today. It has never been easier to find healthy food choices if one has the time to wade through the variety of options out there today. That is where I think I might be able to help.

Given my experience as a founder of Smart Meals®, I obviously watched the market expand with great interest. However, now that I no longer work on the retail side of the business, I find myself in the same position as many of my former customers who still contact me for advice. So, to all of my old friends and new ones I hope to make, here are a few quick ideas and recommendations I think might help make the choices a little less daunting.

First and foremost, it is important to find healthy foods that work for your specific needs and goals. For example, convenience may often be as important as the nutritional content of the food for some people. There is nothing wrong with that, as we all live in the real world, I would prefer you to make a good choice of food that works for your lifestyle, rather than a more extreme choice that you might not actually eat. Along the same lines, one of the key issues with convenience involves whether you freeze your food or not. If you do, don’t worry. There are many businesses selling properly prepared, healthy convenient meals which you can either transfer to packaging more suited for freezing or freeze as is. Again, this is personal preference. And, if convenience is your thing, be sure to try online retailers who will package or ship frozen food directly to your door.

I know many of you are, or soon will be intensely focused on dieting and losing weight. If that is most important to you now, I suggest that you ask each business how it derived the nutritional stats on its labels for calories, fat, carbs and the overall nutritional make up. Is their food analyzed by an outside, independent laboratory? Are they USDA certified? Is there food supervised by a Registered Dietitian or Clinical Nutritionist? These are great questions to start, so don’t be afraid to ask, after all, you are spending your grocery money on these foods and should expect a high standard of quality. These prepared meals should meet a certain level of reliability and consistency. I know that is what I expect.

With all that said, I think we will begin to see more regulation as to the reliability and validity of label information in the next couple of years, in part due to the 2012 Federal Mandate requiring restaurant chains to provide nutritional information for their customers. In the meantime, try a few meals from each of these businesses, you may find that eating healthy is easier and more convenient than ever.

I look forward to your comments, questions and suggestions. You can post a reply or drop a comment on our Facebook page, Smart Dine.

In Good Health,

Sharon Reitman

*picture taken from TruMeals in Houston, they have two locations and their food is delicious!

Gluten Free-Just Another Fad?

Sharon — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 02:24:03 +0000

I asked my good friend Carol Lapin, MS, CSSD, RD, LD from CSL Nutrition Services, what all the rage was with gluten free. It seems that several of the health food grab and go stores are moving away from whole grains and moving towards products which are gluten free. I’m not so sure that the majority of us really need to focus on gluten free honestly, it’s all a bit confusing Here is a little insight from Carol in case you are wondering the same thing.

Gluten-Free without Celiac Disease?
Life becomes wonderful again, when an individual suffering with Celiac Disease gets the correct diagnosis. Avoiding gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley) will heal the damaged intestine and make eating enjoyable again. The diagnosis can be difficult to make. A biopsy of the small intestine confirms the autoimmune disease.

Within the last year, I have been approached by a number of people telling me they want to go on a “gluten free” diet. When asked why, the answer often is because ‘I heard it was healthier’ and not because they have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease.

For some reason, alternative medicine practitioners have targeted gluten as a bad guy causing all sorts of health problems. Some folks, without Celiac Disease, claim they have lost weight and fell healthier because they are buying “gluten free” products. I would like to propose a couple of reasons for these health benefits that have nothing to do with gluten. If you are paying attention to your diet and reading food labels to find healthy products, you may lose weight and eat healthier. There are a number of refined wheat based products that have been processed and crammed full of sugar and fat. Around 20% of Americas’ calories come from grain-based desserts and pizza. If you are avoiding these types of wheat products, you cut out some not so healthy food choices.

Currently, there are no FDA standards for gluten-free food labeling and food manufactures are rushing to market with new products to take advantage of the latest craze. This is no problem for the trend dieter but for someone with Celiac Disease, consuming even a small amount of gluten can trigger a severe autoimmune response. Everyone benefits from scrutinizing food labels for whole grains and limited sugars and fats. Avoiding whole grain wheat, rye, and barley when you don’t have to, takes some nutritious, healthy grains out of your diet unnecessarily. Furthermore, most gluten-free products often contain refined grains that are not enriched. The consumer misses out on fiber¸ iron, folic acid, B vitamins and important phytochemicals that have been stripped away.

Enjoy a variety of healthy, whole grains. If your doctor diagnoses you with Celiac Disease, come see me and I’ll help you get your life back on track with a healthy eating plan.

Houston Celiac Support Group
Information on the disease and the gluten-free diet in general, as well as local information on meetings and resources in Texas. HoustonCeliacs.org

Carol Lapin, MS, CSSD, RD, LD

To contact Carol, email her: carol@cslnutritionalservices.com

Fresh vs Frozen or Fresh Frozen?

Sharon — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:44:22 +0000

Fresh or frozen, an ongoing discussion among those of us who like to have prepared meals readily available in our fridge, which do you prefer? For me, I have always preferred to have my freezer stocked so all I have to do is take out a selection of proteins and carbs, stick them in the fridge and I am set for the next few days. There is no waste this way and I really hate throwing away food especially expensive food! But then, there is a benefit to having meals, which have never been frozen; it really depends on what the meal is. Certain products freeze better than others; some are just not meant to be frozen ever. The key criteria I find most important with my prepared food are low fat and portioned correctly, convenient and easy to reheat and finally, it has to taste good! So whether they are frozen or refrigerated, they need to meet these criteria and in my opinion, there are many products out there that do.

But, if you are a person who just does not want to freeze your food, then you need to be prepared to schedule your meals and plan accordingly. Since the shelf life is an average of 4 days refrigerated then most of the prepared meals you buy will only be good for that amount of time, just make a mental note of the preparation date or expiration date on the label. If you change your mind or don’t feel like eating what you purchased, then you could end up tossing that $10 meal in the trash.

Bottom line, if you are buying prepared meals it is most likely the case you are doing it for convenience first. All of us prefer a freshly cooked meal straight from the oven to the table, but the reality is we just don’t always have the time to do this. Frozen items are the most convenient and economical and if reheated properly, taste equally as good. Here are a few tips if you decide to freeze meals you purchase:

1. Try and use within a month or two or freezer burn can occur, as most containers are not air tight or vacuum-sealed.

2. You can use your own vacuum-sealer and repack the food for longer freezer storage (I had several customers who did this.)

3. When you transfer your frozen meal from freezer to fridge, use a sharpie marker and note the date you d0 this, that way you’ll know the very last day to use in your refrigerator and won’t be confused with the original cook date or original expiration date already marked on the label.

3. Reheat evenly, if something is breaded try using a toaster oven to get crispy or heat at a lower power longer.

4. If you forget to thaw first, definitely heat your frozen meal at a lower power by at least 50% for longer.

5. Remember, you can always add 30 seconds or a minute but you can’t take away time if you over reheat.

Below is an example of a Fit n Fresh meal that is frozen, I have just taken and put it in my fridge so it will be ready for one of my meals the next few days. I prefer to thaw first so I don’t have to reheat as long. Notice how I marked the date on the label (in pink) just above the bar code. I know I have until Dec 2nd to use. I hope this helps you with planning and purchasing your meals so you have as little waste as possible and make eating healthy even more convenient.

lunch tomorrow!

*I’d love to read your reheating tips too, many of mine were from customers who shared their methods.

In good health,

Sharon

Welcome!

Sharon — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 02:44:14 +0000

Welcome to the Smart Dine™ Blog! I’m really excited about this but must warn you, I’m new to blogging so bear with me as I learn. I have wanted to start this months ago, but have waited–but now it feels right. I want to use this blog as a forum to share with you everything and anything related to eating better so you can reach your personal health and fitness goals. Some of you who know me from Smart Meals® know how passionate I am about having good food choices available especially if you are trying to lose weight, maintain your weight or reach a specific health and fitness goal. I’m all about moderation, I don’t believe you have to give up your favorite indulgences to reach your goal, rather you have to understand how to balance those favorites with your every day diet so those extra pounds won’t creep on or back on.

Remember, every day is a new day and small changes will add up to big results. I look forward to talking with you on my blog and welcome your questions, comments and suggestions. I hope you had a wonderfully, decadent Thanksgiving weekend and with the next few weeks of holiday parties ahead of you, it’s a good time to think about this balance or healthy moderation. There are just too many delicious selections which will tempt us at these parties, I know I will be sampling many of them! Pick you indulgences wisely–the rest of the time, practice that “healthy moderation” and you’ll see, you will make it through the holiday season with ease.

I have some suggestions I want to share with you this week on local businesses which you may not be aware of that have some great products to make this as convenient and easy as possible. Finally, I want to thank so many of you who offered encouraging words to me through this last year and a half–I’m excited for 2012 Sharon