Product Comparison: @MyArcticZero vs Turkey Hill Frozen Yogurt #GardenCuizine

Have you tried Arctic Zero frozen desserts yet? 
I’m always on the lookout for low calorie treats, especially since the majority of my nutrition counseling sessions focus on weight management. Arctic Zero was mentioned today by @eringraysonRD on my Twitter feed and I thought I’d check it out. Arctic Zero has been sold in stores since 2009. 

I decided to compare it with fat-free Turkey Hill frozen yogurt. Compared to frozen yogurt, Arctic Zero has less than half the calories and even has a little dietary fiber. In today's obesogenic environment, this is a good thing.

Read the Label
Calcium and vitamin D are important nutrients for optimal bone health; they are both lacking in American diets according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Just something to keep in mind when you make your food choices.

Reading food labels is always recommended for any product you plan to buy. A good rule of thumb is to think food groups: 

• Protein
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Grains
• and Dairy (calcium-rich products, can be non-dairy too) 

Hmmm...what food group does Arctic Zero fit into? ZERO. It is a treat. As their name says, "frozen dessert."

Nutrient Comparison
Compared to frozen yogurt, Artic Zero doesn’t have nearly as much calcium - a nutrient you can always count on in yogurt. Their protein content is comparable. Sodium is slightly higher in Arctic Zero. 

If you are diabetic or pre-diabetic, Arctic Zero has much less carbohydrate per serving, which may be a good thing if you are counting carbs and desire a larger serving size or want to add a topping of fresh fruit without going over your carb count.  

Watch Your Portion Size!
Arctic Zero temps you to consume the entire pint of their product as a single serving. Front and center on their product label they promote that there is only 150 calories per pint. Remember, you would need to multiply the below nutrition facts by 4 (2 cups equals 1 pint) since one serving size is 1/2 cup. So eating a pint of Arctic Zero would mean you would consume 320 mg of sodium. Low sodium is considered 140 mg or less per serving.

Compare the nutrition facts for yourself; per ½ cup serving Arctic Zero vs. Turkey Hill frozen yogurt. And, as with any dessert or treat, enjoy in moderation.

Ingredients in Artic Zero include organic cane sugar, Monk fruit concentrate and one of my favorite garden plants in the Aster family - chicory root (Chicorium intybus).
Blog post Copyright (C)2013 Wind. All rights reserved.

GardenCuizine Product Spotlight: Umeboshi

Umeboshi 梅の実 Plum

About Umeboshi
Umeboshi is a pickled plum Japanese specialty. Umeboshi plums are commonly referred to as Japanese apricots or Chinese plums and grow on Prunus mume trees. They actually are more of an apricot than a plum and ripen to an apricot color. The plums have a similar taste to apricots when cooked and made into jam or jelly.

Shiso Perilla Herb
Japanese apricots are a natural orange color that is transformed to a beautiful purple-red 'plum' shade by the addition of Shiso (Perilla frutescens) leaves. Perilla is an easy-to-grow, annual garden herb that is available in red or green varieties. Red Perilla is what naturally colors the Umeboshi plums during their fermentation process in vinegar.

Umeboshi Products
Umeboshi vinegar is a derivative from Umeboshi making and is available in Asian, Gourmet and Health Food markets. In addition to vinegar, other Umeboshi products include whole pickled plums and Umeboshi paste. Umeshu, another popular Ume Product, is mostly found in Japan. It is a sweet liqueur made from Umeboshi plums, rock sugar and 35% distilled spirits (Shochu) or Vodka. Supplies to make Umeshu are abundant in Japanese local markets during plum season (May-June).

Moderation is Key
Umeboshi products are high in sodium due to the way they are made with layers of added salt atop the plums to extract the plums juices. However, they contain less sodium than pure salt and when used in moderation -- like you do salt -- Umeboshi can still be a part of a healthy diet. The fruity, salty taste adds excellent flavor to many foods including rice, sushi, onigiri, grain salads, pasta salads, steamed vegetables, and salad dressings.

For more information, check out my Umeboshi 梅の実 Plum article published on Dave's Garden

Related Links:

• Prunus mume Fact Sheet, U.S. Forest Service
• Japanese Flowering Apricot, Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Photo: Unripe Ume Fruits by Sekiuchi. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, GNU Free Documentation License. P. mume

Copyright © 2009 Wind. All rights reserved.