Take it to the Max!

There are so many new diet sodas coming out that I’m having a hard time keeping them all straight! It seems like a new diet soda comes out every week.

Joining the battle, Pepsi announced it will roll out Diet Pepsi Max in stories in June. The diet soda is described as “an invigorating zero-calorie cola with extra caffeine and a touch of ginseng.” These companies are really having to get creative to beat the competition!

Now I’m one of the few people out there who actually enjoys both Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi. I know, I know, I’m amazing and incredibly open-minded aren’t I? Yeah right. Actually I just appreciate the beverages for what they are. To me, Diet Coke tastes nothing like regular Coke and it isn’t supposed to. Diet Pepsi however tastes more like Pepsi so when I’m in the mood for something sweeter, I go for that one.

Anyways, enough of my rambling and back to Diet Pepsi Max. According to BevNet,

“Diet Pepsi MAX is for 25-34 year-old diet drinkers, as well as transitioners-- those making the switch from regular colas to diets. Nearly 80% of adult consumers say that maintaining energy is a top priority and nearly 60% find that there's not enough time in the day to do the things they need to do. Diet Pepsi MAX serves up the invigoration they're looking for in a familiar, great-tasting beverage - a zero-calorie diet cola.”

As your trusty diet soda expert, I’ll be on the lookout for this drink and will give you my humble opinion on how it tastes.

Happy Friday everybody!!!

It's Cookie Time!

Does anybody remember the movie “Troop Beverly Hills?” It starred Shelly Long and was about a troop of Girl Scouts living in Beverly Hills, trying to prove themselves to the other Girl Scout troops. I used to watch it all the time and now that Girl Scout cookies are available, I think it might be time to bring the movie back out of the closet!

This article offers some tips on how to avoid binging on Girl Scout cookies. Come on, admit it, we all do it! The second that box of cookies hits my hand, I’m ripping it open and diving in head first. So to avoid even more winter weight gain, try these tips:

Don’t eat them straight out of the box: This is my big problem because having one cookie often turns into eight cookies. So, take two or three cookies out of the box, and then put the rest away.

Make a few simple substitutions: Making a few changes in your diet can help “save” some calories for the cookies. Think of your daily calories as a budget – you only have a certain number of dollars (calories) to spend so you’ve got to save where you can in order to splurge on the things you really want. For example, choosing a diet soda in place of a regular soda can save 150 calories! If you order the small French fries at McDonald’s rather than the large fries, you can save 320 calories!

Store the cookies in the freezer: This works well for all of the cookies except for Thin Mints, which taste best (in my opinion) right out of the freezer. However, for the other cookies you’ll have to wait until they thaw out before you eat them, which may help prevent binging.

Here are some delicious combos in order to enjoy the cookies but also get a few servings of calcium and/or fruit.

Crumble a Thin Mint into a single-serving container of fat-free chocolate or vanilla pudding: 145 calories, 2.5 fat grams, 29 carb grams, no fiber, 276 milligrams sodium.

Top ½ cup fat-free frozen yogurt with a crushed Caramel deLite: 150 calories, 3.5 fat grams, 27.5 carb grams, 0.5 fiber grams, 108 milligrams sodium.

Cut a small banana into slices and top with a crushed Shortbread cookie and a tablespoon of chocolate syrup: 176 calories, 4 fat grams, 41 carb grams, 2.3 fiber grams, 99 milligrams sodium.

Break a Peanut Butter Patty into pieces. Put it in a blender and blend with ½ cup fat-free frozen yogurt and a splash of skim milk: 182 calories, 4.5 fat grams, 0.5 fiber grams, 30 carb grams, 140 mg sodium.

Crumble two Shortbread cookies over ½ cup of sliced strawberries and top with 2 tablespoons of Cool Whip Lite: 107 calories, 5.3 fat grams, 2.5 fiber grams, 18 carb grams, 69 milligrams sodium.

Crumble a Lemonades cookie into a 6-ounce container of light yogurt: 165 calories, 3.5 fat grams, no fiber, 27 carb grams, 110 milligrams sodium.

Have two Peanut Butter Sandwiches with 1 cup skim milk: 200 calories, 4.4 fat grams, 0.6 fiber grams, 28 carb grams, 207 milligrams sodium.

Six Strange Facts About Lil' Ole Me

I don’t usually do memes but I’ve decided to make an exception this time. But I will definitely have to seek revenge on Kevin.

He’s asked me to name six strange facts about myself. I thought this would take more effort than it actually did, which led me to the conclusion that I’m a pretty strange chick. So here goes…some of these you might already be aware of (especially number 6!) but most of them may come as a surprise. Oh, and if you make fun of me I’m going to seek my revenge and tag you for this meme.

1. I carry around a mini stapler in my purse for good luck. I know what you’re thinking, “Office Space,” right? Yes, I’m incredibly attached to my purple mini-stapler, and only let a few lucky people use it. Actually, you’d be surprised how often it’s come in handy. I got it my freshman year of college and am truly convinced it’s what got me straight A’s my freshman year. Lots of studying and hard work? Nope, it was all the stapler baby.

2. I have attempted to put ranch dressing on virtually every kind of food at least once. I have an all-out obsession with ranch and I think it pretty much enhances most foods it’s put on. I always top my French fries, pizza and burger with loads of ranch. It certainly adds a ton of extra calories to my meal but I’m totally okay with that. It’s delicious! Warning though, it doesn’t taste good on tacos.

3. I have to make my bed before I get into it. Even if that means I have to make it just to get back into it, I will do it. Actually when I was young, my mother felt pretty blessed to have a child who always made her bed in the morning. For me, it gets a little annoying. When I’m running late in the morning for work the last thing I have time to do is make my bed but it must be done. I’m constantly ridiculed about this by my friends but there’ nothing I can do about it. I’ve tried!

4. I’m an exceptional bowler. You guys, I’m not bragging here but I’ve got mad bowling skills. Don’t even try to beat me because you’re just gonna fail. And, if you think you can beat, you get on a plane to Atlanta right now and I’ll meet you at the bowling alley. Bring it on!

5. The word “moisture” makes me nauseous. I’m actually getting nauseous thinking about the word as we speak. When I think of that disgusting word all I can picture are germs tucked into someone’s stinky armpit. Yuck! Moving on…

6. I have an odd obsession with diet soda! I know you guys already know this one but many people think it’s kind of strange that I have an obsession with diet soda. The job I’ve chosen deals with diet soda, I bring it with me everywhere I go and I drink it constantly. It tastes delicious, keeps me looking trim and is just a great invention!

I'm not gonna tag anyone but like Kim, I'd love to hear what you've got!!!

Valentine's Day Debbie Downer

Happy Valentine’s Day to one and all. I’ve got a confession to make – I’m a Valentine’s Day Debbie Downer. What is a Valentine’s Day Debbie Downer you ask? Well, not only do I not like Valentine’s Day, I despise it.

I completely understand the desire to let the people you love know you’re true feelings them. And, I’m all for being showered with delicious candies and beautiful roses. However, I think Hallmark has taken what used to be a nice holiday to spend with the ones you love into a money-binging, gaga, crazy 24 hours.

Is it really special to get roses on a day when all of the other women are getting roses too? I would much rather get roses on May 29 or June 1st or August 3rd, days of no significance to me, than on Valentine’s Day.

Am I bitter? Not really. I’ve got a wonderful boyfriend that I really care about whom I know cares about me. I just don’t feel like fighting the crowds at a fancy restaurant after having to fight to get reservations a month ahead of time. Then to be followed by poor service due to overcrowding and often generic Valentine’s Day menus. Blech!

I really hope I’m not ruining this day for the people that love it. I love Halloween and some people hate it. To each his or her own.

That is why I’m a Debbie Downer on Valentine’s Day. Bah humbug to V Day I say.

I'm Coolah Than You Are

Joining the growing world of energy drinks, Cadbury Schweppes recently introduced the world to its Coolah energy drink. Coolah comes in full-calorie and diet varieties and supposedly tastes much like your basic citrus carbonated soft drink. However, this beverage is simply a lemon-flavored beverage rather than the typical lemon-lime flavoring.

I checked my local grocery stores but was unable to locate it. The packaging looks a little tacky to me but hey, I’m only an expert on all things diet soda not energy drinks.

Happy sipping folks!

Microwaving Sponges...Who'd Thunk?

You know when you see someone at work doing something that strikes you as a little strange and you try not to stare? People at my office tend to be mostly normal but a few them are little…wacky.

The other day I walked into our break room and saw my co-worker, one I had always considered “normal”, doing such a strange thing. Robin is a registered dietitian and an absolute hoot to be around. If you’re having a bad day, you go to Robin. However, because she’s a RD, she’s got a few unusual habits. Anyways, I walked into the kitchen the other day, and she was sticking a sponge in the microwave!

When I asked her what she was doing she looked at me as if it was the most normal thing in the world, and I was the strange one for not understanding. Robin told me that by zapping sponges in the microwave for a few minutes you could actually kill all of the germs on the sponge.

Much to my dismay I did a little research because well, I’m a little strange as well. I came to find out that’s she’s actually correct! According to a recent study published in the Journal of Environmental Health, zapping sponges and plastic scrubbing pads in the microwave for 2 minutes can kill 99 percent of germs and bacteria, including E. coli. If you zap them for four minutes you kill all of the germs on the sponge. But, you must make sure that the sponge is wet! There have been stories of people breaking their microwaves because they stuck dry sponges in them. Don’t be that person!!

This WebMD article offers the following advice:

Microwave only sponges or plastic scrubbers that do not contain steel or other metals.

Make sure the sponge or scrubber is wet, not dry.

Two minutes should be enough to kill most disease-causing germs.

Be careful in removing the sponge from the microwave because it will be hot and should not be handled immediately after zapping.

The Wide World of Coke

My mom sent me this article this morning and it made me laugh out loud. You see, I was born and raised in the South but my parents are from Hartford, Connecticut. Although they have lived in the South for almost 30 years now, they will always consider themselves Northerners.

To this day, my mom still does not understand the word “y’all.” It perplexes her almost to the point of a migraine. My brother and I are rather fond of the word as are most people in the South, but my mother refuses to add it to her vocabulary.

Another thing she doesn’t understand about the South is the use of the word “Coke.” To her, a Coke signifies a product made by Coca-Cola. However, in Atlanta and anywhere below the Mason-Dixon line, a Coke can be any kind of carbonated beverage. That means a Sprite could be a Coke, a Pepsi could be a Coke and naturally, a Coke could be a Coke. I admit, it can be somewhat confusing but that’s they way of life around here.

I try not to call all sodas Cokes because first of all, it confuses everyone around me including myself. Second, restaurants in the South always make you clarify when you tell them that you want a Coke. They won’t just give you a Coca-Cola. They’ll ask you to specify further. That’s just one more unnecessary step I have to take before getting my ice-cold diet soda.

I named this blog I Love Diet Soda not I Love Diet Coke because I realized that people living in the North might think I only consume one brand of diet soda. This is far from the truth! In addition, I like the way the word “soda” sounds.

Who knew sodas could be complicated?