Trade-Up Tuesday: New Years’ Resolutions
Welcome to Trade-Up Tuesday, my weekly feature where I tell you about a Trade-Up I’ve made since learning about NuVal and where I give away Free Stuff! Today I’m featuring two products that were not in my pantry on January 1st of 2009, but will most certainly be there on January 1st of 2010.
First, what would a New Year be without Special K? Have you turned on the TV lately? December 26th begins the unofficial “Diet Season” and all the commericials begin. I don’t watch a lot of regular TV (I’m a Netflix fan) but I suspect that this Special K commercial will be airing. Did you know that Special K, while low in calories, only scores a 23 on the NuVal scale. Special K with Protein, however, scores a 60! I find it to be much more filling and satisfying too! That’s why it made my Top Ten Favorite Foods. So, if you’re getting sucked in my seductive Special K commercials, be sure to pick the box that says “protein plus.”
Next, since it’s a holiday and all, I’m throwing in my favorite pita: Joseph’s Flax, Oat Bran & Whole Wheat Flour Pita Bread. This Super-Pita, which also made my list of Top Ten Favorite Foods, gets a NuVal score of 65, better than most whole grain wheat breads. My husband and our kids love this pita also and we go through at least 2 packages every week.
Today’s GiveAway:
Since I’m giving away not one but TWO fabulous prizes on this Give Away, I’m asking you to do Two Things. To enter the drawing, just:
- Tell me one of your New Years’ Resolutions
- Go to www.nuval.com, find a score that you find interesting, and come back here to tell me about it
Enter both of these things in the Comments section and you will be entered to win TWO boxes of Special K Plus Protein and TWO packages of Joseph’s Pita. The contest closes at 11:59 pm Eastern Time tonight! Good Luck!
Posted by: Melissa 38 comments
Posted in: Special K, Trade-Up Tuesday
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 8:33 am
I haven’t come up with my list of resolutions but I know of 2 that will be on there…1) go to atleast 1 group exercise class each week and 2) visit my family in Charlotte more.
And I find it interesting how low cereals rank…bummer. Good thing I love greek yogurt for breakfast.
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 8:43 am
I would like to cut out soda from my diet completely. I only drink diet to begin with, but all the artificial sweetener cannot be healthy!
Happy New Year!
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 8:45 am
I found it interesting on the NuVal website that iceberg lettuce scored an 82, while Del Monte Fresh Cut Regular Spinach only scored a 76! I had always heard that iceberg lettuce contains barely any nutritional value!
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 8:57 am
I am working on losing about 25 pounds (gulp!) and training for a half marathon in May. Both require a better approach to eating – which is why I’m interested in this blog!
I also was shocked by the high score of iceberg lettuce. How is it more nutritious than spinach? Please explain!
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 9:00 am
I’m not really a fan of New Year’s resolutions…but a recent goal has been to do more running speed work.
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 9:23 am
New Year’s resolutions include: getting back to healthier eating and regular exercise (outside of my dance classes), fixing my full bath up a bit, attempting to keep the house clean/orderly, and start my blog!
I too would like to know why iceburg lettuce scores higher than spinach. I’m shocked! I was always under the impression that eating iceburg lettuce was like “drinking water” good for you, but no real nutritional value.
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 9:38 am
First I want to say how much I LOVE Josephs Flax, Oat Bran, and Whole Wheat Pitas! I either buy the regular size pita, the small size pita or the tortilla every week, sometimes all three!!!
Now on to the GiveAway:
1) One of my New Years Resolutions is to complete a half marathon (Registered for Boston’s Run to Remember Half Marathon May 30, 2010!!)
2) A score I find interesting is that the only 0 (zero) listed is General Mills Whole Grain Guaranteed Total Raisin Bran.
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Maybe my New Year’s resolution should be to start eating broccoli, which I’ve always hated, as it has a perfect NuVal score of 100.
Other resolutions include completing my first half marathon and committing to actually using my vacation time this year.
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 10:45 am
I have decided to rename new year resolution as “All Year’s Resolution.” I have lost some weight this year and the goal is to keep at it this coming year until I reach my goal weight.
I am happy to know that bananas has a high score of 91! I have it in my oatmeal for breakfast everyday..good to know.
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 10:53 am
I wrote up my New Year’s Resolutions here:http://foyupdate.blogspot.com/2009/12/looking-forward-to-2010.html
As for Nuval points, butter only gets a 2. But I will continue using it because with it out my cookies wouldn’t be as crisp or my sweet potatoes so tasty.
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 11:22 am
My New Years Resolution is to eat more whole foods and less processed. Usually I’m reaching for the processed stuff late in the afternoon and I want to try to reach for either fruit or veggies.
WOW! Berries score a 100…I love to eat frozen berries in my yogurt!
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
One of my resolutions is to master crow pose by the end of the year.
I was pleasantly surprised by the Quaker Life score. It’s not great, but it’s better than I expected,
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
One of my resolutions is to work on my running and start training for a half marathon!
I was a little surprised that Cherrios only scored a 34. I suppose relative to other cold cereals that’s pretty good, but I guess I was expecting something a bit higher, more in the 40s.
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
One of my NYRs is to eat less processed frozen stuff (just because it’s quick and on the go) and try to cook more for myself. I think I can do this now that I graduated college and wont be spending so much time on campus running to random classes at random times.
I was also surprised that the South Beach Living pizzas score so high on NuVal. I assumed they would be lower so that was a pleasant surprise!
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
My New Year’s Resolution is to schedule at least 1 rest day each week. I am finding that I am becoming so busy with work, family, friends, and exercise – that I’m feeling burnt out. My rest day will be a day of no exercise and no committments/plans…..a day to simply be.
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
I was suprised by the Birds Eye Deluxe Frozen Artichoke Heart Box score of 28. I assumed it would score higher….guess that shows that not all vegetables are created equal.
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
I was surprised to see the score of 4 for the Mango Peace cereal. I used to eat the vanilla version of that but not anymore.
My resolution is to get back on track with running, my miles have gone way down.
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
One of my resolutions is to eat clean at least 90% of the time. I was surprised that Iceberg lettuce got a score of 82, which seems pretty high to me. I thought it was mostly water and did not have many nutrients.
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
One of my goals for 2010 will be to work on speed drills with my running. I hope to get below 29 minutes for a 5K this year.
Nuval score for my 1% milk is 81 – which I like! I don’t drink skim, so nice to know 1% still scores high.
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
One of my goals for the new year is to get at least 7 hours of sleep per night.
I found it interesting that scores for cold cereal can range so much – from 0 to 100! Great information to know when choosing a breakfast cereal!
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
THANK YOU for this! One of our MD’s at work ALWAYS recommends Special K to patients and I think the stuff is a very poor choice among all the wonderful cereal choices out there. The Protein Plus is definitely a much better, more filling option.
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
1 I’m going to exercise every day!
2 I can’t believe iceberg scored so high, that’s amazing!
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
I am going to try and volunteer more in my community. The score that definitely amazed me most was the score for Shredded Wheat, love it!
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
I’m definitely going to train for my first marathon this year, and the craziest score was for milk, I had no idea 1% was so healthy…
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Hmmm, my most important resolution is getting more rest EVERY night and the interesting NuVal score I found was for Special K, I agree with the above poster. I’m Trading Up to Shredded Wheat for sure
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
My first resolution is to eat out less and learn to cook.
On your website, I thought the score for the South Beach pizzas was great, I eat them constantly and didn’t know they scored high
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Definitely going to start running, I’m power walking now but want to get more cardio in. The scores on the site are really awesome, especially for iceberg lettuce. I always eat romaine because i thought it was SO much better but i’m going to switch it up now!
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
One of my resolutions is to do more strength training! I really slack there.
The score that kind of surprised me was for boneless chicken breast – a 39 is far from terrible, but I guess I expected it to be higher!
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
I’m going to do more yoga. I was happy to find that Atlantic Salmon Fillet scores an 87!
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
my resolution is to be more social at school. basically, get out more and not become too stressed about projects and deadlines :]
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
i would think that clams would be rated higher than 71.
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
I am resolving to run a half marathon in MArch…my first! Also, to do strength training twice a week.
I was thrilled to see how high plain chobani scores…it keeps me full all morning and is a breakfast staple!
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
I am resolving to be more deliberate in making healthy choices at the grocery store – I wish I had Nuval at my store!
I am surprised that the Lean Cuisine pizza ranks lower than so many other frozen pizzas.
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Hi Jess –
I’m sticking to my New Years’ Resolution by answering your question within 24 hours! I checked with Rachel Rodek, MS, RD, LDN and Nutirition Communications Manager for NuVal. According to Rachel, “As it turns out, all spinach, whether frozen or fresh, has a score of 100 if nothing has been added to it. That’s the key: added ingredients. The Del Monte Fresh Cut Spinach scoring a 76 on the NuVal page is actually a canned product that has added salt, bringing down the score dramatically.” The name of the spinach is rather misleading. It is canned, not fresh. Great question! Best of luck on your weight loss goal and your half marathon goal! Happy New Year!
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Emily -
You have found an error on the NuVal website!! The General Mills Whole Grain Guaranteed Total Raisin Bran is most definitely not a 0. I have alerted our Communications Manager and we will post the correct score ASAP. Thanks for pointing that out!
Melissa
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 10:41 am
My New Year’s resolution is to take better care of myself.I tend to focus on so many things around me and neglect myself.
I was surprised that the Sprouted wheat bread scored only 30.I really expected that to be up there.I’m going to rethink my bread choices:-) cc
on Jan 2nd, 2010 at 10:40 am
Love Joseph’s Pita. I usually try to cut up and bake to make my own pita chips. They are awesome!!
on Jul 27th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
I was so confused about what to buy, but this makes it udernstandable.