Mindful Eating: How to Savor the Flavor

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Uncle Wally's

     Do you ever eat something mindlessly – a cheeseburger gulped down on the road, a bag of chips gobbled during a TV show – and can barely remember how it tasted?

     The practice of mindful eating aims for the opposite effect – getting you to slow down, really taste and enjoy each bite of food, and to read your body’s hunger signals. Health experts say mindful eating can help develop healthier eating habits and may also promote weight loss: You’re likely to feel more satisfied if you are focusing on the food being eaten, leading you to eat less.

    Here are a few easy tips for mindful eating, from the National Institutes of Health:

  1. Turn off the devices – phone, TV, computer and any other distractions.
  2. Sit down at a table so you can fully focus on what you are eating.
  3. Keep appropriate serving sizes in mind, and consider starting with a smaller portion than usual.
  4. Keep serving dishes off the dinner table; you will have to make a conscious choice to go back for more.
  5. Eat slowly, exploring each bite with five senses – how it looks, tastes, smells, feels in your mouth, and even how it sounds as you chew.
  6. Take a moment to appreciate that you are nourishing your body.
  7. Do a hunger check: are you truly hungry, or eating for another reason?

     Uncle Wally’s has some great low calorie and portion-controlled products that allow you to enjoy each bite in a delicious and sensible way:

     Our Fiber One Wraps are low-calorie, low-fat, and delicious on their own or filled with almost anything you like. They provide 28% of your daily requirement for fiber.

     Mindful eating also focuses your attention on the amount of food you are consuming. Our Rich & Moist Mini Muffins and Ice Cream Mini Muffins are a wonderful way to enjoy a satisfying treat without feeling you have to finish a large portion. Our yummy Smart Portion Muffin Tops go the extra mile – providing healthy probiotics, Omega-3s, fiber, calcium, vitamin D and protein.

     Uncle Wally’s Sugar-Free Muffins and Fat-Free Muffins are two more delicious way to cut calories and fat as you savor the home-baked taste.

     Like Uncle Wally’s on Facebook for more recipes, news and product information.

Posted in calcium and vitamin d, diet, digestive health, Fat-free muffins, Fiber, Fiber One Wraps, Health, Heart Health, Ice Cream Mini Muffins, Mini Muffins, Omega 3s, Orange Cream Ice Cream Mini Muffin, Original Cotton Candy Mini Muffin, Portion Control, Probiotics, Smart Portion, Smart Portion Muffin Tops, Staying Healthy, Weight loss | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Recipe: Fiber One Mini Fruit Tarts

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Uncle Wally's

     Our easy recipe for Fiber One Mini Fruit Tarts proves that you can have it all: a dessert that’s gorgeous to look at, sumptuously delicious, and that also supports your healthy eating plan.

    Fiber One Mini Fruit Tarts combine the healthy, tasty crunch of a crust made with Fiber One Wraps with the creamy goodness of vanilla pudding and the zest of the season’s most vibrant fruits.  Our Mini Fruit Tarts are so good, you might need reminding that they are low-calorie, low-fat and fiber-rich.

Fiber One Mini Fruit Tarts are perfect to serve at any of this season’s celebrations – Memorial Day, Father’s Day, bridal showers and graduations – or just to enjoy any time!

Here are the two-step directions for Fiber One Mini Fruit Tarts’ crust and filling:

 

Recipe makes 20 Fiber One Mini Fruit Tarts

Step 1: Fiber One Crust 

  • 5 Fiber One Wraps (Traditional White or Honey
    Wheat)
  • Canola oil cooking spray
  • 5 tsp. granulated sugar, or sugar substitute

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

  1. Place a Fiber One Wrap on a large microwave-safe plate, coat top side lightly with
    cooking oil spray and sprinkle evenly with 1 tsp. sugar.
  2. Cut Fiber One Wrap into quarters and microwave for 20 seconds to soften.
  3. Press each of the 4 quarters (sugared side up) into the wells of a sprayed mini muffin baking pan (if pieces are too hot to handle, let them cool a bit first). Firmly press the center of each Fiber One Wrap piece into the bottom of a well, also pressing in 2 or 3 folds on the sides, until it takes on the shape of the muffin well.
  4. Repeat steps 1-3 for each of the remaining 4 wraps.
  5. Bake 6-9 minutes, or until crusts look lightly browned and crispy.

 

Step 2: Tart Filling

  • 2 cups fat-free vanilla pudding (prepared, or
    made from instant boxed mix)
  • ¾ cup blueberries
  • 10 strawberries, sliced
  1. Fill each of the Fiber One Mini Fruit Tart crusts with a rounded tbsp. of vanilla pudding.
  2. Top each tart with a few blueberries and sliced strawberries.

 

      Note: Fiber One Mini Fruit Tarts are best when made the same day you plan to serve them.

 

     Uncle Wally’s markets Fiber One Wraps under license for General Mills. Fiber One Wraps are available in Traditional White, Honey Wheat and Garden Vegetable. Each Fiber One Wrap contains 28% of the recommended Daily Value of dietary fiber.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Blueberries, Dessert Recipes, diet, digestive health, Fiber, Fiber One Wrap Recipes, Fiber One Wraps, Health, Heart Health, Holiday Recipes, low fat recipes, Recipes, Snack Recipes, Uncategorized, Weight loss | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mini Muffins for Mother’s Day Brunch

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Uncle Wally's

     Serving Uncle Wally’s Rich & Moist Mini Muffins at your Mother’s Day brunch is just another little way to show Mom you love her!

     We pack a lot of home-baked flavor into our Rich & Moist Mini Muffins, and finish them with an elegant, mouth-watering streusel topping. And because these muffins are “mini,” your mom and other guests can enjoy a scrumptious sweet treat without having to over-fill their brunch plates.

     Rich & Moist Mini Muffins come ready to serve, and are available in Banana Nut Streusel, Cinnamon Bun Streusel, Chocolate Chip Streusel, Blueberry Streusel, Lemon Poppy Streusel and Corn.

If you’re looking for other delicious ways to brighten up your Mother’s Day brunch, here are some great recipes you can make using Uncle Wally’s products (click the headline above the picture to get the recipe):

 

Blueberry Muffin Brunch Bake

Blueberry Muffin Brunch Bake

 

Mother’s Day Muffin Tea Cakes

Muffin Tea Cakes

 

Chocolate Tiramisu

 

Wally Pops  

Cake pops made with Uncle Wally's muffins

 

Smart Portion Double Chocolate Pie

 

Red,White and Blue Trifle

Uncle Wally's Red, White and Blue Trifle

 

Uncle Wally’s Rich & Moist Mini Muffins are available at many fine supermarkets, including King Kullen, Price Chopper, Produce Warehouse, Weis Markets, Redner’s Markets, Adams, Met Foods, Pioneer, Big M, Southern Family Markets, C-Town, Bravo, Aim, and soon, Foodtown.

Posted in Dessert Recipes, Holiday Recipes, Ice Cream Mini Muffins, Mini Muffins, Orange Cream Ice Cream Mini Muffin, Portion Control, Rich & Moist Muffins, Smart Portion, Smart Portion Rich Double Chocolate Muffin Tops, Snack-size muffins, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Recipe: Smart Portion Double Chocolate Pie

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Uncle Wally's

     Did you know you can make an amazing pie crust using our Smart Portion Rich Double Chocolate Muffin Tops?

     No? We didn’t either! But recently, after a little experimentation, we came up with a simple recipe to turn our Smart Portion Muffin Tops into a wonderful, fudgy crust that is simply irresistible. We filled the crust with a delicious chocolate-cream pudding, and a Smart Portion Double Chocolate Pie was born! One taste and we were in chocolate heaven – and we think you will be, too!

     Do we really need to say that our low-fat Smart Portion Muffin Tops fill your Smart Portion Double Chocolate Pie with plenty of healthy probiotics, Omega-3s, vitamin D, calcium, fiber and protein? Of course! You can feel extra-good about having a slice – and serving it to your family and friends!

     Here are easy directions for making the Smart Portion Double Chocolate Pie crust and pie filling:

Double Chocolate Pie Crust

  • 6 Smart Portion Muffin Tops, Rich Double Chocolate (1-½ 8-ounce boxes)
  • 3 tbsp. sugar
  • 3 tbsp. soft margarine (0% trans fats), melted

       Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  1. Blend 6 Smart Portion Muffin Tops in a food processor (or break apart by hand in a mixing bowl) until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
  2. Add sugar and melted margarine and blend well.
  3. Place mixture into a lightly greased 9- or 10-inch oven-safe pie pan. Press mixture evenly onto the pan bottom and up the sides.
  4. Bake pie crust for 15 minutes, until firm and slightly crisp. Let crust cool completely before filling.

Pie Filling

  • 2 packages (3.9-ounce each) fat-free instant pudding mix, chocolate flavored
  • 2 cups cold skim milk
  • 1 container fat-free whipped topping, thawed (8 ounces)
  1. In a mixing bowl, beat pudding mixes and milk with a whisk for 2 minutes.
  2. Whisk half of the container of whipped topping into the pudding.
  3. Pour mixture into cooled Double Chocolate Pie crust and top with remaining half container of whipped topping (or wait until serving to top each slice). Refrigerate pie 3 hours or more before serving.

     Smart Portion Muffin Tops are available in Rich Double Chocolate, Cranberry Apple and Wild Blueberry. They are available in the all-natural freezer case of supermarkets such as King Kullen, ShopRite, Foodtown, C-Town, Associated (NY), Met Foods, Pioneer and Bravo.

Posted in bone health, calcium and vitamin d, Dessert Recipes, diet, digestive health, Fiber, Fortified muffins, Health, Heart Health, low fat recipes, Omega 3s, Portion Control, Probiotics, Recipes, Smart Portion, Smart Portion Apple Cranberry Muffin Tops, Smart Portion Muffin Tops, Smart Portion Rich Double Chocolate Muffin Tops, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spring into Shape

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Uncle Wally's

     It’s no wonder this season is called “spring” – it seems like everyone is springing up and getting things done.

     Once the weather turns warmer, we’re inspired to walk the dog more, tackle spring house cleaning, plant flowers and even wash our cars.

     All this movement is a good thing, since many of us are trying to get back into shape after a long, sedentary winter.

     Here is a list of common spring activities and the estimated number of calories they burn:

Activity                                Calories burned (1 hr.*)

Planting flowers/shrubs                  298    

Washing car                                       334

Raking                                                298

Clearing weeds/brush                     344

Mowing the lawn                              334

Cleaning gutters                               372

Vacuuming/mopping                       334                            

Walking the dog (3.5 mph)             298

Washing windows                             334

 *Calorie burning estimates are based on a 155 pound person.

 

     After all that activity, you want a tasty snack that satisfies, but doesn’t wipe away your hard-earned calorie burn. Uncle Wally’s has just the thing! Here’s a few of our favorites:

(click on “Get More Information” links below for more complete product descriptions and nutrition facts)

 

Smart Portion Muffin Tops

Delicious, low calorie, low-fat, and filled with probiotics, Omega 3’s, protein, calcium and more. They are perfect by themselves, or as part of a low-cal recipe like Smart Portion Whoopie Pies.  

Get More Information 

 

Fiber One Wraps

     Only 80 tasty calories each, our Fiber One Wraps give you 28% of your daily recommended fiber intake. They’re great on their own, or in a recipe like sweet Fiber One Taco Bowls, the start of an amazing low-fat ice cream sundae.

Get More Information 

 

Rich & Moist Mini Muffins                                  and Ice Cream Mini Muffins

These little beauties’ portion-controlled size lets you savor without overindulging. A wide variety of flavors such as Cinnamon Bun Streusel, Banana Nut Streusel,  Chocolate Chip, Cotton Candy, Banana Split and Strawberry Shortcake insure that you’ll never be bored.

Get More Information on Rich & Moist Mini Muffins

Get More Information on Ice Cream Mini Muffins

 

 Fat Free Muffins

If you love muffins, but are trying to cut down on fat, our fat-free muffins are for you. Varieties like Apple Cinnamon Delight, Wild Blueberry Bliss, Chocolate Passion and Cranberry Orange Supreme have so much flavor and muffiny goodness that you’ll never miss the fat.

Get More Information 

 

SOURCE: Harvard Health Publications

Posted in Banana Split Ice Cream Mini Muffin, Dessert Recipes, diet, Exercise, Fat-free muffins, Fiber, Fiber One Wrap Recipes, Fiber One Wraps, Health, Heart Health, Ice Cream Mini Muffins, low fat recipes, Mini Muffins, Omega 3s, Orange Cream Ice Cream Mini Muffin, Original Cotton Candy Mini Muffin, Portion Control, Probiotics, Recipes, Smart Portion, Smart Portion Apple Cranberry Muffin Tops, Smart Portion Muffin Tops, Smart Portion Rich Double Chocolate Muffin Tops, Snack Recipes, Staying Healthy, Uncategorized, Weight loss | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Hungry Girl’ on Fiber One Wraps: ‘Game-Changingly Good’

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Uncle Wally's

     Breakfast BurritoHungry Girl is hungry for our Fiber One Wraps!

     We are delighted that Hungry Girl has declared love for Fiber One Wraps in its wildly popular diet and health email, calling our wraps “an incredible new fiber-packed find” and “game-changingly good.”  Hungry Girl’s email reaches about 1.2 million subscribers daily.

     Hungry Girl – created by Lisa Lillien, now a #1 New York Times best-selling author and TV personality – also praised Fiber One Wraps for their high fiber (7 g) and protein (6-7 g), and low calorie content (80 cal.).  You can click here to read the original news item on the Hungry Girl website.

     Thanks, Hungry Girl! We are really proud of our Fiber One Wraps, which we market under license for General Mills. They’re delicious, provide 28% of the recommended Daily Value for fiber, and there are so many easy ways to turn them into a healthy meal, snack or dessert. Here are some of the recipes we’ve come up with using our Fiber One Wraps:

Taco Bowl. Bake our Fiber One Wraps into a crunchy, tasty taco bowl for salad, chili, dips or even an ice cream sundae! Get recipe here.

 

 

 

Sweet Ideas. Turn Fiber One Wraps into scrumptious apple pie, cannoli or s’mores? Yes, you can!  Get recipes here.

 

 

 

Wrap Up Lunch. Banish boring sandwiches with these tasty take-along lunch ideas. Get recipes here. 

 

 

Speedy Breakfast Burrito.  This protein-packed breakfast burrito takes less than two minutes to make. Get recipe here.

Super Bowl Snacks Using Fiber One Wraps

 

Super Snacks. We came up with these delicious recipes for the Super Bowl, but they are good anytime you’re game for a great snack!  Get recipes here.

 

 

Uncle Wally's Chicken Tortilla Soup RecipeSoup Topper. Add taste, crunch and extra nutrition to this easy, delicious chicken tortilla soup recipe with strips of baked Fiber One Wraps. Get recipe here.

Posted in breakfast, Dessert Recipes, diet, digestive health, Fiber, Fiber One Wrap Recipes, Fiber One Wraps, Health, Heart Health, low fat recipes, Recipes, Uncategorized, Weight loss | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Recipe: Fiber One Taco Bowls

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Uncle Wally's

     Any meal is more fun when you add taco bowls made with our Fiber One Wraps – you can even eat the dishes!

     Fiber One Taco Bowls are easy to make and you can fill them with salad, chili, rice and beans, guacamole or other dips – you name it. You can also make sweet taco bowls to fill with desserts like ice cream sundaes!

     Here’s how to make our Fiber One Taco Bowls:

Ingredients

  • Fiber One Wraps (8 pack)
  • Olive oil cooking spray
    Fiber One Taco Bowls are baked on oven-safe dishware.
  1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Microwave each Fiber One Wrap for 15 seconds to soften.
  3. Lightly spray both sides of wrap with cooking spray (at this stage you can also sprinkle on a little garlic powder or chili powder, if you like).
  4. Place wrap over the outside of an upside-down oven-safe bowl (make sure the bowl has a flat bottom). Press the wrap around the sides of the bowl.
  5. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until wrap is lightly browned and crispy.
  6. Cool the taco bowl completely before serving.

     For a dessert taco bowl, spray both sides of a wrap with cooking spray and then sprinkle both sides with a cinnamon-sugar mixture. Bake on the outside of a sprayed oven-safe bowl for 10-12 minutes, until lightly browned and crispy, and cool completely before serving.

     When you start any recipe with a Fiber One Wrap, you know you’ll be getting 7 grams of healthy fiber – that’s 28 percent of your recommended Daily Value. But when you turn a Fiber One Wrap into a taco bowl, you’ll also be getting an extra helping of fun!

 

Fiber One Wraps come in Traditional White, Garden Vegetable and Honey Wheat. Uncle Wally’s markets Fiber One Wraps under license for General Mills.

Posted in Dessert Recipes, diet, digestive health, Fiber, Fiber One Wrap Recipes, Fiber One Wraps, Health, Heart Health, low fat recipes, Recipes | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sweet Wrap-Up

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Uncle Wally's

     We’ve always known our Fiber One Wraps are amazing, but these easy wrap ideas are totally sweet!

     Whether you’re looking for a sweet snack or a dessert, these recipes using our Fiber One Wraps will satisfy your sweet tooth (not to mention giving you 28% your daily fiber requirement in each wrap).  Several of these ideas even make a great breakfast.

     After you’ve read these recipes, go to Uncle Wally’s Facebook page and let us know how you like to use our delicious Fiber One Wraps!

 

Apple Pie Wrap

Apple Pie Wrap. Warm a Fiber One Wrap for 10 seconds in microwave. Place ½ cup warmed apple pie filling down center of wrap and fold sides over. Serve with a scoop of low-fat vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt.

Quick Cannoli Roll. Warm a Fiber One Wrap for 10 seconds in microwave. In a bowl, mix together 1/3 cup low-fat ricotta cheese, 1 tbsp. confectioner’s sugar, ¼ tsp. vanilla or almond flavoring, and 1 tbsp. mini chocolate chips. Spread down center of the Fiber One Wrap and roll it up.

S'mores Slices

S’Mores Slices. Cut a Fiber One Wrap into quarters and place, slightly separated, on a microwavable plate. Sprinkle on 1/3 cup mini marshmallows and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Sprinkle on 2-3 tbsp. chocolate chips and microwave for an additional 30 seconds (If desired, put under a broiler till marshmallows turn golden brown). Let cool a minute or two before eating.

 

Banana Nutella Roll-Up. Spread on a Fiber One Wrap: 1-2 tbsp. of chocolate-nut spread, such as Nutella, add banana slices and roll up. Cut the finished wrap in half.

Blueberry Crepe

Blueberry Crepe. Mix together 3 tbsp. light cream cheese and 2-3 tsp. powdered sugar. Spread down center of a Fiber One Wrap. Place 1/3 cup blueberries (fresh or thawed) down the center of the wrap. Fold up wrap. Melt 1 tsp. butter in a frying pan (or use non-stick cooking spray) and brown the crepe for 4-5 minutes on medium-high (turning once to evenly brown both sides). Top with microwaved blueberries and sugar mixture, if desired.

NOTE: We used our Honey Wheat Fiber One Wraps in these recipes, but we think Traditional White Fiber One Wraps would also be delicious

Fiber One Wraps are available in Traditional White, Garden Vegetable and Honey Wheat varieties. Uncle Wally’s markets Fiber One Wraps under license for General Mills.

Posted in apples, Blueberries, breakfast, Dessert Recipes, diet, Fiber, Fiber One Wrap Recipes, Fiber One Wraps, Health, Heart Health, Recipes, Snack Recipes, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10 Keys to a Healthy Heart

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Uncle Wally's

In honor of American Heart Month, here are 10 ways to keep your heart healthy for you and the people you love:

  1. Eat a healthy diet. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Limit saturated fat, trans fats and cholesterol and add more fiber* to prevent high cholesterol. Limiting salt can help lower blood pressure.
  2. Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of heart disease.
  3. Exercise. The U.S. Surgeon General recommends 30 minutes daily of moderate-intensity physical activity. This helps maintain healthy weight, cholesterol and blood pressure. 
  4. Monitor blood pressure. High blood pressure can damage your heart and blood vessels. It has no symptoms, so make sure to check it regularly – at home, a doctor’s office or your local pharmacy.
  5. Don’t smoke. Smoking greatly increases heart-disease risk. If you don’t smoke, don’t start; if you already smoke, quit as soon as possible. Your doctor can help.
  6. Limit alcohol. Too much alcohol can increase blood pressure. Suggested limits: two drinks a day for men, one for women.
  7. Check cholesterol. Levels should be tested at least once every five years. If your cholesterol is high, talk to your doctor about treatment.
  8. Manage diabetes. Controlling blood sugar is important for a healthy heart and blood vessels. If you have diabetes, closely monitor blood sugar and work with your doctor on treatment.
  9. Take your meds. If your doctor has prescribed medicine for high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, follow instructions carefully and ask questions if there’s anything you don’t understand.
  10. Take it one step at a time. Keeping your heart healthy is a lifelong process that can begin with small lifestyle changes. Ask family and friends to join you in the process, and don’t get overwhelmed.

SOURCE: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

*Uncle Wally’s has an array of high-fiber and low-fat baked goods that can make you happy while they help keep you healthy. They include: Smart Portion Muffin Tops with probiotics, Fiber One Wraps and our Fat-Free Muffin line. See Uncle Wally’s website for more information about our delicious products.

Posted in antioxidants, cardiovascular disease, cholesterol, Diabetes, diet, digestive health, Exercise, Fat-free muffins, Fiber, Fiber One Wraps, Health, Heart Health, Probiotics, Smart Portion Apple Cranberry Muffin Tops, Smart Portion Muffin Tops, Staying Healthy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Recipe: Super Bowl Chili and Corn Muffins

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Uncle Wally's

     No matter which team you’re rooting for in the Super Bowl, we can all agree that hot chili and a side of savory corn muffins are the perfect game-day lineup!

     So we’ve created an easy Super Bowl Chili recipe that is a great match for Uncle Wally’s Corn Muffins – and a perfect way to score big with your hungry crowd.

 

Uncle Wally’s Super Bowl Chili

  • 2 lb. lean ground beef or turkey
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • ¼ cup chili powder
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp. ground cumin
  • 3 cans (28 ounce) diced tomatoes
  • 3 tbs. tomato paste
  • 3 cans (15 ounce) red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Serve with:

  • Uncle Wally’s Rich & Moist Corn Mini Muffins (or any other variety of Uncle Wally’s Corn Muffins)

Other Serving Suggestions:

  • Cooked rice
  • Grated cheddar cheese
  • Light sour cream
  • Hot pepper Sauce

     Sautee ground meat, onions and garlic about 5 minutes, until meat is browned. Add other ingredients and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. This recipe can be made a day ahead and reheated.

      Enjoy the game!

Posted in Corn Muffins, Holiday Recipes, Mini Muffins, Recipes, Rich & Moist Muffins, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment