Rita’s has introduced the following three Sugar-Free Italian Ice flavors this
year: Mango Peach, Chocolate and Pineapple. These flavors will join Rita’s
existing Sugar-Free lineup of Tangerine, Cherry, Pink Lemonade and Root Beer,
for a total of 7 Sugar-Free Italian Ice flavor offerings.  Rita’s Slenderita
is available in Vanilla at participating locations.

To ensure that more Guests are able to enjoy Rita’s delicious treats, the
company has launched the new line to offer healthy treat options for those with
dietary restrictions or watching their waistline. Rita’s believes that the
current offerings, coupled with the new healthier treats, will bring Guests
coming back for more while attracting new Guests who are looking for healthier
treat alternatives.

“The feedback we get from our valued Guests is highly instrumental in our
menu construction,” said Jim Rudolph, Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer, Rita’s Franchise Company. “Many Guests have special
dietary needs and concerns, and our new ‘Light Line’ allows them the
opportunity to enjoy our legendary frozen treats. We will continue to innovate
and develop products for our Light Line throughout 2009 and beyond.”

Rita’s “Light Line” selections are currently available at Rita’s
locations.  For more information on Rita’s “Light Line,” and for
nutritional information on all Rita’s products, please visit www.ritasice.com
<http://www.ritasice.com> .

A Philadelphia tradition, Rita’s Italian Ices are made fresh daily and are
available in more than 40 different flavors.  Rita’s Old-Fashioned Frozen
Custard is a soft serve dessert that is available in chocolate, vanilla,
strawberry and coffee flavors and can be served in a cup or a cone. Rita’s
Gelati is a delightful frozen treat that provides the best of both worlds –
frozen custard mixed with layers of Italian Ice.  Similar to the Gelati,
Rita’s Misto Shake is also a blend of Italian Ice and frozen custard and is a
convenient treat for those on the go. Rita’s Blendini is a blend of Rita’s
frozen custard, fresh Italian Ice and crushed OreoÒ cookie pieces or NillaÒ
wafer pieces.  Rita’s SlenderitaTM is a creamy and delicious Fat-Free soft
serve that is available in vanilla and can be served in a cup or a cone, in
Gelati, or blended into a BlendiniTM.  Rita’s first-ever coffee drink, The
RitaccinoTM, is a frosty treat with a rich coffee taste, topped with Rita’s
famous vanilla custard.  Rita’s also offers Sugar-Free Italian Ice in Cherry,
Pink Lemonade, Root Beer and Tangerine, Mango Peach, Chocolate and Pineapple.

About Rita’s
Rita’s Franchise Company, headquartered in Trevose, Pa., is the largest
Italian Ice concept in the nation, currently operating in 17 states with more
than 550 stores. Rita’s brand promise is Ice, Custard and Happinessä. The
chain offers a variety of frozen treats including its famous Italian Ice, Old
Fashioned Frozen Custard, and layered Gelati, as well as its signature Mistoä
and Blendiniä creations. Rita’s was named one of the Top 25 Franchise High
Performers by the Wall Street Journal’s ‘Startup Journal.’ For more
information about Rita’s, please call 1-800-677-RITA or visit www.ritasice.com
<http://www.ritasice.com>

Dr. Bowden, author of “The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth,” updates his list with some favorite foods that are easy to find but don’t always find their way into our shopping carts. Here’s his advice.

1. Beets: Think of beets as red spinach, Dr. Bowden said, because they are a rich source of folate as well as natural red pigments that may be cancer fighters.
   How to eat: Fresh, raw and grated to make a salad. Heating decreases the antioxidant power.
2. Cabbage: Loaded with nutrients like sulforaphane, a chemical said to boost cancer-fighting enzymes.
   How to eat: Asian-style slaw or as a crunchy topping on burgers and sandwiches.
3. Swiss chard: A leafy green vegetable packed with carotenoids that protect aging eyes.
   How to eat it: Chop and saute in olive oil.
4. Cinnamon: May help control blood sugar and cholesterol.
   How to eat it: Sprinkle on coffee or oatmeal.
5. Pomegranate juice: Appears to lower blood pressure and loaded with antioxidants.
   How to eat: Just drink it.
6. Dried plums: Okay, so they are really prunes, but packed with cancer-fighting antioxidants.
   How to eat: Wrapped in prosciutto and baked.
7. Pumpkin seeds: The most nutritious part of the pumpkin and packed with magnesium; high levels of the mineral are associated with lower risk for early death.
   How to eat: Roasted as a snack, or sprinkled on salad.
8. Sardines: Dr. Bowden calls them “health food in a can.’’ They are high in omega-3’s, contain virtually no mercury and are loaded with calcium. They also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese as well as a full complement of B vitamins.
   How to eat: Choose sardines packed in olive or sardine oil. Eat plain, mixed with salad, on toast, or mashed with dijon mustard and onions as a spread.
9. Turmeric: The “superstar of spices,’’ it has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
   How to eat: Mix with scrambled eggs or in any vegetable dish.
10. Frozen blueberries: Even though freezing can degrade some of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables, frozen blueberries are available year-round and don’t spoil; associated with better memory in animal studies.
    How to eat: Blended with yogurt or chocolate soy milk and sprinkled with crushed almonds.
11. Canned pumpkin: A low-calorie vegetable that is high in fiber and immune-stimulating vitamin A; fills you up on very few calories.
    How to eat: Mix with a little butter, cinnamon and nutmeg.

You can find more details and recipes on the Men’s Health Web site, which published the original version of the list last year.

Forty-Five Percent of U.S. Employees Have Gained Weight at Their Current Jobs, CareerBuilder.com Study Finds

Expert Offers Tips to Help Make Healthy Choices on the Job This Summer

CHICAGO, May 14, 2008 – Swimsuit season is right around the corner and for many people that means one thing: dieting. In an office setting, though, cutting back on calories and finding time to exercise can seem like an impassable hurdle, as a new CareerBuilder.com survey reports that 45 percent of workers have gained weight at their current jobs, similar to last year’s findings. The survey was conducted from February 11 through March 13, 2008 among 7,688 workers.

Twenty-six percent of employees report they have gained more than ten pounds and 12 percent say they gained more than 20 pounds while in their present positions. Comparing genders, women are more likely (50 percent) than men (42 percent) to say they have gained weight at their current jobs.

Comparing industries, 53 percent of financial services employees and 52 percent of government employees say they have gained weight in their current positions; the highest recorded weight gain among industries surveyed. Retail and leisure and hospitality had the lowest percentage of employees gain weight in their current roles, at 36 percent and 41 percent, respectively.

“Weight gain can be quite common in the workplace, especially when the winter months keep most of us cooped up all day and calorie-laden treats seem to wait around every corner,” said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of Human Resources for CareerBuilder.com. “As the weather warms up and people are more likely to get in a healthy mindset, it’s a great time of year to be more aware of your health, get active and be more cognizant of your food choices.”

Eating habits can often be a culprit in workplace weight gain. Nearly two-in-five (38 percent) percent of employees surveyed eat out for lunch twice or more per week, making it difficult to control portions and calorie intake. An additional 12 percent buy their lunch out of a vending machine at least once a week.

Snacking can also be a slippery slope for those trying to cut back on calories, as two-thirds (66 percent) of employees surveyed snack at least once a day, while nearly 25 percent snack at least twice a day.

One of the ways employees can cut back on workplace weight gain is by heading to the gym during lunch hour, but according to the survey, only 9 percent of employees work up a sweat in the middle of the day.

More employees may be inclined to take advantage of gym facilities during lunch and outside of work, though, as 28 percent of companies now provide gym passes, workout facilities or wellness benefits.

Haefner recommends the following tips for fending off workplace weight gain:

• Start the day off right – Eating a high-protein and fiber-filled breakfast can provide the energy you need to get you to lunch and avoid the temptation of break room donuts, candy or other high-fat treats.
• Stay hydrated – Sometimes a snack craving can be mistaken for dehydration. Be sure to keep water or another healthy beverage at your desk throughout the day so that you can hydrate freely.
• Write it down – Keeping nutrition and food journal can help you track how your snacks and meals add up during the day, allowing you to notice when you overindulge.
• Mix up your routine – Every little bit of activity helps, so take the stairs to your floor, walk over to co-workers instead of calling or emailing them or try parking your car farther away from the office.
• Keep your cool – Stress can fuel poor eating habits, as you can tend to overeat or make inadequate food choices when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Try to manage stress with regular exercise and speak with a supervisor if you’re workload is drowning you.

Fat politican links:

• Column: This Fat Tuesday, remember those politicians who tipped the scales
• Duncan Losing Weight for Electoral Gain
  Mitt Romney Calls Al Gore Fat
• In which I defend Hillary Clinton’s hips
• Politicians Propose Restaurant Ban For Obese Citizens

Wondering if these politicians would adhere to such a restaurant ban: