a pomegranate a day

2010-03-30T21:57:00.000-07:00

wait for summer and I promise I will rededicate myself to this blog :)

and don't tan.

eat your veggies.

that should tide you over.

'twas the night before fitness...er, Christmas.

2009-12-24T09:12:00.000-08:00

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the gym
Not a treadmill was running, no bike was a-spin;

The towels were rolled by the front desk with care,
In hopes that all fit ladies soon would be there;

But this fit lady was fast asleep in bed,
While visions of tempo runs danced in my head;

Then my alarm, in its loudness, went off with a clap,
Waking me up from my long winter’s nap,

When out on the street there arose a pitter-patter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Down the stairs I ran just like Paula Radcliffe
(If she broke an ankle and her knee was stiff).

The sun in the east crept up steady and slow
Trying to convince me it wasn’t ten below,

When, who just happened to run by in a blur,
But Girls Gotta Move and eight fitness bloggers,

With my fitness slave drivers, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment I was in for it.

More rapid than eagles their orders they came,
And they whistled, and shouted, and called us by name;

“Run, Eat, Repeat! McSlacker! now, Tina and Jenna!
On MizFit! Jogger’s Life! Let’s go Fit Bottomed Girls!

To the end of the race! you won’t hit the wall!
Now sprint away! sprint away! sprint away all!”

And these runners had endorphins in great supply,
When they met with a hill, up to the top they’d fly,

So up to Central Park the ladies they flew,
With a group full of athletes—marathoners too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the street
Prancing and pounding of many little feet.

As I drew in my gut, and was turning around,
Down the trail Girls Gotta Move came with a bound.

They were dressed in spandex, from their head to their feet,
And their clothes were stained with bits of cream of wheat;

Racing bibs were safety-pinned right onto their backs,
And they weren’t followers—they were leading the pack.

Their abs—how they rippled! Their quads were so cut!
Their can-do ‘tude pulled me out of a running rut!

Their broken-in shoes were laced up like the pros,
And their quick stretches meant they were ready to go;

Wads of gum were held tightly in their teeth,
Matching sweatbands encircled their heads like wreaths;

They had infectious smiles and flat little bellies,
That made me wish they’d eat a bowlful of jelly.

I felt chubby and plump, like a jolly old elf,
But I really liked them, in spite of myself;

A wink of their eyes, and a twist of their heads,
Made me wonder if I’d soon be dropping dead;

They spoke not a word, but went straight to their work,
They picked up the pace of our run; then turned with a smirk,

And picking up their knees, elbows tucked, breathing deep
They gave us a nod, and the pace we did keep;

They ran to the finish, and to the team gave a grin,
Knowing our running obsession was to begin.

But I heard them exclaim, ere they ran towards the sun,
“Good health to all, you guys gave us a run!”

{source}

Homemade Lasagna

2009-12-21T21:47:00.000-08:00

Here's a great recipe from my mother-in-law. It's a new take on lasagna...and it's delicious! You'll have leftovers for days!

1/2 to 1 lb. hamburger

1/2 c. chopped onion

garlic salt to taste

2 cans tomato soup

1/4 tsp. oregano

1/2 c. water (you can replace with a can of diced tomatoes)

2 tsp. vinegar

1/2 lb. lasagna noodles (12 noodles)

1 pt. cottage cheese

1/2 lb. grated Mozzarella cheese

Brown hamburger and onion. Add garlic salt, oregano, soup, water, and vinegar. Simmer until mixed well. In a 13 x 9 inch pan, begin layers with 1/3 noodles, then 1/3 cottage cheese and 1/3 hamburger mixture. Repeat for 2 more layers. Top with Mozzarella and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven. Let set for 15 minutes before serving. If made ahead and refrigerated, bake a little longer. Excellent to freeze.

have a healthy weekend!

2009-12-18T08:29:00.000-08:00

Simple appetizers! Some looks complicated, but they all look delicious! (shrimp, anyone?)

Heart healthy gifts from the kitchen.

Here are some delicious must-have Christmas recipes!

The top 10 over-rated health foods of 2009...interesting!

Some tips for keeping extra holiday friction out of your relationship!

So it's a little late for an advent calender...but pick your favorite! 25 healthy holiday goodies!

4 back strengthening exercises.

Professions with the most risk for catching the cold/flu.

Some tips to soothe a sore throat.

be safe preparing for Christmas!

holiday health myths

2009-12-17T08:19:00.000-08:00

There are many health myths floating around, and here are a few relating to the holiday that I found on health.com:

Myth: Sugar makes kids hyperactive

Release the candy canes! Children who eat sugar act no differently than those who have none, according to 12 placebo-controlled studies.

One study found that when parents thought their children had been given a sugary drink (it was sugar free), they rated their child's behavior as hyperactive.

“A lot of occasions when kids are exposed to sugar are when they are most likely to be super excited, running around, and acting out,” says Dr. Carroll.

Myth: Suicides increase during the holidays

While the holiday season is a joyful for many, it can also be stressful or depressing. But a 35-year study on Minnesota residents found that suicides did not increase on or around Christmas or any other major holidays, including birthdays, Thanksgiving, or the Fourth of July.

Research from all over the world, in fact, shows that suicides are actually more prevalent in warm, summer months—a pattern that scientists can’t quite explain. While suicidal thoughts should be taken seriously at any time of year, there’s no reason to think that this month is especially dangerous.

Myth: Poinsettias are toxic

A 1996 analysis of 22,793 poinsettia cases reported to the American Association of Poison Control Centers revealed no significant poisoning.

It's possible to become ill by consuming a large amount of the plant, but it’s rare, even in small children and pets, says Edward Krenzelok, PharmD, director of the Pittsburgh Poison Control Center and Drug Information Center at the University of Pittsburgh.

Some studies suggest that poinsettia sap can be irritating to the skin.

Myth: You lose most of your body heat through your head

An old military study found that people in Arctic survival suits (but no hats) did lose a great deal of heat from their heads. But if you wore a swimsuit, you'd lose heat evenly across exposed body surfaces—and no more than 10% from the head.

“We often hear parents say that as long as their kids are wearing a hat, they feel that they’re sufficiently dressed,” says Dr. Vreeman. “Of course they should bundle up for protection from the cold, but they should be equally concerned about gloves and boots as well.”

Myth: Eating at night makes you fat

There's no research to support the belief that eating before bed causes more weight gain. There are benefits of eating meals at consistent times, but only because it helps limit overall intake of daily calories.

“The time of day a person eats is not as important for overall weight gain as the amount of calories eaten during the day,” says Jeannie Gazzaniga-Moloo PhD, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. Avoid your favorite go-to comfort foods before bed, she says, but don’t fret if your dinner gets pushed back a few hours.

Holiday Stress

2009-12-14T10:41:00.000-08:00

The holidays are stressful. With students, it coincides with final exams and projects. Trying to go to school, raise a family, work part/full time AND enjoy/provide the holiday cheer canbe exhausting. Here are some ideas from the Mayo clinic to remain stress-free (or close to it) during the upcoming weeks:

Recognize holiday triggers

Learn to recognize common holiday triggers, so you can disarm thembefore they lead to a meltdown:

Relationships. Relationships can cause turmoil, conflict or stress at any time, but tensions are often heightened during the holidays. Family misunderstandings and conflicts can intensify — especially if you're thrust together for several days. On the other hand, facing the holidays without a loved one can be tough and leave you feeling lonely and sad.
Finances. With the added expenses of gifts, travel, food and entertainment, the holidays can put a strain on your budget — and your peace of mind. Not to mention that overspending now can mean financial worries for months to come.
Physical demands. Even die-hard holiday enthusiasts may find that the extra shopping and socializing can leave them wiped out. Being exhausted increases your stress, creating a vicious cycle. Exercise and sleep — good antidotes for stress and fatigue — may take a back seat to chores and errands. To top it off, burning the wick at both ends makes you more susceptible to colds and other unwelcome guests.

Tips to prevent holiday stress and depression

Acknowledge your feelings. If someone close to you has recently died or you can't be with loved ones, realize that it's normal to feel sadness and grief. It's OK to take time to cry or express your feelings. You can't force yourself to be happy just because it's the holiday season.
Reach out. If you feel lonely or isolated, seek out community, religious or other social events. They can offer support and companionship. Volunteering your time to help others also is a good way to lift your spirits and broaden your friendships.
Be realistic. The holidays don't have to be perfect or just like last year. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Choose a few to hold on to, and be open to creating new ones. For example, if your adult children can't come to your house, find new ways to celebrate together, such as sharing pictures, emails or videotapes.
Set aside differences. Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don't live up to all your expectations. Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time for discussion. And be understanding if others get upset or distressed when something goes awry. Chances are they're feeling the effects of holiday stress and depression too.
Stick to a budget. Before you go gift and food shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend. Then stick to your budget. Don't try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts. Try these alternatives: Donate to a charity in someone's name, give homemade gifts or start a family gift exchange.
Plan ahead. Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make your shopping list. That'll help prevent last-minute scrambling to buy forgotten ingredients. And make sure to line up help for party prep and cleanup.
Learn to say no. Saying yes when you should say no can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Friends and colleagues will understand if you can't participate in every project or activity. If it's not possible to say no when your boss asks you to work overtime, tr y to remove something else from your agenda to make up for the lost time.
Don't abandon healthy habits. Don't let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt. Have a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don't go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks. Continue to get plenty of sleep and physical activity.
Take a breather. Make some time for your self. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Take a walk at night and stargaze. Listen to soothing music. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring inner calm.
Seek professional help if you need it. Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, and unable to face routine chores. If these feelings last for a while, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional.

Take control of the holidays

Don't let the holidays become something you dread. Instead, take steps to prevent the stress and depression that can descend during the holidays. With a little planning and some positive thinking, you may find that you enjoy the holidays this year more than you thought you could.

Enjoy the upcoming holidays!

Fitness Basics &; Getting the Most from Your Workout

2009-12-10T10:40:00.000-08:00

The Mayoclinic offers some advice on starting a fitness program. It's important to remember that starting a fitness program doesn't mean tomorrow you will run a marathon when you haven't exercised in weeks. Exercisings is one of the greatest things you can do for your health, but it doesn't have to be monumental. Consistently and correctly, small amounts of exercise can do so much good for your body.

First, Mayoclinic says to think of your goals. What exercises do you like? Acknowledge your limitations before you begin a program.

Stretching and Flexibility

Stretching is a powerful part of any exercise program. Most aerobic and strength training programs inherently cause your muscles to contract and flex. Stretching after you exercise promotes equal balance. Stretching also increases flexibility, improves range of motion of your joints and boosts circulation. Stretching can even promote better posture and relieve stress.

As a general rule, stretch whenever you exercise. If you don't exercise regularly, you might want to stretch at least three times a week to maintain flexibility. When you're stretching, keep it gentle. Breathe freely as you hold each stretch. Try not to hold your breath. Don't bounce or hold a painful stretch. Expect to feel tension while you're stretching. If you feel pain, you've gone too far.

Aerobic Exercise

Regular aerobic exercise can help you live longer and healthier. After all, aerobic exercise reduces health risks, keeps excess pounds at bay, strengthens your heart and boosts your mood. Better yet, aerobic exercise can be done in short bursts or longer sessions. So what are you waiting for?

For many people, walking is a great choice for aerobic exercise. In fact, walking is one of the most natural forms of exercise. It's safe, it's simple — and all it takes to get started is a good pair of walking shoes and a commitment to include aerobic exercise in your daily routine.

Of course, there's more to aerobic exercise than walking. Other popular choices include swimming, bicycling and jogging. Activities such as dancing and jumping rope count, too. Get creative!

Strength Training

Strength training can help you tone your muscles and improve your appearance. With a regular strength training program, you can reduce your body fat, increase your lean muscle mass and burn calories more efficiently. Better yet, strength training doesn't take as long as you might think. For most people, two to three strength training sessions a week lasting just 20 to 30 minutes are sufficient.

Strength training can be done at home or in the gym. Free weights and weight machines are popular strength training tools, but they're not the only options. You can do strength training with inexpensive resistance tubing or even your own body weight. With proper technique, you may enjoy noticeable improvements in your strength and stamina in just a few weeks.
The Mayoclinic gives advice on eating and exercise and how to time the two for maximum results.

Eat a healthy breakfast. Wake up early enough to eat breakfast. Most of the energy you got from dinner last night is used up by morning. Your blood sugar may be low. If you don't eat, you may feel sluggish or lightheaded while exercising. If you plan to exercise within an hour after breakfast, eat a smaller breakfast or drink something to raise your blood sugar, such as a sports drink.
Time your meals based on their size. Eat large meals at least three to four hours before exercising. You can eat small meals two to three hours before exercising.
Most people can eat snacks right before and during exercise. The key is how you feel. Do what works best for you.
Don't skip meals. Skipping meals may cause low blood sugar, which can make you feel weak and lightheaded. If you're short on time before your workout, and your choice is candy or nothing, eat the candy because it can improve your performance, compared with eating nothing. But keep in mind, all candy is high in sugar and low on nutrients, so a snack of yogurt and a banana would be a better choice. Know that for some people, eating something less than an hour before exercise can cause low blood sugar. Find out what works for you.
Eat after your workout. To help your muscles recover and to replace their glycogen stores, eat a meal that contains both protein and carbohydrates within two hours of your exercise session if possible. Women, in particular, may need protein after resistance training.

They also remind you to eat carbohydrates, especially cereals, breads, vegetables, pasta, rice and fruit. You should also drink plently of water and remember your past experience. Eat what feels good for you and don't try to overload your stomach or your body!

Remember, exercising is important, but you can do it at your own pace and accomplish your health goals with an individual plan.

A good goal is starting with 15-30 minutes of aerobic exercies (remember that walking to school can count!), adding a day or two of streching or strength training during the week. Try to build to an hour a day, and see the FAQ for the 2008 recommended guidelines for adults.

Dinner Table Myths

2009-12-09T10:39:00.001-08:00

Who doesn't remember the phrase "finish all your food" or "clean your plate" from your parents when you were younger. A hard part of parenting is getting your children to eat, eat enough, and eat healthy. Sometimes, they don't want to. Health.com has an article called "Dinner Table Myths Debunked" and it does a great job of giving tips to parents (and future parents) on getting children to eat...what to do and what not to do.

MYTH: Clean your plate. There are starving children in (insert third-world country here).

Children who are forced to clean their plates override their natural ability to monitor how much food they need to grow at a healthy rate. One study showed that preschoolers who were rewarded for cleaning their plates ate more. Don’t worry about your child going hungry; infants and toddlers are able to self-regulate their energy needs and intake, says Jane Uzcategui, a registered dietitian in upstate New York.

Try this: Start serving your child small portions and let them ask for more. A 2003 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that when children served themselves food, the portions were appropriate for their age, whereas when adults served them double portions, the children ate 25% more

MYTH: Eat your veggies or no dessert

Sweets should be a once-in-awhile treat, not a nightly ritual to force-feed picky eaters their vegetables. Once parents get into the pattern of bribing their children with dessert, the association of healthy food with “bad” food becomes ingrained..

Candy, cake, and other desserts don’t add any nutrition to your child’s diet, so you’re not depriving your toddler in any way. In fact, you may be helping them. One study has shown that kids whose parents used food and treats as a reward struggle with food controlling their behavior as adults—making this dinner table rule a lifelong battle.

Try this: Depriving children of sweets will encourage them to eat more sugary treats outside of the house. Instead, offer healthier alternatives like fruit or natural sweeteners like honey.

MYTH: What my kids eat now won’t affect them later

“The period from birth to two years is a critical window for the promotion of optimal growth, health, and behavioral development,” according to the International Food Information Council.

“If (a child) is used to poor nutrition quality, they’re missing key nutrients,” says Uzcategui. If a 2-year-old has grown accustomed to drinking soda at lunch and dinner, he or she runs the risk of forming poor nutrition decision-making and being deficient in nutrients provided by milk and 100% juices.

These key nutrients can’t be made up through taking a multivitamin, she says. According to a 2005 report from the federal Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, children are not getting adequate amounts of calcium, fiber, magnesium, vitamin E, and potassium.

“Poor eating habits never fare well in the long run,” Uzcategui explains. Children who learn to make poor diet choices are at more risk of becoming overweight or obese, and these habits are learned younger than parents might think, she says. While you may see that scrawny toddler running around with a bag of chips and a sugar juice drink, chances are, those calories and poor habits will catch up.

Try this: Don’t use food, especially junk food, as a comfort tool. Build good habits by finding the real reasons why your child is upset and treating the problem appropriately. Food should only be used to relieve hunger.

MYTH: Sugar hypes kids up

Contrary to popular belief, sugar does not have a physiologic effect, like a “sugar high.

“There are numerous studies in which children have been studied after consuming sugar, and on other occasions after consuming a drink without sugar, and the sugar clearly does not alter the behavior of the kids,” Strupp says. “It is very clear from the scientific literature that sugar does not cause hyperactivity in children, and in fact does not alter their behavior.”

Both Strupp and registered dietitian Jane Uzcategui relates this “sugar high” phenomenon not to sugar itself, but to the atmosphere kids are in when they consume sugar: birthday parties, family gatherings, holidays. Occasions like these excite children with or without sugar.

Sugar isn’t getting off completely scot-free. It’s still the culprit for cavities and a key player in overweight and obesity. And if children fill up on soda or candy, they won’t be hungry for nutritious foods, possibly leading to nutrient deficiencies and over-consumption of calories.

Try this: Choose water or milk instead of juice drinks and soda with meals. Juices “drinks” are not real juices; they are higher in sugar than 100% juices. Be sure to read the labels carefully.

MYTH: My child won’t eat; he’s going to starve

As parents, it’s important to make available healthy foods so when a child is hungry, he will eat nutritiously. Even if a child doesn’t like carrots, if there is nothing else available and he is hungry, those carrots will be appetizing, explains Uzcategui.

Frequently, young children will experience food jags—when they only eat one particular food for a certain period of time. Children will move from food to food, but they will eat enough to maintain their energy balance.

Try this: It takes eight to 10 times for a child to decide if he or she really likes or dislikes a food. Often, parents offer a food once, and if the child doesn’t eat it, they never reintroduce it. “The key is to constantly introduce (children) to new foods,” says Keri Gans, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

read whole article here

I think it's important to remember that as parents, we have a great deal of influence over our children and what they eat. Providing a home where healthy snacks are available and even sweet treats are available in moderation is a good place to start. Also, children will follow your example. If you don't eat your veggies, why should they? Teach your children what foods are good for them, and provide a place wherein they can utilize that knowldege.

Here is another article on how to deal with a picky eater and how to make lunches your kids will eat.

Have a healthy weekend!

2009-12-04T15:46:00.000-08:00

How to keep your home safe during the holidays.

6 kinds of cookies from one healthy cookie dough? Talk about efficient!

8 reasons to make time for family dinner.

Five delicious holiday meals.

8 holiday foods that are the worst for you.

Survive the holidays without gaining weight.

7 foods health experts won't eat. (oops.)

Lose 90 calories a day...doing a sudoku?

How the pros lose 10 lbs.

What Counts as a Cup?

2009-12-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

The CDC has an article that shows you what counts as servings of fruits and vegetables. It can be hard to

know what to eat when all you know is "5 a day". What does that even mean? Vegetables come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them are a cup and some a half. You can refer to a previous post to read more about that. Here are helpful examples from the CDC:

1 cup	1/2 cup

1 small apple	1 small banana

1 cup	1/2 cup

1 cup of lettuce* and 1/2 cup of other vegetables	6 baby carrots

1 cup	1/2 cup

1/2 large sweet potato and 1/2 cup of green beans	16 grapes

EXAMPLES OF 1 CUP


1 small apple	1 large banana	1 medium grapefruit


1 large orange	1 medium pear	1 small wedge watermelon


2 large or 3 medium plums	8 large strawberries	1 large bell pepper


1 medium potato	2 large stalks of celery	1 cup cooked greens or 2 cups raw (spinach, collards, mustard greens, turnip greens)

12 baby carrots
(or 2 medium carrots)

1 large sweet potato

1 large ear of corn

EXAMPLES OF 1/2 CUP


1 snack container of applesauce (4oz)	16 grapes	1 medium cantaloupe wedge


1/2 medium grapefruit	4 large strawberries	5 broccoli florets


6 baby carrots	1 large plum	1 small box (1/4 cup) of raisins

Lasagna Soup

2009-11-30T08:34:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite soups to make. You'll have leftovers for days and it's full of yummy healthy ingredients!

(you can half or quarter as you like)

1/2 lb. italian sausage

1/2 lb. ground beef

1.5 tsp of salt (or not, since everything else is so salty

1.5 c. chopped onion (I usually omit this and it's fine...but if you like onions...)

1.5 c. carrots

6 cloves minced garlic (that is sooo much. I either do a clove or two or sprinkle some power on there)

brown sausage/beef with salt. add carrots and onions. saute for 3 minutes. add garlic, saute for 3 more. set aside.

7 tsp chicken soup base (I use a cube of two of boullion)

7 c. water

3 c. of canned diced tomatoes (a can or two, depending how much you like tomatoes)

1.5 c. marinara sauce

1/2 tsp oregano, tyme, basil, parsley

combine all in soup pot. add first section, boil until carrots are tender.

still boiling, add egg noodle pasta (original recipe calls for .24 lb...or 3.84 oz. Unless you cook like that, I just add noodles until I feel like there is enough). simmer for 10 minutes.

enjoy with parmesan and/or mazarella cheese.

Have a Healthy Weekend!

2009-11-27T10:33:00.000-08:00

Hope your Thanksgiving was great! Here's some post-Thanksgiving pre-Christmas articles!

What to do with all that left-over turkey!

The tastiest and healthiest pies.

A healthy and minimalist menu for upcoming holiday dinners.

Your holiday stay-slim guide.

Your black Friday 101 guide.

Enjoy the holiday weekend...and get some good deals!

Need some last minute recipes?

2009-11-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

I found this great site, Simply Recipes. It's a family blog type thing and all the recipes have been tried at home. They have a fair amount of recipes, and one section for Thanksgiving. Sweet!

You can also browse the budget, low carb, quick, and a great tips section. I love it! Tonight I made spinach following their recipe and it was pretty good!

Good luck cooking!

What I'm Eating This Thanksgiving:

2009-11-24T10:00:00.000-08:00

Here's some of my favorite family recipes. The first, mac & cheese in a family staple. No occasion or event or celebration or dinner is ever held without it. It is that good. The second is a fruit salad that we haven't had for a few years, but I'm going to make it this year. Enjoy! What are some of your favorite foods from Thanksgiving?

Macaroni & Cheese

3 c. macaroni (cooked) (don't make that mistake -- I have)
2 small cans of tomato soup
1/2 - 2/3rds lb cubed cheese (cheddar or colby jack work great)
salt & pepper

Mix together and place in an oven safe dish. Cut little pieces of butter to put on top. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 55 minutes. Uncover and bake for about 10 minutes, until the edges are cooked. enjoy!

Cranberry Pineapple frozen salad

1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup lemon juice
20 oz drained crushed pineapple
1/2 c chopped pecans (I leave those out just because I don't like nuts but... either way..)
1 can whole berry cranberry sauce
2 c mini marshmallows
8 oz cool whip

Mix together. Put in 9x13 pan (spray w/ cooking spray) and freeze until firm.

Hanging onto summer

2009-11-23T08:19:00.000-08:00

Here are some recipes from yoplait.com that sound soo good. For the most part, especially if you use frozen (then thawed) or canned fruit, you can easily make these even as we move into December.

Fresh Fruit Tart (ha, or maybe thawed fruit)

1 box lemon cake mix
1/2 c. butter/marg. softened
1 egg
2 cups vanilla yogurt
1 box instant pudding and pie filling mix
3 cups sliced fruit, berries, mandarin segments
3 tbsp apricot preserves preheat oven to

375 (350 for dark/nonstick)

grease pizza pan. mix cake mix, butter and egg until crumbly. press on pan. bake 14 - 18 minutes. cool completely. beat yogurt and pudding (dry) med. speed until blended. spread over baked layer, and arrange fruit. heat preserves until melted and brush over. serve/store within 24 hours. (don't leave out for more than 2!)

Banana Split Tart

1 box refrigerated pie crust
1/2 c. semi sweet chips, melted
1 c. yogurt (vanilla or strawberry)
2 small bananas, sliced
1 can (21 oz) strawberry pie filling
1 c. fresh (or thawed) strawberries

preheat oven to 375.

unroll 1 crust flat, centered on ungreased cookie sheet. place 2nd crust on top, pressing to seal and roll our to 14 in. round. fold 1/2 in. of crust, forming a border. seal with fluted edge. prick generously with a fork. bake 20 - 25 minutes. cool for 30 minutes. spread 1/4 c. of melted chocolate and yogurt. add banana slices and pie filling. then strawberries and drizzle with remaining chocolate.

yum!

have a healthy weekend!

2009-11-19T15:38:00.000-08:00

Need some more Thanksgiving food ideas? Here's some delicious looking sides! (and why we eat what we do for Thanksgiving).

While you're making all those great dishes, here's how to not get super-stressed about it.

And don't make these: 13 fattiest Thanksgiving foods. (bacon/apple pie? cute mashed potato sundae and krispy kreme for dessert....yum!)

Everything you need to know about turkey for Thanksgiving.

10 forgotten winter fruits and veggies and how to cook with them.

Some yummy fall casseroles.

Gourmet meals in less than 20 minutes? Yes, please!

How to make a healthier sandwich.

Here's some healthy living tips

Five healthy snacks that fill you up.

Everything you ever wanted to know about fruit.

10 exercise secrets

Successful exercise tips

One more set of tips. Including: when to eat, different kinds of exercise and sports drinks

10 tips for healthy eating in college.

College eating and fitness tips 101.

picture

no bake cookies

2009-11-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever tried these? They are super easy, require no sweating AND they are packed with heart-healthy oatmeal. I just googled a recipe for "easy no bake cookie recipe" (or something) and browsed a bit until I found one. I found this at about.com. There are probably more sophisticated websites but...this one worked (and tasted great!)

Ingredients:

4 ounces butter or margarine (one stick)
1/2 cup milk
2 cups sugar (I used that, but I think next time I'd just use one. That's a lot of sugar)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3 to 4 tablespoons peanut butter, optional (I used it and I liked it. Adds a little something)
3 cups oats, quick or old-fashioned
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation:

Place chocolate chips, peanut butter (if used), oats, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Combine the margarine, milk, and sugar in a saucepan; bring to a rolling boil. Boil for 1 minute. Combine the hot mixture with the oatmeal and chocolate chip mixture; stir well. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper.

Makes 2 dozen. I put one pan in the freezer for quick setting and it worked great!

Enjoy! (and while your at it, try these healthy cookie recipes or these)

picture

menu planning

2009-11-16T10:00:00.000-08:00

I have tried and failed over the years to create menus. For a few months I or we did great. But then school gets in the way and I don't want to make anything that takes longer than 10 minutes. Sound familiar? There are plenty of meal ideas that I have that are yummy, usually healthy and pretty quick. For some reason, menu planning in school is tricky! I've tried calendars and lists...and while they don't work for too long...I won't get discouraged yet!

One tip my mom gave me and that I've found a few places is to spend an evening and cook chicken and hamburger or sausage and then refrigerate or freeze. Then, when you want some tacos or soup or pasta and chicken, you don't have the added step of cooking the meat.

At the more matters website, they have so many great tips on menu planning. They are tried and true principles that if you can pick just one or two, I think meals can be faster, healthier and cheaper.

And get this: they even have five weeks worth of planned menus complete with shopping list. Some of them may be complicated or expensive (they calculate the approximate price). If you find ideas with things you already have, are only cooking for 1 -2 people, it will be cheaper!

I definitely say take advantage of pre-planned menus as a way to kick-start your own. As previously posted, even picking two or three days when you make a more involved meal, you can have leftovers (of which I am a firm believer) and can have a healthy delicious meal.

I have great links to all sorts of recipes. Check them out!

picture

have a healthy weekend!

2009-11-13T17:40:00.000-08:00

i'm sorry this is a bit later in the day. i've been feeling under the weather so today's posts isn't super long or from multiple sites. there should be enough to keep you occupied :)

how to survive anything. sweet.

focusing on your core can reduce the risk of diabetes and cancer. great t ips for healthy strong abs.

here's one I found super useful. I eat too much all the time, and then feel sick for the rest of the night. here's how to fix that :)

best and worse appetizers.

all about calcium.

some ways to get a good night's sleep.

and...super cute/cool idea...a pie in a jar!

picture

30 ways in 30 days [part 3]

2009-11-12T20:20:00.000-08:00

ways 21 - 30 on stretching your fruit and vegetable budget:

21. (not super applicable to all - sorry) Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) can be used to purchase vegetables

22. When trying new fruits and vegetables, buy in small amounts. Taste test before you change your list. (oh man, I struggle with that one).

23. Keep it simple. Buy dried beans, peas and lentils in their raw or uncooked form instead of the processed and packaged versions which cost more. (and here's how to cook them)

24. Avoid buying single servings. Small packages are often more expensive than buying in larger amounts. Freeze!

25. Shop at discount grocery stores. (BUY LOW!)

26. Shop at large grocery stores instead of small convenience stores when possible as their prices and variety differ greatly: cheaper and more.

27. To make many fresh fruits and vegetables last longer, store them in refrigerator or freezer soon after getting home.

28. Clearly label foods in the freezer and refrigerator with contents and date to stay with in a safe time frame.

29. Get creative! Make salsa from tomatoes and smoothies from your fruits. Find recipes at more matters.

30. Buy frozen fruits and vegetables in large bags to stretch your budget (ie green beans and blueberries). Avoid those with added sugar, salt or sauce.

source of 30 ways

a healthy relationship with food

2009-11-10T15:40:00.000-08:00

food, hunger & diet tips:

1. Reject the Diet Mentality - Throw out the diet books and magazine articles that offer you false hope of losing weight quickly, easily, and permanently. Get angry at the lies that have led you to feel as if you were a failure every time a new diet stopped working and you gained back all of the weight. If you allow even one small hope to linger that a new and better diet might be lurking around the corner, it will prevent you from being free to rediscover Intuitive Eating.

2. Honor Your Hunger - Keep your body biologically fed with adequate energy and carbohydrates. Otherwise you can trigger a primal drive to overeat. Once you reach the moment of excessive hunger, all intentions of moderate, conscious eating are fleeting and irrelevant. Learning to honor this first biological signal sets the stage for re-building trust with yourself and food.

3. Make Peace with Food - Call a truce, stop the food fight! Give yourself unconditional permission to eat. If you tell yourself that you can't or shouldn't have a particular food, it can lead to intense feelings of deprivation that build into uncontrollable cravings and, often, bingeing When you finally “give-in” to your forbidden food, eating will be experienced with such intensity, it usually results in Last Supper overeating, and overwhelming guilt.

4. Challenge the Food Police - Scream a loud "NO" to thoughts in your head that declare you're "good" for eating under 1000 calories or "bad" because you ate a piece of chocolate cake. The Food Police monitor the unreasonable rules that dieting has created . The police station is housed deep in your psyche, and its loud speaker shouts negative barbs, hopeless phrases, and guilt-provoking indictments. Chasing the Food Police away is a critical step in returning to Intuitive Eating.

5. Respect Your Fullness - Listen for the body signals that tell you that you are no longer hungry. Observe the signs that show that you're comfortably full. Pause in the middle of a meal or food and ask yourself how the food tastes, and what is your current fullness level?

6. Discover the Satisfaction Factor - The Japanese have the wisdom to promote pleasure as one of their goals of healthy living In our fury to be thin and healthy, we often overlook one of the most basic gifts of existence--the pleasure and satisfaction that can be found in the eating experience. When you eat what you really want, in an environment that is inviting and conducive, the pleasure you derive will be a powerful force in helping you feel satisfied and content. By providing this experience for yourself, you will find that it takes much less food to decide you've had "enough".

7. Honor Your Feelings Without Using Food - Find ways to comfort , nurture, distract, and resolve your issues without using food. Anxiety, loneliness, boredom, anger are emotions we all experience throughout life. Each has its own trigger, and each has its own appeasement. Food won't fix any of these feelings. It may comfort for the short term, distract from the pain, or even numb you into a food hangover. But food won't solve the problem. If anything, eating for an emotional hunger will only make you feel worse in the long run. You'll ultimately have to deal with the source of the emotion, as well as the discomfort of overeating.

8. Respect Your Body - Accept your genetic blueprint. Just as a person with a shoe size of eight would not expect to realistically squeeze into a size six, it is equally as futile (and uncomfortable) to have the same expectation with body size. But mostly, respect your body, so you can feel better about who you are. It's hard to reject the diet mentality if you are unrealistic and overly critical about your body shape.

9. Exercise--Feel the Difference - Forget militant exercise. Just get active and feel the difference. Shift your focus to how it feels to move your body, rather than the calorie burning effect of exercise. If you focus on how you feel from working out, such as energized, it can make the difference between rolling out of bed for a brisk morning walk or hitting the snooze alarm. If when you wake up, your only goal is to lose weight, it's usually not a motivating factor in that moment of time.

10 Honor Your Health- Gentle Nutrition Make food choices that honor your health and taste buds while making you feel well. Remember that you don't have to eat a perfect diet to be healthy. You will not suddenly get a nutrient deficiency or gain weight from one snack, one meal, or one day of eating. It's what you eat consistently over time that matters, progress not perfection is what counts.

originally from here, discovered here.

picture

30 ways in 30 days [part 2]

2009-11-09T10:03:00.000-08:00

ways 11 - 20 on stretching your fruit and vegetable budget:

11. Homemade soup is a healthy and tasty way to use vegetables. Make a big batch and freeze leftovers.

12. Looks for sales and deals on fruits and vegetables at the grocery store or through coupons.

13. Cut your fruits and vegetables at home. Pre-cut produce can cost much more than whole fruits and vegetables (and can go bad faster as well).

14. Don't shop hungry. Eat a health snack before shopping so you stick to your budget and avoid spending f/v money on less healthy temptations.

15. Maximize your time and money. Cut coupons for foods (such as f/v) only on your list.

16. Canned fruits and vegetables will last a long time and can be a healthy side to meals. Choose canned vegetables that have no added salt and fruit canned in 100% fruit juice.

17. Fruit and vegetables freeze well and you can store them until you're ready to add them to a meal.

18. Pick your own at local farms. Late summer and early fall is a great time to pick your own fruits and vegetables.

19. Dried fruit lasts for a long time. It can be more expensive, however, so buy with friends and split the cost, or find access to a drier and dry fruits your self.

20. Store brands can be a cheaper choice for fruits and vegetables.

have a healthy weekend!

2009-11-06T07:11:00.000-08:00

Here are some secrets to a happy family.

I'm not sure about the pumpkin ravioli, but the heart-healthy sweet potato fries look delicious!

How to talk yourself into anything...

Wanting to change your behavior or weight? Get someone involved - like your family!

20 recipes that will lower your cholestero l (ice cream sandwiches included...)

As of late, I've been thinking I'm turning into a hypochondriac. Glad I'm not the only one...

Your what-to-eat guide.

It seems to happen to everyone: once you tie the knot...you start gaining a little weight. Here is how to not let that happen.

Here's some cooking 101.

Healthy snacks for the dorm (or any college apartment!).

Can you really pay off your sleep debt with just one weekend??
Mix - and - match meal plan!

10 best stress reducers.

picture

30 ways in 30 days

2009-11-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

ways 1 - 10 on stretching your fruit and vegetable budget:

1. Calculate an appropriate Healthy Food Budget for your family. Use this easy calculator!

2. Cook enough for several meals and freeze leftovers.

3. Create a meal plan that uses similar fruits and vegetables in different ways. Make the most out of the produce you buy.

4. Buy fruits and vegetables in season at farmers' markets or at your grocery store

5. Grow your own vegetables. Invest a little, get a lot! Visit here for more information.

6. Mix it yourself. 100% juice from concentrate is often less expensive per serving than pre-bottled juice.

7. Minimize waste: only buy what you will eat!

8. Learn basic food math. With a food budget, decisions can be easier. Food math can help you decide if the watermelon or the bunch of grapes is a better buy.

9. Enjoy the comforts of home more often. Eating at restaurants increases the amount you spend on food. Include fruits and vegetables in quick, simple meals you prepare at home.

10. Be creative! To get the most out of your purchase, use fruits and vegetables in different ways. Here are some ways to liven up your fruits and veggies!

Antimicrobial Resistance

2009-11-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

Alarming to physicians and patients, bacteria is becoming more increasingly resistant to antibiotics, such as penicillin. There are three main reasons why this is happening:

1. over prescribing and mis-prescribing

2. insufficient duration of treatment and misuse of antibiotics by patients

3. use of antibiotics as growth promoters in livestock

First, over and mis prescribing. This is when doctor's fail to completely examine a patient or give an antibiotic prescription not knowing if it is a virus or a bacteria. Antibiotics do not work against the flu and most colds. All it does then, is increase the bacteria in your body's resistance for next time. Make sure what you have is a bacterial infection before you take antibiotics. Know this, and if your doctor prescribes antibiotics, ask him whether or not your ailment is a virus or bacteria, or if you'd be fine not taking them. Do not insist on antibiotics if you have the flu or a cold. Treat the symptoms instead.

Second, insufficient duration and misuse. This is when a patient is directed to take antibiotics for 10 days, and after they feel better after 4, stop taking the medication. This causes most of your body's normal bacteria and the illness-causing bacteria to be mostly wiped out, but leaves enough left that what is left will mutate and evolve to now be resistant or more so to antibiotics. Next time, they won't work as well until they don't work at all. If you are given a prescriptions with duration instructions, follow them exactly, even if you are feeling well. If you have extra antibiotics in your home from not completing a duration of treatment, do not take those the next time you feel under the weather. Do not give them to others, take them yourself, or use them instead of a doctor's visits. Properly dispose of them.

Third, antibiotics as growth promoters. On farms, there are lots of chickens and they inbreed and are genetically altered to be bigger. This means greater susceptibility and one bacterial disease could wipe out an entire farm. To prevent this, low doses of antibiotics are placed in the food. When we eat the meat, we get the remnants of the antibiotics. Veterinarians and farmers argue that the antibiotics they use in the animal feed is different than antibiotics used for humans. While this is true, they are the same classes...so that doesn't make it any better. I'm not sure what you should do about this, necessarily. I'm not saying to not eat meat. Just be aware that this is a controversial issue.

___________________________________________________________
extra information:

- antibiotics are natural compounds produced by environmental microorganisms

- topical antibiotics are not a problem.

- because of this growing resistance, we soon will not be able to cure common diseases, and people will die from things we should be able to cure.

- something you can do to prevent resistance is to be vaccinated for diseases (such as the flu or pneumonia) that use antibiotics as a treatment. That way, you won't even have an issue.

- antibiotics work by finding a susceptible part of the bacteria and destroying it.

- in recent years, the production of antibiotics has gone down. This is a problem, as the current ones we have won't work after a few years. We need to continue production of antibiotics in order to prevent needless deaths from common bacterial infections.

- the CDC has a great page about antibiotic/antimicrobial resistance (all links on page).

have a healthy weekend!

2009-10-30T10:00:00.001-07:00

Since it's Halloween, here is an article with ideas how to keep your kids safe trick-or-treating AND keep their calorie counts low.

Have some treats for Halloween that won't trick your diet (which look absolutely yummy).

Here are some tips on avoiding over indulging on treats.

This article says it's not how much candy you (or kids) eat, but when.

These soups and sandwiches look sooo good.

Here's some desserts for 300 calories or less.

4 ways to enjoy tomatoes.

Did you know at least half of your six grain servings a day should be whole?

This slide show has recipes for all types of whole grains you can eat.

Varying in preparation and ingredients, here are 13 100 calorie snacks.

Ever wonder how else you could use sour cream besides on a potato?
Check out these "7-ways" tips!

The art of low-fat baking...with recipes!

This slide show is full of delicious-looking recipes for two.

How about some fancy-looking 5 ingredients or less meals??

Here are some tips for staying and feeling young.

Say good-bye to love handles with this yoga pose.

Seven ways to be happier.

And finally, I think this slide show is a bit ridiculous.
Really though, who eats seven chips and three pretzels??
Well, maybe you should but...game day was made for eating :)

have a safe and happy halloween!

picture

count your sanitation blessings

2009-10-28T19:46:00.000-07:00

Back in the day, people didn't know about germs. They didn't know why people would get so sick in hospitals and die...even from a natural thing like childbirth. Turns out, med students would spend the morning doing autopsies (without gloves), literally wipe their hands on their jackets, and scoot on up the maternity ward to give exams to women in labor. Ironically, they'd infect them with group A strep (the strep throat kind of strep) that the women died of they were just examining.

Women would be dragged kicking and screaming into the hospital when they went into labor, because they knew they had a 50% chance of dying there.

Ignaz Semmelweiss instituted antiseptic procedures in 1847, whereby physicians were required to wash hands in chloride solution. Interestingly enough, it did NOT go well. Doctor's were outraged that doctors, who took an oath to cure people, were in fact killing people. Throughout history, the mark of a good doctor was how much blood, puss, guts and other bodily fluids were on their jacket. They never washed them. Ever.

Fortunately for us, it was shown that when doctors washed their hands, disease rates went down.

up next: hospital infections.

symptoms

2009-10-27T08:43:00.000-07:00

ever wonder why....

you sneeze?
get chills and a fever?
have a runny nose?

...and all those cold and flu symptoms?

here is an article on what the symptoms means, when to worry, and how to help.

have a healthy weekend!

2009-10-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

13 easy ways to save 200 calories a day

Here's some luxurious spa ideas you can do at home!

Healthy snacks on the go.

Again, I know most of us don't have kids. But we will someday and we have little siblings. Here's another article on how to get kids to eat healthy!

health.com has these random compilation of stories around the web regarding health (hmm, kind of like this). I don't even know how to lead you into it...but here goes:

45 foods you never thought you could make (like nutella? yum -- maybe not soo healthy but...moderation!).
Here's the post to also find habits of health snackers and mini trampoline workout.
Green dating and why we never remember our dreams!

We all hope to be fit when we're old...how about wii fit?

10 no-cost ways to help with depression.

Maybe fiber is an awkward subject? Here's a great article on it though: the pros and cons of fiber.
Here's how you can tone while sweeping!

I'm not sure I want to look into this all the way: how many calories? The 14 worst health mistakes we can make.

And of course...we're only one week away from halloween! Here's some great treats you can make!

picture

flu vaccinations

2009-10-22T17:12:00.000-07:00

There are quite a few things to think about when considering getting a flu shot. These can include:

1. Are you pregnant? Should you get the vaccine when you're pregnant?
2. Are you in a high risk group for complications from the flu?
3. How effective are vaccinations?
4. How safe are they?
5. What kinds are there?
6. Will you be exposed to the flu by interacting with large groups of people?
7. What is the opportunity cost of the flu/vaccine? ie if I have to pay 25$ for the shot, would I lose more or less than that if I did get sick?
8. Do you have allergies that ought to deter you from the vaccine?
9. Should I get it to protect some one else, like my children, pregnant wife/relative or elderly relatives?

There are plenty of places to get the answers to these questions. You should talk to your doctor if you are not a non-pregnant-healthy young adult. I would highly recommend using the Center for Disease Control and Prevention as a resource, instead of some other sites you can find.

They have a basic flu site with many links to different topics, a page concerning the effectiveness of flu shots and other questions concerning the vaccine, a facts page and many many more useful pages. Take the time to make an educated decisions. Risks and complications are very very rare from vaccinations, but they do happen. There is no reason why you can't enjoy a flu-free winter!

College Safety

2009-10-21T19:54:00.000-07:00

College can be a stressful time. You have to decide your future in a few short years. You are constantly under pressure and often have to work and go to school. While there are many benefits and fun times to college, but it also can have its risks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has great information dedicated to college students.

It can be hard to eat properly and get enough sleep, but with planning and dedication, you can safely enjoy your college years, and hopefully gain some good habits out of it. This link can teach you how to:

Improve eating habits
Avoid fatigue and sleep deprivation
Maintain mental health
Avoid substance use
Have healthy relationships and prevent sexual violence
Prevent sexually transmitted diseases

easy chicken noodle soup

2009-10-21T19:20:00.000-07:00

4 c. chicken broth (3)
1 c. shredded cooked chicken (1 piece)
1/2 c. uncooked egg noodles (1)
1 stalk celery (1/2 c. broccoli)
1 medium carrot, sliced
pepper (a little garlic)

Heat broth, pepper, carrot and celery in medium sauce pan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. Add noodles and chicken. Reduce to medium. Cook 10 minutes or until noodles are tender. Stir often.

This soup was the easiest to make and it was delicious! The parenthesis is how I made it for two people. I don't like celery, nor did we have any...and we like extra noodles.

I got this from a book of adds...so I can't legitimately source it. However, it's great soup and souper easy! Enjoy!

have a healthy weekend!

2009-10-16T08:12:00.000-07:00

Wear lip gloss? This is interesting!

Not many of us have children, but we all can be role models of health for kids!

Ten tips to cut back on sodium.

Remember how they always told us to cool down after exercise? This article is interesting, and says our gym teachers were wrong...

Eat green to go green?

The science of itching?

Does sunscreen really prevent skin cancer? Check out the specifics of what you need to be safe.

30 healthy snacks!

Cook once...eat healthy all week? These recipes look delicious and have excellent instructions attached to make them last all week.

Eat breakfast like a nutritionist!

Feeling good about money makes you happy and healthy...check out these tips!

It's a bird, it's a plane...it's...SUPERFOOD!

We're all...x-men?

We'll hear it again and again...here's the trick to cutting calories and sugar!

and just in time for Halloween time...

How do you eat a pumpkin??

7 yummy pumpkin recipes.

picture

four loaves of bread in one hour.

2009-10-13T20:10:00.000-07:00

I'm serious! For enrichment, a girl in my ward shared this recipe. You can do SO much with it...and I've only tried one myself, but I tasted plenty at the activity. It would also be more beneficial if I had a heavy duty mixer or bread pans. Anyways, here is the recipe, some ideas for variations, tips for making it and a picture of the "chop pizza" Dave and I made.

10.5 cups white bread flour or wheat flour (do not use all-purpose flour) (note: we used all-purpose and it tasted fine. but, we didn't make an actual bread loaf)
.5 cup sugar
1 tablespoon salt 3 rounded tablespoons saf-instant yeast
3 tablespoons liquid lecithin (note: this is an enhancer, and NOT necessary. if you do use, don't measure, just squeeze right in because it is VERY sticky)
4 cups hot tap water

Mix dry ingredients. Add lecithin and water. Mix for one minute and check consistency. If dough is too dry, add more water. Dough should be very sticky. Mix for five minutes. (don't add flour after it has finished mixing). Spray counter and pans with cooking spray. Shape loaves and cover with towel. Raise 25 minutes, cook 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Makes four loaves.

Now. There are a lot of things you can do with the dough. Here are some of the girl in my ward's suggestions/tips for a few things:

Bread:
The recipe doesn't usually call for enough water. Add enough water until your dough is, well...a doughy texture (too vague?)
When the dough is ready roll it out with a rolling pin into a rectangle. Then roll it up (hot dog style I guess you could say). Make sure to roll it tight so that your bread does not have any holes!
When it is all the way rolled up, seal the lose end by just pinching the dough together
When it is rolled up, "Poke in the belly buttons" (the ends-poke them with a finger) and then chop (not with a knife, just use your hand) and tuck the excess dough under so that it creates a round end to your bread loaf.
At this point, if it is not the shape you want, roll it out again and try it all again

Cinnamon Rolls
Same as bread. Roll out the dough into a rectangle.
Spread softened butter all over the dough. Top with cinnamon sugar
Then, roll (hot dog style again, just like the bread) and seal the edges
Then simply cut along the "hot dog" and you will have little cinnamon rolls
Cook at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes
You can top with the cream cheese mixture (1 pkg. cream cheese, 1 c. powdered sugar, a little vanilla).

Chop Pizza
Split the dough however you would like.
Press dough out to a circle
Place all the toppings you want on the dough
Cover toppings with dough
Chop-no need to be exact! Just CHOP! then gather all the parts of your pizza and, place it on a tray!
Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the pizza 5-7 minutes before it comes out of the oven.
Back at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes

*If you like normal pan pizza, just roll out the dough to the size of your baking sheet. I prefer to cook the crust all the way and then add the sauce and toppings to ensure that the pizza is cooked all the way through and will not be doughy.

Dessert Braid
Press dough out to cover an entire cookie sheet
Using a spatula, cut 1/3 of the way into the middle on both sides
Continue to do this, strips should be about 1" wide. Make sure there are the same number on both sides
Place cream cheese and powdered sugar mixture (1 pkg. cream cheese, 1 c. powdered sugar, and some vanilla) down the middle of the dough
Top cream cheese with any kind of jam or other delicious things
Now, take each piece of dough and cross it over to the opposite side. Continue to do this all the way down. This creates the braid look.
Let raise, and then bake for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees!

here are our chop pizzas. (I'm sure you don't have to do it this way; you could make small normal pizzas or try cal zones (that is how we folded the dough w/ pepperoni - like a cal zone)). we quartered the recipe and it made four small pizzas -- perfect! Don't use an electric beater...we just used dave's muscles and an ice cream scoop!

They were great! I can't wait to try out more ideas with the dough. It's great! Enjoy!

Here is the website from which the recipe came.

have a healthy weekend!

2009-10-08T15:49:00.000-07:00

Isn't fall the perfect time to try slow-cooker recipes?

Just because you're stressed, doesn't mean you have to show it!

They have a lot of cool technology that can help you keep track of your health. Maybe give this one a look?

It's been said again and again, but usually when we're upset, we eat! Try these tips instead!

Planning on having a baby someday? Here are some things you can start doing now to get your body ready.

You know that annoying eyelid twitch? Here's what's up.

Not that hungry? Here are some light dinner recipes.
(Also, with in that article, check out the dressing and soup recipes!)

Have 30 minutes? Check out these delicious easy and quick recipes.

Why men are at greater risk for noise-induced hearing loss.

I know we can say good-bye completely to dessert. But here are some tips for low-fat baking.

I'm not sure these recipes only take 10 minutes...they look way too good for that!

I actually just learned about this today. When do we need antibiotics, and when is it better to let our bodies work their magic? Did you know that we are becoming increasingly resistant to penicillin?

Six foods that can lower cholesterol (and one of them is chocolate!).

Can skipping exercise really be deadly?

Ever wonder what's in vaccines?

This is the coolest thing! My pyramid has a seven day sample menu of foods that give you ALL the servings recommended. So...this can't be all you eat for the rest of your life (though, technically you could)...you should definitely incorporate these meal ideas!

image via

who doesn't love a costa vida salad??

2009-10-07T16:03:00.000-07:00

Tips for Eating Healthy when Eating Out

As a beverage choice, ask for water or order fat-free or low-fat milk, unsweetened tea, or other drinks without added sugars.
Ask for whole wheat bread for sandwiches.
In a restaurant, start your meal with a salad packed with veggies, to help control hunger and feel satisfied sooner.
Ask for salad dressing to be served on the side. Then use only as much as you want.
Choose main dishes that include vegetables, such as stir fries, kebobs, or pasta with a tomato sauce.

Order steamed, grilled, or broiled dishes instead of those that are fried or sautéed.
Choose a “small” or “medium” portion. This includes main dishes, side dishes, and beverages.
Order an item from the menu instead heading for the “all-you-can-eat” buffet.
If main portions at a restaurant are larger than you want, try one of these strategies to keep from overeating:
- Order an appetizer or side dish instead of an entrée.
- Share a main dish with a friend.
- If you can chill the extra food right away, take leftovers home in a “doggy bag.”
- When your food is delivered, set aside or pack half of it to go immediately.
- Resign from the “clean your plate club” – when you’ve eaten enough, leave the rest.
To keep your meal moderate in calories, fat, and sugars:
- Ask for salad dressing to be served “on the side” so you can add only as much as you want.
- Order foods that do not have creamy sauces or gravies
- Add little or no butter to your food.
- Choose fruits for dessert most often.
On long commutes or shopping trips, pack some fresh fruit, cut-up vegetables, low-fat string cheese sticks, or a handful of unsalted nuts to help you avoid stopping for sweet or fatty snacks.

original source here
image via

black bean dip

2009-10-05T21:10:00.000-07:00

I made this for a housewarming party we had. It was pretty good. Not too many ingredients and I felt like a pro chef throwing it all in the blender.

1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 red pepper, diced finely
1/2 cup prepared salsa
2 Tbsp. lime juice
1/2 cup low fat sour cream
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Combine all ingredients in a food processor, mixing until smooth. Chill until ready to serve.

homemade oreos

2009-10-05T21:08:00.000-07:00

We all know how not so great oreos are for you. (grams? who weighs their servings...seriously?) Tricky.

Instead, how about you make your own?

Dough:
2 chocolate cake mixes
1 1/2 c shortening
4 eggs

Filling:
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 c butter
2 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 - 4 c powdered sugar

Mix dough and roll into balls. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes. Mix filling and wait for cookies to cool before assembling

(I halved this and it made plenty. It depends on how big you make the balls of dough).

Also, my friend laura brought an amazing creation to a housewarming party we had. Oreo truffles. I don't have a recipe or a picture, but trust me, they were delectable.

mix cream cheese and mint oreos in a bag. roll into balls, dip into milk chocolate and freeze. (Laura, help?) I bet you can just guess on the proportions...not too cream cheesy but not too crummy.

enjoy a slighly healthier alternative!

have a healthy weekend!

2009-10-01T15:51:00.000-07:00

Is organic food better for you?

Sugar on the American Heart Association's black list?

Garlic nail polish? Banana shampoo? Check out these all-natural beauty tips.

A few stress tips.

Healthy habits....that make you sick?

25 foods you should never eat? (I think I've eaten a few of them)

Need some energy boosting? Try these tips!

Facts about extra weight - myth busting article

Lose 10 pounds and never feel hungry? Check out these low calorie recipes!

Breast cancer: worry or relax? What can cause cancer and what won't.

Did you know that lifestyle contributes to 70% of cancer cases? Check out how to prevent different cancers here, and how your diet plays into prevention.

Swine flu: the biggest myths

Last, this has nothing to do with a healthy lifestyle...but it's just really cool. Maybe it will help with mental health

fall foods

2009-09-29T10:48:00.000-07:00

Health.com has a great slide show of healthy fall produce and great recipes you can use. A lot of the times we don't realize that there are fruits and vegetables that are harvested in the fall, instead of throughout the summer.

click on the picture to access the slide show.

enjoy!

ideas and tips

2009-09-28T16:53:00.000-07:00

need some menu ideas? BYU Women's Services and Resources has plently of recipies and menus. check it out!

menus

recipies

nutrition

oh, and want their cookbook? it's right here !

Coupons?

2009-09-25T20:53:00.000-07:00

Here are some websites/blogs that can help you save a lot of money on grocery shopping. The first, savvy shopper , is for utah county. The second, she shops smart , is expanding and covers a few states. You can find out on the website if your state is on there. There are plenty of other websites out there that are the exact same thing. I haven't looked at them all but I know the first one is good and I've recently found the other one. A lady in my ward said she uses it with success. I think it just depends on the format you're looking for.

I'm just recently "getting into" using coupons. My mom and uncle are really good, and if you stick with it for a few weeks, you end up saving 60-90% on your groceries! It's pretty sweet.

Each website has a tutorial and while there may be a few parts to starting, it's seems to be worth it to almost everyone in the end.

happy shopping!

I got a dollar, I got a dollar...

2009-09-25T20:32:00.000-07:00

Here is a cool list I found:

17 healthy foods under a dollar .

and I ate it anyways.

2009-09-24T22:26:00.000-07:00

I wonder why the things that are so good for us are so hard, so time consuming, so easy to put aside. Two days a week we're at school for 12 hours. How do bring enough food for that long? And good food, not the easy kind, like poptarts and lots of crackers?

Well, I'm not sure. And I'm definitely not a super good example. I mean, we had strawberries and applesauce

but at 3:50 before our evening class that went until 6:30, I bought two chicken soft tacos from taco bell. I mean, they are 89 cents. And they were pretty darn good. I'm not quite sure what to do about food those two long days.

Any ideas? What do any of you do on your long days for food?

"freeze that thought"

2009-09-23T19:05:00.000-07:00

I found a New York Times article that might help in preserving your food.

"IF I tried to sell you a new appliance that could help you save money, reduce food waste and get meals on the table faster, the only thing you’d ask would be “How much?”

read on, read on! fabulous tips!

sweet deals.

2009-09-23T18:58:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, this post is for those in the provo area, since it's about a specific store. Buy Low. Ever heard of it? I have been meaning to go there for a few weeks since I've heard that the produce is so cheap. They have "wednesday specials" (sorry I didn't post about them before now) and so I decided I'd get double the deals for going today.

two tomatoes @ .69/lb = .37

four large apples @ 3lbs/1.00 (wowza) = .65

three cucumbers @ 5/1.00 (wednesday special) = .60

two HUGE peaches @ 2lbs/1.00 = .84

one lb strawberries = 1.00

five bananas @ 2 lbs/1.00 = .95

sara lee bagels = 1.88

coupon for 1.00 off bananas when you buy sara lee bagels (in store coupon) = I got paid .05 for taking their bananas.

total = 5.48

sweet, eh?

I would highly recommend this be your first stop for produce. An inexpensive way to meet your fruit and vegetable needs!

"eating on the cheap"

2009-09-22T10:45:00.000-07:00

Check out an article I found on health.com. It's written by Jenna Weber, a food writer and blogger. While I'm not into the whole tofu and no meat philosophy, she has plenty of other healthy and cheap recipes. Her introduction in this article is a great way to start eating cheaper. Meal planning! Even if you only plan for two or three big meals a week, it can provide leftovers and free up a lot of your time that is usually spent thinking up meals! Dave and I did this the last month and a half in Connecticut as a way to cut down on spending. It worked great and used up what we had. That's probably the key: using what you have! We haven't gotten to that since we've been back, and often we're floundering for dinner. Definitely a goal in our household!

Two times a week you can branch out, try something new and expand your cooking skills. I think some of her ingredients or grocery lists aren't for all college students, but we won't always be in college, right?

Browse through her site and pick a recipe! This chicken recipe looks fabulous to me, and click below for her Mediterranean stuffed peppers...yum!

recipes

2009-09-19T21:42:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how many of you are just dying because I haven't had too much time to find recipes, but guess what! I found some. They are from the mayoclinic....so I mean, they've gotta be good, right?

They have so many to choose from, and they range in taste and ingredients.

Here is one of them that I think looks super good. (okay, maybe the tofu looks sketcho, but you could probably omit that?) And it does have a variety of ingredients. But not everything has only 3 ingredients! They also break the nutritional value down, so that's extra helpful. It beats Jamba's Orange Dream Machine.

Definitely take a minute and find a recipe to try!

Dietitian's tip: Whip up this frothy cooler in minutes — it tastes like an old-fashioned Creamsicle. For best results, start with ice-cold soy milk and use freshly squeezed orange juice. Creamy, custard-like silken tofu adds extra body. For additional calcium, use calcium-fortified orange juice.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups orange juice, chilled

1 cup light vanilla soy milk (soya milk), chilled

1/3 cup silken or soft tofu

1 tablespoon dark honey

1 teaspoon grated orange zest

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 ice cubes

4 peeled orange segments

Directions

In a blender, combine the orange juice, soy milk, tofu, honey, orange zest, vanilla and ice cubes. Blend until smooth and frothy, about 30 seconds.

Pour into tall, chilled glasses and garnish each glass with an orange segment.

Nutritional Analysis

(per serving)

Calories	105	Cholesterol	0 mg
Protein	3 g	Sodium	18 mg
Carbohydrate	20 g	Fiber	1 g
Total fat	1 g	Potassium	249 mg
Saturated fat	< 1 g	Calcium	109 mg

swine flu

2009-09-17T20:59:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of it? It's probably ALL you hear about these days. So I, being a health promotion specialist (okay, not really) will set all the rumors straight. First of all, there are sooooo many opinions, advice and panic. While I'm no expert and certainly no doctor, I've had a class on it and my teacher is a doctor, plus, you know...I read some news articles.

Basics. Well, first of all, it's waaaaay over rated. The reason people are so worried is because of the flu pandemic of 1918. That flu was so bad because it was a strain of H1N1 that no one had ever had contact with before. Such is the case with the 2009 version of H1N1, swine flu. They are waiting for this flu season to come back to see if it will have mutated enough to be a disaster, like in 1918.

Interesting fact: most the people who died in the 1918 pandemic were young and had healthy immune systems. What happened? Well, those kids' immune system kicked the unknown flu's butt, and continued right to their own lungs, where, if they died, it was from respiratory failure, ie drowning in their own fluid. So, should we be worried that it's the colleges and high schools where most people will die if a pandemic strikes? Well, not exactly. We do make it on the priority list, but we are definitely not the first. Most sources say that the following people are at risk and therefore are highest on the vaccination priority list:

pregnant women
people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old
people ages of 25 through 64 of age who are at higher risk because of chronic disease or compromised immune systems.

(source from msn.com)

It is not something to be taken lightly; however, we don't need to freak out. Rather, let's be smart.

There are a lot of contradicting sources, and I don't know enough to decide which source is best. However, I have found that msn.com has solid articles to read.

This article, from the mayo clinic via msn, is REALLY good. I think it should answer most questions.

I'm not sure how much a flu vaccination is (I think at colleges maybe 20 dollars?) and I'm not sure how much the swine flu vaccination will be. However, if you have to only get one, I would say (but I'm not a doctor and therefore should not completely influence your decision) to get the normal flu shot vaccine because: that is much more common, has a higher attack rate, and covers more types of the flu (three, to be exact).

However, it can't hurt to be vaccinated for both, because then you are protected from that strain at a later date. At least get A flu shot. And definitely if you fall into those categories.

More people die of the normal flu. (36,000 a year in the U.S.) In fact, according to msn, they say that the swine flu is usually more mild (w/o complications) than the normal flu. Most people don't die and here is a good way to keep your self from people one of them. Let's remember prevention.

1. wash your hands. often. always. try not to touch your face if you haven't just washed your hands, as that is an excellent way to transmit germs.

2. do NOT cough/sneeze into the air. cover your coughs (and NOT with your hands). do you KNOW how many germs go into the wide open air (that aren't there already?) when you sneeze in the open?

3. if you are sick, think you are, or have symptoms, STAY HOME. it is an INFECTIOUS disease, which means it passes PERSON to PERSON. don't put others at risk!

Okay so, off my soap box of prevention...just be smart!

I would highly recommend paroozing the msn page dedicated to swine flu. It has some really great definitions, articles, and lists, including symptoms, etc.

While I definitely think that it's overrated, that is no reason to not be healthy and safe. Keep yourself safe from the normal flu AND swine flu at the same time!

(p.s., I do not intend to feed you false information. Most of my info came from my infectious diseases class and msn.com. please contact me if I said something crazy wrong...or something). remember, I am not really a health professional.

sleeeeep. not like we're trying to not get enough, right?

2009-09-15T21:23:00.000-07:00

How much sleep do you need?

Newborns

• Birth - 2 months old need 10.5 - 18 hours

Infants

•3 - 11 months old need 9 - 12 hours (and additional naps)

Toddlers/Children

• 1 - 3 years old need 12 - 14 hours

• 3 - 5 years old need 11 - 13 hours

• 5 - 12 years old need 10 - 11 hours

Adolescents need at least 8.5 - 9.25 hours

Adults typically need 7 - 9 hours

Source: National Sleep Foundation

article from cnn.com

5 a day

2009-09-13T16:58:00.000-07:00

Fruits & Veggies — More Matters™ is a dynamic health initiative that consumers will see in stores, online, at home and on packaging. It replaces the existing 5 A Day awareness program and will leverage the 5 A Day heritage and success to further inspire and support consumers to eat more fruits and vegetables, showcasing the unrivaled combination of great taste, nutrition, abundant variety, and various product forms (fresh, frozen, canned, dried, and 100% juice). It also will build upon the body of science that indicates that increased daily consumption of fruits and vegetables may help prevent many chronic diseases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) are leading this initiative and are in partnership with other health organizations. The goal is to achieve increased daily consumption of fruits and vegetables.

(from the CDC via fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov)

This government resource is a fantastic place to learn about fruit and vegetables and incorporate 5 day into your day. I know though, that 5 a day is daunting! And could be so expensive! So even if it's three or four a day, fruit and veggies add so much to your health. The website explains:

"Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that may help protect you from chronic diseases. Compared with people who consume a diet with only small amounts of fruits and vegetables, those who eat more generous amounts as part of a healthful diet are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases, including stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers."

Something I'm learning over and over in my classes is that so many people get diseases that are preventable. And some start with eating right and exercising. I would definitely recommend you browse this website, as it has many resources.

Here are some tips on incorporating fruits and veggies in your day:

1. take a few minutes on Sunday evening or at night to fill snack baggies with carrots, snap peas, peppers, etc., and set them all together in the fridge. That way, in the morning when you're grabbing lunch, you can add some veggies to your lunch. Fruit is a little more tricky since it can oxidize faster, but try grapes (16, to be exact) or bananas in your lunch, as they are easier to prepare. Apples are also pre-packaged, so to speak, as are little oranges and plums. (I got this idea from one of my teachers...I am going to try it!)

2. You can use a snack container of applesauce or mixed fruit (try to find ones packaged without heavy syrups and a lot of sugar)...those count as a 1/2 cup equivalent of fruit.

3. Dried cranberries/ any-other-dried-things you like... anyone? They are pretty good and you only need a 1/4 cup for a serving!

4. V8 fuision juice. One serving (8 oz) counts as both a serving of fruit and vegetables. This juice, however, can be kind of pricey. (which I know doesn't exactly match the goal). But, if you just drink a serving whenever you didn't incorporate other forms into your day, this can be a great source for you.

With a lot of fruits and veggies, it can seem (and it is) sometimes expensive to buy enough for three or four servings a day. Think of it though as an investment. Not only are you investing in your health, but eating fruits and veggies fill you up more than some of the cheaper food, meaning you could eat twice as much of something less healthy, costing the same or more. Start small, and try and build up to it.

The CDC has more tips that this. Check them out!

The name of this blog was inspired mostly by the "five a day". It is an excellent campaign, but it can be very daunting. A pomegranate to me was something good, but so unpractical. Especially not in season, they can be expensive. But I love most things pomegranate. So the goal is to try and get us to the five a day, if not even four or three. Everything counts!

Just make sure you find low sugar/sugar free/low syrupy fruit and veggies!

the basics: the usda food guide

2009-09-13T14:07:00.000-07:00

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides a food group plan: the food guide. It gives the servings (or equivalents) for each of the categories. Also, something to think about is high vs. low nutrient density food. We can eat food that is technically good for us, sure, but it has low nutrient value, which means we'll be hungry an hour or two later...which adds up the calories. The red foods we should choose less often than the green.

Here is a summary of their table:

fruits: consume a variety and no more than 1/3 of recommended intake as juice

1/2 c. fruit is equivalent to: 1/2 cup fresh, frozen or canned fruit; 1 medium fruit; 1/4 cup dried fruit; 1/2 cup fruit juice

apples, apricots, avacodos, bananas, blueberries, cantaloupe, grapefruit, grapes, guava, kiwi, mango, oranges, papya, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, raspberries, strawberries, watermelon; dried fruit; unsweetened juice

canned or frozen fruit in syrup; juices, punches, ades, and fruit drinks with added sugars; friend plantains.

vegetables: choose variety each day and all five subgroups several times a week

1/2 c. vegetables is equivalent to: 1/2 cup cut-up raw or cookies vegetables; 1/2 cup cooked legumes; 1/2 c vegetable juice; 1 c. raw, leafy greans

1. dark green: broccoli, leafy: romaine, spinach, etc

2. orange and deep yellow: carrots, carrot juice, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and winter squash

3. legumes: black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, letils, pinto beans, soybeans, soy products and split peas

4. starchy vegetables: corn, green peas, potatoes

5. other: artichokes, asparagus, beets, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, eggplant, greenb eans, iceburg lettuce, mushrooms, onions, peppers, zucchini, tomatoes

baked beans, candied sweet potatoes, french fries, potato salad, refried beans, coleslaw, scalloped potatoes

grains: make at least half grain selections whole grains

1 ounce grains in equivalent to: 1 slice bread; 1/2 cup cooked rice, pasta or cereal; 1 oz dry pasta or rice; 1 c ready-to-eat cereal

whole grains (barley, brown rice, oats, rye, wheat), whole-grains, low-fat breads, cereals, crackers, pastas, enriched bagels, breads, cereals, pastas, rice, rolls, tortillas

biscuits, cakes, cookies, cornbread, crackers, croissants, doughnuts, french toast, fried rice, granola, muffins, pancakes, pastries, pies, presweetened cereals, taco shells, waffles

meat, poultry, fish, dried peas and beans, eggs and nuts: make lean or low-fat choices

1 oz meat is equivalent to: 1 oz cooked lean meant, poultry or fish; 1 egg; 1/4 cookies legumes or tofu; 1 tbs peanut butter; 1/2 oz nuts or seeds

poultry (no skin), fish, shellfish, legumes, eggs, lean meat; low-fat tofu, peanut butter, nuts or seeds

bacon; bakes beans; fried meat, fish, poultry, eggs or tofu; refired beans; ground beef; hot dogs; luncheon meats; marbled steaks; poultry with skin; sausages; spare ribs

milk, yogurt and cheese: make fat-free or low-fat choices

1 c milk is equivalent to: 1 cup fat-free milk or yogurt; 1.5 oz fat-free natural cheese; 2 oz fat-free processed cheese

fat-free milk and fat-free milk products

not fat-free products; milk products with added sugars such as chocolate milk, custard, ice cream, frozen yogurt etc.

oils: select recommended amounts from among these sources

1 tsp oil is equivalent to: 1 tbs low-fat mayonnaise; 2 tbs light salad dressing; 1 tsp vegetable oil; 1 tsp soft margarine

liquid vegetabls oils such as canola, corn, flaxseed, nut, olive, peanut, safflower, sesame, soybean, and sunflower oils; mayonnaise, oil-based salad dressings, soft trans-free margarine

unsaturated oils that occur naturally in foods such as avacados, fatty fish, nuts, olives and shellfish

hopefully this will provide some basic nutrition information that you can keep in mind when you're preparing food/buying food. If you go to Mypyramid, you can create a custom pyramid for your age, weight, situation (pregnant, nursing, etc) and it can be helpful when you're planning meals. The website has many other resources you can use.

keeps the doctor way.

2009-09-12T18:18:00.000-07:00

I decided to start this blog as inspired from one of my classes. I am taking a "technology in health promotion" class, where we have to write a blog instead of a paper. We write about a health topic that interests us and I immediately got excited about it. However, with all my brainstorms and ideas, the class is taking a slightly different (and slower moving) course.

Instead, I decided that I'll just make a similar-but-separate blog, where I can take in the course I decide, not from my teacher's. Who, by the way, rocks, but is teaching us a different skill that I am choosing to employ here.

Here's the who, what, when, where, and why.

Who: students, specifically college students. anyone, though, who knows what they should to do in order to be healthy, but isn't quite sure how to go about it in a cheap, easy, simple, and enjoyable way.

What: a blog about food, where to find it cheaply, how to make simple, easy-on-the-ingredients food that can help achieve health. fitness tips (ha, as if I employ them!), health tips, health information, etc. I'll try out the recipes, find the sales, etc, and post them on this blog.

When: whenever I find things...but at least bi-weekly is what I estimate my postings. (probably more, since blogging is how I avoid homework)

Where: this blog, my kitchen, my classes and the internet.

Why: I am a public health major, after all, and I am a strong advocate of prevention. I also wish to share my efforts in finding useful health information and share it with students like me. Also, I enjoy finding easy and simple recipes. I think there should be an easy way to meet dietary/healthy needs. Also, we're students (or on a budget), and need to be healthy, but sometimes it's easier said than done. Sometimes it's not realistic to make 15 ingredient meals and go running every day. I think we can find an easier way.

How: Mostly using the internet/class information, I will blog about my findings and hopefully it can be useful (or at least I can document it for myself)

Hopefully I can get this up and running in the next few days, and enjoy!