It happens every time I go to clean out my fridge: Oh no! Those eggs are how old? If I use that mustard with a date of 2014 stamped on its label, will I die? The yogurt expired two weeks ago...but it seems okay. (Is it?) The next thing I know, I'm hurtling things toward the garbage, cursing under my breath the whole time about how much money I'm wasting on food. {{{{{{echoes of that childhood … [Read more...] about What You Need to Know: “Best If Used By” Dates
Nutrition
20 Surprising Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar
I’ve heard about apple cider vinegar for a long time. I think the first time I noticed it was not because of its uses in cooking – it can be used for things like marinades, salad dressings and homemade pickles - but for its touted weight loss benefits. One study – a clinical trial of overweight Japanese adults in 2009 – looked at the effects of drinking apple cider vinegar on weight loss. When … [Read more...] about 20 Surprising Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar
Lose Weight With Peanuts
Huh? Did you read that right? It seems counterintuitive, yes. But according to some recent informal random comments on a post I wrote for HealthyWomen.org in 2011, people really did lose weight when they included peanuts in their diets. Here are just a few key reasons you can lose weight with peanuts: Since peanuts and peanut butter are packed with fiber and protein, they keep you satisfied … [Read more...] about Lose Weight With Peanuts
Wondering About the TransFat Ban?
The word “fat” is so confusing – whether it be the type that we wear on our bodies or the type we put into our bodies. Good fats, bad fats, healthy fats, trans fats. What does it all mean? Let’s start with the one that’s been in the news lately – trans fat. A brief history: In the early 1900s a German chemist named Wilhelm Normann discovered a way to turn vegetable or fish oils from liquid … [Read more...] about Wondering About the TransFat Ban?
Fitness Expert Joel Harper: How To Train for a Half-Marathon
One of the most exciting and fulfilling things I recently did was complete my very first half-marathon. I never like to use this so-called midlife as an excuse not to do or try something new, but I must admit that I was a just bit wary that I might not be able to do it. But... I did it! And what a feeling of accomplishment that was. So now I'm anxious to spread the message that you can do it, … [Read more...] about Fitness Expert Joel Harper: How To Train for a Half-Marathon
Oatmeal: It’s Not Just For Breakfast
What did you have for breakfast this morning? Or maybe for lunch or even dinner yesterday? Was it oatmeal? Not just a breakfast food anymore, I’m writing to tell you that oatmeal is the new… Meal you can eat any time. And since National Oatmeal Day has recently passed, it’s not too late to tell you why. While on a very informative press trip late last month (that’s when I tried paddle … [Read more...] about Oatmeal: It’s Not Just For Breakfast
In Defense of Eating Right
In my last post, I suggested things that might be able to keep you at a good, healthy weight. In case you’re wondering if they were just a figment of my imagination, I’m here to tell you the answer. No, they’re not. There are good, legit reasons they work. Eating right is a delicate balance. You want to eat enough to nourish and fill you up, but not so much so that you gain excess weight. … [Read more...] about In Defense of Eating Right
The Secret to Being Happy
How were your holidays? Hopefully full of fun and good cheer. But I know that's not the way for everyone. Some of it might be forced cheer. Maybe you're tired of putting on a happy face. Maybe happiness is just...overrated. Why try so hard? Click on over to my other blog on healthywomen.org, where I let you in on a secret. And please do me a special favor? Feel free to ignore my … [Read more...] about The Secret to Being Happy
Take These 20 Baby Steps Toward Better Health…Without Feeling Deprived
Eat half your dessert Eat off smaller plates Snack on fruits & veggies Ask for salad dressing on the side Swap fries for a green salad Increase your fiber If you sit a lot, get up and move about once an hour Skip seconds Drink water before a meal Don't snack late at night Order your latte with skim milk Chew your food slowly Don't eat snacks directly from the bag - portion out a … [Read more...] about Take These 20 Baby Steps Toward Better Health…Without Feeling Deprived
Something I’ve Always Wondered About: Should You Wash Bagged Greens?
Ever since the outbreak of Listeria from bagged salad greens (eight times in 2012!), I've been paranoid about washing my greens. Even if they come bagged, and the bag is marked "triple washed," I pay no attention. Out comes my salad spinner (what a great invention - can't live without it) and rinse...and rinse...and rinse. I mean, who wants Listeria, which can multiply at refrigerator … [Read more...] about Something I’ve Always Wondered About: Should You Wash Bagged Greens?