5 Mistakes You're Making at the Grocery Store — and How to Prevent Them


Updated 01/29/12 3:55 AM · Posted by · 6 comments

Grocery shopping. It's something we all do, but it helps to have a strategy in place before hitting the aisles to ensure you're making the best decisions for yourself. Watch this video and learn how best to navigate your local grocery for the healthiest purchases.

There are only a few days left to enter our Get Fit For 2012 giveaways with prizes to jump-start your January: a year's worth of sneakers from Asics, a $500 gift card for Under Armour, a new food processor from Magimix, and KIND snacks for a year!

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Know Your Nuts? What's in an Ounce


Updated 01/29/12 3:55 AM · Posted by · 9 comments

Nuts are one of the best foods you can nosh on because they're full of healthy fats, contain protein and fiber to fill you up, are cholesterol-free, and they're a great snack you can easily pack with you wherever you go. A serving size of nuts is one ounce, which is about a handful. Considering my handful and my hubby's handful look a lot different, I thought it'd be good to go over what exactly one ounce of nuts looks like. Take this quiz to see if you know.

Question 1 of 5
How many almonds are in one ounce?

Why Does Coffee Make You Have to "Go"?


Updated 01/29/12 3:50 AM · Posted by FitSugar · 14 comments

Sipping on a hot cup of coffee in the morning is one of my simple pleasures. Not only does it offer some "me time," but I love the rich flavor, and the fact that it gives me an extra pep in my step. Millions of people drink coffee for the exact same reasons, but what they may not know is that drinking joe helps relieve muscle pain as well as improves memory and that it may help prevent skin cancer while also decreasing the risk of liver cancer.

These are all great reasons to enjoy a daily cup of java, but many people also love coffee because it makes them "go," and by that I mean more than an energy rush. Keep reading to see why a java jolt helps the final stages of the digestion process.

Source: Thinkstock

Tools of the Trade: Gear For Healthy Living


Updated 01/28/12 7:50 PM · Posted by FitSugar · 0 comments

Smart tools and sweet gear help keep the pieces of a healthy lifestyle intact. From what you put on your plate to the quality of your sleep, we've rounded up our favorite things that help staying on the healthy path more manageable. Plus new gadgets always inspire! If you're feeling your healthy resolve waning as January winds to a close, take a look and see what little things might help you keep on keeping on! There are only a few days left to enter our Get Fit For 2012 giveaways with prizes to jump-start your January: a year's worth of sneakers from Asics, a $500 gift card for Under Armour, a new food processor from Magimix, and KIND snacks for a year!

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Reader Recipe: Healthy Layered Greek Yogurt Dip


Updated 01/28/12 4:10 AM · Posted by Fit Community · 0 comments

Super Bowl snacks don't need to be unhealthy! Take this recipe for a Greek yogurt layered dip from FitSugar reader NicoleCulver. She posted it in our Healthy Recipe community group. Don't forget to post your own recipes in the community; they may wind up here on our homepage!

Mini-Layered Dip

  • Small clear cups
  • 3 avocados, mashed with a touch of salt and pepper
  • 2 large tomatoes, diced
  • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed well
  • 1 can refried beans
  • shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese
  • 0% plain Chobani Greek yogurt

Layer the ingredients in the cup as desired. Enjoy with chips or with a fork!

For more information on this dip check out Making Good Choices!

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Would You Rather Catch Up on Sleep or Exercise?


Updated 01/28/12 3:35 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

There may be fewer cases of the flu than normal this year, but that doesn't mean that a lot of us aren't getting sick. And feeling run-down can throw a wrench in our workout plans, not to mention keep you up all night.

If you've been battling sickness, feeling exhausted, or just too busy, your sleep and exercise routines have both probably taken a beating. And while having a regular workout routine is important if you are trying to lose weight or stay healthy, so is getting enough sleep — lack of sleep can lead to weight gain and lead to a never-ending cycle of exhaustion. So when the weekend rolls around and you haven't been your usual well-rested, productive self, what's your priority: sleep or exercise?

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