Superbowl is this Sunday, and many of you will be throwing or attending parties. Normally this involves four or more hours of nonstop snacking, so here are some healthy foods you can nosh on without compromising your health goals. Make them for you own party, or bring them along to share with your friends.
Make your own hummus with chick peas, garlic, tahini, olive oil, and lemon juice. Serve with veggie sticks or toasted whole wheat pita bread. It's high in protein and flavor.
Use your microwave to make fat-free, air-popped popcorn. Place two tablespoons of kernels in the bottom of a small brown lunch bag. Fold the top three times and place the bag in the microwave on its side. Microwave for two to two and a half minutes, or until the popping slows down. Season with salt or nutritional yeast.
Make creamy zucchini boats. They're great finger food, easy to make, and healthier than potato chips and dip.
Be different and saute some polenta stacks. I like to add mozzarella cheese and tomatoes to mine, but get creative and use other healthy ingredients.
Eating chili on Super Bowl Sunday was a tradition in my house, but the beef offers more saturated fat and calories than I need. So make a healthier version with beans and veggies. Check out my recipe for Vegetarian Black Bean Chili.
Two years in a row, Jessica Biel has won the FitSugar title of "Fittest Female Celeb." Her feminine toned and buff arms are coveted by many Sugar readers, and I agree they're pretty inspirational. Her secret? The basic push-up — her trainer Jason Walsh swears by them. He says they are a must-do move for incredible arms, and I agree. Plus you can do push-ups anywhere, anytime. If regular push-ups bore you, check out a bunch of push-up variations when you start the slideshow.
I am not going to lie to you, the bird flu freaks me out a bit. Well, a lot actually. A new study from the UK on surgical masks allayed my fears a bit. The study found that that surgical masks do provide protection from severe respiratory illnesses, from the flu to SARS, but also from the common cold. Parents involved in the study who wore surgical masks with a sick child at home were "four times more likely to be protected against respiratory viruses."
This may affect public health policy in the face of some future respiratory illness pandemic. However, just as you need to use your home fitness equipment to actually get fit, you have to wear the mask to boost your protection from these kinds of viruses. Similar and older studies have found that few participants wore their preventive surgical masks regularly, and low compliance rates mean considerably less prevention.
Obviously George Clooney believes in wearing a surgical mask out in public (he must have gotten comfortable with them on the set of ER), but I am curious about you . . .
Jamie Pressly might be an Emmy winner, but her latest honor is landing the number one spot in Shape magazine's list of the Sexiest Bodies in Hollywood. The trim and toned mother of a 2-year-old looks confident on the cover of the March issue, and inside she discusses the pride she takes in working hard.
I have nothing but love for someone who acknowledges, "I’m into the no pain, no gain thing!" She applied this philosophy after she gave birth to her son, when she hopped on the treadmill and lifted weights to work off the 42 pounds she gained during pregnancy.
On top of her commitment to exercise, Pressly appears to have a healthy body image and said, "Sure, I wanted to lose my baby weight, but I didn’t want to lose my butt! I think it’s sexy when women have shapely bodies." Shape seems to agree with that assessment, and I must say, the actress's hard work has paid off.
If you wouldn't dream of running without listening to music, then you'll be happy to know that there are a bunch of upcoming marathons that allow headphone use. Keep in mind that some marathons ban the use of headphones and portable MP3 players such as iPods. They're banned for safety reasons — you know, because listening to Queen's "We Will Rock You" just might send your body into uncontrollable speeds, and you may run into the banana and water stand. If you're looking to run 26.2 miles with your headphones, here's a list marathons compiled by Runner's World where you can crank up the tunes and run!
When you're preparing for a day that will bring a strenuous workout or a busy morning with no time for a mid-morning snack, it's especially important to eat a filling breakfast. Oatmeal is great for these occasions, and stirring almond butter into your bowl is a delicious way to add a lot more filling protein, fiber, and flavor.
Almond butter is a healthy and tasty alternative to the old favorite, but currently controversial, peanut butter. Both nut-based condiments are calorie-dense, and they're so yummy that it's easy to get carried away. Measure one serving (2 tablespoons) of almond butter before stirring it into your warm oatmeal, and start your day knowing that your stomach grumbles won't get in the way.
Ayurveda and a Balanced Diet Balance is an essential part of Ayurveda, and as you're tallying up your health balance sheet, you might want to investigate this traditional Indian health philosophy. It is not just about food and herbs — yoga is part of the plan.
Karen Millen
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