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Weekend Well-Being: Grow Your Own Alfalfa Sprouts

FitSugar — Sat, 23 May 2009 03:30:00 -0700

I love sprinkling alfalfa sprouts on my salad, but the ones at salad bars and even grocery stores totally gross me out. Who knows how long they've been sitting there, which means they could be a breeding ground for E. coli bacteria. Growing your own is so incredibly easy anyway, so now you can enjoy sprouts on your sandwiches and salads without having to worry about getting sick.

To learn how read more.

Make Your Own Alfalfa Sprouts
Instructions on seed packet

Ingredients

1 1/2 tablespoons alfalfa seeds
1 teaspoon bleach
Water
A glass jar, at least quart size
12 inch square of muslin or pantyhose
Rubber band
2 dark-colored dish towels

Directions

Disinfect the seeds. If not properly disinfected, all seeds have the possibility of carrying E. coli bacteria. Soak alfalfa seeds in a two percent bleach solution (one teaspoon bleach to one cup hot tap water) for 15 minutes. Then rinse the seeds thoroughly in water.
Measure out 1 1/2 tablespoons alfalfa seeds. Remove any broken seeds. Place the seeds in the jar and partially fill with room temperature water. Swirl the jar around to clean the seeds, then slowly pour the water out, being careful not to let the seeds pour out. Then fill the jar with water again, about three quarters full. Cover the open end with the piece of muslin, and secure with the rubber band. Cover the jar with the two dish towels to prevent light from reaching the seeds. Allow the seeds to soak for 8 to 12 hours.
Remove the towels and pour off the water, it'll take a long time if you let the water pour through the muslin, so carefully peel back part of the muslin so the water can pour out more quickly. Then secure the muslin back on the top of the jar. Take advantage of the fact that the wet seeds want to cling to the jar's inside surface. Roll the jar around, causing as many seeds to stick to the surface as possible, then lay the jar on its side. Cover the jar again.
Rinse the seeds at least every 24 hours with cool water. If you have the time, rinse them two to three times a day. Within a day or two, you'll see them start to grow. These sprouts aren't quite ready yet.
Alfalfa sprouts are ready to harvest when they are one to two inches long, usually after the fifth or sixth day. A day before they're ready, leave the jar uncovered (in indirect sunlight) so they can turn green. When you're ready to eat them, give them one final rinse. Store uneaten sprouts in an airtight container in the fridge. They should stay fresh for about a week.

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Weekend Well-Being: Make Your Own Mixed Nut Butter

FitSugar — Sat, 16 May 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Spreading nut butter on bread or crackers makes a great snack, but I was getting a little tired of plain old boring peanut butter. So I thought, why not make my own with all my favorite nuts and seeds? It tastes so fresh and unique, and since there are so many different nuts and seeds to choose from, the possibilities are endless.

This recipe can't be any easier. To see it read more.

Mixed Nut Butter
From my own kitchen

Ingredients

2 cups of nuts and seeds including cashews, almonds, sunflower, and walnuts (here's your chance to be creative)

Directions

Pour three to four different nuts in a measuring cup until they equal about two cups.
Place the nuts in a food processor and grind. Check the consistency periodically. This isn't quite ready yet.
After at least five minutes or so, your nut butter will look creamy.

Serve it as a dip for an appetizer with cut up fruit and crackers, or store it in a closed container to use as you please.

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Weekend Well-Being: Let's Go Fly a Kite!

FitSugar — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 03:30:00 -0700

April is National Kite Month, and I think we should all celebrate this high flying holiday.

Twenty minutes of kite flying burns about 100 calories, so imagine how many you can burn kite flying for an entire afternoon. Meditating on the beauty of a colorful kite as it dances in the wind is bound to alleviate unhealthful stress. You can find an event in your area using this database. Pack a picnic, pack up the kids, and head out to a windy spot to enjoy some kite flying.

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Weekend Well-Being: Celebrate Earth Hour

FitSugar — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Saturday, March 28, at 8:30 p.m. - local time wherever you are on the planet - switch off your lights for 60 minutes and take part in Earth Hour. Consider your hour without lights as a vote for our planet and a sign of your participation in the fight against global warming. It is a kind of in-house environmental demonstration to let the powers-that-be know you feel new legislation curbing greenhouse gases is vital to saving our environment.

There are plenty of ways to enjoy an hour with no light, and you can take care of yourself while you help out the planet. Here are a few suggestions:

Practice yoga by candlelight. The soft glow of candles can make your yoga practice quite soothing and surprisingly focused.
Take a nighttime stroll with friends. Go out on the town and gab while walking around, counting all the other dark homes to see who else is participating.
Unplug everything and chill out. Turn off your TV and your computer. Switch off your cell phone too. Take some time to just hang out with friends, family, loved ones, or to simply chill out alone.
Soak. Use this hour to take a relaxing bath and just listen to some tunes as you soak away stress.
Free rub down. Take turns swapping massage with your partner. A relaxing massage has many health benefits.

What will you be doing during Earth Hour? Share your ideas in the comment section below.

Weekend Well-Being: Make Your Own Therapeutic Warming Pillow

FitSugar — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 03:30:00 -0700

Heat therapy is so beneficial if you have menstrual cramps, sore or tight muscles, or sinus congestion. You can use a heating pad, but it's annoying to have it plugged in, and unsafe if you want to sleep with it. That's why those therapeutic warming pillows you pop in the microwave are so perfect. Instead of spending $20 to $60 buying one, you can make your own for much less.

To learn how read more.

You'll need:

Piece of 100% cotton fabric, cut into a piece that's 22 x 10 inches
Piece of muslin fabric, cut into a piece that's 21 x 9 1/2 inches
1 3/4 to 2 cups of dried, whole, feed corn (not the popcorn kernels you buy from the grocery store)
1/2 cup dried peppermint leaves, rose petals, lavender, or other scented herb (optional)
4 inches Velcro
Straight pins
Sewing machine

Instructions:

Make the inside of the pillow first. Fold the muslin in half and sew one of the short sides closed. Then turn it inside out so that sewn seam is on the inside.
With a pen, make six lines on the muslin, each three inches apart, to divide your pillow into seven sections. Now sew over these lines starting at the folded end, but stop sewing about 1/2 an inch from the open end, so you'll have room left to fold and sew this part after you fill it.
Now it's the fun part - filling your pillow. Fill each of the seven sections with whatever you've chosen, about 1/4 cup or so in each section. Cut a water bottle in half and use the top as a funnel to make this part easier. Fill them one at a time and place pins in the muslin to keep the filler from spilling out.
Then fold the open ends inside, pin them together, and sew one seam along the long end of the muslin pillow. Then remove the pins.
Now you're ready to make the long pillowcase for your muslin pillow. Fold the material in half so the pretty sides are inside. Make a seam on one of the short sides and on the long side. Now turn it inside out. To make the open end look neater, fold the ends in and make a seam. Then sew the Velcro on the inside edges of the open seams, one piece on the top, and the other piece on the bottom.
Slip your muslin pillow into the pillowcase, close it shut with the Velcro and you're done! Just pop it in the microwave for a minute or two, and it'll stay warm for at least 20 minutes.

Weekend Well-Being: Literally "Run" an Errand

FitSugar — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:00:00 -0700

This weekend, I urge you to take advantage of the cooling temperatures when you take care of your weekend business and literally run an errand.

Need to return books to the library? Put them in a backpack and run there. Imagine how easy the run home will be with no books loading you down. Need to drop off some dry cleaning? Run your clothes to your cleaners. I have learned from experience that it is easier to run to the cleaners with dirty clothes than to run home with clean, pressed shirts. If running is not your thing, try walking your errands or even biking them. Just get physical, burn some calories, cross items off your to do list, and lessen your carbon footprint. Another thing about "running" errands, no need to look for parking!

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Weekend Well-Being: Make a Nalgene Bottle Lantern

FitSugar — Sat, 10 May 2008 02:00:00 -0700

The news about the Nalgene bottle and other shatter proof polycarbonate plastics being dangerous for human health hit me a little hard. I've had my Nalgene bottle for years and taken it on many hikes, road trips, and picnics. Lucky for me, I found a way to reincorporate my Nalgene back into my outdoor life.

The company Sol Light has come to the rescue, saving my old water bottle from spending an eternity in a landfill by turning it into a lantern. The LightCap 200 - Solar Powered Light ($20) fits onto any standard water bottle with a two inch wide mouth and turns the bottle into a light source. To make this an even greener experience, the LED light is powered by solar power, so no batteries are required. You can get a light cap directly from here.

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Weekend Well-Being: Go Through Your Medicine Cabinet

FitSugar — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 02:00:00 -0700

This new Spring weather is so refreshing that I felt inspired to go outside yesterday and do some yard work. While I was raking up dead grass and leaves, I inhaled something and had a crazy allergy attack. My eyes were itchy and I was sneezing like crazy. So I went to take some over the counter Claritin. Since I hadn't used it for over a year, I glanced at the box and realized it had expired in Nov 2007. I popped the pill anyway, since my doctor told me that meds can still be effective up to a year after they expire, and I made a mental note to pick up some more.

Then I wondered what else was lurking in my medicine cabinet. An hour later, I had filled my bathroom garbage with tons of expired crap.

So this weekend, if you're bored, go through your medicine cabinet and your extensive supply of products and. . .

Get rid of expired over-the-counter medications like old bottles of Advil and Pepto Bismol.
Chuck all old vitamins or prescriptions like the ones you used two years ago when you had your wisdom teeth pulled.
Check your condoms too.
Throw out any makeup that's over three months old.
Ditch anything that's questionable or that you haven't used in the past year.

Fit's Tips: Make a list of all the new supplies you'll need to buy, and if you know you don't use it much, try not to buy the "Mega-size" bottle of it. If you run out, you can always buy more.

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Weekend Well-Being: Start Your Spring Cleaning Early

FitSugar — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Now that we set the clocks ahead, and the snow is beginning to melt, why not get started on your Spring cleaning a little early this year? Dust and dirt can build up in hidden areas, and breathing that isn't good for your health. Not only will you feel a sense of calmness because your home will be clean, de-cluttered, and organized, but cleaning can burn 200-300 calories per hour (depending how intensely you move).

Here are some Spring cleaning ideas. You don't have to do them all, but you'll feel much better if you can get to at least one.

Open the windows and get some fresh air pumping through your home. It'll be good for your lungs to replace that stale dry air with a fresh breeze.
Vacuum under the beds and other furniture. Dust loves to collect in dark areas that see little traffic, so if it's been a while, you might find entire dust bunny colonies.
Dust and get rid of cob-webs. Doesn't it just amaze you how much of a dusty build-up can crop-up on your shelves, on top of the fridge, on your ceiling, on your TV screen, and behind doors? If you have allergies to dust like me, I like to use a wet washcloth or sponge so dust doesn't fly around.

Want to see some other ideas? Then read more

If you have carpets or big area rugs, rent a steam cleaner to really get rid of dust, pet dander, dirt, and tiny food particles. It'll disgust you to see what comes up.
If you have curtains over windows, take them down and throw them in the wash. They're great dust collectors because they hardly ever get cleaned. You can also wash blinds and windowsills - they tend to get really dirty and stained with mildew, which isn't good for you to breathe.
Wash the inside of your kitchen garbage can. Lots of times you'll find moldy food at the bottom (eww).
De-clutter and organize one area in your house that you've been meaning to get to, whether it be your closet, the refrigerator, or the basement. Throw out things you haven't used in the past year. Less stuff means less to clean and organize.

Do you have any other ideas? I'd love to hear about them, so tell me below.

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Weekend Well-Being: Use Earth Hour to Chill Out

FitSugar — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 04:00:00 -0700

The World Wildlife Fund is concerned about climate change, and to make a statement about human energy consumption they have created Earth Hour. To join them in their statement they ask that you turn off your lights for an hour Saturday, March 29. They invite "everyone throughout North America and around the world to turn off the lights for an hour starting at 8 p.m. (your own local time) – whether at home or at work, with friends and family or solo, in a big city or a small town."

Why not go one step further and turn off all electronics and just chill out for an hour. No TV. No computer. No cell phone. Just some candles and some conversation. See what it's like to just unplug for an entire hour. After 60 minutes of chilling out you might not need a disco nap before you head out for your wild Saturday night.

Are you planning on participating? Tell me in the comment section below.

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