Stepfanie Romine is a writer, recipe developer, published author and certified yoga teacher who has lived--and cooked--on three continents. She currently calls Asheville, North Carolina home. 
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Son of 'Post' Editor Wrote His Own Happy Ending
Quinn Bradlee could have taken the easy way out.
Quinn, now 27, grew up in privilege, the son of Washington Post power couple Sally Quinn and Ben Bradlee. He went to the best schools, lived in historic mansions and was surrounded by famous writers and politicians.
His father was the editor of the Post during the Watergate years, and his mom is a columnist and best-selling author.
From birth, Quinn had been plagued with health problems--illnesses, seizures, and migraines among them--and had even had open heart surgery while still an infant. He was sick more often than not and had a few close calls. Instead of accepting doctors' suggestions that Quinn be institutionalized or treated differently, Sally Quinn became her son's tireless advocate, eventually getting to the root of his health problems.
At age 14, he was finally correctly diagnosed as having Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome, or VCFS, a common but little-understood disorder that is characterized by various physical ailments and learning disabilities.
Posted 5/27/2009 1:53:46 PM By: : 42 comments 10,667 views
Didn't See Birdie on 'Good Morning America'? Watch Her Video Now
Birdie (DR_BIRDIE) has been a member of SparkPeople since August 2007 and lost more than 142 pounds. She is featured in the current issue of People magazine in a bikini, and today she shared her story on Good Morning America.
If you missed her this morning, watch her inspiring story now! Now Birdie, a neurologist from Orlando, talks about her motivation to slim down, her success wtih SparkPeople and her favorite healthful meals with Diane Sawyer.
Posted 5/26/2009 10:03:09 AM By: : 160 comments 27,199 views
Need Motivation to Work Out Today? Exercise Could Save Your Life
Working out is hard work. Even when we learn to like (or love) exercise, we all have those days when working out feels like a punishment.
We'd rather be in bed than at a 6 a.m. Spinning class.
We'd rather be at the movies than on a 5 mile run on Saturday afternoon.
And we'd certainly rather be doing anything else except crunches.
Thankfully, we usually fight the temptation to skip our workouts. For one woman in Britain, dedicated workouts saved her life!
Posted 5/19/2009 2:46:23 PM By: : 122 comments 14,124 views
Will You Ride Your Bike to Work This Friday?
This Friday, May 15, is National Bike-to-Work Day, one of many events scheduled to celebrate Bike Month.
SELF magazine is celebrating National Bike Month by showing how bicycling can slim you down, save you money and safeguard the environment. Whether it’s the best in biking gear or pointers on proper positioning, SELF gets your gears in motion in time for Bike-to-Work day on May 15.
3 reasons to push pedals
Posted 5/13/2009 5:00:00 AM By: : 202 comments 16,506 views
INTERVIEW: How Ellie Krieger Developed Her 'Healthy Appetite' for Life
Ellie Krieger is just as considerate and poised on the phone as she is on her hit Food Network show, Healthy Appetite. I called her for an interview a couple of weeks ago, and surprisingly she answered her own phone. My jitters about interviewing her immediately melted away as soon as we started talking.
Krieger is a registered dietitian with degrees from Cornell and Columbia universities and is the author of two best-selling books (and another one coming out later this year). Her second book, "The Food You Crave: Luscious Recipes for a Healthy Life," has been reprinted five times and won a James Beard award (think of it like an Oscar for chefs and food writers) this year for best book with a healthy focus.
Those criteria alone make her one of the most knowledgeable food TV personalities, but it's her insatiable appetite for life and experience as a busy wife and mother (of a 6 1/2 year old girl named Isabella) that make her so relatable.
"I was born loving food," said Krieger, laughing. "My mother said that me becoming a dietitian was like a pyromaniac becoming a firefighter."
Posted 5/12/2009 1:49:21 PM By: : 64 comments 22,712 views
Weekly Links: Homemade Nut Butters, How to Cook Oats and Eating on Food Stamp Budget
We spent plenty of time this week surfing the web for the most interesting, entertaining and educational stories. From oatmeal to stevia, avocados to packaged foods, this week's links are heavy on the food. Find out which links caught our attention this week!
Avocados: ‘Poor Man’s Butter’ No More
Though they're mostly relegated to guacamole and taco toppings, avocados are actually quite versatile. Rich in monounsaturated (heart-healthy) fat, they're tasty to boot! How do you like to eat avocados?
From the New York Times
Posted 5/8/2009 2:37:06 PM By: : 62 comments 11,008 views
We Tried A Bakers Dozen Yogurts--So You Don't Have To!
Until now, the dailySpark has been reviewing foods one at a time. We're trying something different. We'll review several varieties of one food, then share the pros and cons with you. We won't pick a "winner," because taste is subjective. We will share our comments and opinions in the new series Supermarket Survey.
How often do you buy a food at the grocery store, only to get it home and try it--and dislike it. It's too sweet, not flavorful, too thick, not filling enough, etc.? It's disappointing--and expensive! That's why we're we're doing these large-scale reviews.
We started with yogurt: fat-free vanilla and low-fat strawberry. We tried them all: organic and conventional, creamy and chunky, thick and thin. We even tried a soy yogurt.
Take a peek at our evaluation and our comments!
Posted 5/7/2009 5:31:36 AM By: : 390 comments 43,678 views
How I Finally Turned My World Upside Down
I'm studying to be a yoga teacher. On Day One of training, my palms were sweating, my heart was racing and my mind was running. I would soon have to face my biggest fear in yoga: Inversions.
I had spent the past two years avoiding headstands, arm balances and handstands. "I’m not strong enough," I told myself at first. Soon the strength was there, but the fear remained. In headstand, my hands wrapped around my head and my elbows tucked in, I felt claustrophobic. Add a teacher who just wanted to help me, and I felt even more cramped down there.
I once accidentally kicked a teacher who tried to help me get into headstand. I wasn't ready, and I told her that, but she wanted to help. I felt surrounded by limbs, the room was closing in, and I wanted down. I didn't try again for over a year--at teacher training.
I have some control issues. I like life to happen on my terms. While that doesn't always work, with inversions, it did.
On that first night in teacher training, I watched women kick up for the very first time. Some of these students were brand-new to yoga, and they didn't have that fear. No one had ever told them they couldn't do yoga, that they couldn't do a headstand, so they never took it to heart. I told myself I couldn't, so I didn't.
That night, I set a schedule. I would master headstand (against the wall at first) by the end of training.
Posted 5/4/2009 6:06:32 PM By: : 83 comments 34,112 views
BREAKING NEWS: Stop Using Hydroxycut, says FDA
Makers of the diet supplement Hydroxycut has agreed to pull 14 of its products from shelves after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration linked the product to severe liver damage and one death.
The product is touted as being "natural," but dietary supplements are not regulated. For the full story, click here.
Most experts (including SparkPeople.com) advise against using diet pills and other quick fixes to lose weight. America's top sports nutrition expert Dave Ellis recently spoke out against dietary supplements during an interview with the dailySpark.
Posted 5/1/2009 4:22:22 PM By: : 145 comments 30,024 views
Kashi Touring U.S. to Encourage Small Steps toward a Healthy Life
The folks at Kashi shared with us some neat events with us. The healthy food company Kashi embarked on its fourth "Day of Change" tour this month. The FREE tour stops in several cities across the country and shares small changes people can make to affect their lives. The interactive exhibits include yoga classes, Kashi product tasting, and natural food cooking demonstrations. The latest stop is THIS WEEKEND in Monterey, Calif., and the tour will wind its way east through July. If you're not already attending the Spark Your Life Convention tomorrow and you'll be in California, you should check it out!
Posted 5/1/2009 12:01:33 AM By: : 76 comments 8,732 views
We Drank It: POMx Iced Coffee
When we heard that the pomegranate juice purveyor POM was selling coffee, we were intrigued and slightly perplexed. Pomegranate isn't a fruit flavor that we thought would mix well with coffee. What would it taste like? Why mix coffee and pomegranates? Would it be fruity?
We were proven wrong. The coffee is made by POM, and it does contain the antioxidant power of pomegranates, but it does not taste like the Persephone's forbidden fruit in the least! It's only available in a few markets for now, but we wanted to be ahead of the trend.
We've got plenty of java junkies around the office who jumped at the chance to try a cool new coffee.
Posted 4/30/2009 6:19:49 AM By: : 95 comments 23,953 views
Swine Flu: Questions and Answers from Harvard Medical School
Editor's note: The media has been abuzz about the swine flu, which has sickened and killed people in the United States, Mexico and elsewhere. From cable channels to newspapers, stories of the flu outbreak are everywhere, but much confusion remains.
Harvard Medical School has written an article that explains the disease, its origins, treatment and dangers. Plus, learn about symptoms of the flu and precautions to help keep you healthy. Their article answers all your FAQs about swine flu to debunk rumors and help you rest easy.
By Harvard Medical School
An epidemic of swine flu has recently developed in Mexico and the United States, says the CDC. Swine flu has killed many people, and the outbreak has features that suggest it could become a global pandemic. A pandemic is an epidemic that spreads around the whole world. Pandemics also often cause more severe disease than epidemics.
As of Sunday, April 26, the United States has declared a public health emergency, and suspect or confirmed cases are being reported from many parts of the world. If a pandemic happens, it could be very serious for human health and the global economy (which definitely does not need any more bad news right now).
Posted 4/29/2009 9:00:00 AM By: : 155 comments 33,525 views
How Healthy (and Tasty) is the New Healthy Choice?
Have you seen the new Healthy Choice commercials? The super fit Seinfeld alumna Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a potential spokeswoman for the company but needs further convincing. After I saw the commercial with Louis-Dreyfus gorging on Sweet Asian Potstickers, I contacted Healthy Choice. I wanted to know what changes they really made.
As it turns out, the changes were substantial.
Healthy Choice recently revamped its boxes, its label, and most importantly its food. The company has added more whole grains, fiber and antioxidants, and they've added a line of "Healthy Choice All Natural Entrées." The new meals are meat-free, but some contain chicken broth.
The new entrées (suggested retail price $2-$2.49) sound tasty: Mediterranean Pasta, Portabella Marsala Pasta, Pumpkin Squash Ravioli, Portabella Spinach Parmesan, Sweet Asian Potstickers, and Tomato Basil Penne.
In addition, Healthy Choice has added "premium" turkey and chicken (their term not mine--I'm not sure what that means, and what sort of poultry they used in the past), whole grain pasta and brown rice pilaf to their Healthy Choice Complete Meals ($2.88-$3.09). They've added new varieties of their Select Entrées ($2-$2.49), added new Café Steamers ($2.88-$3.29) with premium chicken, created three Vegetarian Soups, and changed the recipes of four other soups ($2.19-$2.39).
We gave some of these "All Natural Entrees" a whirl. Find out what we thought!
Posted 4/27/2009 1:15:04 PM By: : 188 comments 19,401 views
Take a Peek at a Healthy Eater's Meal Plan
You've peeked inside our fridges, and we've spilled our secrets about exercising in public. Now we're going to let you take a peek at our meal plans.
On a recent blog, someone wanted to know what a typical day is like for a SparkPeople expert in terms of eating. I remembered to both track my food and photograph it twice last week so I could share it with you. Do we eat the same foods? Would you eat what I eat?
I tend to eat a big breakfast, a moderate lunch and a slightly larger dinner, with one or two snacks. I love vegetables and always eat those before eating anything else on my plate. I don't eat meat or white bread/pasta/etc. I sometimes track calories, and I generally stay between 1,600 and 1,900 calories, the recommended amount from the SparkPeople Nutrition Tracker. (Honestly I'm usually pressing the upper limit of that. I like to eat!) I practice yoga daily and take Spinning, run and/or walk a few times a week, so I'm pretty active. I'm good at eating only when I'm hungry, but I have a bad habit of grazing when I'm bored or stressed.
Take a look at what I ate:
Thursday, April 16
7 servings of fruits and vegetables
9 cups of water
Breakfast: (9 a.m.) I always loved oatmeal, but Kath over at KathEats.com helped me elevate my oatmeal to a new level. Kath tops her oatmeal with all kinds of goodies. My favorite is almond butter and a banana with a bit of vanilla soymilk and cinnamon. Today I changed it up with eight roasted almonds (I buy raw, so I toasted these in the toaster oven while my oatmeal cooked) about 2/3 of an ounce of chocolate chips (a new topping for me--it was so decadent!) and a cup of strawberries.
This was like dessert for breakfast. I will stick with my banana and almond butter most days, but I liked this!
Posted 4/24/2009 5:52:46 AM By: : 161 comments 21,117 views
Speedy Suppers: Chicken Soup with a Southwestern Twist
Soup is filling, hearty and easy. Many of us are more likely to reach for a can opener and a condensed version when we're craving soup, but homemade soup is surprisingly fast to make. The best part is that one pot of soup can yield two meals for a family of four. After all, soup is one of those foods that always tastes better the next day.
I created this soup years ago after trying a great version at a Mexican restaurant in Bowling Green, Ohio. I ordered the "Zuppa Azteca" each time I stopped there during my drive north to visit friends in Michigan. Theirs is made with chicken roasted on the bone and homemade stock--incredibly delicious but not conducive to a quick weeknight supper.
Theirs had fewer tomatoes, no beans and white rice. I wanted to add more nutrition, so I added spinach, a green pepper and more tomatoes, and I use white meat chicken instead of dark. Beans and brown rice add fiber. This new soup is a good compromise of taste and time. (There's also a vegetarian version that I make these days. See below for more info on that!)
These first two recipes in what is becoming a series called "Speedy Suppers" have both been Mexican/Southwestern. I'll branch out for my next installment, I promise. I do know how to cook other cuisines!
Posted 4/23/2009 2:13:28 PM By: : 80 comments 18,141 views
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