USA Today Features SparkPeople Members' Stories

The USA Today Weight Loss Challenge kicked off today, and we're happy to report that two SparkPeople members are featured in this great series by Nanci Hellmich. (We were also part of Nanci's "Dieting on a Dime" articles.)

USA TODAY's sixth Weight-Loss Challenge, which will run every Monday through mid-May, focuses on losing weight on a budget.

The featured dieters lost weight by making small changes that were inexpensive to implement. Some simply bought new shoes so they could start walking or running. Others joined inexpensive gyms. Many of the dieters are cooking more and eating out less, and all are trying to save money on food.

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Meat-Free Fridays: Black Beans--the Best Beans!

Each Friday during Lent, the dailySpark is featuring a different meat-free main dish. Whether you observe Lent or not, we can all benefit from learning about alternate, affordable proteins.

My boyfriend could live on black beans and rice. He actually said that Wednesday night. He got home late, and I had gone out to dinner with a friend. He opened a can of beans, doctored it with olive oil, garlic, curry and a strange assortment of spices and heated up some leftover brown rice. He added some smoked gouda and a handful of fresh spinach at the end (If I'm not eating it, I don't comment on the conglomerations he creates.) and his dinner was ready.

"I could eat this every meal of every day and still be happy," Fred said.
While I don't love black beans quite as much as my boyfriend does, I am very fond of these beans. They're cheap (I get a conventional 15-ounce can for 89 cents, an organic 15-ounce can for $1.29, and a pound of organic dried beans for about $1/pound.) I cook a big batch of dried black beans each week and we eat them throughout the week. We add a half-cup per serving to vegetable stir-fries, soups, stews and pretty much any other dish.

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25 Cheap, Healthy, and Delicious Foods

Watching your wallet and your waistline can be tricky, but we've scanned the shelves and roamed the aisles and found 25 foods that are nutritious and affordable. (These prices will vary according to location.) This is part of a continuing series called Habits of Healthy Eaters. (Prices from Safeway.com, March 2009, Greater Philadelphia area)

1. Canned salmon $2.89/14.75 ounces (59 cents/serving) Get your Omega-3's for less. Salmon is full of these healthy fats, which help lower cholesterol and prevent heart attacks.

2. Chicken breasts $3.49/pound (87 cents/serving) Easy-to-prepare, chicken is full of lean protein, which helps keep you fuller longer.

3. Natural peanut butter $3.39/16 ounces (42 cents/serving) Skip the sugary, processed varieties and spread the real stuff on whole-grain bread. Throw a tablespoon in smoothies or yogurt, use it as a dip for carrots and pretzels, or mix it with a bit of low-sodium soy sauce, brown sugar and garlic, then thin with water for a quick sauce.

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I Tried It: Coconut Water

I'm not a big fan of most beverages. I use soymilk on cereal, drink tea occasionally, and have a rare glass of OJ. Most of the time, I'm satisfied with water. Soda, juice and sports drinks are usually too sweet for me. If I want something fancy, I ask for club soda or a slice of lemon for my flat water.

Then I discovered what has become my new favorite beverage: coconut water. Two weeks ago, I was battling a wicked sinus infection. Though I was guzzling water and hot green tea, I just felt a bit dehydrated. I wanted something new and different, a treat that would also help me get in more fluids.

High on a shelf in the beverage aisle, I spotted coconut water. The package boasted some interesting nutrition facts:

Fat free

A natural source of electrolytes

Twice the potassium as a banana

Only 60 calories for about 12 ounces

I bought one, took it home, and drank it that night. Now I'm hooked! I drink them two or three times a week, usually after a hot yoga class or particularly grueling Spinning classes.

Posted 3/23/2009  2:07:28 PM By:   : 233 comments   78,690 views

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Quick Tip: Spring Clean Your Kitchen

It's officially spring (at least here in the Northern Hemisphere), which means warmer weather, a fresh start and the dreaded spring cleaning.

This year, in addition to washing windows and deep-cleaning nooks and crannies, consider spring cleaning your kitchen.

Pitch the pastries, kick the cookies to the curb, and organize that pantry so you can find the whole-wheat pasta, healthy snacks and spices.

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Meat-Free Fridays: Tofu--Tasteless Blob or Tasty Protein?

Each Friday during Lent, the dailySpark is featuring a different meat-free main dish. Whether you observe Lent or not, we can all benefit from learning about alternate, affordable proteins.

Few foods are as polarizing as tofu.

Say the word and watch as noses crinkle or mouths water.

I fall on the tofu lover side of the spectrum, but I think we might be of the minority.

Tofu, also known as soybean curd, is made by soaking, boiling, blending and straining soybeans, then adding a coagulating agent and pressing it. Think of it like this: Cheese is to milk as tofu is to soymilk.

Really whets the appetite, doesn't it?

Scratch that.

Think of tofu as the other white meat. Like chicken, it's a versatile protein, a blank canvas on which to test your culinary prowess. I substitute tofu in just about every chicken recipe I have.

3-4 ounces grilled chicken
3-4 ounces sautéed or grilled tofu

Ta-da!

I've got a few tofu tricks and tips. I'm pretty sure I can convert you. In fact, I bet you a SparkGoodie that you will at least like, if not love, tofu after you try some of these tips. (P.S. Did I mention that it's cheap? A 15-ounce package yields five servings for under $2! That's enough of a reason for this frugal foodie.)

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I Can Run a Mile After All (and Now I Can Track My Runs, Too)!

"I only run when chased."

That was my answer any time I was asked about running, otherwise known as torture disguised as exercise.

If I ran, it would be:
1. to catch a bus, plane or train
2. to outrun someone chasing me (This never happened, but I imagined myself screaming, arms flailing, heels breaking and purse flapping on my arm.)

Running made my lungs burn, my shins ache and my body feel like it was being shaken violently. Though I could get through an entire Spinning class or 45 minutes on the elliptical with no problem, I could only manage to run a block or two before giving up.

Still, all of my friends are runners, at least casually. I've greeted friends at the end of marathons, celebrated their success after 10Ks and helped them carbo load before big races. But I was always happy just supporting them.

Some time last year, I saved the article "You Can Run a Mile Without Stopping" as a SparkFavorite. "Maybe some day," I said. "Some day I'll be able to run a mile."

All winter long, I happily took Spinning classes, sweating and pedaling my way across unseen hilled terrain. After months of cold, dark days, an unexpected burst of sunshine one Sunday in February made me reconsider my deep-held aversion to running.

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First Models, Then Actresses, Now Political Bloggers Criticized about Their Weight

There are some topics I never tire of writing and researching: healthy cooking, saving money, yoga… and then there are topics I hope to never write about again, like women calling each other "fat."

Politics and body image are two topics that rarely intersect, though we've grown accustomed to the endless commentary on celebrity weight gain. Tyra Banks, Kelly Clarkson, Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Love Hewitt have endured the media maelstrom. Each time, we shake our heads and wish that women could be valued for something besides their appearances. Though those women have been bestowed with musical, dramatic and other talents, it's the size of their thighs that most often makes headlines.

Now, Meghan McCain, a political blogger and the 24-year-old daughter of Arizona Sen. John McCain, is being criticized for her weight. This time though, it was not the blogosphere or the tabloids taking aim. It is one person--another woman, no less!

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Can You Lighten Up Corned Beef and Cabbage? Should You?

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Are you wearing green today?

St. Patrick's Day is traditionally a day to feast. These days, at least in North America, it has become a day to wear green, drink beer (usually a Guinness or sometimes a green one) and eat corned beef and cabbage.

Salty and rich, corned beef is boiled in water to shed some of its saltiness.
Cabbage is the vegetable of choice to serve alongside. Although I have some Irish blood in me, I admit that I've never had corned beef and cabbage. So while I usually offer you tips on lightening your meals, this time I'm asking you for advice: How do you improve on corned beef and cabbage? Do you? Should you? Or should you just celebrate and enjoy this traditional food?

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Meat-Free Fridays: What in the World is TVP?

Each Friday during Lent, the dailySpark will feature a different meat-free main dish. Whether you observe Lent or not, we can all benefit from learning about alternate, affordable proteins.

It looks a bit like cereal, but it smells saltier and tastes more savory than sweet. It's a cheap, versatile and incredibly easy to use protein source that is sometimes hard to distinguish from ground meat. It's TVP. Textured Vegetable Protein. (TVP is in the front of the photo of soy products accompanying this article.)

Let's demystify this vegetarian protein, which can be used in everything from chili and meatballs to tacos and shepherd's pie.

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What Life is Really Like at SparkPeople

As you might imagine, working at SparkPeople is pretty amazing. Not only do we get to talk and write about healthy living all day long, we get to interact with our wonderful and inspiring SparkPeople members. Plus we get to work with a really incredible group of people.

The SparkPeople team works incredibly hard to keep building new features to help members reach their goals, but we practice what we preach: All things in moderation. All work and no play is not SparkGuy or SparkPeople's way. When we get the chance, we step away from our desks and have a little fun.

From the software guys' midafternoon foosball games to the pushups challenge that Rachel, Nicole and I have been pursuing and our Friday afternoon Wii games, we try to have some fun in the office. And while we're serious about healthy living, we don't take ourselves too seriously.

So when our Software Engineering Manager, Paul, took paternity leave, the other guys in the "tech" department decided to surprise him with a new office. With a newborn and a ridiculously cute and intelligent 3-year-old daughter at home, Paul was bound to need some privacy and "me time" at the office. And that's just what he got. (That's Paul in the main photo on this blog post!)

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On International Women’s Day, Think about the Woman You've Become--and What Got You Here

By Debba Haupert, creator of GIRLFRIENDOLOGY.com – the online community for women focused on female friendship



When we look at our mothers, aunts and sisters, we can get a pretty good read on our genetics. If they’re healthy, fit and strong, we’ve got less of a battle than if our ancestors have struggled with excessive weight, cancer and other health issues. Some hereditary genetics we can counteract with diet, exercise and healthy living habits, and some though we just can't do anything about-- like our height, body type and even our tendency for some unhealthy habits. Our ancestors and genetics play a role in our lives on a daily basis.

In addition to our hereditary genetics, our lives also are influenced by the sisterhood of women whose actions, accomplishments and inspiration affect our lives. For example:

• Venus and Serena who inspire us to physically be our bests.
  
• Oprah and Gayle who serve as examples of strong and lasting friendship.
  
• Jennifer Aniston who redefines what a 40-year-old female looks like.
  
• Billie Jean King who believed in herself and the power of women.
  
• And, all the women who have started successful businesses, achieved high levels of leadership and who have made a difference for so many others.

Just take a look at your life and the environment in which you grew up.

Consider the Girl Scout leaders and teachers who challenged you to grow, the neighbor whose kindness taught you how to be more thoughtful, and your girlfriends who accepted you exactly as you were. We have an unrelated, but equally important, lineage and legacy of women without whom our lives would lack fulfillment and potential. And, without whom we would never be able to participate in athletics, have opportunities to own our own businesses, be elected or even vote.

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Meat-Free Fridays: Lenten Lentils

Each Friday during Lent, the dailySpark will feature a different meat-free main dish. Whether you observe Lent or not, we can all benefit from learning about alternate, affordable proteins.

Lentils are a cheap and versatile protein source--I buy lentils for about a dollar a pound in the bulk bins at my local supermarket. On nights when I'm pressed for time, I throw some lentils in a pot, along with a bit of onion and garlic. I add twice as much broth as lentils and let them simmer for about 15 minutes. I steam some broccoli or spinach, heat up some brown rice (I precook rice in batches and freeze it in single portions) and drizzle on a bit of curry or tomato sauce. Dinner's on the table in less than 20 minutes!
Most people limit lentils to lentil soup, but these legumes have a lengthy list of uses.

Mix cooked lentils into meatballs, meatloaf or burgers. Add a cup of lentils and a cup of water when browning ground beef or turkey.

Add pureed lentils to chili, soups or stews to thicken.

Toss cooled French or green lentils with vinaigrette and some chopped peppers and onions for a quick salad. Or add lentils to your favorite pasta salad.

Substitute lentils for half or all the ground beef in your favorite pasta dish. In meat sauce, lasagna or stuffed shells, the texture is the indistinguishable.

A half-cup of lentils have 115 calories, less than half a gram of fat, and 366 mg potassium. They contain 9 g each of protein and fiber (about a third of your recommended amount of fiber), and 45% of your Daily Value of folic acid. Lentils are frequently included on lists of the world's healthiest foods.

Find out more about this healthy, cheap and versatile legume!

Posted 3/6/2009  5:52:24 AM By:   : 98 comments   44,055 views

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10 Requests to Add to Your Dining Repertoire

No matter what restaurant you choose, you can find something healthy to eat, as long as you know a few magic phrases, says Jenna Bergen, author of "Your Big Fat Boyfriend: How to Stay Thin When Dating a Diet Disaster."

Here's how Jenna sticks to her healthy eating strategy even when her boyfriends wants wings or pizza:

Speaking up can make a huge difference in slimming down. Go ahead and be picky when placing your order.

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A Minute with: Chef Tyler Florence

Chef Tyler Florence is a familiar face on the Food Network, thanks to shows like Food 911 and Tyler's Ultimate. Though he's had plenty of training and years of practice, he is able to make cooking seem easy. Tyler recently took a few minutes to answer some of our questions!

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