Cranberry Turkey Roll-Up

Cranberry turkey roll-ups are as colorful as they are convenient. Just roll up lean sliced turkey breast with crisp veggies and cheese. The secret kick is in the sweet cranberry sauce, which you can buy at the store or make at home.     Print     Cranberry Turkey Roll-Up Ingredients 4 (10-inch) 100% whole-grain tortillas (about 190 calories each) 1/2 cup...

12 Tips for a More Healthful Holiday Season

I love everything about the holidays, especially festive decorations, good food, friends & family gatherings and gift giving! But, as you know, all that decorating, baking, socializing and holiday shopping can be a serious drain on time and energy, which can easily have negative consequences on our sleep, exercise and eating habits. The holidays are brief, so we should certainly enjoy them,...

5 Ways to Burn More Calories on a Walk

Is your daily walking workout challenging you? It should be! In order to improve your fitness level and continue getting results, you have to keep changing up your routine to make your body work in new ways. And yes, you can do all of that while sticking to walking as your preferred form of exercise. Next time you lace up your sneakers to head out for a sweat session, try one of these simple ways...

A Classy Way to Respond to Body Shaming

Fitness instructor Megan Ellis is the co-manager of the Barre East Fitness Studio in Frederick, Maryland. When a newspaper clipping slid out of an envelope addressed to the studio, Ellis wasn’t particularly surprised. The studio had just been featured in the business section of the local newspaper and she figured it was someone they knew sending them a copy. But when she unfolded the clipping,...

Cooking Oils Decoded

If there’s one thing we know about cooking oils, it’s that they’re really hard to keep straight—particularly in regards to how they impact our health and what types of oils to use when. If you often wonder, “Is the oil I’m using to roast these veggies protecting my heart?” Or, “Am I ingesting damaging free radicals with this stir-fry?” You’ve come to the right place! A recent survey of MyFitnessPal...

6 Workouts to Break Your Elliptical Rut

The elliptical machine is genius for burning fat and tightening your butt. But let’s face it: It can be insanely boring. The fix? Getting smarter about your intervals. Here’s how. WORKOUT #1—The Butt Blaster This sequence will tighten and tone your butt by building lean muscle mass in the glutes, says Ngo Okafor, trainer at Peak Performance NYC. You’ll need an elliptical machine with arms to...

4 Reasons to Be Thankful for Your Body (As It Is Today)

Thanksgiving is a great time of year to reflect on all the things we’re grateful for in our lives, and it’s also the perfect season to express a little gratitude for your body, too. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are a few improvements I wouldn’t mind making to my body. But I find that the more you can focus on the positive, the easier it is to stick with healthy habits that help you look good and,...

13 Unexpected Ways to Fit In Cardio

Exercise is a key contributor to health and happiness. Beyond triggering that runner’s high, it’s associated with a higher quality of life, improved health, and a better mood. But missing a few gym sessions doesn’t mean staying active has to fall by the wayside. Sneaking cardio into daily life can save time and improve fitness, sometimes on par with the benefits of a scheduled sweat session....

Egg & Bacon Mini Casseroles

Make a grab-and-go breakfast using egg, spinach, bacon, cheddar cheese and leftover bread. These mini casseroles bake up as complete meals that you can quickly reheat for breakfast.     Print     Egg & Bacon Mini Casseroles Ingredients 1 (10-ounce or 280-gram) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed 4 slices (35 grams per slice) 100% whole-wheat bread,...

The AvoLifestyle™ Challenge by Avocados from Mexico

You may have heard that an avocado contains good fats, but did you know that it also has 20 vitamins and minerals and is sodium and cholesterol free? This creamy fruit (yup, it’s fruit!) is so versatile you can blend it up in a sweet smoothie or mash it up into a savory egg salad. Learn how you can sneak more avocados into your day by checking out the recipes below and joining the AvoLifestyle™...

BLT Avocado-Ranch Chopped Salad

BLT just got better! You can use avocado to make a creamy ranch-style dressing. To assemble the salad, simply pour this tasty mix over a bed of fresh lettuce, juicy tomatoes and savory bacon.      Print     BLT Avocado-Ranch Chopped Salad Ingredients For avocado-ranch dressing: 1 medium (200 grams) avocado, chopped 1/4 cup (55 grams) light mayonnaise 1/4...

Soft Avocado Breakfast Taco

Spice up a boring work week with a morning fiesta of delicious avocado breakfast wrap. Avocados are a superfood high in monounsaturated fats (the good kind!). Try them in tasty tacos featuring fluffy scrambled eggs, melted cheese and crisp veggies.     Print     Soft Avocado Breakfast Taco Ingredients 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided 1 tablespoon fresh lime...

Open-Faced Avocado Egg Salad Sandwich

Did you know avocados are cholesterol free and a source of good fats? Mash up these buttery babies and use them like mayo in your egg salad for a smooth texture and delightful green color. For an easy brown bag lunch, pair your egg salad with whole-wheat bread and tomatoes.     Print     Open-Faced Avocado Egg Salad Sandwich Ingredients 1 medium (200 grams)...

Green Apple Avocado Smoothie

Kick-start your mornings or energize your afternoons with this power green smoothie! This smoothie uses simple ingredients like high-fiber green apples and spinach, but the crowning glory, of course, is the creamy, nutritious avocado. Blend, drink, and power-up with this nutrient-dense breakfast!     Print     Green Power Avocado Smoothie Ingredients 1/2...

10 Feast-Worthy Holiday Sides

The holidays are just around the corner and if you’re like us your meal-prep wheels are spinning! This year we’ve put together a list of delish side dishes featuring trendy vegetables (here’s looking at you, kale) and old time favorites.  Our list of sides is guaranteed to be proper holiday sidekicks for these tasty main entrees that we shared yesterday. To help you realize a...

5 Make-Ahead Travel-Friendly Snacks

John Autry | Cooking Light In a moment of desperation, I once paid four dollars for a Greek yogurt at an airport shop–about the same price as a double cheeseburger and fries from the food court. It tasted great and the protein kept me satisfied but I will admit, that yogurt was a little hard to swallow. When hunger strikes while you’re on the go, there never seems to be a shortage of fast food,...

Your 15-Minute Remedy for Weak Knees

Help stabilize and protect your knees by strengthening and improving mobility in the muscles that surround and support the knees like the quadriceps, inner thighs, hamstrings, calves, glutes and even the muscles in your ankles and feet. Work barefoot for maximum muscle recruitment when you complete this 15-minute workout to help build a strong, supportive and flexible lower body. Completing these...

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

Spice up your morning with a warm bowl of pumpkin pie–spiced oatmeal. Nutty oatmeal is cooked up with pumpkin puree and sweetened with a touch of honey. With this scrumptious pumpkin pie oatmeal, maybe you can forgo your pumpkin spice addiction (then again, maybe not!).     Print     Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal Ingredients 2 cups (490 grams) low-fat milk 1 cup...

10 Healthy Holiday Travel Tips

With loved ones and tasty, once-a-year recipes around, the holidays are a great time to splurge—especially if you plan ahead and work those treats into your healthy eating and fitness routine. But often, it’s not the party or festive gathering that throws you off your game, it’s getting there! Whether you’re going by plane, train, or automobile, here are 10 tips to help you stay on top of your health...

4 Ways to Shorten Your Workouts Without Sacrificing Results

Life is busy, and that means we don’t want to be in the gym longer than necessary (and might skip a workout here and there). Performing workouts that are quick and effective will help you get a workout in when time is tight. Here are four ways that you can shorten your workout session while improving your progress. 1. Superset Upper And Lower Body Moves One great way to shorten your session while...

Easy Sweet Potato Wedges

Dive into delightful, golden brown sweet potato wedges for a quick snack or side dish. Courtesy of our partners at Cooking Light, this recipe uses a two-step process to pre-cook the potatoes before baking (hint: it involves a microwave!). You’ll be serving these babies up in no time!     Print     Easy Sweet Potato Wedges For the potato...

4 Ways to Curb Emotional Eating

Millions of people are affected by emotional eating. Food is both exciting and comforting, but using it to cope with emotions like anxiety, loneliness, boredom, or pain only alleviates those feelings temporarily—and it’s usually followed by major post-binge guilt. Luckily, seeking out social support can help you overcome your food crutch. First, by pinpointing what sends you searching for comfort...

The Truth About Alcohol (+ 5 Tips For Smarter Holiday Sips)

Mixing, mingling and making merry this holiday wouldn’t be the same without alcohol. But for those of us with an agenda to neutralize weight gain, adding alcohol to the equation makes this a tough one to balance. Here’s why: Alcohol is the second most potent source of calories  Partying with alcohol is fun because we like feeling intoxicated, but this intoxication comes with a caloric price...