Monday's Topic: Food Safety!

Hungry Girl sent out information about an important food recall and a new website that will update us on food safety issues.

First of all, 3 Lean Cuisine meals were recalled:

• LEAN CUISINE Café Classics Pesto Chicken with Bow Tie Pasta
  
• LEAN CUISINE Spa Cuisine Chicken Mediterranean
  
• LEAN CUISINE Dinnertime Selects Chicken Tuscan
  

For more information on this recall, click HERE and HERE. Make sure to share this information with your friends!


Also - she informed us of a new website USFoodSafety.com that informs us of any important food safety issues. You can even subscribe to get free e-mail updates!

So be safe! Happy Monday everyone!

Getting Motivated - YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!

One of my favorite motivational bloggers posted some GREAT ideas on how to get motivated to work out and keep at it.




His tips included:

• Work out at a consistent time every day. Many people say it takes at least 21 days (3 weeks) to form a habit. So get a calendar - decide on a time you will do this every day and start marking it off until it is second nature!!


• The Power of Positive thinking . . . VISUALIZE yourself having an awesome workout - and then make that dream come true!


• Uh-oh, have you been bad? Did you miss a workout? We teach our children that bad choices have consequences, so why don't our own? Create a punishment for yourself for when you miss a workout and find someone to hold you to it! For me, since my hubby does all the housework (Gosh, I love him) I would need to owe him by cooking dinner, doing dishes, cleaning the bathrooms, etc. and I would ask him to hold me accountable - because if we don't follow through on our punishments then we won't learn!!


• Having trouble getting started? Just tell yourself to do a few exercises and then you can quit if you want. I've noticed that once I start, I get more determined to finish at least 30 minutes - so JUST START. Stop making excuses! (Yes, I'm talking to myself here.)


• Support is a huge thing on completing goals - so find a workout buddy or create an online blog and TELL PEOPLE your struggles and your successes. Putting yourself out there can be a great motivator, because you don't want to let your workout buddy (or the entire online community who just might be reading your blog) down.


• JAM! Create a workout playlist and turn it UP!


• Did you workouts all week? Reward yourself! (NOT WITH FOOD!) Rent a movie that YOU have always wanted to watch, take some time for yourself, play a game with the kids, etc.


• KEEP TRACK OF EVERYTHING. I know that when I keep track of what I eat and how often I exercise, it is a great motivator. PLUS - you should keep track of your goals, your rewards for meeting them, and your punishments for when you don't!

Thank you Mark for those great tips! I'm getting it on this RIGHT NOW for myself!! How about you??

See Mark's entire post here: http://blog.marksalinas.com/2008/11/19/workout-motivation/

The Toaster Pastry War

I love Pop-Tarts. I always have. I used to love going to my friend Michelle's house as a child because her mom always had CHOCOLATE POP-TARTS. (Of course, I NEVER ate the last one because of a scary story they told about what happened to those who dared to eat the last chocolate Pop-Tart . . .)

Anyway . . . the other day while strolling the aisles of the grocery store - I found something that excited me! Fiber One Chocolate Fudge Toaster Pastries. Could it be? Could I have found a healthier alternative for my beloved Pop-Tarts?

Well - let's check out the nutritional information:

Well, it still isn't the BEST choice - but Fiber One's version does have less calories, less sugar, less fat, less sodium and less carbs - and it also has potassium, more fiber, and more protein.

So as a treat - it might work for breakfreast some mornings, but it can't be something I eat every day. And I can only eat ONE at a time (what a bummer that they package them in twos.)

I do have to say though - I tried them and they are really good. You can tell that they have more fiber in them, but I've started to really like that nutrititious FIBER BUZZ I get when eating food with added fiber. Again I caution you though - don't eat a lot of fiber before bed!!!

Have a great Thursday - the week is almost over!!!

Foods that help with stress!

I found this post that discusses 10 foods that can help with stress . . . alas, chocolate isn't on this list. But these things are:

1. Blueberries - Vitamin C is supposed to help your body deal with stress and Fiber regulates blood sugar levels.
2. Skim milk - high in protein and Vitamin B to protect nerve health, and protein to stabilize blood sugar levels.
3. Oranges - more Vitamin C!
4. Brown Rice - B Vitamins, fiber, and serotonin producing carbs.
5. Green Vegetables - filled with vitamins - and many contain potassium which can help calm nerves.
6. Dried Apricots - Vitamin C, Fiber and stress-busting magnesium.
7. Turkey - contains L-Tryptophan which is documented as a calming agent. (Which would be why we all fall asleep after thanksgiving dinner!)
8. Soy - Add foods with soy to your diet, soy contains B vitamins, protein, calcium AND magnesium.
9. Sweet Potatoes - they can help curb your craving for sweet stuff and they are high in fiber and other vitamins!
10. Water - even mild dehydration can cause your body to stress. Plus - water can curb the urge to eat something fattening!

And some studies have shown that a little chocolate CAN be good for you (especially dark chocolate) - so if you have to give in to it . . . just give in a little bit.


How about you? Do you know of any other stress reducing foods?