Weekly Wellness
Issue 262
Featured Article
Cereal Quiz -- Answer six quick questions and discover how healthy your cereal is!
Fitness Tip
Nighttime Exercise
Exercising just before bedtime may be asking for trouble. Aerobic exercise -- and exercise in general -- helps you fall asleep more quickly and sleep longer, but generally not if you if you work out just before turning in. Don't be tempted by your gym's late hours if you have to get up early the next morning; most of us need a few hours to relax and decompress after a workout before going to sleep, so you might pay a price the next day.
Nutrition Tip
Nutrition Tip
"Pea" is for Protein.
Can eating peas save your eyesight? Peas are also an excellent source of lutein, which is believed to help fight macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people age 65 and older. It may surprise you to learn peas are not vegetables -- they're actually legumes. Either way, a 2/3-cup serving contains about 5 grams of protein, or about 10 percent of the daily protein needs of a 130 pound person. Like other legumes, peas are rich in B vitamins, minerals and soluble fiber. While it's a treat to eat fresh peas in late spring and early summer, shucking them is tedious. Frozen peas are just as nutritious as fresh. Add them to pilafs, bean salads and soups.
Quip or Quote of the Week
Quote:
"I was a vegetarian until I started leaning toward the sunlight."
-Rita Rudner US
Quick Recipe
The MLT Sandwich (mushrooms, lettuce and tomatoes)
Heat a large non-stick skillet coated with vegetable oil spray over medium heat. Add 8 ounces any sliced mushrooms; cook and stir ten minutes or until tender. Season with salt and black pepper. Meanwhile, microwave two slices bacon one to two minutes on high or until crispy. Let stand two minutes and crumble. Toast eight slices whole-wheat bread; spread one side with some low-fat mayonnaise. Top four of the slices with lettuce, sliced tomato and mushroom mixture; sprinkle with bacon. Top with remaining bread slices, halve sandwiches and serve. Serving Suggestion: Serve with potato wedges (frozen).
Tidbit(s)
Mealtime Line-Ups
What constitutes a meal in your home? Meat, potatoes and bread? Does supper always involve three courses? Rethink your dinner options and get creative with menu planning. A salad that is chock-full of vegetables and cubed cooked chicken, for example, is a one-dish meal that cuts back on the calories, fat and sodium often found in traditional dinners.
Food Fixes
When instructed in a cake recipe to flour the baking pan, try using a little of the dry cake mix instead of flour for a no-white-mess on the outside of the cake.
Wash hands in cold water and rub with salt to get rid of onion odor.
Garlic is great, but its smell lingers on your hands. To remove the scent, rub your hands against stainless steel, such as a kitchen faucet.
More Quick Cooking Tips Online!