Blog Posts by Healthy Bites, SELF Magazine

By Samantha Levy, SELF magazine

With all the traveling and cookouts this summer, I've been noticing a bit of, how shall I say it, extra junk in my trunk. Mind you: I think curves are sexy and there's nothing wrong with adding a few every now and again. What's not sexy is constant overindulging. It can become a slippery slope and lead you down a path to an unhealthy lifestyle. That said, how does one get on the road to recovery? It all starts with a little planning...

Bonus: Beat the heat with one of these no-cook dinners tonight!

Slow down tiger: Been running around from one social event to the next all summer long? Try something different this week: Slow down and eat in. Flip through your fave cookbook (or SELF's advanced recipe search) today and decide what you are going to eat for the rest of the week. Busy girl? Go for a quick-fix dish like stir fry. Prep time still too much? Treat yourself to a frozen option that's just as nutritious. Meals cooked at home tend to be higher in

By Samantha Levy, SELF magazine

I am bananas over blueberries--bananas are pretty delish too, but nothing like my affinity for a ripe box of blubs. You already know the benefits of going blue, but did you know that blueberries can play a starring role in some of your favorite dishes? Adding this superfruit puts a tangy twist on classic fare.

So while you can eat blubs straight from the box (I often do!), you may want to try something new. And FYI: I suggest (especially you East Coasters!) that you do so with haste: prime blueberry season is more than half way to it's end.

Related: Hungry? Try one of these 30 healthy snacks

Pick your own or pack a few boxes in your shopping cart and get cooking:

• Turkey Roll-ups with Blueberry Salsa Sticking with mustard is such a bore. Add something sweet to your sandwich by rolling up your protein with freshly picked blubs--your taste buds will appreciate the change and your skin will benefit from a dose of antioxidants.

• Sweet and

By Caitlin Berens, SELF magazine

Still sipping on your morning soda? Perhaps the commercials downplaying the effects of high-fructose corn syrup have won you over. Not so fast: there's still reason to be weary...

Bonus: See how you can to dine like a star

A recent study at Princeton University revealed that consuming high-fructose corn syrup ultimately leads to abnormal increases in body fat--especially in the ab region.

Researchers observed rats over a six-month period. One group consumed a diet rich in high-fructose corn syrup while the other group had typical rat chow. The animals on the diet rich in high-fructose corn syrup not only gained 48 percent more weight than their counterparts, but also began demonstrating characteristics of obesity. According to researchers, this information is helpful in further understanding the obseity epidemic in the United States.

Related: Beat the heat with one of these tasty no-cook meals tonight

So what can you do to avoid ab flab and the

By Sarah Schmidt, SELF magazine

With her crusade to end childhood obesity (and those killer arms!), First-Lady Michelle Obama is one of our healthy-living heroes. But when she opened up about her eating habits, we were surprised to hear about her propensity for cleansing. (Detox dieting can be a dangerous habit, depriving you of must-have nutrients!) Luckily, most of what she's doing is fairly healthy--we would just suggest a few tweaks to make Ms. Obama's cleanse match up to our guide to healthy detoxing.

Related: Beat the heat with one of these tasty no-cook meals tonight

Rule #1: Skip added Sugars
Michelle's Diet: The First Lady told Ladies Home Journal, "When you start adding things like sugars into your diet, you start craving them. And the more you eat, the more you crave." When it comes to sugar, Michelle is on the right track.

Our Detox Diet Fix: So far, so good. Studies show that a diet high in sugar puts you at risk for heart disease so we're on board with Ms. Obama's

By Samantha Levy, SELF magazine

Happy Monday my Healthy Bites beauties! Just doesn't have the same ring to it as "Happy Friday," huh? It's hard to manage all your must-do activities during the week (work aside).

Now you can take one time consuming task off your plate (no pun intended). Frozen foods used to get a bad wrap for high sodium content and small portion sizes. But SELF's Healthy Food Awards testers found a winning bunch that will make healthy weekday meal planning a cinch.

1. Healthy Choice Complete Meals Roasted Turkey Breast Thanksgiving just moved to the frozen food section of your supermarket: tender turkey, satiating stuffing, green beans and dessert to boot! Enjoy the comfort of the holiday any day of the week.

2. Lean Cuisine Szechuan Style Stir Fry With Shrimp With 5 grams of fiber, supple shrimp and a plentiful serving of bright veggies, there's no need to order take out

3. Amy's Indian Vegetable Korma This one meal not only packs a hefty punch of iron (providing

By Caitlin Berens, SELF magazine

Tired of the same PB&J or turkey sandwiches? It's possible to satisfy your taste buds without dropping a dime in the cafeteria with lunches that are not only a cinch to prep, but have good-for-you nutrients like antioxidants and fiber to boot.
Related: Beat the heat with one of these no-cook dinners tonight!

1. For the vegetarian/veggie-lover: An innovative salad
A chef's salad can become ho-hum after awhile. Switch it up and put some pizzazz back in those leafy bites with a baby spinach and raspberry salad recipe. Prep time is only 20 minutes and you'll get the benefits of eye-healthy beta-carotene, vitamin C and fiber.

2. For the meat-eater/protein master: The no-snore sandwich
I love a good sandwich, but sometimes my lunch experience turns out to be more an ordinary routine than a culinary delight. In the same situation? Try a chicken and cherry sandwich. The fruit packs cancer-fighting antioxidants and the walnuts add crunch for a delicious

By Samantha Levy, SELF magazine

Totally pumped that it's the weekend? Me too. It's probably the only time you'll hear me use the words "totally" and "pumped"--especially in the same sentence. I am hosting a pool party this weekend and have rattled my brain all week wondering what one serves a bikini-clad crowd. After much thought, I've got the answer!

1. Gucamole con Frutas: The avocado in this delish dip is the key ingredient that fights fat, keeping your abs flat. A study in the journal of Diabetes Care found that dieters who consumed monosaturated fats lost more belly bulge than those eating the same number of calories but less of the fats.

2. Watermelon-Rum Mash: This summer sip delivers a dose of cancer-fighting lycopene. We'll cheers to that!

3. Tomato Tom Collins: Bottoms up! This delicious drink delivers big on taste and can help save your skin, too. Tomatoes pack a punch of the antioxidant lycopene--they also contain cancer-fighting cartenoids and fiber. Say yes to seconds!

By Caitlin Berens, SELF magazine

Attention meat-lovers! Piling your plate with animal protein could expand your waistline. The more meat people eat, the more likely they are to gain weight, a recent study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds.

Related: Find out how you can get a wow booty now

The researchers followed 370,000 people for five years and found that for every 250 grams of meat a person ate, they gained 2 killograms, no matter what their total calorie consumption or how much they exercised. The meat-weight connection was true in both men and women and no matter what kind of meat they ate--poultry, beef and processed meats were all linked with weight gain. Scientists blame meat's high calorie and fat content for the connection.

Related: Beat the heat with one of these no-cook dinners tonight!

But don't panic! There's no need to eschew animal protein altogether to stay slim. Try going veggie one day a week to start. Try out these SELF-approved tasty