Blog Posts by SparkPeople.com

9 Little Tricks that Make Working Out A Lot Easier
By Nicole Nichols, Managing Editor and Fitness Expert at SparkPeople

I am not a morning person, but a few times a week, I make myself a morning exerciser. It's the only way I'm guaranteed to fit in my runs. A couple weeks ago, I was too darn tired to wake up early to run, so I decided I'd do it during the workday instead. I packed up my gym bag with my running clothes, then scrambled around the hall closet looking for travel size toiletries and a towel; packed a change of clothes (going over my mental checklist of underwear, socks, deodorant, and a hairbrush), and headed to the office with a mental plan to run and shower during lunchtime.

I realized that by the time I packed up all my stuff, I could have been well into my run-or even finished a short workout (since 10 or 15 minutes of exercise is always better than none). And even with the best intentions-and a supportive work environment that encourages exercise-I never found the time to sneak away to run (let alone

Have a Heart-to-Heart about Family HealthBy Christine Johnson, for SparkPeople

It's extremely important to your health, and that of your baby, to research your family's medical history. And there's no better way to start than by asking your mother. Aside from having parenting experience, her knowledge of women's health can help you prepare for your journey into motherhood even before you conceive. Talking about health--and family illnesses--can be tough sometimes.

Some mothers and daughters are not particularly close, and this could be a way to bond, improve your relationship or achieve a better understanding of the other person. Each mom/daughter relationship is different, so use this list as an inspiration for a conversation between you and your mother.

Here are ways you can break the ice.

Women's Health and Family Health History Starting from your first visit to the gynecologist, your mother was likely there to help fill out forms and ease your anxiety over that first annual exam. Many health issues are

If Your Child Was Overweight, Would You Want to Know?By Jen Mueller for SparkPeople

If there's one thing I've learned about parenting, it's how hard it is to feel judged by others. When you have kids, your whole life changes and most (if not all) of the decisions you make in life take another little person (or people) into consideration. I spend most of my day caring for my kids, trying to make sure their needs are met and they are growing up to be good individuals. So the last thing I want to hear is that I'm doing something wrong that's going to negatively impact them for the rest of their lives. It's hard to take criticism about your parenting skills, but that's what a lot of people feel when their child's weight comes into question.

My son was a big baby, and I got tired of hearing how "chunky" he was. I knew he was a perfectly healthy breastfed baby, so I tried to ignore the comments, especially since his pediatrician was not the least bit concerned. Eventually he grew out of that phase and now he's a healthy, average

7 Ways to Make Applying Sunscreen Easier and More Fun for KidsBy Hillary Copsey, for SparkPeople

Living in Southern Florida, I've become something of a sunscreen aficionado.

There are bottles in my purses, tubes in our cars, more in our medicine cabinets and in the garage cabinet where the outdoor toys are stored. I put on an SPF-laden moisturizer every morning as soon as I get out of the shower and my two sons are lotioned up before they head to daycare most days. It's just part of our routine.

Getting the kids to hold still long enough to get fully covered in sun protection hasn't always been easy. Most toddlers seem to feel like you're putting molten lava on their skin when you smear on the sunscreen. To get my boys - ages 2 and 4 - used to it, I let them "help" by lotioning up a spot I'd already done or smearing a bit on my face while I rubbed sunscreen into theirs. I waited until they were trapped in their carseats to smear sunscreen on their faces, the body part that seemed to elicit the most rage. I pretended I was a

Chef Meg's Baked Anchovy Grape CrostiniBy Chef Meg Galvin, Healthy Cooking Expert at SparkPeople.com

Don't pass up this recipe just because it's a little fishy. As the sweet grapes, creamy cheese, and hint of salty fish hit your mouth you will fall in love with this quick and easy appetizer.

Minutes to Prepare: 5

Minutes to Cook: 5

Number of Servings: 12

Nutritional Info

• Servings Per Recipe: 12
• Calories: 47.9
• Total Fat: 1.9 g
• Cholesterol: 5.4 mg
• Sodium: 85.5 mg
• Total Carbs: 0.6 g
• Dietary Fiber: 0.4 g
• Protein: 2.3 g

Tips

Use white anchovies if you can find them. They're milder. No Gouda? Swap in your favorite creamy white cheese.

Ingredients

3-inch piece of whole-grain baguette, sliced into 12 1/4-inch slices
6 anchovies, rinsed and patted dry
2 ounces Gouda cheese, thinly sliced
12 green grapes, sliced in half

More SparkRecipes:

• Bruschetta-Stuffed Mushrooms (Chef Meg's Makeover)
• Chef Meg's Cheesy Grilled Banana

Chef Meg's Orange-Miso Grilled SalmonBy Chef Meg Galvin, Healthy Cooking Expert at SparkPeople.com

Sweet and tangy oranges pair perfectly with rich, salty miso. A little goes a long way, and this salmon dish is decadent yet healthy! Pair it with grilled veggies and a slice of grilled whole-wheat bread rubbed with garlic.

Minutes to Prepare: 20

Minutes to Cook: 15

Number of Servings: 4

Nutritional Info

• Servings Per Recipe: 4
• Calories: 236.0
• Total Fat: 9.3 g
• Cholesterol: 80.5 mg
• Sodium: 97.8 mg
• Total Carbs: 7.9 g
• Dietary Fiber: 1.1 g
• Protein: 29.3 g
  

Tips

I prefer wild salmon over farmed or Atlantic varieties. Not only does it have more Omega-3 fatty acids, but it's also more flavorful.

Keep the skin on when you grill. The skin will add moisture and serve as a safe barrier from the intense heat of the grill. It's super easy to pull off after the fish is cooked. When cooking skin-on fish, always place the flesh side down first.

Ingredients

1

The Secret to Succulent Pulled MeatsBy Chef Meg Galvin, Healthy Cooking Expert at SparkPeople.com

Who can pass up a moist and tender barbecue sandwich, pulled chicken simmered in a slow cooker until it's falling apart, or, my favorite, Kentucky Burgoo, with several tender cuts in one bowl.

These recipes, while quite different in ingredients, are all ideal for the slow cooker, and they yield the same fork-tender, falling-apart meat. What's the secret?

What do all three of these recipes have in common? What's the common thread?

Let's shift from the art of cooking to the science for a moment. That common thread is collagen, the connective tissue in meat.

We all know that meat is basically bundles of muscle cells, with fibers embedded within that allow the animal to move. Connective tissue connects cells and tissues within the meat, like support hose or an athletic bandage. As you move, the fabric stretches and moves with you, supporting your movement. As the animals grow the

Raising Strong DaughtersJen Mueller, for SparkPeople

Grade school was tough for me. I got picked on a lot, mostly because I got good grades and didn't like to get in trouble. I think a lot of my insecurities as an adult began on the school playground as a 9-year-old who just wanted to fit in. Because of those experiences, I've become super-sensitive to how I'm raising my daughters. I want them to be strong young women who don't let the opinions of others determine their self-worth. I know some of that is inevitable (I see it already in preschool when my daughter gets her feelings hurt because a girl in her class doesn't want to play with her), but hopefully they will be able to avoid at least some of the negativity that I experienced so long ago.

The other day I was flipping channels and a story on the Today Show caught my eye. It was about a new book called "The Drama Years," which tells the true stories of middle-school girls dealing with issues like self-esteem and bullying. As I listened to