Blog Posts by SparkPeople.com

By Nicole Nichols, for SparkPeople


Blended, iced, shaken, and stirred-those coffee drinks from almost any chain have a bad reputation of being rich in calories and fat. But what about teas? Like coffee, brewed tea has zero calories, but those calories can add up quickly when other elements like milk, sugar, and whipped cream are added. The Starbucks Chai Frappuccino blends tea with whole milk and ice. Panera Bread's (St. Louis Bread Co. in some regions) Iced Chai Tea Latte includes spicy tea and steamed milk, served over ice. Which iced tea blend is lower in calories?


The Winner: Panera's Iced Chai Tea Latte

Panera's Iced Chai Tea Latte contains a whole lotta flavor for only 160 calories and 3.5 grams of fat per 16-ounce serving. Now that's sweet! Starbucks' high-calorie reputation remains-and with good reason. This 16-ounce drink boasts 240 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. Save yourself the unnecessary calories and fat next time you're at Starbucks. Swap out 2% milk for skim and

Read More »from Food Showdown: Which Chai Should You Try?

By Chef Meg Galvin, Healthy Cooking Expert at SparkPeople.com

Topped with lean, juicy flank steak, this salad is a delightful late summer supper. Marinate the steak in the morning and dinner will be ready in a flash at night.

Minutes to Prepare: 120
Minutes to Cook: 15
Number of Servings: 4

Tips

When slicing the meat make sure you cut against against the grain of the meat. Slicing with the grain will make every bite a tough chew.

Israeli couscous is larger than regular couscous; look for it in the whole grains section of the supermarket or trade it for pearled barley.

Ingredients Dressing and marinade:
Zest and juice of 3 limes
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Pinch cracked black pepper
1 teaspoon soy sauce
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Steak:
16 ounces flank steak, visible fat trimmed

Salad:
1 cup whole-wheat Israeli style couscous
1 medium red onion, chopped, (about 1 cup)
16 cherry tomatoes, halved (about 1/2 pint)
1/2 Read More »from Cilantro-Lime Flank Steak Salad

By Samantha Donohue, for SparkPeople

Takeout is tasty and convenient, but comes with high fat, sodium, and calories. Afterward, you may experience bloating or a tummy ache and have little idea what ingredients were used in the dish you purchased. Instead of surrendering control to your local drive-in, diner, or dive, use these recipes to cook your favorite take out dishes in the comfort of your own kitchen. By doing the cooking yourself, you can use savory spices, health-smart ingredients, and improved cooking methods like baking and steaming that bring out the natural flavors in food. With the money you save, don't forget to give yourself a little tip: you deserve a reward for a job well done!

Appetizers

Chicken Satay with Vegetables

Crispy Baked Egg Rolls

Chef Meg's Spring Rolls

Pot Sticker (steamed won tons)

Baked Crab Rangoon


Soups

Thai Chicken Coconut Soup

15-Minute Asian Beef Soup


Entrees

Beef and Broccoli

California Roll in a Bowl

Sesame Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry

Spicy

Read More »from 20 Better Than Takeout Recipes

By Hillary Copsey, for BabyFit

We had five minutes before we needed to get out the door for daycare and work. Toys were strewn across the living room and into the kitchen. My son, The Boy, was vrooming his trucks across the coffee table, generally being the self-sufficient version of himself who makes the morning rush easy. I was tempted to let him play while I read a book for those last five minutes, but I knew coming home to the mess would make the pre-dinner rush that much harder. I picked my battle.

"Boy, let's pick up our toys so we can go to school."

The Boy continued playing demolition derby on the table.

"Hey kiddo. Let's pick up our toys. C'mon, help Momma."

I grabbed a couple trucks and threw them into the basket.

"Beep, beep," said The Boy.

Parents of toddlers--my son is 21 months old--know this routine. Toddlers often seem too busy to pay attention. As they reach their second birthday, children are meeting dozens of milestones, according to the American Academy of

Read More »from Teaching a Toddler to Listen

By Becky Hand, Licensed and Registered Dietitian for BabyFit

As a new parent, your days are probably pretty stressful. You care for your little one, get the older kids off to school, run errands, keep the household running smoothly, and maintain your career. At the end of a hard day, you just want to relax and spend some quality time with your family.

But if you're like most busy parents, this is nothing more than wishful thinking. As the house fills up again at night, there's noise, tantrums, and disorganization, which seem to last until everyone falls asleep. Mealtime, whether it's breakfast together or a family dinner, doesn't have to be as stressful as the rest of your day. Here are some tips to handle picky-eaters, set an example of healthy eating (which children learn from their parents), and make your meals together a more positive experience:

• Try to serve food in a comfortable, relaxed, and unhurried atmosphere.
  
• Encourage play BEFORE a meal.
  
• Encourage a child's

Read More »from 10 Tips to Stop the Dinner Table Wars

By SparkPeople

Meet Amanda Pruss, a bright young woman who has lost 137 pounds and counting! Find out how SparkPeople helped her on her journey to healthy living.

What is your age?: 22

How long have you been a SparkPeople member? How did you find SparkPeople?: I joined SparkPeople in 2010. If I remember correctly, I heard about it in a magazine article.

What is your favorite feature on SparkPeople?: I love the Motivational SparkPages feature. When I was first starting out, seeing how other people had lost the weight was a huge motivation. I knew if they could do it, I could do it.

How much weight have you lost?: In total, I have lost 137 pounds. I've lost 54 pounds since joining SparkPeople.

How long did it take to lose the weight?: It's taken me about four or five years to lose the weight.

What was your light bulb moment that made you decide to lose weight?: My mom kept telling me she was afraid I would have a heart attack. I went to the doctor and I remember stepping on the scale and

Read More »from Find Out How Amanda Lost 137 Pounds and Counting!

By Chef Meg Galvin, Healthy Cooking Expert at SparkPeople.com

Cole slaw is a summer favorite, but boy is it unhealthy. Cabbage is full of healthy fiber but then we go and drown it in oil and mayo! These three cole slaw recipes are healthier and, although they're lower in fat, they're higher in flavor!

Here's a helpful tip:
Don't serve your slaws immediately after making them. Slaws taste better the longer they sit because the flavors meld. Let them sit at least an hour before serving, or up to one day later.

These three better-tasting and better-for-you slaws all have under 100 calories for a heaping one-cup serving! That's two servings of vegetables in every portion. Cabbage is also one of the lowest-price vegetables at the market, so these recipes are affordable, too.

One more tip for you: Take a close look at your vinegar bottle. I found several "salad vinegars" at the market that contained added sugar--yuck!

Chef Meg's Crunchy Cole Slaw

Everybody's favorite at family summer

Read More »from Make Over Your Cole Slaw 3 Ways

By Chef Meg Galvin, Healthy Cooking Expert at SparkPeople.com

Oh the sweet sounds of summer! The birds are chirping, the kids are yelling as they pelt each other with water balloons with the yard, and, in the distance, a familiar melody tinkles. As the ice-cream truck rounds the corner, they race inside to the coin jar. The screen door slams, and they're back outside, lining up for sugary treats.

In the good old days, the ice-cream man's arrival meant a special treat, but with treats accessible at every event at school, friend's houses, and even sporting events, those treats seem like overkill.

No need to ban treats on hot summer days. But kill two birds with one stone by making your own frozen treats with foods that are healthy and naturally delicious, like fruit and yogurt.

Why take the time to make your own freezer pops?
It's cheap! Slushies can run up to $2.00 each and the ice treat truck up to $3.00 each. Make your own for about 25-40 cents each.
No ice cream makers or Read More »from Healthy Homemade Popsicles