Blog Posts by SparkPeople.com

By Nicole Nichols, Managing Editor and Fitness Expert at SparkPeople

All of a sudden, the extent to which your favorite ice creams are "churned" is becoming important. Now we have slow churned, extra churned, double churned--what's with all the churning, and what does it really do? Well, ice cream manufacturers have been experimenting with churning their mixtures longer, hoping to improve the texture and flavor of the lighter (low-fat) versions of their full-fat favorites. Which of these two creamy flavors is lower in calories than the other: Edy's Slow Churned Rich & Creamy Chocolate ice cream, or Breyer's Half-Fat Creamy Chocolate?

Click here to find out the winner!


Related links:
We Share Our Favorite 100-Calorie Ice Cream Treats

Eat It: All-Natural, 100-Calorie, No-Fat 'Ice Cream'

Quell That 3 p.m. Sweet Tooth

SparkPeople Fitness Expert Nicole Nichols is an ACE-certified personal trainer and AFAA-certified group fitness instructor. You can learn more about Nicole and her

Read More »from Food Showdown: I Scream for (Slow Churned) Ice Cream!

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

In summertime, I rarely turn on the stove and oven. We love to eat outdoors, grilling up everything from fish to vegetables from our garden. And, of course, burgers. I don't eat much red meat, but I do love a good burger. This turkey burger is a fun twist.

You'll forget all about beef burgers once you try these. Serve with half a pita pocket, sliced tomato, and mixed greens for a quick and tasty dinner. Salty and rich feta is mixed with lean ground turkey and Greek herbs for a juicy and delicious burger.





cals: 252.1 fat: 12.4 g protein: 30.2 g carbs: 5.2 g fiber: 0.5 g

Ingredients

• 1 lb. 93% lean ground turkey
  
• 1/4 c bread crumbs, plain
  
• 1/2 c feta cheese, crumbled
  
• 1 egg white
  
• 1 T mint, fresh, chopped
  
• 1 t oregano, dried
  
• 1/4 t black pepper
  
• Cooking spray

Click here for the full recipe and directions.


Related links:

Today, Declare Your Freedom from Bland

Read More »from A Better Burger for Your Summer BBQs

By Liza Barnes, for SparkPeople

No one wants to spend hours planning menus, making countless trips to the grocery store and slaving in the kitchen, only to endure dull and tasteless food. If you want to eat healthy, home-cooked meals without all the fuss, try a seasonal pantry makeover. To do it, stock up on locally-grown foods, and simply create meals based on what's in season in your region. Eating locally is delicious, nutritious, interesting and, believe it or not, easy. Local food tastes better because it really is fresh (not shipped-from-across-the-country-yet-still-bearing-a-label-that-says-fresh).

It's healthier for you because you get the higher nutrient levels from just-picked produce. It's healthier for the environment because local food uses less fossil fuel for transport. Seasonal food is also interesting, as each season brings a new crop of foods that you haven't had for an entire year. Before you've had a chance to tire of its bounty, the season changes to bring new,

Read More »from What to Eat This Summer

By Tanya Jolliffe, for SparkPeople

You have heard it said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. While some people question this recommendation, others have quick and healthy breakfast favorites they regularly include at the beginning of their day. Many of us enjoy a warm bowl of oatmeal during the cold winter months and have created healthy recipes to tickle our taste buds. As the weather changes, some of us seek out cooler healthy breakfast alternatives like fruit smoothies, yogurt or cold cereal.

With all the food-labeling loopholes, selecting a healthy cereal can be tricky. Ignore the catchy claims on the front of the box and go straight to the nutrition facts label instead. Here's what to look for:

• Remember the "Rule of Fives": Choose cereals with at least 5 grams of fiber per serving, and less than 5 grams of sugar.
• Look for each serving to contain at least 3 grams of protein.
• Read the ingredients list. The top ingredients should be "whole wheat," or

Read More »from 10 of the Best Cereals You Should Be Eating

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

The boys just finished school, and we've been spending weekends at my family farm in central Kentucky, picking strawberries. Last weekend, the boys and their cousins helped me by picking all the bad berries (one bad berry will spoil the bunch!), then having a strawberry fight in the garden. You've never seen something so funny!

I spent the whole next day making strawberry compote, which is like a whole berry jam. (Sorry, no recipe for that one yet!) We've been eating berries morning, noon and night. Are you, too?

Since I've been so busy in the strawberry patch, I really haven't had any time to create new recipes using the harvest. But I have been turning to plenty of old favorites. I thought I'd share some of those with you today. Here are some of my best strawberry recipes:

Chef Meg's Creamy Grilled Strawberry Sandwich

Chef Meg's Spinach-Berry Salad

Strawberry Muffins (Chef Meg Approved)

Read More »from 4 Ways to Enjoy Strawberries This Summer

By Leanne Beattie, for SparkPeople

Vacation season is just around the corner. For most of us, that means no work and no distractions-just lots of time to have fun without worrying about what's waiting for you back at the office. But taking the same old trip to the beach every summer gets kind of boring. Why not try something different this year and spend your vacation time getting active?

An active vacation is planned around physical activity-no lazing around on the beach for you! From walking tours across Europe to full-fledged adventure vacations, active vacations do your body good! If you'd like to try something different this year, here are some trips to consider:

Walk This Way
Walking tours are excellent ways to discover the most beautiful places in the world. While you're exercising at a comfortable pace, you can drink in the sights and sounds of your city of choice. Why not traipse around Tuscany and mingle with locals, or pause in Paris for a treat at a corner bistro?

Read More »from Active Vacation Ideas

By Stepfanie Romine, certified yoga teacher

Your boss just dropped another project on your desk. Your co-worker spends more time at the water cooler than at his desk. The phone won't stop ringing, your email inbox is so full it's about to burst, and you've got a meeting with a client in an hour.

Yep, you're stressed.

So how can you present your most cool, calm and collected self and accomplish all the tasks you have to do today?

Take a breather, and try a few minutes of yoga.

Most of us can't unroll a yoga mat and drop into down dog at the office, but that doesn't mean we can't take time for a bit of relaxing and energizing stretches. (Note: These poses are also appropriate for people with mobility issues.)

The next time you need to chill out, try some or all of these poses:


Neck rolls

Begin by sitting up straight in a chair.

Gaze up to the ceiling, keeping your neck long. Then bring your left ear down towards your left shoulder and hold. Roll your head down towards the Read More »from 7 Easy Ways to Relax on the Job (without Getting Fired)

By Jen Mueller, for SparkPeople

Personal trainers can help people reach their health and fitness goals, or they could be big wastes of money. It's tough to know whether or not you need a trainer's expertise. And if you do, it's even more difficult to pick the right one. Many gyms offer personal training services for their members (at additional fees that can be pretty expensive), and their high-pressure salespeople might try to convince you to buy a package. But before you sign on the dotted line, it's important that you're making the right decision with the right person to help you reach your goals.

Personal trainers are not just for the rich and famous. If you lack the motivation to workout on your own, like variety but don't know how to create your own program, or you have very specific training goals, you might benefit from hiring a trainer.

If you decide that you need a trainer, how do you get started? Here's a guide that takes you through the process.

Where Do

Read More »from How to Choose a Personal Trainer