Blog Posts by SparkPeople.com

Asparagus: The Tastiest Harbinger of Spring

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

Though asparagus can be found in supermarkets year-round thanks to crops flown in from all over, it's in season for most of us in North America in the spring.

This flowering perennial plant is a cousin to onions and garlic, but it has a much sweeter taste.

As the days grow longer this month, its tiny edible shoots will start to emerge from an underground crown. Those shoots don't stay tiny for long--asparagus can grow quickly (10 inches in a day!), with spears ready for harvest every few days. But don't hesitate when you see the shoots have reached 6-7 inches; once the tips start to open and they begin to "fern" out, the base of the shoots become woody and inedible.

Asparagus sticks around: One plant, if cared for correctly, will produce shoots for up to 20 years! In my family, the caretaker of the asparagus is my oldest brother, John. Over the years, he

9 Ways to Save when Dining Out

By Tanya Jolliffe, for SparkPeople

Dining out is a fun way to socialize with friends or relax after a hectic day.

Unfortunately, it can be the first thing to go when our budgets tighten. Here are 9 money saving strategies to help you stretch your dollar.

Go out for lunch instead of dinner. This strategy will not only help your budget, but it can help your weight goals for 2009 as well. Many times the portion sizes at dinner are larger and more expensive compared to the same item served at lunch. Dining at lunch can provide the same great taste and atmosphere but with the added savings benefits.

Drink water instead of other beverages. Drinking water instead of soft drinks or cocktails can save money on your bill and help you meet your water needs for the day. Drinks usually have a higher price point proportionately which adds quickly to the bill. Also resist the urge to pay for flavored bottled water. Instead, ask the

Things to Do Before the Baby Arrives













By Hillary Copsey, for SparkPeople

My second child, another boy, is expected to arrive any day. When my first son, The Boy, was born, I read all the articles about preparing for baby and packed and repacked my hospital bag. I made a special trip to get candies I could suck on and bought a new robe for walking the hospital corridors.

I ate the candy three months postpartum when I finally got around to putting away the hospital bag and found the unopened package, and The Boy arrived so fast I never got a chance to walk the hospital hallways, let alone wear the robe.

This time around, I don't have a bag packed and haven't looked at a single baby preparation list in the last 37 weeks. But I have been getting ready. Instead of fretting about the perfect gown to wear during delivery, I've been doing practical things to prepare myself and my family for our new addition. I'm not sure my efforts to get The Boy ready to be a big brother have made any impact--I'll share my

3 Things You Might Not Know About Labor & Delivery









By Jenny Sigler, Parenting & Pregnancy Writer for SparkPeople

After months of waiting for the big event, the end of your pregnancy is near. This time can be filled with feelings of joy, anxiety, discomfort, or frustration. Most women have some fear of labor, whether related to the pain of childbirth or the anxiety of figuring out what to do when you bring home your baby. But one thing that seems to be universal is the desire to hand your child an eviction notice (from your womb) and hold her in your arms for the first time. So as you mentally prepare yourself for the end of this journey and the beginning of the next, consider the following things you might not expect during labor and delivery.

Nesting
As your due date creeps closer and closer, you might notice an insatiable urge to clean, organize, wash, cook, and get your house in order. While this is a normal part of preparing for a new baby, "nesting" is more of an obsessive behavior. You might find yourself

Burn It Off: How Much Hopping to Undo a Chocolate Bunny?

By Nicole Nichols, Managing Editor and Fitness Expert at SparkPeople

Earlier this week, I was reading about the 10 Easter treats I could enjoy for 100 calories or less. I won't lie: I really, really wanted to eat some (OK, all) of that candy. I've previously shared that I have a major sweet tooth, so anything sugary sweet is always a temptation for me. But I try to eat healthy most of the time and keep my portions of sweets and treats small.

One thing that does keep me from overdoing it on "extras" like Easter candy is to think about how much exercise it would really take to work off those calories. So, going with our Easter theme today, the exercise of choice is hopping (aka jumping). Whether you're jumping rope, performing box jumps or following my Jump Start Cardio workout, hopping around is hard work. It's intense and it burns a lot of calories, but it's far from easy.

So how much bunny hopping (in the form of a jumping jack) would it take to undo a standard

Become a Morning Person: 8 Tips from a Former Night Owl

By Stepfanie Romine, yoga expert at SparkPeople

I spent most of my early and mid 20s working the second shift at newspapers. I loved working as a copy editor, and I loved the hours, too. My shifts began at 4 p.m. and ended at midnight, which meant I could stay up late, sleep until noon, and still have time to run errands and go to the gym (a rare occurrence then) before work.

Eventually I joined the 9-to-6 crowd, and it was tough. I did not like mornings.

Fast-forward to last fall, when my yoga studio announced it was adding traditional sunrise morning practice to the schedule during the week. Though I now love my morning practice and wouldn't return to evening sessions, it was not an easy transition. I am not a morning person by nature, but I have become one by necessity.

Life is more likely to interfere when I schedule yoga practices at night. I'm too tired, too stressed, too busy. I have time to formulate all kinds of excuses. But when the alarm goes

Great Excuses to Not Work Out

By Nicole Nichols, Managing Editor and Fitness Expert at SparkPeople

I've heard every excuse in the book and even tried some of them myself. Exercise…who needs it? You do! Here are some of the best excuses ever to skip a workout. Let's see how great they really are!

I'm in horrible shape.
That may be true, so if that's the way you want to remain, don't work out today. People who are in shape get that way by exercising. Regularly. No, they were not born with six packs.

I don't like it.
I don't like a lot of things-flossing my teeth, waking up to an alarm, paying bills-but I still do them. Be the mature grownup that you are and do the things you know you should or have to do even if you don't like them. A lot of things worth doing aren't always fun or enjoyable.

I can't afford it.
Your body is yours and moving it is generally free unless you want to get all fancy. Here are 25 ways to get fit for $25 or less (many of them free), plus over 50 free workout

How to Choose a Jogging Stroller








By Liza Barnes, Health Educator
for SparkPeople

So you've been cleared for exercise after the birth of your baby and you're anxious to get outside and get moving! But who's going to watch your little one? If running or walking is your thing, you can take baby along in a jogging stroller. You'll get the exercise you crave, and baby gets a scenic tour of the neighborhood, with some fresh air to boot.

Jogging strollers have become more popular in recent years, motivating manufacturers to create even more models. This gives the consumer a great variety to choose from, but actually choosing which stroller to purchase can be a daunting task. Here are some features to consider when choosing a jogging stroller:

Wheel Size
In the world of wheels, size matters. A true jogging stroller has three large wheels: one in front and two in the back. The larger wheels mean a smoother ride because there is less rolling resistance. Wheels come in 12-inch, 16-inch, and 20+