Blog Posts by SparkPeople.com

Save money on vegetables, whole grains, and more, with these simple tips.

By Stepfanie Romine, author of "Easy Vegan Meals by SparkPeople: The No-Stress, No-Guilt Way to Reap The Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet"

Eating healthy on a budget is easy. You just have to know a few simple tricks. Here's how to save money on food even when you're eating a vegan diet.

Buy in bulk. The prices on grains, beans, nutritional yeast (nootch), nuts, and spices are lower in bulk bins, and you can buy as little or as much as you want.

Join a warehouse club. Sam and I joined Costco two years ago, and it's worth it for the deals on nuts alone. Our cart is markedly different from other people's in the checkout line, with any combination of: pecans, walnuts, almonds, sesame seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, farro, quinoa, rice, wild blueberries, Mary's Gone Crackers, rice or soy milk, and carrots--no junk food or prepackaged convenience meals. Prices are much lower than the supermarket, and we often can find organic foods there, too.

Keep it simple: A green, a

Read More »from A Dozen Ways to Save on Vegan Foods

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

Reubens are a once-a-year treat in our house. Corned beef is delicious and fairly low in fat, but it's quite high in sodium. A small sandwich at a deli can have 20 grams of fat and twice the calories as my version--and more than a day's worth of sodium.

Minutes to Prepare: 5
Minutes to Cook: 10
Number of Servings: 2

Nutritional Info

Servings Per Recipe: 2

Calories: 258.9
Total Fat: 7.7 g
Cholesterol: 24.2 mg
Sodium: 838.4 mg
Total Carbs: 22.8 g
Dietary Fiber: 3.5 g
Protein: 26.5 g

Ingredients

Sauce:
2 roasted red peppers roasted, packed in water
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
pinch cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons mayonnaise

2 slices dark rye bread
4 ounces white meat turkey
2 ounces corned beef
1 slice 2% milk Swiss cheese
1/4 cup sauerkraut, drained and rinsed to remove excess sodium
4 cups arugula

Directions

Read More »from Just in Time for St. Patty's Day: A Lighter Reuben

Workout Clothes

By Melinda Hershey for SparkPeople.com
with research by Beth Donovan

If you've ever embarked on a weight-loss journey, you'll probably agree that the process can be overwhelming. Not only do you have to change the way you think, eat, and move, but you also have to set yourself up to succeed at those changes. One of the most underrated ways to keep up a steady stream of motivation and positive results is by buying proper workout clothes.

Think about it: trying to adopt a healthy lifestyle without quality, functional workout gear is like stocking your pantry full of junk food and then wondering why you can't find anything healthy to eat in the house. Just as you have to set yourself up to succeed with your diet, there are certain things you have to do to help you meet your fitness goals. Chances are, if you're working out in clothes that aren't made for exercise, you're not going to be comfortable or confident, and will ultimately end up hindering your results. It's amazing Read More »from Dress for Success: Your Guide to Plus-Size Workout Clothes

10 Tips for teaching your children about health.
By Birdie Varnedore, M.D., SparkPeople.com's Resident Medical Expert

Childhood obesity is an epidemic. According to the CDC, childhood obesity rates have more than tripled in the past 30 years. Children are now dealing with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, sleep apnea, joint problems, fatty liver disease, gallstones, and heartburn--diseases that were once found mostly in adults.

Children who are overweight also face tremendous social and psychological problems, including discrimination and low self-esteem, according to studies.

And, in 2005, the New England Journal of Medicine announced that for the first time children are not expected to outlive their parents.

One major obstacle in combating childhood obesity is denial. Studies have provided the proof that when it comes to their children, parents are, in many cases, unable to see that there is a problem. Parents are looking at their children with the belief that they are healthy, but sadly many

Read More »from From Dr. Mom: 10 Ways to Teach Kids Healthy Habits

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

Not only is this dish pretty on the plate, it's quick and easy at stove top.

Minutes to Prepare: 5
Minutes to Cook: 5
Number of Servings: 4

Nutritional Info

Servings Per Recipe: 4
Calories: 172.2
Total Fat: 1.4 g
Cholesterol: 35.0 mg
Sodium: 294.8 mg
Total Carbs: 16.2 g
Dietary Fiber: 4.0 g
Protein: 21.8 g

Tips

Don't overcrowd the pan or your scallops will simmer rather than sear, which means you won't get that crispy brown exterior. Depending on your pan, you may need to cook in two batches.


You could use bay scallops in this recipe, but they are much smaller and thereby harder to sear.


Why are some scallops so bright and white and others yellow? Purveyors often soak scallops in a solution of sodium tripolyphosphate to brighten their color and extent shelf life. Unfortunately, this can make the scallops rubbery and lose some of their natural

Read More »from Fast and Fancy: Seared Scallops with Mint Pea Puree

Save money and time with big batch cooking.

By Stepfanie Romine, author of "Easy Vegan Meals by SparkPeople: The No-Stress, No-Guilt Way to Reap The Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet"

I admit: Though it's my job to write about food and create new, healthy recipes, even I don't cook dinner every night of the week. My boyfriend and I have been known to split a container of olives and a bottle of wine, paired with copious amounts of carrots and hummus, on Friday nights when we're exhausted. (That's a rarity!) Once a week, it's Sam's turn to cook, which means we usually eat at Myra's, a veg-friendly, eclectic little café near the University of Cincinnati campus. But 5-6 nights a week, I'm in the kitchen, cooking from-scratch vegan meals after 9+ hours at the office, 2 at the yoga studio, and sometimes another 1-2 spent running (literally) or doing errands. Dinner needs to be on the table, pronto.

That's why I spend a few minutes each morning (usually while the water comes to boil for the French press) prepping for that

Read More »from Cook Now, Eat Later: Save Time and Money with Big-Batch Cooking

Sarah Haan, Registered Dietitian, for SparkPeople.com

Why is it that so many delicious and healthful foods have gotten such bad raps? We could blame the sensational headlines in the media or your Uncle Jack's lack of understanding about the latest scientific research study, but when it comes down to it, we've all heard some bad things about what has turned out to be some really great foods. These bad reps may be based on a one-sided story, old wives' tales or outdated research, yet many people who want to eat healthier are shying away from foods that are actually good for them! We recently told you about some "healthy" foods that are anything but, and now we're setting the record straight about some of the "unhealthy" foods that are actually good for you! How many are you avoiding?

Potatoes

The low-carb fads of the late '90s still linger today, and many people still believe that white potatoes should be avoided at all costs. The potato can be a great source of

Read More »from Unhealthy Foods that Are Actually Good for You

Cut 100 calories and lose weight--without deprivation!

Cutting calories may seem like a daunting task, especially when you're trying to cut hundreds of calories each day to lose the recommended 1-2 pounds per week. Will you go hungry? Will your meals taste like cardboard? Will you have to give up your favorite foods?

Don't worry. When you make small changes, the only difference you'll notice is a drop in the scale! Keep in mind that cutting calories can involve smart substitutions or changes in portion sizes, too. Just remember, start small and work your way up to a new-and healthier-way of eating.

Beverages

1. Drink two 12-ounce light beers this weekend instead of two regular beers. Save 100 calories!

2. Eat a medium orange instead of drinking 12 ounces of fresh orange juice. Save 106 calories!

3. Enjoy 5 ounces of chocolate milk instead of 5 ounces of a chocolate milkshake. Save 110 calories!
Did you know that the protein in chocolate milk can help you ward off hunger? Get more Tips to Stay Full Longer

Breakfast

4.

Read More »from 25 Easy Ways to Cut 100 Calories