Winter Warm-Up

The weather outside is frightful

Nothing makes a cold day more bearable than something hot and hearty out of the oven. However, sometimes hearty fare can include comfort foods like French fries, freshly baked cookies, and creamy soups. Indulge your cravings and whittle your waistline by savoring these steaming hot, but healthy meals.

Garden Lasagna

Get your daily dose of veggies by sneaking zucchini, carrots, and corn into this cheesy lasagna dish. Using low-fat milk, cottage cheese, and mozzarella cheese cuts down on fat, but fresh basil and hint of nutmeg give your taste buds plenty to be excited about.

Chorizo-White Bean Soup

This simple soup packs more than 20 grams of protein with the savory combination of sausage and navy beans. Plus, the spinach sneaks in a little iron and fiber. Topped with Parmesan cheese, this meal will help you settle down for a long winter's nap.

Sour Cream, Cheddar, and Green Onion Drop Biscuits

Capturing the same flavors as your favorite sour cream and onion chips, the texture of these flaky biscuits will have you coming back for more. And using fat-free sour cream and buttermilk recreates the flavor for one-third of the fat in fast food options. Though these biscuits taste best right out of the oven, you can store them up to two days in a tin.

Chipotle Meat Loaf

By using turkey instead of ground beef, this recipe boasts one-third of the fat of traditional meatloaf recipes, while still providing 30 grams of satiating protein. Chipotles, cumin, and cilantro give the turkey a slightly smoky and moderately spicy flavor. Serve with corn or a baked potato for the ultimate comfort food meal. 

Beef Stroganoff

We knocked half the sodium and two grams of fat off this classic Russian dish. If you’re in a hurry, use frozen chopped onions and pre-sliced mushrooms to speed preparation. In order to keep the creamy consistency of the sauce, be careful not to bring it to a boil once you stir in the sour cream mixture in.
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Quick Cures for Tummy Troubles

Acupressure, tea, and probiotics can really work

Tummy troubles—whether it’s gas, constipation, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)—often plague women. But experts say new remedies can provide quick and easy relief. Try these five.

Walk it off

Exercise might be the last thing on your mind when your tummy hurts, but “a brisk walk, maybe 10 to 15 minutes, can do wonders,” says gastroenterologist Robynne Chutkan, MD, founder of the Digestive Center for Women in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Without exercise, the intestines become sluggish, leading to cramping and constipation.

Press here

“Stress is a common cause of stomachaches, and acupressure can release feel-good endorphins and help you relax,” Dr. Chutkan says. Try this simple trick: For 5 minutes, gently apply pressure in a circular motion with your fingers to the area that’s four finger-widths above your navel.

Don't stuff

Overeating can trigger a stomachache, so when it happens give your body a good, long break from food. “If you had a muscle injury, you wouldn’t push it even harder. You’d rest it. The same is true of a stomachache,” Dr. Chutkan says. Try a liquid diet for a day—broth, water, or fresh juice will do—and then make a habit of eating smaller portions.

Try probiotics

There’s new hope for the 20% of the population suffering from IBS, most of whom are women. Research suggests that Align, a probiotic supplement containing Bifidobacterium infantis 35624, can bring real relief for all of the major IBS symptoms like constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. A one-month supply is $29.99 at major drugstores.

Make time for tea

A warm cup of peppermint tea may help your stomach muscles relax. Repeated studies suggest that oils from the peppermint plant may work as well as drug treatments for IBS symptoms. If you don’t do tea, try Heather’s Tummy Tamers Peppermint Oil Caps ($25.90), which contain peppermint, fennel, and ginger extracts.
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20 Ways to Torch 200 Calories

Relive recess days

Join the kids in a 20-minute game of hopscotch (113 calories) followed by 22 minutes on the trampoline (87 calories).

Strike out

Meet your pals at the local bowling alley for an hour's worth of friendly competition. Give extra style points to the person whose outfit clashes most with the rental shoes.

Shop it off

Hit the end-of-summer sales—you'll torch 11 calories for every outfit you try on.

Get your om on

Unwind with some Vinyasa yoga. Flowing from Sun Salutations to standing poses like Triangle will burn 200 calories in about 25 minutes

Clean your machine

Wash and wax your ride, and you'll burn 204 calories in 40 minutes. Straighten up the inside of your car, too, and you'll melt those cals even faster.

Tap your toes

Fidget throughout the day and you could burn an extra 200 calories before dinnertime. Researchers say people who fidget burn 350 calories a day more than non-fidgeters.

Eat This and Burn More Fat

Say ahh

Give your honey an end-of-the-day massage for 42 minutes and you'll burn around 200 calories. Just make sure you get one in return.
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Bobby Flay's Incredible Egg Recipes

Get cracking

Let Bobby Flay bring out your sunny side with his incredible egg recipes.

Open-Faced Egg Sandwich

Ingredients: white-wine vinegar, reduced-fat mayonnaise, whole-grain mustard, olive oil, black pepper, country ham, plum tomatoes, eggs, French baguette, fris饼br />
Calories: 376

Ranch-Style Eggs With Chorizo

Ingredients: olive oil, red onion, garlic, dry red wine, canned plum tomatoes, chili powder, preferably ancho, chipotle in adobo purée, honey, salt, fresh lime juice, zest, yellow or white corn, chorizo, eggs, reduced-fat sour cream, pepper, cilantro, Cheddar cheese

Calories: 444

Frittata With Ricotta and Mixed Greens

Ingredients: olive oil, red onion, red pepper flakes, mixed greens, eggs, Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, red-wine vinegar, part-skim ricotta, basil leaves, parsley leaves, mint leaves, garlic, pine nuts

Calories: 280

Cheesy Cast-Iron Skillet Scrambled Eggs

Ingredients: unsalted butter, red onion, jalape�o, large eggs, salt, ground pepper, goat cheese, chives

Calories: 234
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6 Ways to Sit Less Every Day

Start standing

Need help being less sedentary? Here are the best ways to sit less and move more, from easiest to hardest.

Pace on the phone

Invest in a two-way speakerphone, super long phone-to-ear cord, or quality headset so you can be more mobile while you chat.

Even if you simply stand while on the phone, you'll naturally shift from leg to leg.

Putter after eating

Or take a quick walk post meals. The fat levels in your bloodstream are highest after eating, and simply moving around afterward increases the activity of lipoprotein lipase, which spurs your metabolism.

Opt for bar seats at restaurants

Sit on the front third of the barstool; spread your feet just wider than hip distance, so they're supporting a fair bit of your weight, and gently roll your hips forward, arching your back slightly.

This position is called "perching"—it maintains an S-shape in your spine, and distributes your weight more evenly.

Leave the seat at home

Whether you're going to a concert, tailgate, or park, don't bring a chair.

You'll find that if you don't have one, you stand the whole time or naturally move back and forth between your blanket and standing, says Marc Hamilton, PhD, a microbiologist at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

Do stuff in person

Instead of emailing or calling a coworker, walk over to her desk. Stand in your colleague's office to discuss things, or suggest taking a walk to chat.

"Within two weeks, you could get addicted to walking and working," says James Levine, MD, an obesity researcher at the Mayo Clinic.

Create multiple workstations

Hear us out: They can all be at the same desk. The idea is to allow your body to rotate between different positions throughout the day.

Create an area where you can stand while doing work (try putting a box or milk crate covered by fabric on top of your desk, to rest your computer on), a stool to perch on (and a perch-level surface—slipping a few books under your monitor will do), and, if you can, a floor-level seating area, where you?ll land to read that oh-so-important memo.

Sitting cross-legged naturally rolls your pelvis forward and maintains the S-curve. Move from one area to the next as you feel like it.
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Cat Cora's Holiday Recipes Made Simple

Basque Beef Tenderloin Crostini

Ingredients: Orange zest, chili powder, sea salt, beef tenderloin, olive oil, French baguette, Green Sauce (see below) and additional herbs

Basque-Style Green Sauce

Ingredients: chopped garlic cloves, bay leaves, jalapeños, sea salt, sherry vinegar, parsley leaves, fresh oregano leaves, basil leaves, extra-virgin olive oil.

Calories: 195

Desserts

Grand Marnier Pistachio Truffles

Ingredients: Unsalted butter, light corn syrup, heavy cream, semisweet chocolate, Grand Marnier, pistachios, orange zest

Calories: 157

Honey-Dipped Cookies

Ingredients: Sugar, honey, lemon juice, shortbread cookies, pistachios, wax paper?lined plate

Calories: 161

Red Velvet Cupcakes With Coconut

Ingredients: All-purpose flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cocoa powder, vegetable oil, low-fat buttermilk, egg, red food coloring, vanilla extract, white distilled vinegar, store-bought cream cheese frosting, dried sweetened shredded coconut, raspberries

Calories: 104

Peanut Butter Blondies

Ingredients: Butter, creamy peanut butter, sugar, light-brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, flour, baking powder, salt, cooking spray, peanuts.

Calories: 273

Cheese

Mediterranean Skewers With Bloody Mary Vinaigrette

Ingredients: Vodka, Worcestershire sauce, celery hearts, kosher salt, ground black pepper, Bocconcini, grape tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and kalamata olives, hot sauce, horseradish, extra-virgin olive oil

Calories: 157

Stuffed Medjool Dates

Ingredients: Medjool dates, almonds, Gorgonzola

Calories: 35

Baked Brie With Honey

Ingredients: Brie, seedless grapes, apple, dried figs, honey

Calories: 135
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10 Holiday Foods You Shouldn't Eat

Hot buttered rum

Sipping a warm cocktail by the fire on a cold winter evening sounds enticing. However, the calorie count may scare you away: One cup of hot buttered rum has over 300 calories and 13 grams of fat—not to mention tons of added melted butter and sugar. The dangerous concoction also has 40 milligrams of cholesterol, one-seventh of the USDA's recommended daily intake in just one drink!

It's tough to reduce the count when rum is involved. Still, there are slightly healthier versions like our spicy rum punch. You're still taking in 200 calories, but no fat or cholesterol.

Lobster Newburg

This classic entree is beyond decadent. Lobster is healthy seafood, but the sauce is the dish's downfall. Flour, butter, and milk create a thick and creamy puree that should be avoided at all costs. One small cup is worth 605 calories and 49 grams of fat. Nearly enough fat for an entire day, according to USDA recommendations.

If you prepare lobster for your family during the holiday season, go for lighter recipes like this lobster panzanella made with fresh lemon juice and extra-virgin olive oil. Served with a piece of whole-wheat toast, this dish is just as filling, but clocks in at only 167 calories and 6 grams of fat.

Yule log or Bûche de Noël

With primary ingredients like chocolate, heavy cream, butter, and sponge cake, a slice of Yule log can account for half a day's worth of calories. Some recipes even toss in a cup of toasted pecans and coconut. One serving of Betty Crocker's Bûche de Noël boasts 420 calories and 47 grams of sugar—almost double the amount the American Heart Association's recommends eating per day.

Looking for a lighter selection? Save over 100 calories by picking up a piece of this cranberry upside-down cake instead.

Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha

A Grande (16 oz.) serving of this seductive Starbucks beverage has 540 calories. And that's with only 2% milk! The white-chocolate- and peppermint-flavored syrups, whipped cream, and dark chocolate make up 76 grams of sugar, three times the amount of added sugar the American Heart Association suggests per day.

Enjoy the same warmth and sweetness when drinking this hot chocolate—a lighter homemade version with only 194 calories and little added sugar.

Caramel apples

Making caramel apples can be an entertaining holiday activity, and they are enjoyable to eat too. However, the caramel sauce is pure sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, melted with a bit of milk. Though apples are high in vitamins and dietary fiber, the treat packs about 320 calories, 16 grams of fat, and 28 grams of sugar (more than the AHA-recommended 25 grams per day).

There's no healthy equivalent (because apple slices with peanut butter just isn't the same), but limit the amount of sauce on each apple and watch your portions. Or, forget the sauce and drizzle some fat-free caramel sundae syrup on top.

Gingerbread

Gingerbread people and houses may look inviting with their smiles made of frosting and gumdrop decor, but don't be fooled! They're packing plenty of calories. Gingerbread cake is even worse, with large quantities of buttermilk, flour, and sugar. One small piece of cake has 260 calories, 36 carbs, and 12 grams of fat.

Stick with small cookies—you can still shape them into people! And use light icing to decorate. Most gingerbread is rich in fiber too!

Sugar cookies

Santa's health may be in jeopardy if you feed him too many sugar cookies this Christmas. The classic recipe is pretty simple, but the amount of all-purpose flour, butter, and egg used is unnecessary. An average cookie can contain over 200 calories and 14 grams of sugar.

For a healthier batch, use egg whites and less butter to keep saturated fat and cholesterol low, and a touch of whole-wheat flour to add fiber.

Plum pudding

Often referred to as Christmas pudding, this dessert is dangerously heavy. Not only does the traditional recipe ask you to put molasses, brandy, and candied fruit in the batter, the concoction is also baked in a greased and sugared pudding mold. Recipes estimate that one serving of plum pudding contains about 360 calories, 15 grams of fat, and 30 grams of sugar (5 grams more than your daily upper limit).

Luckily, there are lighter versions out there, like our steamed pudding with healthier ingredients like applesauce, low-fat milk, and a small amount of light molasses. This dessert is still high in calories, but it has less fat and added sugar

Mashed potatoes

Mashing potatoes never hurt anyone, but whole milk, butter, and salt can cram in the calories, cholesterol, and fat. One serving clocks in at 237 calories with 9 grams of fat and 666 milligrams of sodium. This count doesn't include added salt, butter, or sour cream!

If you can't live without this much-loved side dish, use low-fat milk and limit adding butter and salt. Or, bake something new, like this side dish of seasoned potatoes.

Candy canes

There's no way to avoid the fact that candy canes are pure sugar and vinegar. They're only 60 calories apiece but don't offer any nourishment. Rather than making them a mid-afternoon snack in the month of December, use the canes as Christmas-tree decorations.

Get creative in the kitchen with other joyful treats that have some nutritional value, like this festive candy made with white chocolate, dried cranberries, and almonds.
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25 Healthy Recipes for a Vegetarian Feast

Cheesy Squash Casserole

Low-fat dairy products allow you to enjoy this Thanksgiving favorite guilt free.

Ingredients: Yellow squash, onion, margarine, flour, skim milk, reduced-fat cheddar cheese, breadcrumbs

Prep: 20 minutes; cook: 20–25 minutes

Three-Cheese-and-Sage Ravioli

The name of this dish may be deceiving?it also contains vitamin-rich Swiss chard.

Ingredients: Shallots, red Swiss chard, part-skim ricotta cheese, goat cheese, Parmesan cheese, sage, wonton wrappers, pesto

Prep: 30 minutes; cook: 10 minutes

Roasted Squash Stuffed With Corn Bread Dressing

This hearty dish will satisfy your need for comfort food while still sneaking in plenty of seasonal veggies.

Ingredients: Maple corn bread, acorn squash, cranberries, currants, onion, celery, carrots, sage, garlic, vegetable broth, pecans, parsley

Prep: 1 hour 35 minutes; cook: 30 minutes

Mushroom and Caramelized-Shallot Strudel

Mushrooms recreate the savory taste of meat in this rich dish.

Ingredients: Shallots, sugar, mushrooms, Marsala, low-fat sour cream, parsley, thyme, phyllo dough, breadcrumbs, butter

Prep: 45 minutes; cook: 20 minutes

Braised Shallots and Fall Vegetables With Red Wine Sauce

The red wine sauce gives the fall vegetables a decadent texture.

Ingredients: Shallots, butter, carrots, mushrooms, parsnips, rosemary, bay leaves, thyme, parsley, garlic

Prep: 20 minutes; cook: 20 minutes

Lasagna With Fall Vegetables, Gruy貥, and Sage B飨amel

Although this protein-packed dish involves several steps, most can be done a couple of days in advance.

Ingredients: Flour, skim milk, onion, sage, shallots, bay leaf, garlic, fresh spinach, portobello mushrooms, sweet potato, Gruy貥 cheese, Parmesan cheese, lasagna noodles

Prep: 40 minutes; cook: 30 minutes

Baby Carrots With Dill Butter and Lemon

This dish is the definition of simple, yet satisfying. And it packs plenty of vitamin A.

Ingredients: Vegetable broth, carrots, butter, dill, chives, lemons

Prep: 10 minutes; cook: 10 minutes

Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Pecans

Brussels sprouts are a good source of vitamin K and folate.

Ingredients: Brussels sprouts, pecans, garlic

Prep: 10 minutes; cook: 20–25 minutes
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