Category Archives: Holidays

Get a jump on Black Friday with Zensah’s compression sock sale

b2c-black-friday-preview

Is anyone else boycotting the Thanksgiving-night store openings? I’d much rather curl up at home with friends and family, relaxing in the warm glow of a roaring fire my computer.

There are some great deal to be had, but thankfully they can be snagged  from the comfort of your own home.

I’m a big fan of compression gear for training, racing and recovery, so you can bet I’ll be hitting up this one.

Heard of any other good deals going on this weekend? Feel free to share in the comments below! 

Last-minute Thanksgiving recipe: Rachael Ray’s Stuffin’ Muffins

Stuffing is a surefire crowd-pleaser, so if you want a quick and ‘delish’ side dish to round out the meal (or, if you’re anything like my family and there’s no such thing as too much stuffing on Thanksgiving), look no further.

Source: FitSugar

Source: FitSugar

These perfectly-portioned treats are the best of both worlds: crisp on the outside and steamy-soft inside.

A few tips: Use a whole wheat stuffing mix for more fiber, and if you’re having trouble getting the muffins to hold together, try some adding some Parmesan cheese or an egg to bind the ingredients, enhance flavor and add moisture.

Rachael Ray’s Apple and Onion Stuffin’ Muffins

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 stick butter, softened
  • 1 fresh bay leaf
  • 4 stalks celery, chopped
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 apples, quartered and chopped
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 tablespoons poultry seasoning
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
  • 8 cups cubed stuffing mix
  • 2 to 3 cups chicken stock

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
  2. Over medium heat, add extra-virgin olive oil and 4 tablespoons butter to a large skillet. When butter melts, add bay leaf and vegetables. Sprinkle the vegetables and apples with salt, pepper and poultry seasoning.
  3. Cook 5-6 minutes or until vegetables and apples begin to soften, then add parsley and stuffing cubes to the pan and combine. Moisten the stuffing with chicken broth until all of the bread is soft but not wet.
  4. Butter 12 muffin cups liberally with remaining butter.
  5. Using an ice cream scoop, fill and mound up the stuffing in muffin tins. (Keep an eye out for the bay leaf, and remove it when you come upon it as you scoop the stuffing).
  6. Bake until set and crisp on top, 10-15 minutes. Remove stuffin’ muffins to a platter, and serve warm.

For more of Rachael’s recipes, visit FoodNetwork.com.

Spice up your Thanksgiving spread with sweet potatoes

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes; The Neelys

Source: Food Network

Can we set the record straight on the sweet potato once and for all?

Sure, it’s been pegged as marshmallows’ main partner in crime in that one sickeningly-sweet, gooey mess of a side dish — but cooked differently, the rustic root is low in calories, loaded with nutrients and can be quite an elegant addition to your Thanksgiving feast.

And it offers a host of health benefits: Not only is the sweet potato rich in beta-carotene, but it also provides a hearty dose of calcium, folate, fiber, potassium and vitamins A and C.

It’s no wonder the versatile vegetable is rated as one of the most nutritious superfoods by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, so why not complement your Turkey Day meal with one of these recipes from popular Food Network personalities?

Alton Brown’s Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

  • 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 chipotle chile pepper in adobo sauce, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon adobo sauce, from the pepper can

Directions:

  • Put sweet potatoes in a steamer basket, and place it a large pot of simmering water that is one inch from the bottom of the basket
  • Cover and steam over medium-high heat for 20-25 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are fork-tender
  • Remove the steamer basket, pour the water out of the pot, and dump the sweet potatoes into the pot
  • Add the butter and salt, and mash with a potato masher, adding the chile and sauce while continuing to mash; serve immediately

Ellie Krieger’s Sweet Potato-Pecan Casserole

Ingredients:

  • Cooking spray
  • 3 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes (about 5 medium), peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon packed dark brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped pecans

Directions:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
  • Mist an eight-inch square baking dish with cooking spray
  • Bring a few inches of water to a boil in a pot with a large steamer basket in place; steam until tender (about 20 to 25 minutes)
  • Transfer potatoes to a bowl and let cool slightly; add honey, egg, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, the nutmeg, ginger and 1/2 teaspoon salt; whip with an electric mixer until smooth
  • Spread the sweet potato mixture in the prepared baking dish
  • Mix brown sugar, pecans and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in a bowl; sprinkle over potato mixture
  • Bake until hot and beginning to brown around the edges, about 40 to 45 minutes

Paula Deen’s Sweet Potato Biscuits

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 heaping tablespoons sugar
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup mashed cooked sweet potatoes
  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) softened butter
  • 2 to 4 tablespoons milk (depending on the moisture of the potatoes)

Directions:

  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees
  • Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; in a separate, large bowl, mix sweet potatoes and butter
  • Add flour mixture to potato mixture, and mix to make a soft dough; add milk a tablespoon at a time to mixture and continue to cut in
  • Turn dough out onto a floured board, and toss lightly until outside of dough looks smooth
  • Roll dough out to 1/2-inch thickness, and cut with a biscuit cutter
  • Place biscuits on a greased pan and coat tops with melted butter; bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown

Happy World Run Day!

If you haven’t logged your daily miles on the trails, track or treadmill, there are still a few more hours to get out and celebrate World Run Day, an annual event that celebrates (surprise!) running and charitable giving.

Source: Active.com

Source: Active.com

The event was created in 1999 by Long Island runner Bill McDermott in remembrance of his brother, who was killed in an automobile accident on Nov. 8, 1983. Since then, World Run Day takes place on the Sunday closest to November 8 each year, and has counted tens of thousands of participants to-date.

WRD-2013activeWorld Run Day’s mission is “to broaden and promote the health benefits of running while also encouraging runners to donate to their favorite charity.” It’s the only event of its kind celebrated simultaneously around the globe with group events, both large and small, in cities such as San Francisco, London, Sydney and even Afghanistan.

Each year, World Run Day event organizers and participants hope to further the sport by helping to:

  • Promote running — Partner organizations highlight the health benefits of running for all citizens young and old
  • Encourage charitable giving — The event serves as a rallying cry throughout the running community to help others
  • Mobilize the running community — To elevate the sport of running while promoting its benefits and providing locations for people to run locally
  • Offer event director tools — Free resources are available to produce local World Run Day events
  • Inspire future running leaders — A campus outreach program is intended to inspire members of a younger generation

For more information, or to participate in this year’s event, visit RunDay.com.

How are you planning on observing the ‘holiday?’

How to avoid being haunted by Halloween treats

Source: EatingFree.com

Source: EatingFree.com

Let the holiday gobbling commence.

According to one article in USA Today, five percent of all candy consumption for the year will occur this week, starting with All Hallow’s Eve.

Even scarier? Most parents eat one out of every two candy bars their children bring home, says Harry Baltzer, vice president of the NPD Group, which does research on eating trends.

Chocolates rank first in popularity, especially among adults, followed by chewy candies and hard candy.

So how can you enjoy the season’s treats without playing tricks on your waistline? Below are a few tips for starting some healthy habits this Halloween:

    • Buy healthy treats such as raisins, popcorn balls, pretzels and toys (just be prepared for possible retaliation in the form of toilet paper)
    • If you’re giving out candy, don’t buy your favorite brand…it’ll keep you from skimming off the top while you wait
    • Feed trick-or-treaters a solid meal before they hits the streets to avoid snacking – that goes for parents, too
    • Partition the evening’s loot into three piles immediately: Enjoy now, freeze for later and give away
    • Finally…do enjoy your favorite candy on Halloween, and savor every bite so you don’t feel deprived of the fun

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Fave Fix: Snikiddy’s smart snack swaps


Snikiddy

Football season is in full swing, Halloween is nearly here, and holiday parties are just around the corner…let the mindless munching commence!

Ok, ok – so it’s not necessarily bad news for nibblers: Savvy snacking can actually help you lose weight by staving off hunger and preventing overeating. That is, as long as you keep your wits about you when staring down a gauntlet of goodies.

A few tips:

1. Plan ahead. When hunger hits and you’re unprepared, you can get into some real trouble. Have something light and healthy (fruit and cheese, or even a handful of nuts and crackers) before you set foot into the party. That way, you can relax and enjoy yourself instead of making a beeline for the buffet.

2. Practice portion control. As with many things in life, bigger is not better. So say ‘no’ to supersizing, whether it’s your plate, your serving or (like me, often) your eyes in proportion to your stomach. Start with small tastes, eat slowly and savor every bite.

3. Pick replacements. Choose flavor-packed snacks that contribute to the feeling of fullness and satisfaction. And when you’ve got a favorite food that you just can’t pass up, find a healthier replacement to satisfy that craving…otherwise you’ll keep eating other stuff in an attempt to fill the void.

Case in point: Chips. Sometimes you just need that hit of salty crunchiness. But all the grease, artificial ingredients and extra calories? Not so much.

Well, that very same dilemma inspired Mary Owings Schulman, a mother concerned about her kids eating healthy, to create a company called Snikiddy, which makes snacks that promote good health.

Snikiddy’s all-natural snacks are made from non-GMO ingredients, are certified wheat- and gluten-free and come in three varieties – Cheese Puffs, Baked Fries and an eight-veggie crisp, Eat Your Vegetables.

These are some seriously good snacks. I even ran an unofficial taste-test among a group of friends and the consensus was that they are…delicious. If you like Pirate’s Booty, you’ll love the cheese puffs, and the fries packed a big punch of flavor in a crunchy little straw.

But the crowd favorite, by far, was the veggie crisps. Not only are they tasty and filling (one tester described them as “surprisingly substantial”), but they’re also super crunchy and flavorful, almost like pita chips. Plus there’s a full serving of veggies in every ounce.

But the best part? Finally, a great chip for scooping guac… you know, just in case you want a little extra-veggie credit next time you get a snack attack.

Thanks to the folks at Snikiddy for providing samples for review; all opinions are my own. 

Father’s Day gift guide for the fit-minded

Photo credit: Michele Westmorland / Getty Images

Photo credit: Michele Westmorland / Getty Images

His days of piggyback rides and playing catch may be over now that you’re all grown up, but here’s your chance to put some ‘play’ back into Dad’s day with some fun gadgets and gear designed to keep him moving.

For the Stat-Obsessed Runner

The masterminds behind Nike’s sport watch series ventured out on their own, launching Soleus, the only watch, GPS and heart rate monitor company that has its roots in running and athletics. Their GPS Fit model ($99) accurately tracks speed, pace and distance, provides auto lap splits at every mile, and the “always on” night-light mode will help him see better during late night (or early morning) runs and training.

Soleus

For the Time-Crunched Multitasker

Fitness guru Tony Horton (of P90X fame) has created the ultimate get-fit-quick program with his new 10-Minute Trainer workout. By taking a specific series of ultra-effective moves and condensing them into bite-sized segments that can be done at home in the span of a few commercial breaks, Horton will have Dad whipped into shape in no time. For more info, check out my full review here.

TMT1

For the Weekend-Warrior Adventurer

Airdrop some awesomeness on Dad’s doorstep with the Performance Sports Crate ($75) from Man Crates. Stuffed to the brim with cool training gear (think ultraspeed jump rope and push up bars), plus high-energy performance fuel (nutrition in the form of bars, chews and nut butters), each rough wooden crate comes complete with a crowbar to give Dad a bonus workout just trying to pry the darn thing open. 

mancrate__84232.1348141309.1280.1280

For the High-Pressure Executive

Finally, a BPM as easy as ABC to help keep Dad’s health in check. Simply wrap the Withings Blood Pressure Monitor ($130) around his arm, and plug it into his iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone to get instant visibility of systolic, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. The free corresponding app displays results in easy-to-read graphs, which can be emailed to his doctor with a simple tap on the screen.

withings

For the Health-Fad Foodie

A universal tool for family meals and entertaining, the Vitamix 5200 Super – Healthy Lifestyle Blender ($549) has been on my personal wish list for quite some time. Not only can Dad create every course of his home-cooked meals—from frozen drinks to creamy desserts—in minutes, but in addition to the usual smoothies and soups, he can also create gluten-free breads, cereals and baked goods with a 32-ounce container specifically designed to grind whole grains.

5200-super-modular-package

Got any other great Father’s Day gift ideas for the Fit Dad in your life?

Wanna get lucky? Run as a couple, says survey

Happy National Running Day!

In honor of the holiday, Brooks Running Company released some fun findings from their recent Brooks Run Happy Nation Report, including tidbits related to relationships, running while traveling and runner pet-peeves, including:

Hit the street more often for a better time between the sheets? Photo credit: MesHealth.com

Hit the street more often for a better time between the sheets?
Photo credit: MensHealth.com

Bringing Sexy Back

  • The longer you run the better your sex life, the survey found, as nearly half (49 percent) of couples who run six or more miles together claim it pays dividends in the bedroom
  • Runners from the West (42 percent) are most likely to claim that running increases their time spent rolling in the hay versus the South (38 percent), Northeast (33 percent) and Midwest (32 percent)

Sweat-time Gets Social

  • More than three-quarters (76 percent) of men surveyed passed the miles by discussing their team’s latest victory (sports, 51 percent) or a cool new gadget (34 percent)
  • Ladies, on the other hand, choose to use their running time as therapy – they are most likely to talk about relationships (47 percent), both the good and the bad
  • When it comes to a favorite late-night running partner, Jimmy Fallon (27 percent) steals the spotlight, with Chelsea Handler (22 percent) and Jimmy Kimmel close behind (22 percent)

On the Road Again

  • As for their favorite running city, runners say the hills of San Francisco make their heart race (46 percent), followed by Portland (34 percent), Boston (32 percent), Boulder (30 percent) and New York City (30 percent)
  • Runners are committed! More than three-quarters of those surveyed (78 percent) maintain their run schedule while traveling, and men are more likely to keep up the routine than women (82 percent vs. 73 percent), as are those who are parents (82 percent vs. 74 percent)

No Sounds of Silence

  • Eighty-seven percent of runners like to listen to something to keep them motivated, whether a booty-shaking playlist (music, 78 percent), audiobooks (11 percent), even meditations (10 percent) or motivational speakers (9 percent)
  • Just 13 percent feel that silence is indeed golden and choose no audio companion

Pet Peeves!

  • Difficulty dressing for the weather is a bigger pet peeve for females (30 percent) than males (17.3 percent)
  • Runners are torn about the worst type of runner they encounter on their favorite trail or running spot:
      • The Spitter (30 percent claim this is their “most hated runner” category): runners who spit or hock a loogie while running;
      • The Double-Wide (29 percent): runners who run in a group and take up a lot of space;
      • The Superhero (14 percent): runners  decked out in unnecessary gear;
      • The Flasher (14 percent): runners who don’t wear enough clothes when it’s cold out

“We hear from runners every day about how hitting the road is an integral part of their daily routine, and wanted to test just how big a part running played in their relationships, travel habits and friendships,” said Heather Snavely, Brooks senior director, Brand Marketing. “The results of the report were both fun and surprising. And I have to agree with those surveyed; I personally would love to join Chelsea Handler for a martini 5K in San Francisco.”

Check out the accompanying infographic below, and to see more of the survey results, click here.

Happy running!

image001

5 tips for building a healthier Easter basket

Easter eggs // Ostereier

Easter eggs // Ostereier (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

While Halloween still reigns supreme in candy consumption, Easter ranks as the second most sugar-laden occasion of the year for Americans.

According to the National Retail Foundation, nine in 10 (90.5%) of us will stock up on candy for the holiday, spending an average of $20.66 on jelly beans, chocolate and more.

The folks at DegreeSearch even created this interesting infographic, which doesn’t sugarcoat our less-than-healthy habits during this pastel-themed holiday.

Check out these startling stats:

  • Americans buy more than 120 million pounds of candy for Easter (enough to max out 4,615 dump trucks!)
  • 16 BILLION jelly beans are made for Easter every year
  • More than four million peeps marshmallow chicks and bunnies are made per day for Easter
  • Chocolate bunnies are one of the most popular chocolates made, with 90 million made just for Easter every year
  • 76 percent of Americans believe chocolate bunnies should be eaten ears first

If you’re indulging but still trying to keep weight management in mind, consider making a few small changes to keep your family from going into sugar shock this year:

  1. Forgo some sweets in favor of other treats, such as toys, books or small tech accessories
  2. Refrain from buying in bulk; it’ll save you from breaking into your favorites and skimming off the top
  3. Feed kids breakfast before breaking out baskets or hitting the local Easter egg hunt (that goes for parents, too)
  4. Partition booty from the Bunny into three piles immediately: Enjoy now, freeze for later, give away
  5. Finally, forget deprivation; DO partake in moderation, whether it’s a big-eared bunny, puffy peeps or those seriously addictive Cadbury Mini Eggs (my personal favorite!)