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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
Sure everyone loves vacation, but no one loves coming back from vacation and stepping on the scale. Instead follow these steps to avoid putting on those extra pounds.

- Book a hotel or condo with a kitchen, a mini-kitchen, or at least a small refrigerator. If you have a kitchen in your place you will be prone to eat a few meals in your place, which will be healthier than consistently eating out during your entire vacation. You can always choose to eat your breakfast and lunch in your room, then have your dinner out so that you can still enjoy some delicious vacation food.
- Do some research about the restaurants and food options in the area where you are vacationing. If you know what restaurants and resorts offer healthier choices than others, then you can plan your meals out and not just choose the closest (and sometimes unhealthier) place when it is time to eat.
- Pack some resistance bands in your suitcase for some easy exercises on the go. You can easily find some great resistance band workouts online and do them in the privacy of your room.
- Change up your playlist. If you are working out while on vacation, choose an entirely different playlist or a different audio book to switch things up while you are away from your normal routine. This way you can still relax like you are on vacation, but still get in your workout, even if the only different thing is what's coming through your headphones.
- Don't forget your sneakers, and you can do so by wearing them when you travel. Most people who don't exercise on vacation say it's because they forgot to pack their tennis shoes. If you are wearing your tennis shoes when you leave your house then you can't use that as an excuse.
- Work out first thing in the morning. One reason is that if you get up early and workout the rest of the day you are free to do whatever you please. Another reason is that you won't affect anyone else's schedule that may be on vacation with you if you get up first thing and get your daily workout in. You don't have to try and fit in a full workout. Even 20 minutes of jogging, walking or doing yoga is better than doing nothing.
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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
From overeating to watching too much TV, there's really only one way to break a bad habit : make a plan!
Unfortunately what may work for one person, may not work for another. So here are some ways to break some of the most popular bad habits. Hopefully it works for you!

Watching too much TV. : Studies show that people watch an average of 4 hours of television each day and these studies also show that excessive TV. watching can be linked to developing Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Here are some ways to avoid watching too much TV: only watch when there is something specific you want to see, do chores during commercials, make a list of things you need to accomplish before sitting down to watch TV, and create a TV-watching plan and stick to it.
Drinking too much alcohol. : Tired of being hung over and sluggish? Then you should do everything you can to cut back on drinking too much alcohol. To cut back try these tips: drink one glass of water for every alcoholic drink you have, drink only when you are having a meal or try drinking something that looks like an alcoholic drink, like rootbeer or a drink with a slice of fruit in it.
Smoking. : While this may be one of the hardest habits to break, it's still possible as many, many people do it every year. The best plan is to talk things over with your doctor because they can offer the best cessation treatment for you. But some other approaches that you may consider include: hypnotherapy, exercise or electronic cigarettes.
Nail biting. : Because most nail biting habits are linked to anxiety, stress, or nervousness, your plan should start with creating a relaxation plan. Think about what makes you bite your nails before you start. When you get the urge to bite your nails or catch yourself in the act, do something with your hands : garden, cook, play with your kids or pets, clean or do the dishes. Do something that takes your mind off of biting your nails.
Overeating. : No matter how hard you try to cut calories, it still seems like sometimes the cravings are still there. Experts say that sometimes it is best to give into those cravings. When people do give into their cravings every once in awhile they have a better chance of losing weight and keeping it off, than those who ignore their cravings and avoid certain foods. Experts also advise that if you can avoid nighttime eating that you will be well on your way to prevent overeating as well.
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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
- Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin A in the form of beta carotene and vitamin C.
- The nutrients in sweet potatoes are also anti-inflammatory, which means that besides being great tasting, sweet potatoes can help reduce the severity of conditions like asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
- In addition, sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin B6.

Recipe: Golden Sweet Potato Brownies
1 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups peeled and finely shredded sweet potatoes
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons milk
Preheat the oven to 350. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the batter just until blended. Fold in the shredded yam. Spread the batter evenly in the greased baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes. Mix together the confectioners' sugar, butter and milk until smooth. Spread over the brownies while they are still warm.
Recipe: Spicy Baked Sweet Potato Fries
6 sweet potatoes cut into French fries
2 tablespoons canola oil
3 tablespoons taco seasoning mix
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
In a plastic bag, combine the sweet potatoes, canola oil, taco seasoning, and cayenne pepper. Close and shake the bag until the fries are evenly coated. Spread the fries out in a single layer on two large baking sheets.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until crispy and brown on one side. Turn the fries over using a spatula, and cook for another 30 minutes, or until they are all crispy on the outside and tender inside. Thinner fries may not take as long.
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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
Last year, Consumer Reports sent a survey team to several schools to find out how much weight kids were lifting , in their backpacks. Parents were shocked to learn that of the students surveyed, the average weight hauled by second-graders was 5.3 pounds, fourth-graders carried 4.6 pounds and sixth-graders averaged 18.4 pounds.

To help alleviate some of the back pain and stress, Consumer Reports suggest that parents should keep the following factors in mind:
- Check for good stitching that can hold a decent amount of weight.
- Shoulder straps anchors should be about 1- to 2- inches below the top of the shoulder.
- The bottom of the backpack should go along the curve of the lower back and the backpack itself should not fall more than 4 inches below the waist.
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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
We all know that calcium builds strong bones, but it also ensures that your muscles, nerves and cells all work properly.
As adults, we need approximately 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day : or the equivalent of more than three 8 oz. glasses of milk a day. But if you don't do dairy, you are still able to get your daily dose of calcium with these calcium-rich foods.

Broccoli has a calcium content of 86 milligrams in just two cups of raw broccoli. It also contains nearly twice the vitamin C than an orange.
Collard greens contain 268 milligrams of calcium per one cup cooked. It is also loaded with three days' worth of vitamin A.
Kale has a calcium content of 101 milligrams in one cup of raw, chopped kale. Kale also provides a day's worth of vitamin C and twice the recommended daily intake of vitamin A.
Edamame contains 98 milligrams of calcium in one cup cooked. It is also one of the few non-animal foods that is a complete protein : meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids. And 8 grams of fiber per serving isn't too shabby, either.
Figs have a calcium content of 121 milligrams in ½ cup dried figs. Figs also supply you with magnesium, potassium and fiber.
Oranges contain 74 milligrams of calcium in one large orange and 27 milligrams in one cup of orange juice. Orange are also great sources of vitamin C, they are full of antioxidants and are low in calories.
Sardines have a calcium content of 351 milligrams in a 3.75 oz. can. While some people may fear sardines simply on looks alone, they are really quite tasty and are an amazing source of vitamin B12 and vitamin D.
