I used to be one of you. I'd slave away, doing set after set of crunches, knowing I was working my abdominals, yet seeing minimal results. I'd heard that during Alias, Jennifer Garner did 1000 crunches everyday. Sure, I wasn't doing that many, but I was pretty fit ... and pretty discouraged.

Pilates has changed my point of view on sit-ups, and it has also changed my shape for the better. My posture has improved, my tummy is flatter, my waist is cinched in -- all because I do crunches the Stott Pilates way.

Want to know the secret?

Alas, our farm days are over for this growing season. Our CSA farm closes up shop this week, a bit early due to the wet, wet summer; you should see the poor tomato plants. But the rain didn't ruin everything, as we have big, beautiful butternut squashes, just waiting to be cooked and gobbled up.

Butternut squash is loaded with vitamin A as beta carotene, vitamin C and fiber, along with B vitamins, so you really can't lose by making the most of your winter squash.

One of our favorite dishes is a simple pizza with tomato sauce, roasted butternut squash, shallots and sage leaves, topped with prosciutto and feta cheese. How's that for a fun way to eat your squash?

It's that time of year ... early Fall, when apples abound, but warm enough that you can still grill without a parka. So what's this all mean to you? Another fabulously delicious recipe to make, which includes apples on your grill: Apple Halibut Kabobs.

Grilling is a healthy coop all to itself because you use so much less fat than you would if pan-frying or even oven roasting. Yes, healthy fats are good for us in moderation, but you'll get those in the halibut -- so grill while you still can.

You want more healthy reasons to make this recipe? How about the loads of vitamin C in the apples and peppers? The onions and thyme lend their own healthy benefits as well.

Source

The days are getting shorter ... and colder! You don't have to resort to canned cream of mushroom soup to prepare a hearty meal in your slow cooker. There are healthy recipes to be had and precious time to be saved.

You can't go wrong with Crock Pot Black Bean Chili -- beans for protein and fiber, peppers for vitamin C, and herbs and spices for all of their numerous health benefits.

Crockpot Chicken Curry is loaded with zesty flavors, from fresh gingerroot and mango chutney to crushed red pepper and cilantro. This one could be -- dare I say it? -- company food. Serve it over brown rice.

Got a picky kid? You might even have a picky spouse! Knowing the right ways to help your family members become healthy eaters isn't easy. Every person is different, so hitting on that one solution is always a tough one.

So it's a good thing the New York Times is telling us about six food mistakes that parents make. If we see ourselves in some of these, then we'll know where to start.

Join me after the jump to read about the six mistakes and my take on them.

Source

Hey, have you heard about the importance of a good breakfast? OK, I jest, because we all know that a healthy start to our day is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves. From helping keep us slim to supplying our bodies with enough energy to tackle our busy day, a good breakfast does it all.

Tough to find time for a good breakfast, sometimes, isn't it? What if you could have a solution for a balanced breakfast that is full of nutrition, easy on the pocketbook (about 50 cents each) and a snap to prepare? If that sounds appealing, then you'll want to try this recipe for all-in-one breakfast muffins.

Loaded with protein like eggs, ham, and cheese, these muffins will stick to your ribs so you won't crave the sugary snacks come mid-morning. Plus, scallions and peppers add veggie nutrients.

Source

Sounds amazing, doesn't it? Curried tuna, carrot and hummus couscous. The mouth waters just thinking about it.

But wait -- there's more. This healthy recipe's got a couple of sources of lean, complete protein: tuna and hummus. Its overflowing with nutrition from veggies too, like carrots, garlic, red pepper, onions and greens (rocket or arugala). And the health benefits of the turmeric in curry are plentiful.

The fun begins, though, when you start imagining all of the ingenious substitutions you could make to boost the nutrition and healthfulness of this recipe. Join me after the jump for some specifics.

Source

A pica-who? I didn't know what a picadillo was either, but I was sure enamored with this delicious recipe.

This traditional Latin American dish usually consists of ground beef and seasonings, sometimes with veggies added. It can be used to stuff a taco or served with beans and rice.

So the apple turkey picadillo recipe I fell in love with is definitely a twist on tradition, but a clever and welcome -- and healthy! -- one, in my opinion. Imagine the sweet-tart of the apple combining with the cumin and Worcestershire sauce ... I can almost smell it sauteing on the stove.

Source

Maybe it's true that we are what we eat, but what does that make us if we try this nut loaf recipe? Heck, there's nothing wrong with being a little nutty if it comes from eating this tasty dish.

Nuts, mushrooms, veggies, and fresh herbs make the bulk of this recipe, with eggs and a few this-and-thats. So healthy proteins and fats combined with the nutrients of onions, leeks, carrots, and celery. Can it get any better?

Just a few tweaks and we've got a vegetarian mainstay full of healthy perfection:

• Use wild mushrooms, not just white ones, to help boost your immune system.
• Use brown rice cooked in broth instead of rice pilaf.
• Instead of breadcrumbs, just pop a slice of sprouted grain bread in the food processor and use that for more nutrition and better digestion.

Source

As adults living in a fast-paced world, we may be a little lax in assuring we eat a balanced breakfast every morning. Sure, a granola bar or a banana on-the-run may not be the end of the world, but even though those things may have some nutrition to them, they are not balanced breakfasts.

One thing we don't want to do is pass this tradition on to our kids. Today's lifestyle demands a lot from these little people too, and a balanced breakfast will give them a good start to tackle the world, one day at a time.

Dr. Sears, one of the most down-to-earth famous pediatricians out there, has some ideas about balanced breakfasts for kids. Complex carbohydrates and protein should both be present, so he suggests to think whole grains plus dairy plus fruit.

Source