Day 5: When the going gets tough, the tough go out to dinner, I like to say. When the going gets tough this week, though, I just have to dig a little deeper into my pantry.

I'm honestly having fun getting a little creative with what's left in the fridge. Today, for instance, I made artichoke soup when I found two cans of them hidden in the back of the cupboard. Not only are artichokes nutritious, the soup was tangy and delicious and cost me all of $5.00 to make.

Though I'm the first to admit that eating out is convenient and fun, there's something to be said for being in charge of what's on your plate. Unlike restaurant food, most of which is highly processed, I know exactly how much salt and sugar is in every meal, and I can control the calorie and fat content by adjusting ingredients.

After all, even when it comes to "light" dishes, restaurants aren't known for their honesty. And even though I still use portion control at home, it doesn't seem nearly as important when I'm not being served huge portions on gigantic plates.

When celebrities get themselves in fabulous shape, I'm always curious to know what they attribute their success to. And while Mariah Carey could probably do a little better at dressing her curves (we know you're fit, Mimi -- you don't have to wear everything like it's painted on!), there's no doubt that her body looks fabulous. And she credits artichokes.

You probably already know that artichokes are a fabulous food choice, and there are a number of easy ways to prepare them. The thing that really helped Mariah, though, was the fact that they're so rich in fiber, meaning she felt fuller and snacked less.

Mariah also credited exercise with her sleek physique, though after seeing her toss a first pitch earlier this year at a Giants' game, I have a hard time picturing her sweating it up at the gym! Regardless, the girl looks fabulous, and if eating artichokes helped her get there, I'm picking some up at the grocery store tonight!

Source

Feeling and looking like a superstar starts with eating superstar foods and when it comes to summer salads, you might know that veggies are good for you but do you know which ones are the best? In terms of antioxidant levels there are five veggies that stand out from the rest and you'll want to be sure to throw as many of them as you can in your salads this summer. Which veggie do you think is the absolute richest in antioxidants?

Source