When the mercury rises, who wants to turn the oven on? And, while grilled food tastes great in the summer, even standing near a hot grill can be unbearable when the weather is hot.

If the heat has you down, perk up with some delicious -- and healthful -- no-cook meals. Some ideas:

• Tomato-Watermelon Soup. Chilled or at room temperature, this blended soup is a unique taste, and it's rich in lycopene.
• Artichoke and Beef Lettuce Wraps. Roast beef from the deli is tossed with artichoke hearts, chickpeas, zucchini and other healthful ingredients in this tasty lettuce wrap.
• Salmon and Cucumber Boats. Skip the bagel -- instead pair lox with cucumber and fiber-rich triangles of pumpernickel.

It's also helpful to think ahead when you know you're not going to want to cook. When cooking dinner one night, think ahead and see what you can cook for later in the week. For example, if you're baking chicken for dinner, bake an extra piece or two for use in a cold chicken salad later in the week. Or, save a bit of grilled salmon and use it on top of a mixed greens salad another night.

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We at That's Fit and AOL Health know you've got a lot going on in your lives besides staying in great shape, and we realize that more than just diet and exercise goes into feeling your best every day. That's why we're sharing some of the exciting reporting going on at AOL Health.

When was the last time you tested your nutrition smarts? AOL Health's "Nutrition IQ" quiz will challenge how much you really know about what you're eating.

And to discover the nutrient-richness of your foods, check out our meal evaluator tool to see just what (vitamins, calories, fat grams, protein content) is in your favorite foods.

Plus, do you know what your target heart rate is? Are you achieving it? Use our heart-rate tool to find out. The American Heart Association tells us knowing this number is important because it lets "you measure your initial fitness level and monitor your progress in a fitness program."

So you went a little overboard with dinner. How long will it take to walk it off?

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Sweet potatoes are a nutritional gold mine. High in vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber, iron and other powerful nutrients, choosing sweet potatoes over other varieties is a no-brainer. This Sweet Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe is very easy to make, and the sweet flavor makes it taste a little more like dessert than a vegetable.

The recipe can be found on page 8 of my online recipe book at Fitzness.com. I make it often at family meals, but sometimes I just cut the ingredients down and whip some up for myself. Give it a try! I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do.

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On a chilly winter day, hot soup often hits the spot. My problem with soup is that it rarely fills me up. Mind you, I'm a little lady and I still don't find a bowl of soup satisfying. I can't imagine how hungry a big guy would be without adding a large sandwich on the side.

I have a solution, though! For a long time, I've been adding other ingredients like cooked vegetables to canned soups to keep the calories low, the meals hot and my tummy full. It's really easy and quick and actually allows soup to become a meal in itself.

I've added my Easy to Make - Soup Dinner recipe to the online recipe book at Fitzness.com on page 32. I hope you'll give it a try!

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Check out this video of President Barack Obama boarding Air Force One for the very first time. I know opinions on the man vary, but I must say he seems like a very nice guy, warm and caring and similar to us common folk in so many ways -- diet included.

President Obama loves a good burger and fries. And it's just what he ordered for his first pre-inauguration in-flight meal. He takes his burger cooked medium-well, with a little Dijon mustard, lettuce and tomato. That's not all. He also asked for some salad or veggies. Good thinking.

We know our President is a good thinker when it comes to fitness -- heck, the guy worked out the morning of his inauguration. Now we know he fills his plate with greens too. He's a balanced guy, who can afford some red meat and fried taters now and then. We just hope it's not all the time. And we hope he's kicked that smoking habit too.

For more Air Force One moments, tune in to National Geographic's new TV series On Board Air Force One beginning tomorrow, January 25, at 8 PM.

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With groceries at such a high price, sending any leftover down the disposal is like throwing money away. So be more economical with your food and try these clever ways to use every last bite:

• Rice. Have some steamed vegetables left over from tonight's side dish? Or maybe you just have small bits of fresh veggies waiting in the crisper. Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, onion, corn, green beans and peas make a great addition to steamed brown rice.
• Omelet. Leftover vegetables can also be added to an omelet for a quick, healthful and easy meal.
• Pizza. Leftover protein such as chicken, ground beef or sausage makes a great pizza topping. Try a BBQ chicken pizza or come up with your own unique combination. It's hard to go wrong.
  
• Potato cakes. Leftover mashed potatoes can be made into tasty potato cakes.
• Soup. It's pretty hard to go wrong with soup. Use up leftover vegetables and add them to a broth base along with barley or another whole grain.
  
• Calzone. ParentDish's Rob Barrett shows you how to turn almost any leftover into a delicious calzone.
• Salads. Tuna, chicken, beef, cut veggies, nuts and fruit are all great salad toppers.

Using and reusing leftovers is an economical way to go. But remember safety and ditch those leftovers when it's time.

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Actor Eric Stoltz and I just had one of the most interesting and funniest conversations I've had in a long time. He's presently guest starring on ABC's hit show Grey's Anatomy as a Death Row serial killer. Charming. While interviewing my guests for Celebrity Fitzness Report, we always talk fitness, but we also talk about the projects each celebrity is working on at the moment.

So first Eric and I talk fitness. Eric is a guy who works out not because he's desperate to get big, he just really wants to be healthy and fit. He makes a habit of doing cardio and strength training on alternating days. Great! He's also a vegetarian who loves a healthy meal of pasta with eggplant and mushrooms.

Now to the serial killer/last meal part. I asked Eric what his favorite not-so-healthy food is, and he told me he loves pizza. So, going back to his role on Grey's Anatomy, I asked him if pizza is what he'd choose for his last meal.

Grocery costs are a bit crazy right now. I was forgiving of it when fuel costs were also outlandish ... after all, food has to be transported so fuel costs directly effect grocery costs. But now the fuel costs are down and grocery costs are staying high. I don't know about you, but I think it's totally unfair.

In these tight economic times, we all have to be penny-pinchers. Since meat is one of the most expensive grocery items to buy, it only makes sense to cut back. Beans and tofu spring to mind as meat-replacements -- they're inexpensive, filling and high in protein. Another great option -- though not high in protein -- is mushrooms.

Swapping mushrooms for meat isn't only economical, it's healthful, lower in calories, filling and completely tasty. Try them in lasagna or grill up a marinated portobello as a burger. A recent study found that when participants ate meals where mushrooms replaced beef, they consumed an average of 420 fewer calories. Great news if you're trying to lose weight!

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When you get up on Christmas morning, it might seem like a good idea to skip breakfast so you can eat more at dinner. Plus you've got all those shiny new presents to distract you from the innate need to seek sustenance. But skimping on your first meal can slow down your metabolism for the rest of the day, according to our friends at Fitsugar. And let's be honest -- that's the last thing you want when the spread is so fantastic.

A better option? Prepare a platter of fresh fruit for breakfast and serve it alongside some low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese or oatmeal. Omelets are also a great option -- the more veggies the better.

What do you have for Christmas breakfast?

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Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Fitz, I love to exercise, but may only have about 15 minutes to do anything on Christmas Day. Can you give me a quick circuit to do at home before we take off for the family party? Thanks and Merry Christmas, Johnny

A. Sure, Johhny! I'd love to. Before I do that, though, I want to tell you how impressive it is that fitness is such a priority for you. Lots of folks are going to use the holiday as an excuse to do nothing. You and I both know that a brief workout will probably make us feel more energetic and happy on the big day and give us a little more wiggle room to enjoy an extra indulgence without paying the price. High five to you!

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Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Happy Holidays Fitz! I'll be hosting a Christmas party for some friends and family members next week and I need some help. I'm providing a healthy dinner buffet, but am stuck on a "not so awful for you" dessert. I could stick with fruit, but I think I should provide something more traditional. Have any ideas? Thanks in advance. Nina

A. Merry Christmas, Nina! I love your question because I am an expert on super substitutions. I can and do make almost every type of dessert in a more nutritious way. And! I do it without sacrificing flavor. Isn't that fancy? Oddly enough, if I weren't a fitness professional, I'd want to be a baker. I love baking! I'm just the weird kind of baker who hasn't owned oil or butter for more than 10 years. This forces me to be creative.

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Ah Thanksgiving. Is there anything better than a day dedicated to food, family, friends and fabulous slothfulness? It's all great, but one of our favourite aspects of the day is the food.

So last week, I asked you what your favourite Thanksgiving Day dish is. Here's what you had to say:

• 32 percent of you love the stuffing.
  
• 22 percent of you love potatoes -- either mashed or sweet.
  
• 20 percent of you love turkey the best.
  
• 16 percent of you hold out for dessert -- it's your favourite part of the meal.
  
• 8 percent of you love the veggies.
  
• 2 percent of you are crazy about cranberry sauce.
  

Thanks for sharing ... though all of a sudden. I'm feeling a bit hungry.

Here at That's Fit, we're constantly telling you what we think about things, but sometimes it's nice to know what you think. So from time to time, we'll ask you a question. Don't be afraid to speak up -- we love feedback.

No holiday stands for overindulgence and wanton gluttony quite like Thanksgiving does. You might have planned to keep your portions reasonable, or you might have accepted in advance that you'd have to do an extra hour of fitness the next day to compensate for the calorie fest. But plans are one thing -- executing them is another. So I'm wondering ...

Wasting food is a pretty common occurrence these days -- and for those of us trying to shed a few pounds, we tend to think that the extra food is better off in our garbage cans than our bellies. But wasted food has a disastrous effect on the environment, and according to the New York Times, America wastes enough food to fill Madison Square Garden ... each day!

When I was a kid, I went to an eco-friendly summer camp that policed food waste carefully. After every meal, those at each table had to dump wasted food into a bucket and weigh it, and the results would be reported to a guy called the 'food waste buster', who would reward and shame the best and worst teams. Guess what? It worked. We were careful to take only what we could eat, and we made sure we ate every last bite. Even today, I'm conscious of what I leave on my plate.

Weighing your family's food waste might not be the most practical solution, but you can -- and should -- take steps to eliminate the amount you waste. Here are some suggestions:

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