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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Want to keep your brain sharp? Then give your brain cells a workout by switching up your everyday routines. Brush your teeth with the opposite hand. Find your keys in your purse by touch alone -- don't peek. Or try a challenging crossword puzzle or mind game.

Here are six more strategies, compliments of Woman's Day magazine, for keeping your whole body sharp.

• Strength train your muscles and then drink fat-free milk. Studies show that exercisers who drank two glasses a day lost more fat and built more muscle than those who didn't drink up.

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Almost nobody I know prepares for a large meeting or presentation by thinking about nutrition preparation. Most are honing PowerPoint slides and talking to themselves in a mirror.

But, if you want to remain sharp and focused in that meeting, how about seeking out foods to eat beforehand that will give you the mental edge as that competing salesperson drones on about quota smashing?

Try some mango salsa on whole-wheat bread along with a fresh dash of blueberries on the side. Also, an entree of chicken may help cognitive performance, seeing as poultry proteins help get some needed neurotransmitters firing as good as they can be.

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It's always amazed me to see some older folks I know seem as mental sharp as a tack while other fade into mental forgetfulness at the same age. Why is this? It seems as though the brains of some shift strategies as age increases in order to keep that mind alert and in focus.

Scientists are wanting to determine what differences these aging, sharp minds have in order to possibly leverage what they find into a method to keep all aging minds on the sharp side.

The scientists wanting to make a discovery here say that this has nothing to do with diseases like Alzheimers, but ensuring the mental faculties of a longer-living public stay with them along with their physical age. Nobody would want to live 30 years without his or her mind at close to full function, right?

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There is nothing worse than that horrible stinging piercing grating nerve pain that comes right when you bite into something hot, or cold, or sweet, or sour...you get the idea. Sensitive teeth stink.

There are some things you can do to make them less bothersome, though, like simply switching to a softer toothbrush and using toothpaste and mouthwash specifically designed for sensitive teeth. Other than that you'll probably have to ask your dentist for advice, and learn what's causing your sensitivity in the first place. Usually it's receding gums exposing roots, in which case working to prevent that from getting any worse becomes a priority. There's no easy fix, so maybe finding and avoiding problematic foods could help? Any ideas that work for you?

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Death and taxes are things that can't be helped. Mental decline is another some people think of, but a new study suggests there's something that can be done to prevent that particular effect of aging from happening. Think of them as brain workouts. Of course just about anyone can enjoy doing these mental exercises since you're never too old to learn some new tricks.

Playing head games to challenge your analytical and mathematical skills is a good way to ward off dementia. Games like Brain Age on the Nintendo DS are a great way to achieve this. According to the article, doing your own taxes can also keep you sharp. You can always try and tackle them yourself before heading down to your local accountant.

Another way to exercise the brain is to remember passwords. Most of our browsers probably retain passwords automatically, but if you challenge yourself to keep up with them manually, then it makes you recall the necessary facts later. There are more things you can do to keep yourself mentally sharp, so read on!

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