Ah, the love of the burger – it’s a unifying American experience. But if the fat content in fast food burgers makes your heart burn with shame, and meat recalls have you worrying about what’s in that burger you made at home, you’re not alone. Is it any wonder that interest in vegan alternatives to traditional meat meals is on the rise – even among people who still consider themselves meat-eaters?

“People are understandably concerned about what they’re serving their families,” says Gary Torres of Food for Life, a vegan food company that is seeing increased interest in meat-free foods. … read more

Everybody knows that exercise is good. Doctors have told us for years that exercise can help us lose weight, look better, feel better, and even sleep better. However, exercise sounds like work, and many of us claim that we just don’t have time to add more work to our daily lives.

Dr. Bart Lerner (EdD), president of Argosy University, Phoenix, offers guidelines for approaching an exercise regimen than can help everyone benefit from exercise. Lerner says, “Simply stated, sport-exercise psychology can be defined as mental management of physical resources. Staying mentally focused is the most important factor.”

To build motivation for … read more

Warm Weather Flank Steak

Ingredients:

1 ½ lb. lean beef flank steak
¾ C. dry red wine
1 ½ teaspoons lemon pepper
½ teaspoon minced garlic
Cooking spray

Directions:

Combine wine, garlic, and lemon pepper. Pour over steak, cover and marinate in refrigerator over night. Coat broiler rack with cooking spray and place steak on rack. Broil 4 inches from heat for 6 minutes on each side. Slice steak into small strips (across grain) to serve. (Serves 6)

Low salt, low calorie, low fat, low cholesterol

Feeling a little stressed? Need an energy boost? Buy some flowers. Taking the time to stop and smell the roses could do more than you think.

According to a recent Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital study, people who made a point of looking at flowers first thing in the morning reported feeling cheerier and even more energetic throughout the day. Amy Brightfield, Health Director, Woman’s Day magazine says, “Combining the power of scent and colors that both relax and rejuvenate, flowers and plants are a fast and affordable pick-me-up.”

Beyond their physical beauty, flowers possess distinct sensory qualities that … read more