Lean and Fit: Summer fitness and adventure destinations

Tuesday, 24 May 2011 by IrwanKch

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Eat, Drink and Be Healthy Italians have a healthier attitude about food than Americans do The column is on hiatus this week. Since May is Mediterranean Diet month, here's a story from the archives about that healthful and delectable approach to eating. Be sure to check back next week, when I interview chef Tyler Florence. The Checkup: A new survey conducted by the American Psychological Association finds that praying about health issues has increased dramatically among American adults over the past 30 years. Do you pray about your health or that of your friends and loved ones? The MisFits Summer fitness and adventure destinations Get fit this summer at four adventure destinations within driving distance of the District. In The News McDonald's rejects calls to reject Ronald Last week's campaign urging McDonald's to abandon its iconic clown Ronald McDonald to help fight childhood obesity ended with the fast-food company's saying it would do no such thing. Coffee may cut prostate cancer risk New research finds a link between coffee consumption and reduced risk of prostate cancer. The findings add to the growing body of evidence that drinking coffee, contrary to what was once believed, is actually good for our health. YOU ASKED...


Q:		Several weeks ago, readers were asking about how to make yogurt from milk, so I tried it. Results were great. Yesterday, your e-mail was about the need for Vitamin D that milk provides. My question is, if I use milk fortified with Vitamin D to make yogurt, does that Vitamin D remain in the yogurt? - Sally

A:		I thought I knew the answer to this, but suddenly I wasn't sure! So I asked Greg Miller, executive vice president of science and research for the National Dairy Council. He told me by e-mail that my instinct was correct: Yogurt made from milk that contains Vitamin D does indeed contain Vitamin D itself. Glad you enjoyed your home-made yogurt!


DID YOU KNOW? We often hear that eating late at night is more likely to make us overweight than eating during regular daytime hours. Science hasn't exactly pinned that down, but the latest bit of research on the matter shows that calories consumed after 8 p.m. are indeed more likely to lead to weight gain than those consumed earlier. Nobody's quite sure why. Note to readers: Several of you have asked whether following links to stories in The New York Times counts against your monthly quota of free-access NYT articles. It is my understanding that that is not the case; that articles accessed via links posted elsewhere don't count toward your monthly total. Please let me know if your experience suggests otherwise.

Have other questions? Send them to Jennifer LaRue Huget at checkup@washpost.com or contact her on Twitter.

Barbecued chicken, corn and black bean salad

Stephanie Witt Sedgwick

This variation on the traditional summer corn-and-bean salad adds chicken to the mix; that protein makes the fiber-filled salad even more satisfying and filling. Do be careful about your portion, though; though a serving is just 230 calories, the serving size is just under one cup.

Greek lamb chops and mint yogurt sauce

Cooking Light

If you're a meat-eater, lamb can be a lean, low-calorie and delicious option. This recipe calls for a yogurt sauce, which keeps calories down and adds a bit of calcium.

Spaghetti with roasted zucchini

Woman's Day

Zucchini's an under-appreciated vegetable, especially when it starts to multiply in our gardens. But for just 20 calories per cup, this humble summer squash delivers vitamins C and K, folate, potassium, fiber and other nutrients.

Zesty portobello wedges

Cheryl and Bill Jamison

Portobello mushrooms may not be pretty, but for very few calories (42 per cup, grilled) and almost no fat, they add a nice dose of such vitamins as riboflavin and niacin to a meal, along with minerals such as potassium, copper and selenium.

Green bean salad with goat cheese dressing

Whole Foods Market

Goat cheese is delicious, but like most cheeses, it's got a lot of calories and fat. Here it's used judiciously as part of a dressing, which helps a little goat cheese go a long way.

Lime-glazed angel food cake

Health.com

If you like dessert but watch your calories and fat intake, angel food cake should definitely be in your repertoire. This version features a light lime glaze and a wedge of sweet mango on the side, all for just 172 calories.

TIPS OF THE WEEK


Eating Well Imagine your way to weight loss What if you could get the same satisfaction from just imagining you were eating M&Ms as from actually eating them? Science suggests that that might work, as does this journalist's first-hand experience.			Moving Well ElliptiGO takes ellipticals on the road The elliptical trainer you know so well from the gym is finally going places. Find out what happened when we took the ElliptiGo — a two-wheeler that forces you to stride instead of pedal — for a test ride through the streets of Baltimore.			Being Well Five easy pounds I don't typically go for lose-weight-quick schemes, but this simple plan for shedding five pounds before summer starts seems nutritionally sound and easy enough for anyone to try. And believe me, just five pounds can make a big difference in how you look and feel.