School is almost over!  Your free membership to the rec center has almost expired!  So how are you going to stay in shape?  In addition to having loads of fun exercising outside, just follow these 5 tips to shape your plate and shape your body for the summer.

Body Friendly Carbs

Consume primarily complex carbs from sources like 100% whole grains, vegetables, and legumes.  Limit simple carbs in foods like soda, candy, and pastries.  Besides the likelihood of having more calories in those sweet treats, simple carbs raise blood sugar levels quicker than complex carbs, causing a higher rise in insulin in the blood.  This may result…

Here's a fun and easy recipe to try this summer. It makes a great meal or serve as an appetizer at a party!

Summer Veggie Tostadas

1/2 cup canned black beans, drained

1/4 cup chopped red onion

1/4 cup corn kernels (fresh or canned)

3 Tbsp green salsa (salsa verde)

1 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro, divided

1 8-inch whole wheat tortilla (or any you prefer)

1/4 cup shredded low-fat cheese

Cooking spray

1 tsp vegetable or canola oil

**Preheat oven or toaster oven set to broil. Heat oil in pan. Add black beans, onion, and corn to pan; saute for 2 min. Stir in salsa and 1/2 the cilantro; cook another 2 min, stirring often. Meanwhile, place tortilla on baking sheet and lightly coat…

You don't have to resort to easy mac every night of the week when you run out of your meal plan!  Here are two easy, inexpensive recipes you can cook in your microwave for half the price of a restaurant.

Potato Skins

Ingredients:  Potato, Cheddar cheese, Bacon bits, tomatoes

Cut the potato in half and scoop some of the potato out with a spoon.  Top potato skins with your desired ingredients.  Microwave until potato skins are cooked.

Price per serving: $2.04

Price at a restaurant:  $4 - $8

Quesadilla

Ingredients:  Whole wheat tortilla, Cheddar cheese, Vegetables of your choice (the more you eat, the more fiber and nutrients you get!), Chicken (optional)

Fill half of your quesadilla…

For those of you that visited us for Food Fest 2012 yesterday (Wed. Mar. 28), you may have guessed how old our fast food display of a burger and fries is. That meal was purchased on July 11, 2011, making it 261 days old on Mar. 28!!!  Surprisingly, both the burger and fries looked nearly the same as the day they were purchased! Does this alarm anyone?

With such a high amount of the typical American diet coming from processed foods, there has been a growing concern about what all that processed food means for our health. You might be wondering what constitutes processed food? Here are some facts:

Processed food...…