http://www.kashi.com/ Challenge yourself to a healthier lifestyle! en-us Strength trainers: If you find yourself hitting a plateau with regard to your weight lifting routine, try incorporating more moves at an incline. Using the incline weight bench or an uneven step bench to perform moves like a chest press, butt lift, or leg lift challenges your muscles in a slightly different — and often more challenging — way. Today, challenge yourself to be so inclined that you work yourself a little harder. Note: Always consult your healthcare practitioner before starting an exercise program. Kashi.com Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://kashi.com/challenges/993 http://kashi.com/challenges/993 Looking on the bright side of things is often easier said than done. That said, there is wisdom in this old chestnut! Today, challenge yourself to consciously steer your thoughts toward the positive and away from negative — and often unlikely — scenarios. Kashi.com Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://kashi.com/challenges/921 http://kashi.com/challenges/921 As with most everything else, there is a right way and a wrong way to dispose of unused or expired medications. In fact, this issue is so important that the U.S. government now has an entire Web site devoted to it. Though the rules are continually being evolved, some basic principles to safe, environmentally correct disposal do apply. Today, challenge yourself to bone up on the latest recommendations, including:• Avoid flushing: Not only can drugs harm fish, they can end up in our drinking water. See the FDA list for exceptions.• Call your pharmacy — some stores have take-back policies.• Call your trash pick-up vendor — some cities have hazardous-waste facilities.• If you must throw it away, try mixing it with something unsavory like cat litter, and always put it in a sealed container. Kashi.com Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://kashi.com/challenges/991 http://kashi.com/challenges/991 In spite of its economic and civic significance, for many of us, Labor Day connotes barbecues and camping, not workers’ rights. Today, challenge yourself to celebrate the holiday by giving something back. Here are some ideas for making honoring workers and healthy working conditions a natural part of your long weekend: • Do something to clean and “green” for your office, company, or workplace. • Donate time or money to an organization that supports workers’ rights or healthy workplaces. • Learn about upcoming ballot issues that affect workers in your area or somewhere else. • If you do celebrate outdoors, clean up after yourself and take a moment to thank your park ranger, campground staff, or site custodian. • Purchase holiday items that were made in places with decent labor laws. • Organize a beach or park clean–up. • Plant a tree—a symbolic gesture, but a lovely one that makes the planet better for us all. You may also like: Challenge: Learn About Grilling Responsibly Challenge: Have a Greener Outdoor Summer Party Kashi.com Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://kashi.com/challenges/1004 http://kashi.com/challenges/1004 Scientists have long associated prolonged sitting and sedentary lifestyles with negative health impacts. But new research implies that, among other red flags, a little light weekly exercise does not offset the effects of huge chunks of time spent sitting instead of moving. Today, challenge yourself to get up from your desk, chair or couch frequently and move around. Kashi.com Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://kashi.com/challenges/989 http://kashi.com/challenges/989 What does a domestic origin really mean when it comes to sustainability? Turns out, it can mean quite a bit. Products manufactured overseas have a bigger carbon footprint for the ultimate buyer, wherever your home base. Also, products made in the U.S. usually provide local jobs. Plus, American labor laws are stronger than in some other large manufacturing countries. So although the label does not guarantee an environmentally or labor-friendly product per se, it likely offers a rosier history than many others. Today, challenge yourself to think more critically about what you buy, and try to purchase items made or grown close to home. Kashi.com Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://kashi.com/challenges/988 http://kashi.com/challenges/988 What could be lovelier than watching swallowtails, cabbage whites, monarchs, or other butterflies swooping gracefully around your garden? Welcoming pollinators like butterflies to your garden requires choosing plants with attractive nectar for baby caterpillars, like zinnia, marigold, milkweed, verbena, and most flowering herbs. Long grasses, open patches of damp soil, and warm sunny rocks are also natural habitat enhancers for butterflies. Today, challenge yourself to start making your garden a butterfly haven. Kashi.com Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://kashi.com/challenges/1002 http://kashi.com/challenges/1002 Summer’s berry bounty make’s it a great time to master the art of melting chocolate. As a dessert or fresh fruit topping, pure chocolate can’t be beat. Today, challenge yourself to learn how to make melted chocolate. Here are the basics:• Using a serrated knife, chop a chocolate bar into cubes. (Avoid using a food processor, as this disturbs the chocolate’s fat distribution and hinders melting.)• Place chunks in a heat-proof glass bowl.• Set bowl over a pot with one inch of simmering water in it.• Stir; remove when there are still a few tiny chunks (remaining heat will melt the rest without burning).• Dip a fresh strawberry and enjoy! Kashi.com Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://kashi.com/challenges/987 http://kashi.com/challenges/987 Is your abdominal strength routine getting old? Why not mix it up? It’ll be fun, and might even produce better results. Today, challenge yourself to make changes to your workout. Some ideas:• If you usually do core work modeled on yoga or Pilates techniques, like plank pose, try working with weights or doing crunches instead (and vice versa).• Try standing ab moves, like upright crunches or balancing poses, instead of floor work.• If you generally do longer or larger movements, refocus on small, focused muscle movements and control (and vice versa). Note: Always consult your healthcare practitioner before starting an exercise program. Kashi.com Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://kashi.com/challenges/986 http://kashi.com/challenges/986 When was the last time you used a thermometer? Years ago? Never? The problem with learning on the job, as it were, is that it’s more stressful than getting it down during non-emergencies. Since you never know when you’ll be called upon to take a loved one’s temp — or your own, for that matter — today, challenge yourself to give it a shot. (You’ll also have to choose from among oral and newer ear or forehead devices.) Kashi.com Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://kashi.com/challenges/985 http://kashi.com/challenges/985 Did you know that only female bees sting, and few bee species are aggressive toward humans? Honey and bumblebees are natural visitors to our gardens. You can welcome them by providing sun-baked, sandy, dry-soil areas for solitary types to nest. (Some species prefer log piles and hollow reeds.) And bumblebees often make their homes in unused field mouse nests! Purple and blue flowers are ideal for attracting bees, as are such flowers as dandelion and clover, which are easy to grow. Today, challenge yourself to look up harmless bees native to your area and welcome them to your greenery. Kashi.com Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://kashi.com/challenges/984 http://kashi.com/challenges/984 The presence of “fragrance” in the ingredients list of cosmetic and personal care products usually denotes synthetics. According to the Environmental Working Group, a loophole in U.S. law allows potentially hazardous chemicals to be called “fragrance” in such products. Why not play it safe and stick to unscented products? Today, challenge yourself to find scent-free versions of the makeup and personal products you like. The EWG’s SkinDeep database is a great place to start. Kashi.com Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://kashi.com/challenges/978 http://kashi.com/challenges/978 When was the last time you gave someone kudos for getting in shape — or just plain showing up? Taking the time to call or email someone — or, better yet, tell them in person at the gym or park — that they’re doing great could give a person a needed boost. You could say something like, “I find your discipline really inspiring,” or “You should be proud of yourself for working so hard—you look really fit!” Today, challenge yourself to give a workout partner, friendly stranger, or just about anyone you come across during your daily outing your sincere congratulations. You may also like: Challenge: Make a Great Impression With a Firm Handshake Challenge: Share a Kashi Challenge With Someone Challenge: Be a Good Listener Kashi.com Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://kashi.com/challenges/1016 http://kashi.com/challenges/1016 Yeah, we know you already know the nutritional value of a nice bunch of fresh leafy greens. But when was the last time you added a new green to your repertoire or prepared familiar ones in a fresh way? Today, challenge yourself to whip up a festival of green flavors, using some of these tips:• Sauté seasonal greens with garlic and pine nuts.• Blend exotic summertime greens like mizuna or arugula into salad.• Be sure to stock frozen spinach for sprinkling on pizzas, stuffing in omelets, or dressing up white-bean soups.• Chop swiss chard and sprinkle over homemade Greek tzatziki. Kashi.com Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://kashi.com/challenges/990 http://kashi.com/challenges/990 Let’s face it: snacks are a part of life. But rarely do we bring as much inspiration, creativity, and forethought to our snacks as we do to meals. Maintaining the same standards you apply to meals takes a little pre–planning, but yields a big payoff: tasty, wholesome snacks that help keep you satisfied until mealtime, without sacrificing your nutrition goals. Today, challenge yourself to set the snack bar high by: • Designating prep time: Do some chopping and packing the night before. Carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, and all kinds of fruits can be sliced and packaged ahead of time. Squeezing a little lemon juice on delicate fruit will minimize browning. • Honoring your preferences: Love a protein boost in the afternoon? Pack low–fat string cheese or yogurt. Crave a sweet treat mid–morning? Turn to Kashi TLC® snack bars, berries, or apples. Feel satisfied after a more complex pairing? Try apple slices with almond butter or TLC® crackers with hummus. • Controlling portions: Are your snacks bottomless? Do they bleed into mealtime (or occur during meal prep)? Try apportioning snacks into separate containers—never eat directly from entire boxes or bags—and, whenever possible, focus on the sorts of whole foods that don’t invite overconsumption. You may also like: Super Healthy Snacking for Kids Recipe: Kashi™ Curry Snack Mix Challenge: Measure Out Snacks for the Week Kashi.com Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://kashi.com/challenges/1021 http://kashi.com/challenges/1021 Bhangra, a Punjabi folk dance and musical form, has taken the fitness world by storm with its easy, heart pounding moves and exciting rhythms. Familiar to those who have watched Bollywood films, bhangra involves group dancing, exotic music, and optional costumes. Today, challenge yourself by signing up for a class: Many gyms, nightclubs, and other venues are starting to offer bhangra classes or evenings —check your local event listings for offerings. You may also like: Spread Dance Fever Try Something Completely Different Bhangra.org The Masala Bhangra Workout Kashi.com Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://kashi.com/challenges/1020 http://kashi.com/challenges/1020 Resistant starch, a lesser–known fiber with some of the benefits of soluble and insoluble fiber, is poised to burst onto the nutrition scene with something like a 21–carb salute. Like other fibers, resistant starches defy digestion until they reach the large intestine, possibly contributing to colon health, satiety, management of bodily sugar levels, and the presence of good bacteria. They are found in such carbohydrate–rich foods as potatoes, whole grains, and beans. Today, challenge yourself to eat something that contains this nutrient. You may also like: Recipe: Maple–roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe: Tuscan White Bean Pilaf Kashi.com Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://kashi.com/challenges/1019 http://kashi.com/challenges/1019 How many of your food, personal care, and household products do you store in reusable, refillable containers? Many of us go the extra mile to reuse shopping bags and invest in natural products, but buying stuff in bulk requires a little more pre–planning. Today, challenge yourself to make over your storage system. Here are some tips for safely and efficiently storing items from rice and pasta to soap and shampoo. • Take inventory: Go through each room with a notepad and list every item that is available in bulk. Write down what sort of container it requires and how it can “travel” (e.g., foldable bags can be reused to transport dry foodstuffs to canisters at home). Take note of any changes you need to make to your storage system, for instance, larger containers or additional shelving. Record anything you need to buy. Divide the list into sections by type of product or room of the house in which it is stored. • Shop big: Go to your favorite bulk store. Write down products you wish to buy on your next trip and where you would store them. Note whether you currently have a canister for it or not. • Shop for canisters: Think refillable, attractive, safe and efficient. • Build storage: Spend some time optimizing your system. Investing in canisters that hold long dry pasta or body wash might mean storing those items in a different space. You may also like: Challenge: Look for Specials on New–to–you Bulk Foods Kashi.com Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://kashi.com/challenges/1018 http://kashi.com/challenges/1018 Fresh, fragrant herbs baking in the sun call to mind the very essence of summer. If used judiciously, herbs can add flavor and life to summertime salads. As a general rule, trust your senses to tell you how much to use; some herbs, including mints and savory, can be overpowering in salads. Today, challenge yourself to try one of the following favorites: • Basil: Distinctive in flavor, it plays nicely with tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. Use whole leaves. • Chervil: Favored by the French as a means of enhancing the flavor of other herbs, and paired with eggs. • Chives: Chop fine and toss, or use as garnish. • Coriander: Ideal in Asian salads. • Watercress: Peppery and assertive, it pairs well with pears, apples, and blue cheeses. • Dill: A great friend of cucumbers (especially marinated in sweetened vinegar). • Parsley: Toss into pasta and potato salads. • Base leaves: You can blend mild-flavored, leafy herbs like chickweed, summer purslane, and dandelion into your lettuces. You may also like: Increasing Flavor With Savory Pairings Challenge: Toss In Some Fresh Herbs Challenge: Grow Your Own Herb Garden Kashi.com Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://kashi.com/challenges/1017 http://kashi.com/challenges/1017 Grilling isn’t the only aspect of summer partying that impacts the environment. Water usage, insect repellant, and energy output, among other factors, all contribute to make traditional ’cuing an environmentally unfriendly activity sometimes. Now, the good news: There are ways you can minimize these factors and still have fun. • Trade your traditional grill for an eco-friendly one. • Get an accurate head count for your guests, and feed accordingly to prevent waste. • Develop a composting and recycling strategy ahead of time, including well–marked and thoughtfully placed bins. If you’re using single–use plates and utensils, make sure they’re corn or bamboo–based and compostable. • Look into buying bulk organic grilling vegetables from a local farm. • Fill a tub with soapy water and let dirty dishes soak during the party to save on water later. • Try reusable cloth tablecloths and napkins—they add a touch of elegance, too. • Serve drinks from large containers instead of single–serving juices, teas, water, or sodas that waste packaging. • Light up the night with solar lamps, stearin candles, or bug–repellent candles instead of electric lights or tiki torches. • Clean the grill with baking soda paste and a wire brush instead of chemical agents. • Serve up natural alternatives to sugary party favorites, like mineral water with lemon or orange slices and natural, unsweetened juice popsicles. You may also like: Challenge: Learn About Grilling Responsibly Kashi.com Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://kashi.com/challenges/1023 http://kashi.com/challenges/1023