We found 161 results tagged with "new ideas"
14 Articles
14 Articles found
Living the Green Life: Five “Eco-Principles”
How to apply eco-friendly concepts to home-building and renovation as well as to everyday habits.
Sustainable Living Made Simple
Looking for fresh ideas to go green at home? Start with these simple tips.
A Chef's Insider Tips for Kitchen Economizing
Learn from a professional chef how to cut costs without sacrificing good nutrition or taste.
Winter Weather Can’t Stop Fun
Transform any winter day into an opportunity to get moving!
How To... Make All Natural Scented Salt Scrub
What better way to spread joy in natural living than to charm loved ones with a homemade gift?
Let Memories Help You Discover Your Best Life
Your most treasured memories hold the key to fulfillment and living with purpose and joy.
Pitching In Around the Neighborhood
In an increasingly busy world, people are experimenting with new ways to redefine the word “community.”
Take Time to Slow Down
Slow living is all about being more present in the moment.
Rock Climbing for Fitness and Family Fun
More than just something fun to go do, rock climbing is terrific exercise.
Organize Your Office for Relaxation
Liven up your personal space in your work environment using these easy suggestions.
Experiment with Nut Milk
Would you like to taste something new? Nut milk may be just what you're looking for.
Try Something Completely Different
Feel like you're in a rut? Here are a few ideas for getting out of it.
Workweek Fitness Ideas
Even on an nine-to-five work schedule, there are plenty of ways to add exercise to your day.
Activities for Fun Summer Weekends
Summer weekends are a perfect time to take your workout outdoors.
142 Challenges
142 Challenges found
Challenge
Enjoy an oyster
According to food lore, months with an “R” in their name are the best times to eat oysters. One possible reason for this belief is that this shellfish spawns in the “R”–less summer months, causing them to become fattier, watery, soft, and generally less tasty. Oysters...
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Buy some baking soda
Who knew this simple household cooking staple could clean a kitchen or bathroom so well? If you aim for natural home cleaning, buy a box of the white stuff next time you’re at the store. By mixing one cup with a teaspoon of liquid soap, a little water, and a few drops of an essential oil with...
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Experiment with citrus
Citrus is a wonderful way to wake up wintertime salads and add a colorful punch to desserts and entrees. This list of fragrant options is endless: oranges, mandarins, tangerines, blood oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes are commonly seen in stores. Lesser known citrus fruits include tangelo...
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Go for dark, leafy greens
Dark, leafy greens are one of wintertime’s vegetable delights—earthy, nutritious, and flavorful. Whether you toss them into salad, slide them into sandwiches, or saute them with olive oil and garlic for a splendid side dish or main—they’re divine with grilled sausage and...
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Craft a kugel
Baked noodle pudding, or kugel, is one of Hanukkah’s best–loved staples, alongside latkes and jelly doughnuts. Kugel can be sweet or savory, creamy with dairy (often sour cream or cottage cheese), studded with raisins, pineapple or cinnamon, and served hot or cold. Alternatively, you can...
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Send a natural care package
Wholesome care packages are a unique gift idea for the holidays: green, healthy, and wonderfully practical. When putting one together, think about the recipient’s lifestyle and what sorts of items she can really put to use. Stocking care packages with natural and homemade or recycled products...
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Make a pancake mix
Next time you reach for that packaged pancake mix, think about whipping up and storing a homemade, whole–grain batch instead. Whole–grain pancake mix is a boon to brunch—delicious and nutritious! Plus, you can scale your ratio of whole–grain to white flour to whatever level...
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Use an alternative natural sweetener
Sugar plays several important roles in baking, among them lending moisture, providing a crisp texture, and acting as a preservative. Many bakers would advise caution when substituting natural or unrefined sweeteners for refined sugar, as you may not end up with identical results. That said, if you...
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Use plastic toy hoops for strong arms
Plastic Toy hoops aren’t just a great tool for working your core—they’re a wonderful way to strengthen arms without spending tons of time inside a stuffy gym. How does it work? Just place one full-size hoop over each wrist, letting the hoop hang down. Work the hoops in circular...
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Throw a vegetarian Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving cooks: Let’s talk turkey about holiday entrees. The truth is, you don’t need meat to make a meal memorable. Many vegetarian dishes can sit proudly at the center of the Thanksgiving table: stuffed acorn squash, onion and leek tarts, bread pudding, frittatas and quiches...
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Cook up some cauliflower
Actually a type of cabbage, cauliflower is an oft-overlooked vegetable with a remarkable variety of uses. Peaking in freshness in October and November, it’s a wonderful fall option for purees, steamed florets, sautés, and raw veggie platters. Look for one that is white, creamy, and heavy...
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Refurbish a piece of secondhand furniture
Who hasn’t gazed with admiration on a stunning piece refinished by loving hands? Unfortunately, for most of us, that’s where the impetus to reuse and recycle ends when it comes to furniture renovation. If you’re intimidated by the idea of making something old new again, challenge...
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Love leeks
Autumn is a great time to enjoy fresh leeks, which are a boon to soups, stews, tarts, and sides. Choose leeks that are flat on the bottom and not too deeply green at the tip. You can store them unwashed with the root end uncut for maximum freshness. If you’ve ever wrestled with one of these...
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Bring back summertime with your broiler
Barbecuing fresh food is a summer tradition we usually wave goodbye to as we migrate indoors for the winter. You can enjoy the texture and flavor of grilled foods by using an oft-neglected part of your stove — the broiler. Today, challenge yourself to try salmon steaks, corn, thick-sliced...
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Say “yes” to squash
As summertime zucchini and crookneck squash give way to winter varieties like acorn and butternut, it’s a great time enjoy the whole range of squash offerings. Today, challenge yourself to think: soup, stuffed, and sides.
You may also like:
Video: Brown Rice-Stuffed Acorn Squash &...
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Make every day a sundae
Break up snack routine with a wholesome version of every kid’s favorite treat: sundaes. Instead of the high-fat stuff, layer low-fat yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit in tall sundae glasses and slip in a long spoon. It’s quick and easy for school days, but this trick is perfect for...
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Get rid of VOCs naturally
Ever opened a package containing something like a new vinyl shower curtain, only to reel at the strong odor of chemicals? Welcome to the world of VOCs. Volatile organic compounds are gases released by many common home products (paints, printers, cleaning products, cosmetics, vinyl floors, etc...
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Make yogurt lollipops
Want a protein-packed sweet treat you can enjoy any time of day? With naturally sweet berries and tummy-friendly yogurt, homemade yogurt lollipops are a snack grown-ups will smile at and kids will love. First, line a baking tray with non-stick paper and cool it in the freezer. (Or, if the yogurt...
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Perfect your guacamole
Whether it’s smooth or chunky, spicy or mellow, simple or exotic, this delicious Latin American dip export is always a crowd pleaser. Guacamole at its most basic can be whipped up with a couple of avocados, lime juice or garlic, and salt. You can experiment with adding tomatoes, salsa, pepper...
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Take up all-natural knitting
Enjoyed around the world as a relaxing, portable activity, knitting is a wonderful way to pass the time and be productive. Now, options exist for making your knitting as natural as possible. Today, challenge yourself to invest in organic, sustainable, and recycled yarns and other knitting materials...
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Dip into applesauce
Unsweetened organic applesauce is not only a delicious side dish and topping for pork, it’s also a unique dip and a great accompaniment to snacks. Try dipping toast “fingers”—thinly sliced pieces of toast—in a bowl of sauce, spreading applesauce and a sprinkling of...
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Make corn salad or salsa
Ripe, summertime corn is deliciously sweet straight off the cob, but it’s also a burst-in-your-mouth delight in salads and salsas. Serve corn salads, salsas, or relish with crab cakes, Latin American fare, veggie burgers, tortilla chips, or grilled meats. Today, challenge yourself to become a...
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Perfect pasta salads
Summer parties often mean rich, mayonnaise-y pasta salads. If you want the flavor without all the fat, take heart: You can update your pasta salad to take advantage of the spring harvest and fresh herbs! Today, challenge yourself to make the following changes:• Increase parsley or basil from a...
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Place couscous center stage
You may have tried couscous as a side dish, but have you tested it as a featured entrée? Although the Middle Eastern pasta staple goes great with grilled meats, it is also ideal mixed with white beans, chickpeas, squash, and greens; stuffed inside bell peppers; or dressed with fresh mint as a...
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Be so inclined
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...
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Dispose of drugs (correctly)
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...
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Gift of ab
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...
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Grab the green
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:•...
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Bust a bhangra move
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...
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Sweeten summer salads with berries
Summertime is berry time, and this succulent range of fruits adds tartness, texture, and flavor to any salad. In addition to delivering a flavor punch, berries like blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries are known for packing vitamin C and having serious antioxidant activity. Try pairing...
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Make do without mayonnaise
Many summer–salad favorites rely on rich, creamy dressings that can be heavier than some of us want. To keep the flavor while losing the excess fat, challenge yourself to try some of the following no–mayo makeovers:
• Potato salad: Switch out mayonnaise for olive oil with vinegar or...
Challenge
Find your celebrity fitness soulmate
Whether or not you find celebrity fitness makeover stories inspiring or disheartening, they’re everywhere. Why not try to make them work for you? Today, challenge yourself to scour the tabloids for a personal fitness story that resonates with you. Then keep tabs on what (they say) works for...
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Make your own meat substitute
Sounds intimidating — and totally intriguing — doesn’t it? Turns out, turning tofu’s texture more meat-like and replacing meat in a traditional recipe is pretty straightforward. Today, challenge yourself to take these extra steps in preparing tofu to sub in for ground beef or...
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Recast your cast-iron pan
Here’s a lovely idea from our friends at RealSimple.com: Make your cast-iron pans serve double-duty when they’re not on the stovetop. First, hang your pots and pans on a nice wall bar with hooks (great space-saver, too!). By hanging the pan bottom-forward, you can affix recipes, to-do...
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Accept the President's fitness challenge
President Obama and especially First Lady Michelle Obama have made our nation’s fitness and health a priority. The President’s Challenge is a program that encourages all Americans to make being active part of their everyday lives. Today, challenge yourself to explore the...
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Don't sell yourself short
If reduce, recycle, reuse is your mantra, then take your game to the next level when it comes to selling items you no longer need. Instead of saving up for your next (marginally profitable and exhausting) sidewalk sale, for instance, start tapping eBay and Craigslist for more targeted sales of...
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Take another look at tissue
Here’s a great way to reuse gift box tissue, even if it’s torn or wrinkled: Turn it into table centerpieces or party favors. If you’re hosting a summertime party, you can decorate your tables by pouring herbs, potpourri, or healthful snacks into a small cylindrical container...
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The art of artichokes
As much a culinary journey as a destination, artichokes are best appreciated as a fun, prolonged diversion with a succulent payoff at the end (when you get to the meaty “heart”). This thistled vegetable should be bought tightly closed, and washed thoroughly in cold water. Rubbing the...
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Ruddy rhubarb
Often overlooked, rhubarb is a versatile spring harvest fruit that pairs well with strawberries and adds a gentle sweetness to desserts and other fare. The only edible part of the plant is the stalk, which can be up to two feet long! Today, challenge yourself to explore some of the pies, breads...
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Mosquito magnet?
Camping and barbecuing season looms, and, for many of us, that means exposure to mosquitoes. If you’re looking to avoid using toxic insect repellants, there are still ways to prevent the pesky buggers from biting. Today, challenge yourself to take the following steps toward a mosquito-free...
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Capture the krill
There’s a new player in the omega-3 fatty acid market: krill oil. Antarctic krill are small crustaceans whose oil contains substances that reduce LDL cholesterol and might offer other healing properties. Today, challenge yourself to find out more about this promising, shrimp-like creature and...
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Flower power
To many of us, edible flowers are something to sample infrequently, at gourmet restaurants and on wedding cakes. Think again! Flowers like viola and nasturtium add a delicate green floral note to many dishes. And many varieties, from marigold to pansies, not only add a punch of color to salads and...
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Dress it up
Salads becoming ho-hum? Dress them up with a homemade dressing that puts store-bought stuff to shame! Today, challenge yourself to whip up a basic Dijon vinaigrette. Some tips: • Use a clean reusable jar with a sealable lid.• Using a ration of olive to vinegar of 3:1, emulsify white wine, rice, or...
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Stock your sandwich
For many of us, sandwiches are merely a go-to meal when we don’t have time for something more involved (or nutritious). But sandwiches can be packed with nutrients if you take a little time to do them right. Today, challenge yourself to make a sandwich that offers positive nutrition as well as...
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Playing ketchup
Besides making a dandy topping for frankfurters (or tofu dogs!), ketchup is a handy natural cleaning agent. Turns out, tomato’s high acid content is capable of burnishing copper and brass cookware to a fine sheen. Today, challenge yourself to give your pots and pans a new lease on life by...
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Take time to heel
If your Achilles tendon feels tight or you’re prone to foot injury generally, podiatrists recommend varying the heel height of your shoes on a daily basis. Apparently, even a half-inch of difference between heel heights can produce a different Achilles angle, thereby stretching the tendon...
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Freeze please
Most of us don’t immediately think “freezer” when we call to mind natural foods. But frozen foods are a fact of life that’s here to stay, and they can be a busy person’s best friend at weekday dinnertimes without compromising quality. Today, challenge yourself to use your...
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Thaw laws
Buying meat in bulk form can save you money, allowing more budget for sustainably and organically raised varieties. (One option is to join a natural meat cooperative and share the cost with other families.) However, all meat must be handled, frozen, and thawed safely and hygienically to avoid...
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Reclaim the drain
Clogged kitchen or bathroom sink getting you down? There are now several options when it comes to unclogging drains—thankfully, many that don’t contain the toxic chemicals found in traditional plumbing agents. Today, challenge yourself to research options like commercial, enzyme-based de...
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Embrace eggplant
With its rich purple skin and sensual curves, eggplant, or aubergine, is one of nature’s most beautiful foods. But mishandling this tender vegetable can produce chewy results or a bitter flavor. Whether you go for something simple like lightly salted, broiled eggplant, or dress it up with a...
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Bag it
Plastic bags might be an endangered species, but it still pays to reuse and recycle alongside reducing their use. Today, challenge yourself to use old plastic bags in creative new ways. Some tips:• Wrap around hands and knees for gardening protection.• Seal up paintbrushes mid-job to prevent drying...
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When opposites attract
It’s one of the paradoxes — and truisms — of cooking: Opposite flavors can work wonders on the palate, deepening a dish’s flavor with competing tastes. Today, challenge yourself to think about pairings that complement each other by marrying savory with sweet, or sweet with...
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Don't sweat the small stuff
Anyone with baby bottles, kids’ kitchen paraphernalia, bento box-ware, or just a penchant for small utensils will appreciate this tip: Instead of loading tiny bottle caps, pacifiers, teaspoons, or other “smallware” into your dishwasher’s conventional rack system — where...
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Cross Cuisines
Using leftovers is key to running an efficient, cost-effective kitchen. But can you marry last night’s Mexican fajitas with French frisée to create an edible dinner? In a word, yes! Today, challenge yourself to think of tasty new ways to use up what you’ve already cooked. Here are some...
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Get keyed up
Find yourself futilely searching for the right keys to door or car each day? You can streamline your key organization system cheaply and easily by marking keys with different colored nail polish. It’s a great way to help keep tracks of spare sets, too, and increase efficiency and safety in...
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Create cafe culture
Had a hot drink lately? Enjoying a warm beverage is a lovely way to take a moment for yourself (or welcome a guest). Plus, it’s relaxing, hydrating, and can keep hunger at bay, too. Today, challenge yourself to embrace this age-old siesta stand-by. Hot chocolate, apple and vanilla-infused...
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Penny or quarter for your tread?
Think you might be ready for new car tires, but you’re not sure? Used to be, you could check the depth of your tread by sticking a penny into a tire groove with Lincoln’s head pointing in. Now, experts are saying we should switch from Lincoln to Washington, and use a quarter instead (the...
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Make an indoor recycling station
Piles of paper, crumpled cans, earthy-smelling leftovers—if your recycling area is anything like ours, it could use an overhaul! Recycling and composting is the right thing to do, and you can optimize your storage so that waiting for “trash” day isn’t so painful. Today...
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Train toward time
For some people, working out daily creates a frequent, renewable motivator. For others, it presents yet another chance to fail (and, later, give up entirely). If you fall in the latter group, try setting a weekly workout goal in minutes instead. Today, challenge yourself to enjoy the first...
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Look to plants for Omega-3s
Fish isn’t the only source of these healthful, essential fatty acids. Algae, flaxseed, chia—yes, the basis of the infamous Chia Pet—and walnuts are good, plant-based alternatives. Today, challenge yourself to find ways to incorporate these natural nutrient-givers into your diet...
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Get cooking
It’s a simple idea, but surprisingly hard for folks with busy lifestyles to implement: Why start from scratch when there’s a shortcut available? Answer: Because food you cook yourself can be as natural—and naturally tasty—as you want it to be. Scratch cooking is also a great...
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Tap into trays
Trays of all types are a boon to organizers. Not only do they add style to your home and come in many sizes and materials, they catch drips or spills; pull together loose, disparate shelf items; and keep things where you need them so you don’t lose track of what you have. Today, challenge...
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Banish boredom
Tiring of those long, often mind-numbing workouts? Try breaking up your routine into smaller segments. If you normally set out on a 45-minute jog, try running intervals instead. Trade flat ground for hill charges. Insert plyometrics like jumping squats, push-ups, or sit-ups into the middle of your...
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Fasten your flavonoids
Thought you could only get these awesome, heart-friendly antioxidants from green and black tea or red wine? Turns out, there are a host of options for consuming more of these good-for-you plant pigments. Today, challenge yourself to feast on flavonoids by adding the following foods to your diet...
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Everything and the kitchen sink
Does your sink area look like a rummage sale—for kitchenware? Here are some simple steps for organizing and beautifying one of the busiest areas of your home. Plus, keeping track of what you have ensures that you only buy what you need, and waste less. Today, challenge yourself to spruce up...
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Perfect your pancakes
Whole-grain hotcakes are one of our favorite breakfasts, but the mess that goes along with making them isn’t. Here’s a great way to recast a standard kitchen item as a partner in pancake making: Today, challenge yourself to clean out an old ketchup squeeze bottle and use it to squeeze...
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Help yourself to harissa
Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia can lay claim to harissa, a delicious sauce made of chili peppers, tomatoes, and spices. But many people beyond North Africa enjoy it as an alternative to salsa, hot sauce, and ketchup. Today, challenge yourself to whip up a simple harissa for use as an appetizer or...
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Freshen stale bread
Here’s a trick the French have applied to old baguettes for un longtemps: If you have an ice cube and a toaster or oven, you can give a stale loaf a new lease on life. Today, challenge yourself to make that loaf last longer. First, rub an ice cube (or drizzle water) across the crust to moisten...
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Protect your produce
The crisper can be a dangerous place for tender fruit that needs refrigeration. (We like leaving it on the countertop for the most part, but sometimes weather and ripeness demands refrigeration.) Your savior? Bubble wrap! Today, challenge yourself to recycle a layer of protective plastic in your...
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Go nuts for cheese
Thought nut “cheese” was for vegans only? Think again! Nut cheese can be a delicious, nutritious addition to your cooking arsenal. Nut cheeses are based on many different nuts, including cashews, macadamia, and almonds. Exotic additions like dulse, hemp, and algae make for interesting...
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When roses go bananas
Raising roses? Save on fertilizer costs by reusing something you have around the house anyway: banana peels. Roses benefit from bananas’ potassium, which helps them thrive and stave off disease. Today, challenge yourself by chopping up the peels and adding them to your compost, or just tucking...
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Do something you dislike
Sticking to your favorite workouts is fine, for the most part. But it sure doesn’t shake things up when you need new inspiration! Trying something you either don’t like or don’t think you’ll enjoy is a good way to open your mind and keep your options open. Today, challenge...
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Noodle around with salad
Salad getting old? Liven up this veggie-packed stand-by by adding either warm or room-temperature noodles. Soba, bow-tie, penne, macaroni—all make great additions to salads. And by using whole-wheat varieties—except for soba, which is buckwheat-based—you get some wholesome whole...
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Good egg (slicer)
Egg slicers aren’t just a handy tool for cutting tidy portions of hardboiled eggs; they’re also a kitchen appliance superstar! This trusty multitasker is great for slicing Mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, and strawberries, too. Today, challenge yourself to use this—and other...
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Rethink your rice cooker
Thought your trusty countertop standby was only good for perfect brown rice? Think again. Most machines can make dishes as varied as oatmeal, steamed vegetables, risotto, soups, beans, stews, and—surprise!—poached fruit. Today, challenge yourself to get out that user manual and test a...
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Neat Frites
French fries are the downfall of many aspiring healthy eaters. Next time your salty tooth tempts you, try baking up a batch of homemade French fries that are just as delicious but significantly leaner than the standard processed variety. Today, challenge yourself to tweak your treat by:• Slicing up...
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Make over your mac
Who doesn’t love a heaping helping of mac ‘n cheese on a cold winter’s day? Okay, there may be a few naysayers, but for the rest of us, mac ‘n cheese qualifies as a mouthwatering splurge. But can it be a regular comfort food? Yes—with a few changes. Today, challenge...
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Rescue a piece of rubbish
From broken bookshelves and battery-less toys to ripped curtains and rundown rugs, most of our garages and closets are stuffed with damaged discards that can, with a little bit of help, be given a new lease on life! Today, challenge yourself to find something in your home that can be rehabilitated...
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Better your breading
From fried chicken to fish ‘n chips, breading is a go-to way to add texture and hearty satisfaction to a meal. Yet, traditional breading can add fat and excess calories. Today, challenge yourself to try your favorite coatings with a better breading instead. You can make your own by grinding up...
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Get the green in
Parents around the country lament picky kids’ unwillingness to eat their veggies. You can help prevent nutritional deficits by sneaking in a little green stuff in creative ways. Today, challenge yourself to try some of the following tips:• Freeze pureed kale into ice cube trays. Use the...
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Go to pot holders
These handy cushions are not only a necessity for natural cooks, they’re a safety measure to prevent burns. If yours are forever out of grasp or falling behind a hot stove, take steps to keep yours close at hand. Today, challenge yourself to magnetize your trusty protective cloth by cutting a...
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Put a cork in it
Cork is truly one of nature’s miracle materials. Since it comes from the outer bark of cork oak trees, it’s natural and renewable. Flexible and supple, it can be cut, stacked, sculpted, glued, stitched, and even painted to produce pretty, crafty results. Today, challenge yourself to...
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Learn CPR
What better way to celebrate American Heart Month than by learning CPR? It really doesn’t take much a time and the rewards are substantial. What you learn in a short afternoon class could enable you to revive a victim of sudden cardiac arrest.
Today, find a CPR class in your area and sign...
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Light an orange
Beautiful and fragrant, orange votives are an elegant way to use the skin of a succulent fruit for more than composting. Similar in design to your standard candlelit Halloween pumpkin, Josh and Brent’s innovation sheds citrusy light on the challenge of fresh party lighting. Today, challenge...
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Read a book in a new genre
Are you a fan of mystery novels or biographies? Whatever books you favor, it’s good to occasionally break out of your habit and discover something new. The next time you buy a book, challenge yourself to select one in a genre you don’t usually read.
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Visualize yourself healthy
Practiced by athletes to improve sports performance, mental conditioning can also work for overcoming everyday stress and improving health. What is it, exactly? A practice based on four core techniques that include relaxation, imagery, goal setting, and positive thinking. Sound familiar now...
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Get creative
Do you have something you're planning on throwing away? Or, perhaps you have stuff that sits in your closets untouched. During the next 24 hours, challenge yourself to find creative uses for stuff that's just lying around your house.
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Miss no miso
Love miso soup? Why not try it for breakfast, as they do in Japan? Packed with protein, it’s a great choice as part of a balanced breakfast. Options abound for all skill levels, ranging from add-boiling-water instant packets to miso paste you make into soup yourself. If you're watching your salt...
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Pump up your yoga practice
Yoga is all about discipline, but there are no limits when it comes to enjoying different traditions. Ashtanga fan? Try Iyengar. Into Bikram? Check out Kundalini. When it comes to yoga, options abound! Today, challenge yourself to sign up for a new type of yoga. Widen your yoga experience...
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Join or start a community garden
Shared gardens embody neighborhood pride, locally grown foods and flowers, and are an ideal way to bond with your community (not to mention learn from more experienced gardeners about what grows well in your climate). Today, challenge yourself to find out about community gardens in your area.
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Take advantage of technology
Imagine it: A flat screen integrated into your fridge that offers tips on eating cleanly, or smart tips folded into relevant text messages. Possible? Yes, but currently only in prototype form. Product designers are conceiving new technologies for delivering information about healthy eating as we...
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Rethink your leftovers
So, you’ve mastered making extras for leftovers, but somehow you can’t stomach another night of lentil stew or roast chicken. What’s next? Add to your repertoire with recipes designed to incorporate leftovers from other meals. Stews, soups, foccacia sandwiches… these dishes and many more rely on...
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Make lipstick last longer
Those pesky tubes! Who doesn’t get to the bottom of a lipstick tube, only to find there is still a trove of color left in the bottom and no way to get it on your lips? Today, challenge yourself to get your makeup money’s worth by making a “painter’s” palette out of all your end-of-tube favorites...
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Plant a flower on your plate
Edible blooms and floral herbal infusions are appearing in all sorts of foods these days. From exotic herbs like apple and chocolate mint to hibiscus and rosemary, flowering herbs are surprisingly adaptable to savory and sweet dishes – and even cocktails. Today, challenge yourself to gild the lily...
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Think small
Often, we’re so busy aiming high – and big – that we forget how motivating it can be to set smaller, more realistic goals. Instead of cycling for an hour, try 15 minutes. Or, climb one set of stairs instead of three. Setting more doable goals not only increases chances of success, it is more likely...
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Make your own laundry detergent
Commercial sudsy stuff can cost 30 cents per load – or more, depending on brand and outlet. Homemade, on the other hand, can run as little as 3 cents! Best of all, when you make it yourself you control the ingredients, which allows you to aim for better home air quality, less paper packaging waste...
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Preach the principles of Parkour
Developed by French urban warriors, Parkour is the art of using your body to help you overcome obstacles wherever you are. Parkour aficionados leap over walls, scale fences, run freely through the streets, and generally use their bodies as efficiently – and primally – as they can. Borrowing some of...
Challenge
Stash your trash
How much trash does a person produce each day? Want to find out? Today, instead of throwing out everything you use (e.g. coffee cups, water bottles, fast food wrappers, egg cartons, plastic bags from produce), challenge yourself to carry around a sack with all of your trash inside. You’ll be...
Challenge
Choose your workout wear
Cold winter mornings have you choosing hibernation over exercise? Lay out your workout clothes the night before a chilly morning workout. Not only will it help you follow through with your plans, it will also save you time. Today, challenge yourself to pick out tomorrow’s outfit.
_Always...
Challenge
Embrace off-season activities
Exercisers: Why not try something completely different? If it’s chilly outside, warm yourself with a dip in the indoor pool. If it’s raining too hard to go for your run, find an indoor track. Love your weekly tennis matches but the snow’s got you down? Find some indoor courts…or try out ping pong...
Challenge
Reluctant veggie? Go “flexitarian”
If you love the flavor of meat but want to eat less of it for nutritional reasons, try going “flexitarian.” Simply put, flexitarians mainly eat a plant-based diet, however they occasionally eat fish, chicken, and meat dishes. Today, challenge yourself to eat like this for a day or plan on doing it...
Challenge
Do something you’d rather avoid
Not a green thumb? Plant a tree. Hate getting wet? Sing in the rain. Is there something you just can’t stand the idea of doing? Today, make an effort to face up to your fears, misgivings, or repulsions by giving something you dislike a second chance. Although you may not always end up embracing it...
Challenge
Push yourself
Here’s a just-move-it idea: Do a push-up for every snack you sample today. Not only will marking your indulgences make each choice a more mindful one, you’ll enjoy the benefits of increasing your strength push-up by push-up! Today, challenge yourself to start this program with a double set...
Challenge
Resist it
Resistance bands are a handy, affordable way to bring your workout with you, and can be used to work your whole body. They’re a real boon in wintertime, when bad weather often makes outdoor activities difficult. Today, challenge yourself to pick up a band (or two) in light, medium, or heavy...
Challenge
Have some heart on Valentine’s Day
How many trees are felled to make those glossy, glittery valentines every schoolkid exchanges each year? Answer: Too many. Fortunately, there are fun, from-the-heart alternatives. Today, challenge yourself to show someone you care with one of the following green “love” ideas:
• Homemade baked...
Challenge
Switch night and day
If you’re normally a nighttime workout maven, consider switching to morning or midday workouts as the days shorten. Why? Not only can it provide a physical boost as you try something a little different physiologically, it can also help keep things fresh psychologically. Plus, studies show people...
Challenge
Embrace isometric
Can you fit exercise into your leisure time this winter? In a word, yes! If sit-ups during a football game intermission are not your style, try isometric movements like flexing your abdominals or glutes instead – nobody but you will ever know. Today, challenge yourself to perform isometric moves...
Challenge
Make it minty
Mint is a fresh invigorating flavor to pair with winter desserts and beverages. Today, challenge yourself to add a sprig of green to your menu. Some ideas:
• Cranberries with mint
• Mint tea with honey
Challenge
Wrap it up...responsibly
Discarded newspaper, comic strips, clean used aluminum foil, notepaper...there are many ways to wrap a gift attractively without using new paper. This weekend, challenge yourself to create the ultimate reusable gift-wrap box. Here are some tips to get you started:
• Fill the box with scraps like...
Challenge
Spruce up your centerpiece
The edible dining table centerpiece is a brilliant idea: beautiful, colorful whole foods right at your fingertips. Not only does it provide an esthetic link to the season’s bounty, but it reminds diners of healthier options when it comes to snacking and desserts. Today, challenge yourself to do...
Challenge
Props to you
Crave an impromptu yoga, Pilates or strength workout but have no props? No problem. If all that’s standing between you and an at-home workout is a dumbbell, block or stretchy band, you can improvise safely and get a great workout to boot.
Today, challenge yourself to do an impromptu...
Challenge
Infuse your water with flavor
First it was vitamin-enhanced, flavored water. Now herb- and fruit-infused water is all the rage. These refreshing concoctions elevate water from ho-hum to hooray (they’re a great choice for parties or showers, too).
Today, challenge yourself to make some homemade infused water. Here are some...
Challenge
Expand your sport horizons
Women: Ever thought about trying a traditionally male-dominated sport? Pastimes like football, hockey and rugby can be rewarding – and are attracting more women all the time. If spreading your wings athletically is important to you, today challenge yourself to do some research and find a league...
Challenge
Try non-contact boxing
Non-contact fitness boxing is great exercise. Plus, it doesn’t require fancy choreography and it’s great fun. Offered at health clubs and gyms everywhere, it can also be practiced in front of the mirror at home (assuming you’ve studied up on proper form, of course). This month, challenge yourself...
Challenge
Suggest a simple living idea
Everyone has something valuable to teach. And it’s fun to get new ideas from others, right? Since we’re all thinking about simplifying our lives this month, let’s see how many ideas we can collect here.
Today, challenge yourself to think about ways you’d like to simplify your life. Then, write...
Challenge
Have a tomato sauce tasting
We’ve all heard of wine, cheese, and chocolate tasting, but can you do the same with tomato sauce? You bet. Whether you host a saucy bash or you simply line up your family for a blind taste test, there’s fun to be had by sampling a selection of all-natural, store-bought tomato sauces.
This...
Challenge
Gift creatively
Next time you want to show a loved one you care with a gift, try making something yourself. Not only will you likely reuse materials already in circulation, but the recipient will appreciate the effort. Some ideas:
• Make a scrapbook or photo album
• Knit a scarf, hat, or bag
• Paint a photo...
Challenge
Upgrade so-so sewing skills
If a button is beyond you and your wardrobe’s the worse for it, get yourself a needle, thread, and thimble and go at it; you may surprise yourself. Although many of us never graduate beyond reattaching buttons, challenging yourself to refurbish clothing will make you feel terrific.
_(When...
Challenge
Hang a nutrition goal
Some people find hanging a positive goal on the fridge or a mirror really inspiring. Today, try it out. Write down – or print out – a positive health or nutrition goal and put it someplace visible. It doesn’t take much to inspire healthier daily choices.
Challenge
Host a vegetarian potluck
Potlucks are an excellent opportunity to experience new dishes while you spend time with friends. They’re also great for expanding your recipe collection. Some tips for a successful event:
• Have everyone bring printouts of their recipes, or upload them to a group website.
• Photograph the...
Challenge
Hem away your day
Tall folks aside, most of us spend considerable amounts of cash hemming and tailoring too-long trousers. Shortening pants is a useful skill and a solid building block for more complicated tailoring. Plus, being self-sufficient feels great. Since sewing clubs are springing up in cities nationwide...
Challenge
Write a nutrition manifesto
What do you want to commit to nutrition-wise? Do you often say to yourself "I should eat more fruits and veggies" and then find it difficult to follow-through? Sometimes writing down your goals is all it takes to make them a reality. Today, write out your eating goals and post them some place where...
Challenge
Start a scrapbook of family recipes
Collecting family recipes puts you in touch with your history. It’s also a great way to preserve a food legacy for your children and to get in touch with people you might not have talked with for a while.
This month, challenge yourself to identify people in your family who might have access to...
Challenge
Tour an organic farm
Visiting an organic farm can be an exhilarating experience for children and adults alike. Many tours focus on sustainability, education, and farming best practices. And some even end the day with a meal cooked with the farm’s freshest produce. This weekend, challenge yourself to find an organic...
Challenge
Fit in knitting
Who hasn’t watched a knitter calmly sitting for hours on a plane or in a queue, creating something homemade and lovely? Recently, knitting is enjoying a renaissance, and classes and social groups abound. Challenge yourself to learn this meditative and useful hobby.
(When logging progress for...
Challenge
Join the circus
Many of us dream of flying. Make it reality with a turn on the trapeze. Circus arts programs are springing up around the country, but if they’re not available in your town check vacation destinations for trapeze facilities. Challenge yourself to make that dream come true. (Craving moral support...
Challenge
Have an album-athon
The digitization of music has a dark side: When did you last listen to an entire album? Today, challenge yourself to find a piece of music that you haven’t heard in a while and listen to it straight through without skipping songs or stopping halfway. You might discover old songs sound new in a...
Challenge
Get to know wildflowers
Can you identify the wildflowers you see on hikes or local wanderings? Learning the names of flowers – and interesting facts about the way they grow and pollinate – is a rewarding pastime that takes your mind off how far you’re walking. Challenge yourself to grab a book about local blooms and hit...
Challenge
Turn off your TV
Besides leaving you free to take a walk, meditate, read, cook or socialize, a TV-free life means you save energy and feel like you did something truly rejuvenating. This week, join people across the country during “TV Turnoff Week” and challenge yourself to find other ways to entertain yourself in...
Challenge
Make a dog’s day
If you love dogs and want to keep active, why not spend some time volunteering at a local shelter or humane society? Many facilities have programs that enable you to take homeless dogs for a walk, which not only benefits them but keeps you moving too. Challenge yourself to take a dog – and yourself...
Challenge
Hop onto the trampoline
An easy and exhilarating way to see what your body can do when it isn’t limited by gravity. Take a trampoline class to master basic moves. By day’s end most students are tucked into a harness and encouraged to try forward and back flips. Challenge yourself – or a group – to overcome inertia and go...
Challenge
Monkey around at the playground
When was the last time you slid down the slide? Or hung on the monkey bars? You may be surprised that lots of these activities leave you puffing after a few tries. Bring a kid along for inspiration or invite a friend to see who can swing higher. Challenge yourself to be childish – in a good way...
Challenge
Find your home's inner gym
Opportunities for getting active abound right at home. So don’t wait for a convenient time or place; Challenge yourself to get moving, using your everyday surroundings as a springboard for action. Here are some ideas:
• Do a wall sit
• Do leaning push-ups every time you walk by a countertop
•...
Challenge
Get into dodge
Finally, something you learned in school that you can use in real life. Dodgeball is great for grown-up play and fun family events (with a few rules to keep things in check, like throwing below the waist only). Challenge yourself to gather a group on a school playground or field, then throw a ball...
Challenge
Get rolling
Once reserved for teenage boys, skateboarding is now for anyone daring enough to try it. It can be intimidating at first, so take it slow with a test run on a flat sidewalk before you hit the street. And be sure to wear a helmet and elbow/knee pads. As you gain confidence, challenge yourself to run...
Challenge
Jump Double Dutch style
There’s a reason some of the fittest athletes in the world jump rope as part of their regimens – it works. But kids do because it’s good old-fashioned fun. Double Dutch requires extra coordination and concentration, so you’ll completely forget you’re engaging in a heart-health activity. Challenge...
Challenge
Keep the world beautiful
Show your love for public parks, beaches and hiking trails: Call your local parks department to join a volunteer clean-up program. You’ll have an active day while meeting like-minded folks and helping the community. Bring friends or family to make the experience even more meaningful. Challenge...
Challenge
Go vegan for a day
Ever wonder what it’d be like to be a vegan? Do you think living without meat or animal products would be impossible?
Today, challenge yourself by putting your ideas to the test. Try a vegan diet for one day. Really embrace what this means by learning something about why vegans choose their...
Challenge
Make pasta from scratch
Ever wonder what it’d be like to make pasta from scratch? Although it’s not difficult, it can be somewhat time-consuming. But there are so many benefits! To start, because homemade pasta is made with eggs (and whole grain flour, if you choose), it’s more nutritious than store-bought varieties...
Challenge
Care for your skin naturally
Before cosmetics companies existed, people cared for their skin using mother nature’s bounty. With a little extra effort, you can find lots of natural ingredients to scrub, tone, and moisturize your skin. And you don’t have to spend a fortune either.
Today, experiment with ingredients in your...
Challenge
Throw an olive oil tasting party
Did you know that in the Northern Hemisphere (where the majority of the world's olive oil is produced) the olive harvest season starts in the fall? As a result, your best chance of getting fresh olive oil is during this time of the year.
This month, take advantage of the new harvest by inviting...
Challenge
Take the first step
It might be a cliché, but it's still true — sometimes the first step is the hardest. Today, tackle that inner barrier and take that first step. Whether it's opening a savings account, buying a sketchbook, or signing up for a class. Whatever your dream is, take the first small step towards achieving...
5 Recipes
5 Recipes found
Tofu Satay with Peanut Sauce
Tofu replaces meat in this updated version of Thai satay. Serve on their own as an appetizer or with Kashi® 7 Whole Grain Pilaf or brown rice and a cucumber salad for a main course.
Grilled Za’atar Chicken
Za'atar is a delicious spice mixture used in the Middle East to sprinkle over breads, fresh cheeses and meats. Here you can use it in a chicken marinade with yogurt, garlic and lemon juice.
Chilled Ginger & Lemon-Bergamot Stoned Fruit Soup...
Makes 4 servings.
Heart to Heart® Waffle "Bruschetta" With Roasted...
Makes 4 servings.
Homemade “Pickles” Made With Assorted Heirloom...
Yield: 1 16 oz. Mason Jar. About 2 servings.