Weight Loss for Couples

It can be either a honeymoon or a disaster--as you may know if you're ever tried to lose weight with your significant other. Learn in today's Lean Plate Club column the benefits--and the challenges--that couples trying to shed pounds together face. Have you ever tried to trim weight with a loved one, spouse, partner or significant other? Tell us your tales from the waistline wars in today's Lean Plate Club Web chat from 1 to 2 p.m. EDT. Can't join live? You know the deal: Leave your comments, questions or tips ahead of time . Or e-mail me anytime. I read all your messages and respond to as many personally as time allows.

Big Apple Proposes Ban on Trans Fats

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New York City's Department of Health last week proposed banning unhealthy trans fats in all restaurants and proposed requiring some restaurants to list calories on their menus, as The Checkout, a consumer blog on washingtonpost.com, recently noted. What do you think about these proposals? Share your thoughts in today's Lean Plate Club Web chat live from 1 to 2 p.m. EDT, or leave your comments ahead of time.

Joy of Motion

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In today's Health section, discover how yoga has made a difference in the life of one middle-aged health writer, much to her surprise. Family Circle magazine offers the Walking Workout -- a great way to get those feet moving. And whether you walk or jog, American's Running Routes can show you how to keep your workout fresh with new paths to walk or run.

Plus, take a look at how we view bike paths and public walkways in this country compared to the way they use them in Europe.

For inspiration in your own workouts, you won't want to miss this great tale of a female weightlifter with Olympic aspirations. Natalie Woolfolk's story will change any ideas you might have that weight training has to produce bulky muscles in women.

How are you working out this week? We'd love to hear how you're fitting in physical activity. Join us in today's Lean Plate Club Web chat, or leave your tips ahead of time.

What's for Dinner Tonight?

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Welcome October! Time to dust off those slow cookers and get out the big pots for soup and stews--great ways to eat flavorful, high volume food. That can help you reduce calories consumed. And you know how that's beneficial for your waistline.

Cooking Light magazine offers Slow-Cooker Beef and Bean Burritos. This hearty meal has just 350 calories per serving.

Or get a tasty helping of whole grains with this Everyday Italian recipe for pasta, Swiss chard and pecorino cheese. It's also ready fast--perfect for a weeknight dinner.

Grilled Lemon Chicken Skewers with Satay Dip is a healthy twist on an old favorite. This dish comes from the Barefoot Contessa. Do a little prep in the morning, then let the chicken marinate all day before cooking that evening. Since this recipe makes eight to 10 servings, you can also prepare it on the weekend and eat it again during the week.

Meatless Mondays offers Meatless Jambalaya for your dining pleasure. It has eight grams of fiber per serving and clocks in at just 340 calories.

Crunchy Fish Nuggets and Pan Seared Tuna are both healthy recipes from the American Heart Association.

What are you cooking tonight? Share your recipes, food finds or tips in today's Lean Plate Club Web chat from 1 to 2 p.m. EDT. As always, you can leave your comments ahead of time if you can't join live. Or e-mail me anytime.

The "All-Clear" for Spinach

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Spinach is moving back into grocery stores, as all spinach implicated in the recent E. coli outbreak has been traced to Natural Selections Foods of San Bautista, Calif. In a recent update from the FDA, the agency noted that "Natural Selection Foods has recalled all spinach products under multiple brand names with a date code of October 1 or earlier."

For the future, one smart step that FDA suggests you take at home is to keep produce well cooled in your fridge. Aim for 40 degrees or less--and yes, you'll probably need to get a thermometer since most refrigerators don't provide them these days.