Tea, Anyone?

Monday, July 16, 2007 4:54 PM

Americans sipped 50 billion servings of tea in 2006, according to the Tea Association. That works out to 132 cups for every man, woman and child. As tea connoisseurs, we prefer black tea over green, iced tea over hot and tea bags over loose tea.

In today's Lean Plate Club column, sip the latest findings about tea and learn who was the first tea drinking Queen of England (Hint: She is credited with introducing tea to Pennsylvania and where the ubiquitous tea bag was invented.)

Thanks to Alison Kelly of the Library of Congress for pointing me to some wonderful tea books including the classic, Romance of Tea by the late William H. Ukers, editor in chief of the Tea and Coffee Journal for more than 60 years.

Worried about caffeine? Compare the levels in black, oolong and white tea as well as decaf and herbal with this handy chart from Stash tea. Or test your tea knowledge with this interactive quiz from the Tea Association.

What's your favorite tea? We'd love to hear all about it in today's Lean Plate Club Web chat from 1 to 2 p.m. today. Can't join live? No problem. Just leave your comments now, then check the Web transcript later. Or e-mail me at leanplateclub@washpost.com.

Taxing Fast Foods

There's a new proposal in England to put a tax on fast food, but it's not the first time that taxing calories high in fat and calories has been suggested. In this country, psychologist Kelly Brownell, director of Yale University's Rudd Center, is among those who have proposed a fat tax.

What do you think? Tell us your thoughts now, then check the chat transcript later. Or join today's Lean Plate Club Web chat from 1 to 2 p.m.

Test Drive a New Vegetable Web Site

From time to time, everyone comes across vegetables that they don't know how to cook. To the rescue comes Vegetarian Times with a new, interactive Web recipe database of vegetarian fare that allows you to search by ingredient, such as bok choy. Take it for a test drive today.

While you're at it, have you checked out the Post's interactive recipe database? You can search for recipes in a variety of ways. And for inspiration to help you make cool salads on hot summer days, look in Wednesday's Food section for a Salad Spinner that will help you make salads in six easy steps.

Food Recalls

Gerber announced a recall of organic baby cereal last week. And Veggie Booty was responsible for a Salmonella outbreak that occurred earlier this year, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

And for the latest on pet food recalls, the FDA has posted an excel spreadsheet with information.

Make the Move

Summer is a wonderful time to be active outdoors, but you also want to stay safe. For those who live in the Washington region--or plan to visit our fair city--the Potomac River looks placid but can pose some particular dangers. If you plan to enjoy the Potomac, be sure to take a look at these rules of the river to help keep you safe.

A Different Kind of Road Rage

Aggressive driving isn't limited to cars: It's now sometimes spilling over to two-wheeled vehicles as this recent report notes.

Bike riding doesn't have to be stressful, of course. Find more about biking, events and more from local bicycling associations and from the USA American Cycling Association. If you plan to visit or live in the D.C. region, the Washington Area Bicycling Association has plenty of information. In Florida, the Suwannee Bike Association provides an online guide to trails. In Michigan, the Tri-County Bicycling Association is the largest biking group.

Elsewhere: In California, the California Association of Bicycling Organizations offers links to various bicycle groups as well as information about where you can take your bike on public transportation.

In Texas, Bicycle Austin offers a list of cycling clubs in Texas. In Dallas, try the Greater Dallas Bicyclists.

Bike Adirondacks is an organization based in Albany that tracks cycling groups for eastern upstate New York.

This is just a sampling of the many cycling groups around the nation. Share your favorite bicycling Web sites in today's Lean Plate Club Web chat, where you can leave your comments now or join live from 1 to 2 p.m. ET.

What's for Dinner Tonight

Give that old-standby the BLT a twist by using avocado instead of mayo, courtesy of Self magazine. Another option: Grill a lean burger. Instead of the usual cole slaw, fries or potato salad, add a side of Parsley Tabbouleh for great flavor, fiber from Eating Well magazine.

Or try some of these other options:

Flank Steak with Parsley-Garlic Sauce from Everyday Food, the PBS television show that is produced by Martha Stewart. Flank steak is a leaner cut of beef than other steak, but this recipe still has more than 30 grams of fat, so leaner side dishes, such as a salad or veggies, are smart choices to go with it.

Woman's Day offers 20 low-cal meals that are easy to make, including Spaghetti Squash with Chunky Sauce, Reuben Wraps and Shrimp with Chesapeake dipping sauce.

For dessert, there's fruit--so many varieties this time of year, so little time!--and for a special treat: Neapolitan Ice Cream Pie.

Last week, I got an e-mail from Self magazine, noting that while their sister company Epicurious didn't include the nutritional information for the watermelon soup included in last week's e-mail newsletter, the information is available on the Self magazine Web site.

What's on your menu this week? Tell us in today's Lean Plate Club Web chat. You can leave your healthful food finds and great tasting healthful recipes now. Or join the chat live from 1 to 2 p.m. ET. Or e-mail me at leanplateclub@washpost.com. I read all your e-mails and respond to as many personally as time permits.

Thanks to Ann Marchand Thompson!

She's been one of several key godmothers to the Lean Plate Club at washingtonpost.com, where she edited this newsletter for a while, came up with the great idea to form a Lean Plate Club group at Frappr.com during the 2005 Holiday Challenge and most recently was executive producer of the Live Online Web chats. Ann is making a career switch. I'll really miss her but wish her well in her new life and hope she'll continue to alert us about healthy recipes and more. Who knows? Perhaps, she can help design a Lean Plate Club community for us one day!