Tuesday, August 21, 2007

With schools starting, parents will soon be supplying snacks to classrooms and numerous other activities. But as a growing number of school districts ban home-made food, it can be a challenge to find healthful snacks that also taste good.

In today's Lean Plate Club column, learn the results of a snack taste test that I conducted with the help of 29 third and fourth grade students from the H.D. Cooke elementary school in Washington, D.C. They were all participants in Horizons, a summer program held at The Maret School. At our Web site, check out an interactive chart that will give you more information about the 16 snacks tested and then hear from some of the testers themselves in these video clips.

Got some snack tips to share? We'd love to hear all about them now. Or join us in today's Lean Plate Club Web chat from 1 to 2 p.m. ET. You can also e-mail me anytime at leanplateclub@washpost.com.

Weighty Adoptions?

An obese Missouri man, has been denied the right to adopt a child because of his weight. So how about it: should weight be taken into account for prospective adoptive parents? Tell us your thoughts now Or join the Lean Plate Club web chat today from 1 to 2 p.m ET.

News Bites

Organic farms can yield up to three times as much food as conventional agricultural methods, according to a recent University of Michigan study. (Listen to a podcast of the results--a great way to learn while you walk.)

Before cooking or eating, wash your hands with standard soap instead of the antibacterial variety. A new study finds that it's just as effective at thwarting bacteria that cause infectious illnesses. Plus, you can save money and help reduce antibiotic resistance.

What's for Dinner Tonight?

Southwestern Salmon and Black Beans is one option. It's ready in just 30 minutes and gets its flavor from fresh mint, cilantro, basil and pumpkin seeds. It's rich in vitamins C, D, B12, A and dietary fiber.

Cajun Shrimp Sandwich goes well with Green Gazpacho, a new twist on an old favorite and clocks in at just 415 calories. It's from Women's Health magazine.

Need a cool drink fast? Look no farther than this 5-minute Watermelon frappe. It has just 94 calories and provides nearly 50 percent of the daily value for vitamin C.

Lasagna Rolls from Eating Well magazine use tofu in place of ricotta cheese.

Other options include: Almond crusted chicken tenders, Orange-Scented Beef Stir-Fry and Adobo Pork and Potato Packets.

What are you cooking this week? Discovered any healthful foods? We'd love to hear all about them now. Or join us live in today's Web chat from 1 to 2 p.m. ET. You can also e-mail me anytime at leanplateclub@washpost.com.

Joy of Motion

It often seems hard to fit in workouts when traveling. So when we flew to Los Angeles this weekend for a quick trip, I wondered if it would be possible to find time for the 30 minutes of activity that the latest guidelines recommend.

I took an early morning walk and happened upon the beautiful Westridge Trailhead, part of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservatory. It's also a leash-free dog park so you can bring your favorite canine companion (they even provide biodegradable bags to pick up you-know-what).

No matter where you live--or where you may travel--you can find a park nearby with this handy, interactive search engine from the National Park Service.

Here's a sampling of just some of the Lean Plate Club cities that have interactive parks and recreation maps on-line. (I'll include others in upcoming newsletters):

• Urban Wilds in Boston
• Dallas which like many sites also features an interactive map.
• Denver
• Hartford
• Las Vegas

If it's too hot to be active outdoors, expand your mind and dazzle your eyes with a visit to a local museum, where you can walk in air-conditioned comfort. We also sauntered through the Getty Museum this weekend where we also found a very healthful lunch of quinoa and wild rice salad with feta cheese and baby greens. Yum.

How are you burning calories these days? Tell us now then check the Web chat transcript at your leisure. Or join today's Web chat from1 to 2 p.m. ET, where a handful of prizes are awarded each week.