A Vitamin Worth A Second Look

Call it the "sunshine" vitamin, because it's produced by your skin using the sun's ultraviolet rays. The vitamin--Vitamin D--is known to help build bones. But as you'll learn in today's Lean Plate Club column, it may have many more health benefits from increasing immunity to possibly increasing your lifespan.

Find more on vitamin D at the Office of Dietary Supplements and then tell us how you get enough vitamin D now or in today's Lean Plate Club Web chat from 1 to 2 p.m. E-mail me anytime at leanplateclub@washpost.com.

Get Kids Moving--and Maybe Earn Some Cash

That's the idea behind a new contest from Ruckus Nation. Learn more from these FAQs. You and your team can earn more than $75,000. The deadline is in 62 days and yes, the competition is open to people of all ages. Good luck everyone!

Canadian Government Warns of Possible E Coli Problem in Lettuce

North of the U.S. border, the Canadian government is warning consumers of possible E coli contamination in a brand of Dole lettuce.

No word at press time whether this brand--Hearts Delight--has also been sold in the U.S. I'll monitor the Food and Drug Administration site to see if anything changes. In the meantime, you can learn more about E coli here.

Joy of Motion

Resistance training is great for building and toning muscle. But you don't always have to pump iron to do it. The swimming pool is another ideal spot for resistance training as you'll see in these water workouts from Self magazine.

Need more energy? Women's Health offers ways to be active briefly throughout the day in 10-minute increments--a move that could help boost your energy levels. Or just check out their recommendation to help rock your workout.

For those who need competition to keep their workout juices flowing, Runner's World magazine offers an online race finder to help you locate an event near you whether you want to race at home, while on travel or visiting family.

Are Pilates more your style? Look for a studio with this this online finder Or just check out the Pilates DVD's from Winsor and Stott that can turn your living room into a Pilates playground.

How are you moving more these days? Tell us now. Or join today's Lean Plate Club Web chat from 1 to 2 p.m. today. You can also e-mail me anytime at leanplateclub@washpost.com.

What's for Dinner Tonight?

Calling all chicken lovers. Southern Indian Chicken Curry, earns five stars from those who have made it. Its many spices will tickle your palate. Total calories are 444, with 24 grams of fat. But some of that fat is healthy fat and you can cut some fat grams by using light coconut milk. Serve with rice or couscous and a veggie--spinach perhaps?--for a lovely meal.

Good Housekeeping magazine offers healthful makeovers of your favorite fast foods. Among the recipes: White Pizza with Fresh Tomato Topping, Steak and Tortilla Salad, Buffalo Chicken Salad and No-Bake Tamale Pie.

What are you cooking tonight? Have you discovered any healthful--and of course, great tasting--food finds? We'd love to hear all about them now or join the Lean Plate Club Web chat from 1 to 2 p.m. ET today. E-mail me anytime at leanplateclub@washpost.com.

Lean Plate Club Sneak Peek

We're getting a sneak peek at Harumi's Japanese Home Cooking--a new volume by one of Japan's cooking stars, that is scheduled to be published in October. Thanks to Harumi and Home Books for providing these recipes for you to try. We'd love to know what you think. Let us know at leanplateclub@washpost.com.

Recipes from "Harumi's Japanese Home Cooking: Simple, Elegant Recipes for Contemporary Tastes by Harumi Kurihara (Home Books; October 2, 2007)

Japanese Pickles

Pickles are served at almost every meal in Japan. In this easy recipe, the pickles are very lightly preserved. And no need to stick with cucumbers. Use this recipe for a wide variety of vegetables, from Chinese cabbage and celery to daikon and radishes. If you like it hot, add chopped red chili. The recipe serves four.

Ingredients:

1 cucumber

1 carrot

4-5 cabbage leaves

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 tablespoon superfine sugar

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1 tablespoon fresh ginger

Dried fish flakes (optional)

Soy sauce or ponzu sauce--to taste

Directions:

Cut the cucumber in half lengthways and scoop out the seeds with a small spoon. Then cut it in half lengthwise and slice thinly. Peel the carrot and cut in half, then cut these halves into 1.5-inch long pieces. Take each piece and finely slice, making thin rectangular shapes. Chop the cabbage into bite-size pieces. Peel the ginger and cut into strips.

In a container, mix the cucumber, carrot, and cabbage leaves and sprinkle with the salt, sugar and rice vinegar. Place a plate on top and weigh it down with something heavy like a paperweight or large food can. Refrigerate for at least 10 hours or overnight.

Before serving, squeeze out any excess liquid by hand. Place in a small serving dish and sprinkle dried fish flakes and ginger on top. Drizzle some soy sauce or ponzu sauce over top as desired.

Salmon Roe Rice With Salmon Flakes

Salmon is filled with healthful, omega-3 fatty acids, food for your heart, your brain, your joints and possible your mood. This recipe serves 2-4.

Ingredients:

1/2 lb. salmon, seasoned with salt and grilled/broiled until cooked

1 tablespoon sake

1 teaspoon light soy sauce

6 tablespoons of toasted black sesame seeds

1 3/4 cups hot cooked rice

Ikura (salmon roe)--to taste (can be found at Japanese or Asian groceries)

Chopped spring onions or chives to garnish

Directions:

Discard any skin or bones on the salmon and break it apart into small "flakes"

Transfer the salmon to a small pan and pour sake on top. Cook on stovetop on medium heat until warmed through. Flake into finer bits and add the light soy sauce.

Turn off the heat and add the sesame seeds. You can either mix them in or just sprinkle on top.

Put the cooked rice into individual bowls and divide the salmon flakes on top of each bowl. Add a spoonful of sesame seeds and garnish with chopped spring onion or chives

Many thanks to Harumi and her publisher for this preview. We'd love to know what you think about these recipes. So after you try them, please send us your comments. Or tell us now about what you're cooking these days during the LPC chat live today from 1 to 2 p.m. ET.