How to Eat As You Age

Eating smart--and moving more--takes on even greater importance as we age, as you'll learn in today's Lean Plate Club column. Learn how much muscle mass you start to lose with age and why you may want to take a look at a special modified food pyramid for seniors.

Test Drive a New Interactive Web Tool

You're hearing it here first: The Department of Agriculture launched a new, online tool today to help you plan your menus with healthy food, of course. Be among the first to test drive this electronic planner, which will also help guide you to healthier choices. Then tell us how you like it now. or join the Lean Plate Club Web chat live from 1 to 2 p.m. ET today. You can also e-mail me anytime at leanplateclub@washpost.com.

Drugs in Your Drinking Water

That's what we learned in the District about our tap water. An Associated Press investigative report finds trace amounts of ibuprofen and naproxen--better known as Advil and Aleve in the drinking water. And D.C. isn't the only city to have unwanted ingredients--albeit in very trace amounts--in its drinking water. A sex hormone was discovered in San Francisco tap water; three medications including an antibiotic were found in Tucson; angina medicine and a mood stabilizer were in Northern New Jersey water and 56 pharmaceuticals or byproducts were discovered in Philly water.

Look for more details about what this means on our Web site. Do you wonder how this news will affect you and your drinking habits? Join University of Illinois professor Barbara S. Minsker in a live discussion at 10:45 a.m. Then, let me know how the news will affect you during the Lean Plate Club chat live from 1 to 2 p.m. ET today. You can also e-mail your thoughts to me at leanplateclub@washpost.com.

Paper or Plastic?

That's been part of an ongoing thread in the Lean Plate Club Discussion Group. In last week's Web chat, a Lean Plate Club member offered a cool solution: Ghanian bags that cost about $20, look great and benefit not only the environment, but also the women who make them in Africa. In short, it's a win-win-win-win. Thanks to the Lean Plate Club member in Portland who shared this great idea. Another member from Montreal e-mailed me this site for Ten Thousand Villages, where you can buy similar bags online.

How are you staying green when you shop? E-mail me at leanplateclub@washpost.com. Or chime in on today's live Web chat from 1 to 2 p.m. ET.

Meet Successful Loser Sonia Bunch

She's our newest successful loser. Sonia has lost 75 pounds--count 'em--is a busy mom with two young children and now works as a group fitness instructor. Discover her unique secret for having her favorite doughnuts, pizza and other foods without undermining her efforts.

Are you a successful loser? If you've lost 30 pounds and kept it off for a year, we'd love to have you share your tips. Please e-mail me at leanplateclub@washpost.com.

Move It!

I'm test driving a new pedometer by Omron that slips into your pocket to help measure all kinds of activity. Stanford University's Bill Haskell told me about it at the recent Physical Activity Guidelines meeting. I'll let you know how it works.

In the think outside the gym for activity vein, consider... archery. It can be quite good for balance and upper body strength as well as breathing. Check it out this Archery Convention video from Slate magazine.

Now that the time has changed and the weather is getting better, how do you plan to use those added daylight minutes to stay active. Tell us now. Or join the Web chat live from 1 to 2 p.m. ET today. E-mail me anytime at leanplateclub@washpost.com.

What's for Dinner Tonight?

Ginger and Soy-Glazed Salmon has just 300 calories per serving and is loaded with protein and healthy, Omega-3 fatty acids that are good for your heart, your joints and possibly your mood. It comes from The Oregonian--one of the newspapers that also carries the Lean Plate Club column in its pages. (If you'd like your paper to subscribe to the Lean Plate Club, please send me an e-mail at leanplateclub@washpost.com and please include the name of your local paper, which I'll pass along to the Post Writers Group for follow-up.)

Sour Fish Soup with Tamarind has just 140 calories per serving and takes just 30 minutes to make. It could be a great lunch, a good first course or the centerpiece of dinner with a side salad, some bread or perhaps a rice pilaf and some fruit for dessert. It's from the Los Angeles Times--another Lean Plate Club subscribing newspaper.

Anaheim Fish Tacos come from Meatless Monday. Use blue corn tortillas--or a whole corn tortilla--for even more nutritional punch. Serve with a salsa--yes, that counts as a vegetable--some bean dip (another vegetable) and guacamole (yes, that would be a third veggie.)

Hearty Tomato Eggplant Pasta is another option from Meatless Monday, whose goal is to get us to eat more plant-based foods at least one day a week. This dish also uses whole wheat pasta.

Other options: Great Northern White also from Meatless Monday and 10 Slow Cooker Meals from Family Circle.

What are you cooking tonight? Got a great-tasting healthy recipe to share? (Please give credit where credit is due.) Or join the Web chat live today from 1 to 2 p.m. ET. E-mail me anytime at leanplateclub@waspost.com.