Write Off Your Weight

Playing the numbers game by keeping food records may not be your favorite activity, but research continues to underscore the power of tracking what you eat and how much you exercise daily. A new study published today shows that those who regularly measure food portions and tally calories eaten are more likely to lose weight than those who don't.

In today's Lean Plate Club column, learn about the latest findings plus discover a handful of Web sites that will calculate the numbers for you. You can access them from your desktop, your laptop or your Web-accessible handheld device. And if you want to track your food with a simple sheet of paper, try this one at mypyramid.gov.

How do you stay on top of how much you eat and how many calories you burn? Tell us your secrets in today's Lean Plate Club Web chat from 1 to 2 p.m. ET. Or leave them for us now then check the transcript later. E-mail me anytime at leanplateclub@washpost.com.

Salmonella Update

As you likely know, the Salmonella St. Paul outbreak continues to mystify public health authorities, who are now expanding the search from certain kinds of tomatoes to include jalapeno peppers and cilantro. Find the latest updates from the Food and Drug Administration here. where you can also subscribe to free updates by RSS or e-mail.

When Should You Buy Organic?

Natural Health magazine offers a shopper's guide to the produce that is better to buy organic and to the stuff that you can eat conventionally. How much organic food do you buy? Is the rising cost of food impacting what you can get? Tell us now how you're pinching pennies at the checkout. Or join the Web chat live from 1 to 2 p.m. today. E-mail me anytime at leanplateclub@washpost.com.

Super Athletes: Do They Inspire You?

Between the finals at Wimbledon and the Olympic trials, there was plenty of athletic action going on this past weekend. How do these stellar feats inspire your efforts? Tell us now. Or join the Lean Plate Club Web chat live from 1 to 2 p.m. ET today.

McDonald's Diet

Move over Jared. A Virginia man claims to have lost more than 80 pounds by eating two meals per day at Mickey D's. Of course, he wasn't supersizing or eating a lot of fries. He made wise choices. So, could this me a new trend? We've been talking about that in the Lean Plate Club Discussion Group. (Have you joined yet? Sign up here where you can interact with me and about 550 other Lean Plate Club members when we're not doing our regular live chat on Tuesdays from 1 to 2 p.m. ET.

Joy of Motion

Got a ball and a friend? Then you've got the tools to take Natural Health magazine's Reaction Ball Challenge. It's designed to improve coordination and balance. Plus, it's fun!

Strengthen core muscles--the muscles in the trunk of your body--to stand taller, have tighter abs and protect your back. If you've got 20 minutes, Women's Health has a workout that will help make your abs rock hard. These moves go way beyond sit-ups to include walking the plank, nose to knee crunches crunches and a move called the matrix. (As always, if you have any back or other health problems, check with your doctor or physical therapist before attempting.)

Mow your lawn, garden, clean your own house and walk when you can to work, school and errands. It's these kind of lifestyle activities that can make a surprising difference in how many calories you burn throughout the day. Natural Health magazine offers ways to make your grass greener both in color and to help the environment.

Got a clever way to add more activity to your daily life? We'd love to hear about it. Tell us now. Then check the Lean Plate Club Web chat transcripts later. Join us live from 1 to 2 p.m. ET. Or e-mail me at leanplateclub@washpost.com.

What's for Dinner Tonight?

The microwave makes cooking really easy--especially in the summer. But there's no need to only buy frozen meals in a box: David Joachim (creator of the popular feature, "A Man, A Can and A Plan" for Men's Health) offers Six Swank Low-Calorie Meals you can make in your microwave in minutes from scratch. Among them: Turkish Lamb with Pistachio Couscous (ready in 20 minutes), Potato Corn Chowder with Scallops (ready in 30 minutes) and Orange Balsamic with Mint and Dried Cherries. (Is your mouth watering yet? Mine is.)

Chilled Soba Noodles with Tofu and Sugar Snap Peas is one offering from Gourmet magazine. Only a little slaving over a hot stove for this one. And it takes just 30 minutes to prepare.

Black-eyed pea hummus is a new twist on an old favorite. Serve it as a side dish or as a dip for an appetizer. The calorie count looks high--but no need to eat 3/4 of a cup to get some great flavor and wonderful nutrients. Serve with veggies and whole wheat pita.

Poached Shrimp with Lime Ginger Corn Salad is another winner. It's loaded with healthy omega-3 fatty acids, not to mention flavor. You can make this recipe up to two days in advance.

And for dessert? A fresh summer fruit parfait. What could be better? Yum. (You can even shave a few calories, by using nonfat, plain Greek style yogurt in place of low-fat.)

What are your food finds? How are you cooking and staying cool this summer? Tell us your culinary secrets for healthy, great tasting food now. Or join us live from 1 to 2 p.m. ET.