I remember a time in college when my roommates made cookies with egg substitute, artificial sweetener and butter substitute. The cookies shared the texture of hockey pucks…and the taste, too. Even though these cookies had fewer calories than their more traditional counterparts, they also lacked one important ingredient – enjoyment. We are all different and share different tastes and interests.…
Thanksgiving leftovers are arguably one of the tastiest parts of the holiday, but how many turkey sandwiches and turkey casseroles can you possibly eat before getting bored? Use your leftovers as an opportunity to get creative in the kitchen. Check out these four ideas to enjoy your favorite Thanksgiving staples after the holiday. Stuffed bell peppers – Want to enjoy…
One of my favorite things about participating in an at-work CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is the opportunity to try new veggies and fruits. Last week’s CSA box included delicious fall favorites including spaghetti squash. I used to associate squash with little more than fall decor before I realized how tasty, healthy and versatile it can be. Here are three ways…
This week I’m excited to have Jen Ede, Editor of TOPS News magazine and fellow TOPS member, as my special guest blogger. 5 Tips for Choosing Organic Foods on a Budget by Jen Ede If you’ve been wanting to incorporate more organic food into your diet, but are balking at the price tag, here are some tips to get you…
It’s an exciting day here at TOPS Headquarters. A number of our employees are anxiously awaiting our very first delivery of fresh veggies and herbs from a local farm as part of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). With farmers’ markets in full swing and produce coming in abundance, we thought we’d share our top four strategies for getting more summer…
Have you ever said or thought either of the following? “I was bad this weekend—I ate way too much chocolate.” “I’ve been really good—I haven’t touched any bread in three days.” We’re familiar with asking a waiter to hold the dressing. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could ask him or her to hold the guilt, too? After all, when…
Spring is here and gardening season is in full bloom. It might seem like gardening and sticking to a weight-loss plan have very little to do with one another, but there are actually a number of parallels. Last spring, I was convinced that I was going to master my first garden and enjoy fresh vegetables all summer long. How hard…
The other day, when I was walking out the door for a workout class, my brain decided to try and trip me. “We haven’t gone in forever—it’s going to hurt so bad!” “Eh, we can go tomorrow.” “You know, there are a lot of shows we could be catching up with on TV.” The same thing happened a few days…
The other night, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to make my workout class the following evening, I had the ambitious idea to set my alarm for 4:30 AM to get up and ride my stationary bike for an hour before work. This will be great, I thought. I’ll get my exercise out of the way first thing in the…