The Home Front January/February 2009

January/February 2009 Issue | Posted by Danielle Bean in Home Front

FOOD by Danielle

Sensational Salad

Salad is a great way to get your greens. If the thought of the same old tired cucumbers and wilted lettuce doesn’t exactly tantalize your taste buds, though, it’s time your salad had an upgrade. Some new ingredients to throw in the bowl:

• Variety Lettuce: dark greens pack the most nutritional punch
• Olives: loaded with flavor and “good fats”
• Sunflower Seeds: add a salty crunch
• Canned Beans: high-fiber protein turns salad into “dinner”
• Brown Rice or Pasta: makes any salad more filling
• Almonds: filling and nutritious, in a variety of flavors
• Fruit: sliced banana, oranges, or frozen berries add unexpected color, flavor, and nutrition
• Avocado: acts as a “nutrition booster,” helping your body absorb nutrients from other foods

Once you’ve mixed up the perfect salad, don’t drown it in fatty dressing. Here’s an easy, flavorful, low-fat dressing to try:

Light and Creamy Caesar Dressing

1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1/4 cup reduced-calorie mayonnaise

1/4 cup lemon juice
2 teaspoons each chopped fresh parsley,

grated Parmesan cheese, water
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon anchovy paste (or 2 tea-

spoons Worcestershire sauce)
Optional: a few fresh leaves of oregano or

basil, minced

Combine ingredients and whisk until smooth. Store in refrigerator, covered. Makes about 1 1/4 cups. 20 calories per tablespoon.

— Visit Danielle at DanielleBean.com

SELF

Hair’s the Thing by Mary

Do your children call you Miss Frizzle on rainy days? Do you see your high school yearbook photo in the mirror? And your highlights suddenly look like a circuit board? These are the issues we ladies tackle in the morning when we “do” our hair, and the end results can affect how we feel all day long. Take charge of your hair by working out the basics:

Pick a Style

Find a hair style that works best for your facial shape and hair texture. Figure out your face shape by standing in front of the mirror with your hair pulled back. Take a cake of soap and trace the outline of your face onto the mirror. What you see is a rough guide to the shape of your face.

Long: If your face is long, avoid exaggerating its length by wearing your hair past your shoulders in a straight style. Opt for long layers in front that sweep in at your cheeks and chin. Bangs, especially side-swept and long, can help give your face balance, as well, and shorter, layered styles that don’t bunch up around your cheeks are flattering.

Round: A round face is flattered by soft layers, especially in a to-the-chin style. Avoid repeating the roundness of your face with tight or numerous curls in front.

Square: Curls are excellent for those with a square face because they tend to soften the angularity of the cheeks and jaw line. Graduated waves, and even straight hair that’s rounded into a bob, can add this kind of softening.

Oval: An oval face is flattered by most hairstyles, but when the oval ends in a sharp point at the chin, it can appear more heart-shaped. Longer lengths in a side-sweeping style and to-the-chin looks that add a touch of wispiness around the chin and mouth can camouflage the tip of the chin.

Do a little homework for your hair texture, styling demands, and budget by visiting a site like CosmeticsCop.com to find out the buzz on the major brands.

— Visit Mary at MarySheehanWarren.com

HOME

Bring Color Home

Brighten up your home this winter with unexpected touches of color.

Paint: You don’t have to re-paint an entire room to enjoy the benefits of bright color. Choose one or two smaller pieces of furniture — bookcases, end tables, or cabinets — and give them an instant makeover with a coat of bold paint in your choice of color.

Accents: Bright and beautiful throw rugs, lamps, or candle holders can bring dramatic flair to a ho-hum living room or dining room. And don’t forget the power of table settings. These gorgeous Villa della Luna salad plates are a sure way to brighten any dinnertime gathering. ($9.99 each at Pfaltzgraff.com)

Accessorize!

Just when I thought I couldn’t love my KitchenAid mixer any more, along comes SideSwipe, a mixer blade attachment that scrapes the bowl as it mixes. This ingenious gadget fits my standing mixer perfectly. It mixed up a double batch of chocolate chip cookies in no time — no more need to stop to scrape the bowl! Cake batter, frosting, mashed potatoes, and more all blend beautifully. The blade is also dishwasher safe, so clean-up is a snap. ($24.95 from SideSwipeBlade.com)

MONEY

Insurance Shopping

If you are in the market for a new life insurance policy, here are some basics to keep in mind.

Term-life policy is the best option for most Americans ages 20 to 50. If you are wealthy and over the age of 60, cash-value life insurance might be your best option.

You can reduce your insurance rates by reducing your risks. Quit smoking, lose weight, and reduce your cholesterol and blood pressure.

Insurance companies charge you more if you pay monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually. Pay annually, and you’ll pay less.

Use a free service to compare insurance company rates and offers. At FindMyInsurance.com you’ll get access to information from more than 175 top-rated life insurance companies.

Prescription for Savings

With prescription drug prices skyrocketing, many health insurance companies are looking for ways to pass costs on to consumers. These tips help ease the pinch.

• Opt for a generic drug if one is available and your doctor approves its use.

• Don’t assume all pharmacies charge the same price for the same drugs. They don’t. Call several to find out the best deal for your prescription needs.

• If you take prescription drugs regularly and long term, consider trying a mail-order pharmacy. These convenient services often charge lower prices than traditional pharmacies.

HEALTH

New Year, New You!

After the nonstop noshing the holidays bring, it’s no wonder so many of us add “lose five pounds” or “eat healthier” to our New Year’s Resolutions.

This year, don’t lose your resolve. Use these tips to turn your good intentions into reality.

• Be realistic. Unless you share the genes of an Olympic athlete, it is best to not make “run a marathon in under four hours by February” your number one resolution. “Don’t set yourself up for failure. Set small, realistic goals for a healthier lifestyle,” recommends Cheryl Mehta,

a registered dietician. “For instance, limit fried foods to only once a week. Or, walk for 10 minutes almost everyday. Small, gradual changes can make

a big difference.”

• Savor small indulgences. Allowing yourself occasional treats keeps you from feeling de­ prived. Don’t be afraid to choose a few favorite indulgences and to really savor

their taste.

• Shift your perspective. Too often when we try to lose weight, we obsess over what we can’t eat. “It’s not about what you shouldn’t be eating, but what you can be eating,” Mehta says. “If you eat healthy, you can eat a whole lot.”

• Cut yourself some slack. Making long-term lifestyle changes is the best way to achieve optimal health, but it’s not easy. You may fall off the bandwagon. “Don’t beat yourself up, wondering, ‘Why did I eat so much?’” says Mehta. “You can’t erase what already happened. Instead, focus on what you can do to be healthier.”

— Kate Wicker

FITNESS

Name: Fran and John McLaughlin
Hometown: Fort Mill, S.C.
Diet program: Weight Watchers
Fitness program: Treadmill and stationary bike, 4-5 times per week
Weight loss: 85 pounds total

Often, losing weight is a solitary pursuit. One spouse is trying to drop a few pounds while the other is complaining about the dearth of potato chips. But Fran McLaughlin and her husband, John, de-

cided to join fronts in the fight against fat. In just 11 months, the couple lost a whopping 85 pounds together. Fran believes their

team approach was behind their success.

“We were cooking and eating the same foods and encouraging each other to stay on the program,” says Fran. “That made it so much easier.”

Faith helped their perseverance, as well. “Weight loss doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a series of many goals reached little by little to attain your desired weight. There are times when it becomes very difficult to continue. Knowing God is always there to encourage you, you find the ‘bump in the road’ doesn’t seem so big. Then you get over it and move on.”

Couple Workouts

Get outdoors. “Forget the dumbbells, treadmills, and indoor gyms. Instead, head to the park for an outdoor workout,” says Stacy Berman, certified fitness trainer and founder of Stacy’s Boot Camp, an outdoor fitness program in New York City.

Adapt. “Men and women can actually do similar exercises with small differences and get great results,” says Berman. “This usually means less weight and more reps for women and more weight and less reps for men.”

— Visit Kate at KateWicker.com

Fran and John McLaughlin, now ...

... and, then.

Homework: Share your weight loss success story with Faith & Family. See page 6 for contact information.