Who Won the SparkRecipes Contest--and Those Vita-Mix Blenders?

It was a tough decision, but the results are in, the votes have been counted, and the winners have been chosen.

Monday we announced our 10 semifinalists. From there, we tested the recipes, considered our choices and tried some really delicious recipes!

So who won?

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Research Says Wii Fit Won't Make You Fit

Wii Fit has become a hot trend over the past couple of years. In fact, Wii Fit is now the third best-selling video game of all time. Many people use Wii Fit as a way to get active and have fun. But is it really a workout? Can Wii Fit be used as a substitute for traditional exercise? A new study from ACE (American Council on Exercise), says "no." Read More >

Save 10% on Fruit and Flower Gifts for the Holidays!

Is your holiday gift list growing by the minute while your free time is dwindling before your eyes? We hear you. Online ordering is one way to cut down on holiday shopping stress, and now the SparkPeople Store offers several new gifts that you can buy for your friends and loved ones this season! Read More >

7 Tips for Healthy Meal Planning

By Debi Silber, MS, RD, WHC, the Mojo Coach Think healthy meal planning needs to be difficult and time consuming? Use even a few of these tips and enjoy the extra time you’ll discover as a result.

1. Use a slow cooker: These are a busy person’s dream. Simply set everything up in the morning and enjoy a warm, home cooked meal when you’re through with your busy day. Slow cookers are also a great way to cook less expensive, lower fat cuts of meat without drying them out. (Here’s a website with a ton of great recipes – A Year of Slow Cooking.) Read More >

Diet Friendly Dining: Ted's Montana Grill

A few weeks ago in my Buffalo Meat is No Bull blog I mentioned having had a delicious Buffalo burger at a Ted's Montana Grill restaurant. I thought it would be good to look at this unique restaurant chain named for the renowned media entrepreneur and environmentalist in our ongoing Diet Friendly Dining series. The chain started in 2002 with one restaurant in Columbus, Ohio and has now grown to over 50 restaurants throughout 19 states.

In addition to a great tasting and nutrition conscience menu, Ted's Montana Grill also boasts a deep commitment to the environment. One of their environmentally focused goals is to be 99% plastic free and they re-introduced the paper straw that has not been used in the United States since 1970 to help them work toward goal achievement. If you want a to-go cup or food to go, those come in Bio-Plus Earth Containers and cornstarch based cups that bio-degrade quickly. Reuse is also a part of their environmental plan as well since menus are printed on recycled paper. They also look at non-food related ways to be sustainable by using water-efficient toilets and solar panels for energy and water conservation where possible as well as making all of their restaurants smoke free. At the same time, you find authentic early 20th century craftsmen-style architecture and natural materials used for a classic look and feel and a relaxing dining experience. With all this attention to so many details, is there any food that meets our criteria?

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Runner's Knee: Exercise or Rest, Which is Best?

Ask any runner, or non-runner for that matter, what one of the most common running injuries is and invariably many will mention patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS)--AKA runner's knee. It has been reported that as many as 70% of all runners will suffer at least one injury in their running careers, but this should not be a deterrent to anyone who is contemplating taking up running. With proper education and knowledge many people can run without incidence for years.

It was once believed that the high impact of running led to a greater incidence of pre-arthritis or osteoarthritis of the knee, but research has revealed that is no longer the case. Runners are at no greater risk than the general population to develop arthritis of the knee. In fact, according to an article published in the October 2007 issue of Runners World running can actually strengthen the connective tissues--ligaments, tendons--and muscles that support the knee, as a result the risk of doing damage to the cartilage, which is the main cause of osteoarthritis, is reduced.

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