Competition, cash aid in weight loss

Money Incentives, Competition Spur Weight LossCompetition and money fuel weight loss success, a study indicates.

Here’s a new reason to be a team player and join your employer’s next “Biggest Loser” challenge: A new study suggests that people lured to lose weight with financial incentives may drop more pounds as part of a group competition.

The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, looked at one group of five people who would earn $100 if they met an individual weight-loss goal. Another scenario of five people offered $100 as well, but offered more money to those if other members of the group did not lose weight—that group lost three times the amount of weight compared to the first group.

In essence, your success may thrive on your competitive spirit.

“People may be more motivated to achieve a particular goal when a particular resource that had been allocated for them is given to someone else if they don't achieve their goal,” said Dr. Jeffrey Kullgren, the lead author from the University of Michigan Medical School and the Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System.

The possibility of earning more than $100 along with the competitive nature of the contest may have been the factor that drove more weight loss in the second group, the researchers say.

So, what’s the best plan and how much will it cost an employer or organization?

“There are hundreds of different ways you can think about doing it. I don't think there's a consensus about what the best way is,” noted Robert Jeffery, who has studied financial incentives at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He added that organizations can pay based on pounds lost, or pay up based on how long participants keep weight off.

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Quick ways to sneak protein into a school meal

Protein-Rich Foods
For KidsDo you worry that your kids aren’t getting enough protein in their daily diet? Though some days it may seem that they eat nothing but fruit and pretzels, chances are your kids do actually consume enough of this important nutrient. Protein is found in obvious foods such as meat, poultry, and fish, but it also is available in eggs, beans, legumes, soy, nuts, nut butters, dairy, and even grain products. If you’re still concerned that your children’s diet is lacking, here are some quick ways to sneak protein into their school meals.Protein requirements for kids

Protein is a crucial nutrient for your children's growth and development. Their daily protein requirements will vary depending on their age and weight.

Here are the protein requirements for children, according to the Dietary Reference Intakes from the Institute of Medicine:Ages 1 to 3 = 13 grams of proteinAges 4 to 8 = 19 grams of proteinAges 9 to 13 = 34 grams of protein

Children who are big for their age need slightly more, while children who are small can consume less.

Kid friendly protein foods

Even if your kids are hip on high-protein foods such as beef, poultry, or seafood, you can still sneak protein into your children's snack bags or lunchboxes to ensure they are getting enough.

Got milk?

Milk, yogurt and cheese are delicious sources of protein that most kids love. Dairy also provides a tasty dose of bone building calcium. Instead of juice, pack 8 ounce cartons of soy milk (6 grams of protein) or dairy milk (8 grams of protein). Add a small carton of plain yogurt (10 to 14 grams of protein) and fresh fruit for a snack or dessert. Layer a sandwich with a slice of cheese (7 grams of protein) or include a cheese stick (7 grams of protein) as a protein-rich nibble.

Go nuts

Nuts and seeds are energy dense sources of protein, healthy fats, and fiber. Forgo the candy bar, and fill a snack bag with 1 ounce of raw almonds (6 grams of protein) and a handful of raisins (4 grams of protein). Slather wheat bread (5 grams per slice) with 2 ounces of peanut butter (7 grams of protein) and sliced bananas. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of sunflower seeds (3 grams of protein) into a pasta or rice salad.

Healthy whole grains

Whole wheat bread and pasta not only have more fiber than refined flour varieties, they often have more protein. For example, some whole wheat breads have more than 5 grams of protein per slice while whole wheat pastas may have as much as 10 grams of protein per single serving. Substitute whole wheat or whole grain products for the white flour products in your kids' lunches. Ditch the white rice and make grain salads with red or black quinoa (5 grams per serving), a colorful array of finely chopped vegetables or fruit, and a light dressing.

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Chicken roasted in beer recipe

A Nice Way To Keep Your Roast Chicken JuicyI'm a big fan of roast chicken and one of my favorite ways is roasting it in beer. Add to this chicken recipe a mixture of savory herbs and carrots, and you've got a hearty side dish as well. The addition of beer serves two purposes: It creates a flavorful sauce and keeps the chicken meat moist. It's the ultimate one-pot meal!

The ultimate one-pot meal

I prefer using a dark beer for this chicken recipe, but any kind of beer should work fine. Serve the chicken with a side of mashed potatoes (and beer of course!) for the perfect night in.

Chicken roasted in beer recipe

Serves 4

Ingredients:6 chicken drumsticks1 whole garlic head, broken into cloves4 ounces sliced bacon or cubed pancetta2 carrots, washed and cut into 1-inch pieces4 bay leaves1 tablespoon juniper berries1 tablespoon herbes de provence (or any dried herb mixture)Salt and pepper, to taste1 bottle of dark beerDirections:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.Place chicken in a baking dish and season with salt and pepper. Add garlic, bacon, carrots and herbs; then pour in beer.Bake for 15 minutes, and then flip drumsticks over and cook for another 15 minutes. Turn over two more times keeping each turn for 15 minutes. After the fourth turn, the chicken should be golden brown and cooked with caramelized beer sauce in the pan.

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Tonight's Dinner Chicken tagine with dried apricots and olives

A Few Simple Spices Take Chicken To The Middle EastWho knew four little spices could transport you to another country? Simply add some olives and dried apricots and you've got a delicious meal that will keep them coming back for more.

When it comes to cooking chicken there are so many different choices, you could easily have chicken every night of the week and never have the same dish twice. And, since I love chicken, I'm always on the lookout for a new recipe, but I must admit, even I wasn't sure about this one. I mean, it calls for green olives and dried apricots; those are not two flavors I would ever consider putting together. It's okay, be honest, they sound horrible together, right? To make matters worse, the recipe called for chicken thighs. That's right, that part of the bird that gets a horrible rap for being too fatty and high in cholesterol. In truth, however, the fat isn't too bad, and I do love all the spices needed to make the rub.

So, I figured, why not? I love chicken, dried apricots, and green olives and, if I like them all separately, maybe they'll be great together. Well, I'm so happy I took the leap and made this recipe from Better Homes and Gardens. It was sweet and spicy and absolutely delicious. I want to make it again and something tells me you will, too.

Chicken Tagine with Dried Apricots and Olives

Ingredients

2 teaspoons ground cumin1 teaspoon ground tumeric1 teaspoon ground ginger1/2 teaspoon cinnamon1/4 teaspoon kosher salt8 bone-in chicken thighs1 tablespoon olive oil3/4 cup chicken broth1 pound Yukon gold potatoes, halved1 large brown onion, cut into wedges1/2 cup pitted green olives1/2 cup dried apricots, halved2 tablespoons golden raisins (optional)2 tablespoons slivered almonds (optional)

Directions

In a small bowl, combine cumin, tumeric, ginger, cinnamon, and salt; rub spice blend evenly over thighs and under the skin.Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat; add thighs to hot oil and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, or until browned, turning to brown evenly.Add broth, using a wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot; add potatoes, onion, olives, and apricots; bring to a boil; reduce heat to low, and cover; simmer, covered for 40 to 45 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and potatoes are tender.Transfer chicken and potatoes to a serving platter; bring broth mixture to a boil and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, or until slightly thickened; pour broth mixture over chicken and potatoes. If desired, sprinkle with raisins and/or almonds and serve immediately.

>>More Tonight's Dinner Recipes

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Cauliflower salad with homemade vinaigrette

A simple & tasty salad

This easy side dish is a perfect dinner accompaniment at any time of year.

Crunchy, fresh and acidic, this salad recipe brings a light touch to the calorie-laden holiday season.

Cauliflower salad with homemade vinaigrette

Recipe from Bonnie Stern

Ingredients:

Vegetables

1 small cauliflower, cut into small florets2 carrots, grated2 ribs celery, thinly sliced diagonally3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill3 green onions, finely chopped2-1/2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts2-1/2 tablespoons toasted sunflower seeds

Dressing

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar1/4 cup sugar3/4 teaspoon kosher salt1/3 cup unrefined sunflower or canola oilKosher saltFreshly ground black pepperDirections:

In a large bowl, add the cauliflower, celery, carrots, green onions and dill.In a medium saucepan, bring sugar, vinegar, salt and oil to a boil. Pour the hot dressing over the cauliflower mixture and toss well. Season with salt and pepper.Allow the mixture to marinate in the refrigerator for two hours.Sprinkle with roasted pine nuts and sunflower seeds before serving.

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Mini cannoli cups

All The Flavor
Without All The WorkCrispy cannolis are a classic Italian treat. No need to spend all day in the kitchen making this version. Creamy filling is cooked right into crisy wonton shells.

Cannolis are a classic Italian treat. Sadly they can take a lot of time to prepare. Between making shells and then filling the shells, you can take up a lot of time. That is why we decided to make things a whole lot easier! Using some store-bought wonton wrappers, we recreated the crispy cannoli shells, then filled them with some out-of-this-world delicious cannoli filling. You can top your cannoli cups with mini chocolate chips or sprinkles.

This is your new go-to dessert treat!

Mini cannoli cups recipe

Yields 30-35 cups

Ingredients:15 ounces ricotta cheese1/2 cup powdered sugar1/2 teaspoon vanilla extact (almond works great, too)1/4 teaspoon lemon zest3 tablespoons mini chocolate chips35 wonton wrappersDirections:

Set colander inside a bowl and line the colander with cheesecloth. Add ricotta cheese, cover and let sit overnight to drain. In the morning, you will see water at the bottom of the bowl. Throw the water out.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.In a bowl of an electric mixer add drained ricotta and powdered sugar. Beat until fluffy. Add in vanilla extract and lemon zest and mix till incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips or reserve for just the topping. It's your choice.Put in fridge while your shells bake.To make shells: gently press wonton shells into mini muffin tin and bake for 15 minutes until brown and crispy.Let cool and pipe filling into wonton cups. Top with sprinkles or mini chocolate chips if desired.

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Is sugar toxic

A healthy lifestyle can keep you feeling great. You eat fruits and vegetables, cut back on fatty foods, drink plenty of water and exercise when you can. But if you’re still consuming sugar, you could be hurting your health more than you know.

Sugar: A deadly sweetener?

CBS News recently aired a report on 60 Minutes about the dangers of high sugar consumption in the American diet. Dr. Robert Lustig spoke with Dr. Sanjay Gupta about his view on how sugar, which he likens to a toxin, is killing Americans. He blames sugar for contributing to deadly diseases like obesity, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, and says that 75 percent of it is preventable by reducing the sweetener in any form from your diet.

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According to Dr. Lustig, all sugar is the same. High fructose corn syrup is no worse than table sugar. “They’re both equally toxic,” he says. Another surprise is that sugar may be hiding in foods you wouldn’t necessarily expect it, like breads, yogurt and even peanut butter.

Read more on how to cut sugar without cutting taste >>The war on sugar"With Americans consuming 130 pounds of sugar per year, he says we are in a public health crisis."

Dr. Lustig has been waging a war against sugar for years, and his lecture on YouTube, Sugar: The Bitter Truth, has received more than 2 million views. With Americans consuming 130 pounds of sugar per year, he says we are in a public health crisis. Adding to the problem is that the brain reacts to sugar as it does with drugs or alcohol, giving you a euphoric feeling by releasing dopamine, a chemical that controls the brain’s pleasure center. In effect, we become addicted to this feeling, and like with other drugs, begin to feel the need for more.

A healthier lifestyle

The need for a well-balanced diet is paramount, and Dr. Lustig believes that means drastically reducing sugar in your diet. In an American Heart Association report, he recommends that men eat no more than 150 calories of added sugar per day, and women no more than 100 calories of added sugar per day in order to get this epidemic under control.

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Added sugar hurts your heart
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How to spot hidden sugars in your everyday foods