If you’re like me, you probably like to have a few days’ notice to prepare for guests.  When people show up unannounced I always feel frazzled.  I like to lounge in my pyjamas when no one is visiting and, while I like to keep a clean house, I usually tidy up a bit (or a lot!) if I’m having people over.  Those things are frustrating but I think that the only thing worse than unexpected guests is figuring out how to feed them! 

On the Today show, they provided some tips for keeping those surprise visitors from starving!  They created the following dishes:

• Classic pesto
• Tomato and mozzarella salad
• Grilled vegetables

Hmmm… I was skeptical when I first heard the name of this segment and I’ll tell you why.  I already thought that I was eating away my stress and all it did was make me fat.  After hearing what they had to say on the Today show, I understood the different.  What I was describing was emotional eating (and who doesn’t love a little comfort food now and then?).  Alternately, the Today show was providing advice about selecting foods that can help reduce the symptoms associated with stress.  Given the current economic climate, I’d say the suggestions are very timely!

The tips are to avoid sugar and try to eat a diet high in Omega-3 fatty acids (which can protect against heart disease), spinach (the magnesium helps prevent migraines and headaches), almonds are packed with vitamins B and E (helps boost immune system), walnuts, pistachios and avocado help lower blood pressure and dark chocolate and tea (both can have calming effects).  Watch the segment:

I’m not much of a wine drinker but I do cook with it a lot.  To be very honest, I don’t know much about choosing a great wine other than what I know in terms of picking a nice table/cooking wine.  If you’re like me, you might find these tips from the Today show very helpful.  At the very least, even if you aren’t a big wine drinker, it’s nice to know this information so that don’t have to worry about being the odd man out at a dinner party.

In a nutshell, here are the things to think about when selecting a wine:

1. Flavor: Is it sweet, sour, bitter, salty, dry, or hot?
2. Texture: Is it minerally like water from a stream or oily like, well, olive oil?  Is it light like water or heavy like Guinness?
3. Balance: does it feel like the all parts of the wine are working together or is something standing out?  
4. Length: This refers to how long you can taste the wine after you’ve swallowed it.

For a better idea, watch the segment with Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford:

A segment on the Today show aimed to provide some answers to common diet and exercise questions. 

What’s the best time of day to exercise?  Nutritionist Joy Bauer recognized that it might be tough to come home after a long work day, eat a big meal and then exercise on a full stomach.  Instead, she suggested planning for a light snack which would allow you to work out before your meal.  Another sneaky suggestion was to park 15 minutes away from work so that you end up getting a full 30 minutes of exercise every day as you walk back and forth to your vehicle. 

She also talked about the difference between brown rice and white rice, low-calorie alcoholic drinks and the best options for food on the road.

Chronic knee pain is something that I struggle with every day so I was really interested in the segment that aired on the Today show.  I was so surprised by some of the statistics they shared – more than 20 million Americans suffer with knee problems and it is the single-most common reason people see orthopedic specialists.  They also said that it’s the hardest-working, most complex joint in the entire human body so it’s no wonder it takes a beating.

They mentioned some warning signs to look out for.  Consider seeing your medical professional if you experience any of the following:

• Inability to bear weight
• Rapid knee swelling
• Inability to bend your knee
• Persistent pain for more than two weeks

They didn’t really give many suggestions for what to do to make knee pain more bearable but it is good to identify the signs that things could be wrong.

Earlier this week, the Today show talked about some great Valentine’s Day gift ideas that will suit virtually any budget.  That’s music to my ears!  Jill Martin from US Weekly provided some cute and reasonable ideas!

Here’s a list of the items Jill mentioned:

• “You Warm My Heart” hot cocoa from www.fredflare.com.  Enjoy this delicious treat (including the adorable hearts inside the hot chocolate!) for just $8!
• Get some gold-plated bling from Diamonds by the Yard (starts at $95) -www.jewelsbyjen.com
• For the man in your life, check out this heated jacket from www.Brookstone.com.  Retails for $149.
• If you love movie night, consider buying an old-fashioned popcorn maker (I got one last year!) from www.skymall.com for  $99.
• Order some personalised cookies starting from $42 (for a dozen) at www.gumdropcookieshop.com.
• For $39.99 you can pick up a chocolate fondue fountain from www.skymall.com
• Kids might love the Lego inspired speakers that can be attached to your iPod.  They cost $25 from www.fredflare.com
• Are you a wine lover?  Consider the cork candle holder (2 for $22) from www.wisteria.com
• Create a FREE slideshow from your favorite photos on www.snapfish.com

Would you like to get away from the daily grind but aren’t sure you can afford it?  The struggling economy might actually help you get a deal!  Airlines and resorts have been slashing prices and offering packages to help the travel industry continue to flourish. 

The editor of Travel and Leisure magazine had some great suggestions:

• Pick up the phone and ask for a bargain!  He said that people are getting free nights at hotels and more simply because they decided to ask for a better deal.
• The Inn at the Alameda is offering a 3 night getaway for two for just $447.  The price includes daily breakfast, wine and cheese and one massage per person.  That’s incredible!
• The Chelsea Hotel is the first non-casino to open in Atlantic City in years and they are offering potential guests a great bargain.  Their “Lots of Leisure” package includes 3 nights of accommodation for $597 and includes day passes to the spa sauna/steam room/Jacuzzi, dinner for two and breakfast.
• Check out the Teton Springs Lodge’s “Romance Package” ($484) which includes 3 nights at the lodge, breakfast, spa treatment for two and a sleigh ride dinner for two!  Wow!
• Get a 10-day Caribbean cruise through Holland America Cruises for just $849 per person!  You’ll be treated to deluxe accommodations that include entertainment and meals!  Incredible!
• Want to see Europe?  Check out this incredible Barcelona Fly and Stay Package that costs $599 and includes airfare and 4 nights at the HCC Covadonga Hotel.  It’s offered through TourCrafters.com.  That’s amazing!

Good luck and happy traveling!

It’s cold and flu season and I’ve heard a lot of my own friends saying that they’ve got a sick child/spouse at home and basically resign to catching the bug themselves.  The Today show looked at ways to prevent the spread of germs in your home when someone is battling something like the common cold.

The began the segment by listing “must-haves” for your medicine cabinet:

• Fever or pain reducer
• Nasal saline drops
• Antihistimine
• Extra medicine droppers
• Antibacterial ointment
• Moisturizer
• Thermometer
• Honey (it’s shown to be an effective cough suppressant)

The tips to avoid passing a virus from one person to another included:

• Sneeze into the crook of your elbow, not your hand (but definitely make sure you cover your mouth and nose ANY TIME you sneeze!!!)
• Frequent hand-washing (at least for 30 seconds) or hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol)
• Clean “germ magnets” like remote controls, doorknobs, etc…

On the Today show, they talked about all of these reports claiming that obesity could actually be caused by catching a certain virus.  That just sounds implausible to me so, of course, I found this discussion very interesting.

They talked to Dr. Nancy Snyderman (NBC News Chief Medical Editor) who said that adenovirus 36 (adenoviruses typically cause the common cold) is found in obese people 30 percent of the time.  This has caused some people to wonder if a virus can change how your body metabolises food.  Studies using lab rats has shown that there really could be a correlation! 

The Today show did a segment showcasing some hot products to help you  get (or stay) healthy in 2009.  We are already in the third week – how is your resolution coming along? 

Did you commit to getting more fit?  If so, you might love the activewear tips.  They said that you should pick workout clothes that you think make you look good since you are more likely to put them on!  The particular outfit they looked at was by Rese Activewear.

In terms of eating, ready-made meals like the ones sold by Nu-Kitchen are now available across the United States (it used to just be in major cities like  New York) and plans start as low as $239 per month.  This is a great way to save time but still eat well. 

They also displayed some plates from Slimware.com (pictured at right) that have built-in portion indicators to help you stay on track (see how the flowers are all different sizes?  Those are your markers for how much meat, grain or veggies should be on your plate!).  A set of four plates costs $39.95.

Energy and meal-replacement bars are all the rage right now and YouBars.com allows you to customize the bars (you can even have your name put on them which is convenient if more than one person in your house gets some!).  Ann didn’t seem particularly impressed by the taste of the one she tried.  It was kind of funny!!!

Another product they showed was a bracelet from Count Me Healthy Jewelry.  What’s great about it is that it’s like an abacus made into a beaded bracelet that allows you to keep track of things you are trying to do on a daily basis.  For example, you could use it to keep tabs on how many glasses of water you’ve had to drink.  It’s a little pricy ($88) but it could be worth it!