The Fitness Guru

You may have heard that we are trying to avoid the Swine Flu this winter. There is a big debate regarding the pros and cons of the H1N1 vaccine, but one great way of improving your odds against the illness is to wash your hands on a regular basis. Here are some guidelines that you probably learned in Kindergarten, but let me repeat just for good measure:

• Use soap and water. If soap is not available, use an alcohol-based cleanser that is at least 60% alcohol. The Center for Disease Control says that the cleansers are just as effective as soap and water UNLESS your hands are visibly dirty and then you should use soap.
• Anti-bacterial soap is just as effective as regular soap. With all bar soap, take a moment to rinse the bar before using it. There may be residual bacteria from a previous use.
• Try to find paper towels to dry your hands. Electric hot air blowers may only serve to help breed bacteria and then blow it all over the room. Not great…..
• Hot water vs. Cold water? Makes no difference. None. Just go wash your hands.
• Rub your hands vigorously while washing, making sure to get as much of your hands clean as possible.

You probably don’t want to become “that person” who is compulsively washing every minute of the day, but according to the Mayo Clinic, here are some key times to be especially alert:

• Preparing food, especially raw meat or poultry
• Using the toiletChanging a diaper
• Touching an animal or animal toys, leashes or waste
• Blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing into your hands
• Treating wounds
• Touching a sick or injured person
• Handling garbage or something that could be contaminated, such as a cleaning cloth or soiled shoes

In celebration of Mom, here is a quick recipe idea for Sunday Brunch:

Mini Mushroom and Turkey Sausage Quiche

Ingredients:

8 ounce(s) turkey breakfast sausage , removed from casing and crumbled into small pieces
1 teaspoon(s) extra-virgin olive oil
8 ounce(s) mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup(s) sliced scallions
1/4 cup(s) shredded Swiss cheese
1 teaspoon(s) freshly ground pepper
5 eggs
3 egg whites
1 cup(s) 1% milk

Directions:

Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 325°F. Coat a nonstick muffin tin generously with cooking spray.
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook until golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool. Add oil to the pan. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring often, until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer mushrooms to the bowl with the sausage. Let cool for 5 minutes. Stir in scallions, cheese, and pepper.
Whisk eggs, egg whites, and milk in a medium bowl. Divide the egg mixture evenly among the prepared muffin cups. Sprinkle a heaping tablespoon of the sausage mixture into each cup.
Bake until the tops are just beginning to brown, 25 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Place a rack on top of the pan, flip it over and turn the quiches out onto the rack. Turn upright and let cool completely.

And, as a tribute to siblings everywhere, please enjoy:

So we have our first Community submission in response to the post, Healthy Foods.

Charity writes:

Here’s a yummy PUMPKIN pudding (tastes like the inside of a pumpkin pie-yum!)
1/2 c sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
2 large eggs
1 15 oz can pure PUMPKIN
1 12 oz can evaporated milk (non-fat or 2%)
Preheat oven to 350. Mix sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves in a small bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Mix in eggs then slowly add evaporated milk. Pour into shallow greased baking dish (deep dish glass pie pan works well). Bake in a preheated oven for 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, keep close eye on it. Don’t overbake, the center should be slightly wiggly. Cool and enjoy at room temperature or refrigerate for later use.

Think of it as a healthy treat. And check out her blog.

If you have an idea or recipe that you would like to submit, please do so.