Veggie Surprise! Veggies Disguised

So I’ve heard quite a bit about pureeing veggies and mixing them into regular food as a way to “sneak” them into children’s diets without them knowing. The technique first came to my knowledge when I heard about Jessica Seinfeld’s (Yes, Jerry’s wife) cookbook Deceptively Delicious (remember that whole lawsuit scandal?). The July/August issue of Women’s Health magazine was the first time I’ve heard it applied to real adult eating. They report that a study at Penn State University uncovered a hidden benefit to hidden veggies. When study subjects unknowingly ate pureed vegetables in three meals a day, they ate almost 360 less calories a day. They came up with some sneaky substitutions to cut back on the calories of some of your favorite summer dishes.

• Swap ½ cup pureed roasted red peppers for ½ cup mayo in your pasta salad
• Save 435 calories

• Swap ½ cup cooked, pureed spinach for ¼ cup sour cream in veggie dip
• Save 79 calories

• Swap ½ cup pureed beets and 1 can pureed black beans for oil in brownie mix
• Save 469 calories

• Swap 2 cups pureed sweet corn for 1 cup cream in chowder
• Save 556 calories

A way to chow down on summer treats and still cut calories? Sold.

Vicious Vintage

Vintage is officially the latest trend in fashion. People throw the word around in every possible context. There are countless blogs (including two I read on the daily) devoted to documenting throwback styles in new clothes as well as thrift store finds. Goodwill went from someplace little kids were ashamed to buy clothes to a trendy place to shop. Everything old is new. And I'm not mad about it. The pin-up silhouette of nipped waists and full skirts flatters my figure, and you can't beat a unique brooch to add a little pizzazz to an otherwise Meh ensemble.

Yet, buyer beware. If your yen for the retro feel includes actual old stuff made of metal (think antique-y bracelets, jewelry, toys or kitchenware), this little hobby could be putting your health in jeopardy. Women's Health's May 2011 issue reported on a study from the Journal of Environmental Health that found high concentrations of lead in all except one vintage item. Some of the 28 items tested had as much as 700 times the amount of lead deemed safe by the government. Lead is a dangerous heavy metal, that can cause nervous system, heart and kidney damage, fertility problems, and death in high doses. There's a reason they banned it as an ingredient in paint ladies and gents.

But don't despair. You don't need to abandon your love of everything old school yet. Just make sure to test the lead content of those earrings you've had your eye on before you buy. Home Depot sells an instant swab test that detects the presence of lead for $25.  That will run you a whole lot less than the hospital bills you'd incur from some good old fashioned lead poisoning

Bedroom Voice

Wondering if that cutie from the coffee shop digs you too? Too old to pass him a note saying, "Do you like me, circle yes or no." Now you can tell if he's into you, just by listening to how he announces that your mocha latte is ready. 

Women's Health magazine's December Issue reports that when men and women find each other attractive, their voices naturally become lower. Researchers used voice messages that college students left for members of the opposite sex they were attracted to, and found that both men and women tend to speak in sultry, husky tones when romantically interested in each other. This adds a whole new level to analyzing those post-date phone calls.

It's time to start taking this little saying literally

So girls, it looks like we have been getting it all wrong when we head out to for happy hour looking to meet guys with a pack of lady friends. While cruising with a same sex partner (a wingman if you will) may work for men, studies show that when men see women with another attractive mate (i.e., another hottie man) they rate the woman as more desireable for a long term relationship. This finding has been confirmed by the journal PloS ONE, and reported by Women's Health magazine. They don't elaborate as to why this is so, commenting only that a more attractive partner may signal that the person is a valuable catch. My hunch is that it just triggers men's competitive instinct, and tendency to want what they can't have. So find your hottest guy pal and make him be your wingman for the night. It just might lead to true love.