This recipe also makes a nice “cheese” sauce to pour over baked potatoes or steamed greens.

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Vegan Fondue
from Vegan Lunch Box: 130 Amazing, Animal-Free Lunches Kids and Grown-Ups Will Love!, by Jennifer McCann
Green * Makes about 2 cups

1/2 cup chopped baby carrots
one 12-ounce package soft or firm silken tofu
1/4 cup nutritional yeast flakes
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1 Tablespoon mellow brown rice or white miso
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
pinch of white pepper
pinch of nutmeg

Place the carrots in a small saucepan and cover with a scant 1/2 cup of water. Bring to boil and lower the heat to a simmer. Cook until the carrots are completely tender.

Meanwhile, place all the rest of the ingredients in a blender. When the carrots are done add them and their cooking liquid and puree until completely smooth.

Place the fondue back into the saucepan and heat on medium low heat, stirring frequently, until piping hot.

To serve, pour the fondue into a small crockpot or fondue pot and serve surrounded by vegetables and bread for dipping (see our list of favorites below). To pack for a lunch, pour hot fondue into a small thermos that has been preheated with boiling water for 10 minutes.

Some Favorite Fondue Dippers:

• cubes of crusty wholegrain bread
• boiled baby new potatoes
• lightly steamed baby carrots
• raw or lightly steamed cauliflower florets
• raw or lightly steamed broccoli florets
• steamed Brussels sprouts
• blanched asparagus spears
• bell pepper strips
• apple chunks
• cherry tomatoes
• artichoke hearts
• raw button mushrooms
• raw zucchini slices
• blanched whole green beans

The easiest for you and baby is taking daily walks. Use a regular stroller or a jogging stroller – just get out in the fresh air and push that extra weight as you get in a workout. Pulling a wagon works, too, but can bang up your ankles a bit more easily.

If you love bicycling, try pulling one of the baby/child carriers behind you. Bring your bike to the shop and try it out before you buy. (You can even buy somewhere else, but do try it first.)

Sign up for a “baby-and-me” fitness class. Check your local gym, Y, community education and park & rec department for opportunities.

When you plan a day of projects, be sure to plan some fun, too. Take breaks. Stay hydrated. Have simple meals that replenish and recharge your body. Watch a favorite movie at the end of the day (settle in with pillows and blankets, in case everyone falls asleep).

The AIDS Walk begins and ends in Golden Gate Park at Sharon Meadow. Walkers should enter the venue at the intersection of Haight Street and Stanyan Boulevard to turn in their funds. The walk is 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) and takes roughly 2-3 hours to complete.

9 a.m. Sign-In opens in Mother’s Meadow. Walkers turn in donations, pick up fundraising awards, and receive their official 2010 AIDS Walk San Francisco walker button and AIDS Walk Guide. All donations support the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF).

9:30 a.m. Aerobic Warm-Up

9:45 a.m. Opening Ceremony in Sharon Meadow. Live from the stage: community leaders, musical guests, and celebrity speakers like Marilu!

10:30 a.m. AIDS Walk begins!

12:30 p.m. Post-Walk concert and family entertainment in Sharon Meadow with live music and the announcement of the fundraising total for AIDS Walk San Francisco 2010! The KidZone features a bounce house, face painting, and free carousel rides!

More information here.

• Did you eat a good, healthy breakfast? It really is the most important meal of the day – you’re breaking a fast (of 10-12 hours), so the first fuel of the day should be something that really starts your engine.
• Are you wearing clothes that make you look good, feel good, and can move comfortably in? When we look good, we feel better about everything. So don’t go out looking like something the cat dragged in. You can dress casually and comfortably in clothes that fit properly and are in a flattering color and style. Don’t forget shoes you can walk in – again, they should look good and feel good.
• Do you know where you’re going and what you’re doing? Make a list. Grab the things you need (reusable shopping bags, library books, movies, a basket or wagon or whatever for the farmer’s market, an umbrella if it looks like rain, clothes for the dry cleaner, a cooler if you’ll be out all day (for groceries), etc.). Figure out an efficient route before you leave.
• Are you stocked with water and maybe a snack? You don’t want to be tempted by a drive-through or mall food just because it’s in front of you. Stay hydrated by carrying your own water, and have a simple snack you can keep in your purse or bag. Trail mix, a healthy granola bar or power bar, an apple, some carrot sticks… you get the idea. This is especially important if you have kids with you. You will all have a better day if the kids are happy, and that includes not letting them get too hungry.
• Do you have a plan for dinner tonight? After a day of running around, the last thing you want to think about is what’s for dinner, but (try as you might) you won’t be able to ignore it. Figure it out before you go. Pick up anything you’ll need (that’s groceries, not fast food) while you’re out.

Now you’re ready. Have a great day.

This is berry season. If all you eat are strawberries and blueberries, it’s time to try something new. Raspberries and blackberries are good, and easily available (and can you say fiber? Chew those berries!).

It’s also the season for salad greens. There are so many kinds of salad greens – way beyond iceberg, spinach, and romaine. Try butter lettuce, frisee, arugula, red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce – they’re all available in just about every grocery store.

Make trying new food fun!

• Set out everything in individual bowls, labeled A, B, C, etc. Have everyone taste each food and rank it. Comments are welcome, as long as they’re not “yuck.” Practice those adjectives – words like spicy, sweet, smooth, fresh, crisp, slimy, crunchy, nutty, tickle-y – you get the idea. Identify all the personal favorites, and figure out family favorites.
• Mix up everything into one dish.
• * Try a berry salad, topped with a dollop of vanilla soy (or rice or coconut) yogurt, a tiny drizzle of raw honey, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Try macerated berries (sprinkle with a little sugar and let them sit for half an hour, then mash lightly with a fork) on shortcake. Try a berry smoothie. Identify personal and family favorites.
• * Try a green salad, topped with a simple vinaigrette. Or top it with a scoop of tuna (or mock-tuna) salad. Or put a thick layer of salad greens in a grilled chicken or tofu sandwich. Identify personal and family favorites.

Play with your produce with a few taste tests. Learn what you all like and why. Teach your kids (and maybe your partner) that trying new foods is an adventure, not something to fear. Honor individual preferences, but remind everyone that it can take time to enjoy new foods, so sometimes things they don’t especially like will show up at meal time. A taste is good enough when it comes to new foods.

Challenge yourself to try some new produce this week! Have fun!

Get your kids outside. Heck, get yourself outside!

Go dig in the garden. Weed it, water it, harvest it.
Go play on the playground. Swing, slide, climb.
Go out on the trails. Hike or bike.
Go out on the water. Swim, paddle, hoist the sails, drop the skis.
Go play. Red rover, kick the can, flashlight tag, hopscotch, kickball, badminton.

What? It’s raining? Put on some boots and a jacket and jump in puddles (not during severe weather, of course).
What? It’s too hot? Get out the sprinkler or the slip-n-slide. Make it fun.

No excuses. Everybody needs fresh air, and nobody’s too old to play.

The watermelon roll requires advanced planning and preparation – it needs time to freeze. Kids and teens will love this dessert as much as adults.

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Watermelon Roll
Yellow * Serves 8-10

1 quart plus 1 pint vanilla flavor non-dairy frozen dessert (try Soy Dream, Soy Delicious, Rice Dream, or Coconut Bliss), softened
Green food coloring
1/2 cup dairy-free chocolate chips (try Tropical Source)
3 pints raspberry non-dairy frozen dessert or sorbet (try Soy Dream), softened

In a large mixing bowl, blend 1 quart of vanilla non-dairy frozen dessert with several drops of food coloring. Using a spatula or large spoon, spread the “ice cream” up the sides of a rounded 3-quart bowl. Freeze approximately 1 hour, or until firm.

With a clean spoon, spread the softened pint of vanilla non-dairy frozen dessert over the top of the green layer. Freeze another hour.

Mix the chocolate chips into the softened raspberry frozen dessert. Fill the center of the bowl with the raspberry mixture and freeze until just ready to serve (at least 2 hours).

Before serving, turn over onto a large round serving plate. A towel moistened with warm water can be rubbed on the outside of the bowl to loosen the dessert, if necessary.

Optional – Dip a pastry brush in a small bowl of food coloring mixed with water, and “paint” the watermelon stripes on the outside of the dessert. Cut into slices and serve. A sharp knife dipped in warm water may be helpful.

Hula hooping is good for your abs and core muscles, as well as good for your legs. Spin the hoop on your arms, and you give them a workout, too. Work your way up to 5-10 minute sessions, and do several sessions a day for a cardio boost, a mental break, and a bit of fun!

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Homemade Hoops

Materials *
(check the plumbing section of your local home improvement or hardware store)

• 11 feet of 3/4-inch diameter 160 psi (unless you are petite, then use 100 psi) pex pipe
• 1 plastic pipe connector, 3/4-inch diameter
• handful of small pebbles
• blow dryer
• duct tape
• electrical (vinyl) tape in your favorite colors
• gaffer tape

Instructions *

1. Pound connector into one end of pex pipe.
2. Pour in the pebbles.
3. Use blow dryer to soften other end of pex pipe and then pull pipe over remaining end of connector.
4. Secure with a bit of duct tape.
5. Wrap the whole hoop with vinyl (electric) tape in any color you like, or multiple colors.
6. Finish with a spiral of gaffer tape.

Now GET MOVING! And have fun.

If you want to get a head start on this dish, make the rice & rye when you’ll be home for 45 minutes (maybe during dinner?). When it cools, put it in a freezer weight zipper bag, and freeze it flat. Now it’s ready in a few minutes any time you need it.

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Spanish Rice & Rye
Blue * Serves 6-8

1 recipe rice & rye (below)
1 can black beans, drained
1 can diced tomatoes and green chilies (mild or regular, your choice, try Rotel brand)
1 cup frozen corn
about 1 cup your favorite chunky salsa

Mix in a large casserole dish and bake at 350F for about 40 minutes.

Rice & Rye
from Marilu’s The 30 Day Total Health Makeover
Purple * Serves 4

1 cup brown rice
1 cup rye (the whole grain, not flour or flakes – rye grain is often called rye berries)
4 cups water

Rinse grains under running water in a strainer. Add to pot and cover with the water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low and cover, to maintain a simmer. Simmer about 25 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed.

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