Welcome to the HealthyYum Community: Beautiful Pictures, Healthy Food, Deliciously Yummy.

----------
HealthyYum Weekly Challenge. Last week's theme was Bibb Lettuce picked by Yoga is Yummy (Polly). Unfortunately, we didn't get many entries I couldn't find Bibb Lettuce in my local supermarket, so I'm assuming some of you couldn't either ... right?! This week's challenge is a little bit easier. It was selected by twopeasandtheirpod, the winner of our FRUIT challenge. The theme is ... Healthy Breakfast!

Yes - start snapping pictures of the healthy way in which you get your morning started, and submit them. Two winners will be chosen by Yoga is Yummy (Polly) and twopeasandtheirpod. The prize will be 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life, by David Grotto AND get ready for it AND get ready for it ... Coupons for free Nasoya Silken Creations (dairy-free, lactose-free, low-fat, gluten-free desserts)!

----------
Favorite Photos. Last week Maggie (PithyandCleaver.com) and Lucullian picked their favorites. This week Cookin Canuck and BellaEats are doing the honors. Their photos were among last week's favorites.

From Cookin Canuck. My 2 faves from this week are Fruit Salad with Dill by KalynsKitchen and Cucumber Ribbon Salad by The Perfect Pantry.

From BellaEats. I chose the Israeli Couscous with Grilled Summer Vegetables by Cookin Canuck: I love the composition and vibrant photos - it seems that I could take my spoon right to the dish! The Raw Raspberry Ganache Fudge Cake by ElleElle was my other favorite. I just want to pick those raspberries right off the screen.

----------
Healthy Activities. Have you ever taken a bike tour? Many cities offer bikes for rent for under $20/day. Set aside a day one weekend to explore a nearby city by bike - you'll be able to visit more places than if you were walking, and you'll have fun while you try to remember how to ride. Don't worry, you never actually forget - so if you haven't been on a bike since you were a kid, now's the time to try.

If biking's not your thing, try to work some activities in throughout your day. Going to a movie? Get there 15 minutes early and window shop at the mall (walking + not buying = good for your body and your wallet). Going out to dinner? Wander around downtown after your meal - walking is great for digestion. Stressed after a day of hard work? Relax with a few gentle stretches or a quick yoga video. It all really does add up. Aim for 30+ minutes of extra activities every day.

----------
Food & Health TidBits. Organic Fruit and Vegetable Boxes Explained. This article provides some useful "use by" dates & storage information, such as:
1-3 days. Mushrooms, sugarsnap peas, asparagus - store at the bottom of the fridge. Fresh herbs, spinach - store in an airtight bag in the frigde. Tomatoes - store at room temperature unless over ripe. Head over to SmarterFitter for more information.

Three Effective Ways to Enhance Your Willpower. Eating healthy can sometimes be a battle of wills, especially when you're just starting out. This article offers 3 ways to help you "fight the good fight." The first tip is to Anticipate and plan for your times of low self-control. Read more at ZenHabits.net.

Denny's has been sued by CSPI (The Center for Science in the Public Interest), seeking to compel Denny's to disclose on menus the amount of sodium in each of its meals and to place a notice on its menus warning about high sodium levels. "No Denny's dish contain less than 500 milligrams of sodium, and 75% of them contain more than the maximum recommended allowance." More at Consumerist.com.

----------
Websites & Blogs We Heart. Lucy Vaserfirer, whose photo was chosen as one of the favorites in last week's newsletter, was gracious enough to share with us 2 of her daily reads. Warning: gorgeous & indulgent food alert ahead.

My fave food blogs are, without a doubt, Cannelle et Vanille and Tartelette. These two blogs are both about baking and pastry, but luckily reading them has zero calories! They speak to me because, as far as I'm concerned, dessert is the icing on the cake of life. The life stories are full of heart, the sweets are inspired - perfection even, the photography is dreamy. The talented and creative authors are clearly both triple threats: top-notch pastry chefs, food stylists, and food photographers. I visit these blogs daily for inspiration and just to drool.

Tanya. DaniSpies is a healthy food blog I recently discovered. It's about making good, healthy food SUPER EASY so people can eat well and feel great.

For a daily dose of positivity, I usually head to OperationBeautiful.com. Caitlin, who started the site, begun leaving positive messages on the mirrors of public restrooms, at work, at the gym, at the grocery store - just about everywhere. The concept took off and the website features pictures & stories about the notes people have posted - and feedback from some of the people who find them. Many food bloggers started writing about food and healthy eating because of their own struggles with weight & body issues, and this site is a nice reminder to love ourselves because of who we are, not how we look.

Maggie. I've been frequenting the Post Punk Kitchen (PPK) forums a lot recently. The forums are filled with amazing recipes and food porn ... all they're all vegan! I stop by whenever I need more healthy inspiration (but HealthyYum is always my first stop of course). Another site I've loved for a long time is YogaDownload.com. They offer free 20-minute podcasts to download as well as longer classes (which are still very reasonably priced). The classes come in all levels, intensities, and styles. I actually have to thank YogaDownload.com for getting me into a daily yoga practice. Everyone has 20 minutes a day! Check it out if you have a chance.