Step Up to the Calorie Counter: Fried Oatmeal

What does one do with leftover oatmeal? Apparently, fry it. At least, that's the suggestion from Lucy's Morsels, and it sounds like a recipe to be tested with this oatmeal-loving family.

Choose healthy oils and fresh toppings and you'll have a tasty option for breakfast that will encourage even the most ardent of meal-skippers to make time for breakfast.

1. Make a big batch of oatmeal. (Consider this healthy overnight slow-cooker recipe). 
2. Pour the oatmeal into a pan a few inches thick. 
3. Cover and refrigerate. (Cool it for at least 2-3 hours, or even a few days.) 
4. Heat a pan over high heat, spray with nonstick spray or butter. 
5. Cut oatmeal to the size of the desired serving. 
6. Sear both sides of the oatmeal square - it takes a while because of all the liquid. 
7. Choose your toppings and enjoy!

What other healthy foods can you cook differently to mix it up?

Benefits of After-Dinner Walk

Take to the streets — or treadmill/walking machine — for a short after-dinner walk, suggests Consumer Reports on Health.

According to Diabetes Care, taking a 15-minute walk after every meal has the same beneficial effects as a single daily 45-minute morning walk.

This short exercise also helped counter the natural blood sugar spike that occurs after meals, noted the study.

A short walk not only gives an opportunity for a little exercise and (hopefully) fresh air, but also socializing with friends, family and neighbors. Find a like-minded pa to join you for the stroll, or give all of your attention to your pet or family member.

When the weather doesn't cooperate, find an indoor location, such as a shopping mall, indoor track (at a local school) — and leave your electronic device at home, or at least not easily within reach.

Tai Chi Tuesday: Slacklining as Meditation

One of the key elements of Tai Chi is being mindful of what you are doing at that very moment. Mountain climbers have found a way to bring mindfulness into Tai Chi and meditation with a new practice called slacklining.

Slacklining involves stringing a webbed mountain climbing line between two posts or trees just a couple of feet off the ground.

The college students in the video below are doing it for a number of reasons (to impress a possible mate is one), and performers have done it for the thrill. Hardcore mountain climbers have created "highlining," which is stringing line between — you got it — two high points and walking across the crevass.

No matter the reason, however, practitioners all say the same thing: they value the focus, concentration and, yes, meditation required to achieve this skill.

Would you try slacklining for Tai Chi practice or meditation?

Tai Chi Workshop with Richard Clear Set for September 20-22

Spend the weekend with Richard Clear and learn  chi gung, hua jin, chan zu jin and more in five workshops scheduled September 20-22 in Fairfax, Va.

Workshos will include:

• Chi Gung Healing Workshop
• Hua Jin / Borrowing Energy
• Chan Zu Jin / Spiraling Energy
• Internal Power through Push Hands
• Freestyle Fighting the Tai Chi Way

Check out Sigung Clear's video on jin energy (below), or visit his YouTube channel.

Hope to see you in Fairfax this weekend!

Fitness Friday: Not Impossible

Step Up to the Calorie Counter: Cajun-Seasoned Vegetarian Gumbo

Here are two words few people put together: vegetarian gumbo.

Cajun-seasoned vegetarian gumbo, to be precise.

Better Homes and Gardens has a simple slow-cooker version — with only five ingredients! 

Makes: 6 servings

Prep 10 minsSlow Cook 6-8 hrs (low) or 3-4 hours (high)

ingredients

• 215 ounce cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 128 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 116 ounce package frozen sweet peppers and onion stir-fry vegetables
• 2cups frozen cut okra
• 2 - 3teaspoons Cajun seasoning
• Hot cooked white or brown rice (optional)
• Chopped green onions (optional)

directions

1.In a 3-1/2- to 4-1/2-quart slow cooker combine beans, tomatoes, frozen stir-fry vegetables, okra, and Cajun seasoning.

2.Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 6 to 8 hours or on high-heat setting for 3 to 4 hours. Serve gumbo in shallow bowls over hot cooked rice. If desired, sprinkle with green onions.

nutrition facts (Cajun-Seasoned Vegetarian Gumbo)

• Servings Per Recipe 6,
 
• cal. (kcal) 153,
 
• carb. (g) 31,
 
• fiber (g) 10,
 
• sugar (g) 7,
 
• pro. (g) 12,
 
• vit. A (IU) 1555,
 
• vit. C (mg) 37,
 
• Thiamin (mg) 0,
 
• Riboflavin (mg) 0,
 
• Niacin (mg) 0,
 
• Pyridoxine (Vit. B6) (mg) 0,
 
• sodium (mg) 639,
 
• Potassium (mg) 467,
 
• calcium (mg) 121,
 
• iron (mg) 5,
 
• Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Richard Clear Comes to Fairfax September 20-22

Qi gong healing, hua jin/borrowing force and push hands are on the agenda at Richard Clear's Tai Chi seminar set for September 20-22 in Fairfax, Va.

Tai Chi students from around the country will gather at Green Acres Center for the three-day seminar with the internationally-recognized martial artist. Click here for video of the teacher in action.

Space is still available. For information, visit Clear's website, clearstaichi.com. Hope to see you there.