Skip Breakfast, Pack on the Pounds

If you're one of those dieters who tries to cut calories by skipping breakfast, your unbalanced approach may be backfiring. In fact, according to a new study, skipping breakfast has just the opposite effect on the BMI of teenagers. It seems to encourage weight gain rather than prevent it.
Researchers stopped short of saying exactly why this happens but speculate it could be a sluggish metabolism at play, a result of overeating out of hunger later in the day, bad snacking habits, or all of the above. Whatever the cause, you know the effect of a few extra pounds a year.

So be sure to start your day with a healthy breakfast, no matter how time-crunched you are. Even a glass of skim milk, a banana and a whole-grain oat bar—or one of these tasty and healthy breakfast ideas for busy students (or anyone else)—will get your weight-management plan for the day off on the right foot.

Fill Up on This St. Patty's Day Treat

While you may want to skip the corned beef this year (can you say "saturated fat"?), cabbage is one St. Patty's Day tradition you shouldn't leave out.
This flavorful member of the Brassicaceae family (along with cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts, to name a few) is packed with good-for-you cancer-fighting compounds, but at just 21 calories per cup raw and 33 calories per cup cooked, it's a snacker's delight.

Try it chopped and tossed with a light balsamic vinaigrette for a twist on the traditional salad, cut into strips in place of noodles in soup, sauteed in stir-fries, or slightly steamed as a seasonal side dish. No matter how you serve it, you don't have to be Irish to enjoy this little bit of tradition.

Salmon and Cream Cheese

If you adore the taste of smoked salmon and cream cheese, but thought that old favorite was history because of the calories, fat and sodium, you're in luck.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons fat-free cream cheese 2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill 1/2 ounce smoked salmon, minced 2 Fat-Free RyKrisp Crackers 1 teaspoon minced red onion

Directions
In a small bowl, combine cream cheese and dill. Mix well. Gently stir in salmon. Spread half of salmon mixture evenly over each cracker. Place on a serving plate. Sprinkle half of the onion over each cracker. Serve immediately.

Makes 1 serving. Nutritional information per serving: 95 calories, 8 g protein, 13 g carbohydrates, 1 g fat (trace saturated), 6 mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 507 mg sodium