What could be simpler than supping on a big, steaming bowl of soup? A hearty soup -- made with veggies and meat, poultry, fish or dried beans -- can be the main dish for your meal. Add some crackers or breadsticks on the side and perhaps fruit for dessert and you're ready to eat!

Make a large batch of soup and enjoy some for another meal. Many soups, with the possible exception of seafood soups, may taste better the next day! For best safety and quality, plan to eat refrigerated soup within TWO days.

And avoid letting soup set at room temperature for more than TWO hours.

Don't put a large pot of hot soup directly into your refrigerator. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it would take an 8-inch stock pot of steaming chicken soup 24 HOURS to cool to a safe temperature in your refrigerator. To be safe:

• To speed cooling, transfer soup to shallow containers, making sure soup is no more than TWO inches deep. Refrigerate promptly. You can place loosely covered foods in the refrigerator while still warm; cover when food is completely cooled.
• When serving soup a second time, reheat it until it's steaming hot throughout, at least 165° F.

Credit: COOK IT QUICK!, University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension (lancaster.unl.edu/food/ciq.htm)

Regular stretching, as well as warming up and cooling down before and after exercise, can reduce your risk for injuries and improve flexibility and range of motion. When pressed for time, however, it’s oftentimes the element of our workout we’re most likely to skip. But including a warm-up, cool-down, and stretching routine in your exercise regimen is essential to keeping your body fit and healthy.

The basics of eating right are the same no matter a person’s age. However, for older adults, making small adjustments will help them continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

In general, people of all ages should focus on eating fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean proteins, but when it comes to older adults, there are a few special considerations, said Janice Hermann, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension nutrition specialist.

Had a bad day? Extending your normal exercise routine by a few minutes may be the solution, according to Penn State researchers, who found that people's satisfaction with life was higher on days when they exercised more than usual.

"We found that people's satisfaction with life was directly impacted by their daily physical activity," said Jaclyn Maher, graduate student in kinesiology. "The findings reinforce the idea that physical activity is a health behavior with important consequences for daily well-being."

Refined grains have only a fraction of the vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and dietary fiber -- or roughage -- of whole grains.

Cardiovascular health benefits from whole grains which lower the risk of hypertension, diabetes and some forms of cancer, and decrease bad LDL cholesterol. Also, fiber creates a feeling of fullness with fewer calories, which can help to curb your appetite and that also means it helps lower our risk of death from chronic diseases.
It should be easy to get the recommended three one-ounce servings a day of whole grains from bread, breakfast cereal, baked goods, snacks, pasta, rice and other grains. Many of us think we’re getting whole grains but one study showed that only five percent of Americans are.

Americans put on anywhere from 1 to 5 pounds during the holidays. There are safe and not-so-safe methods of losing those few extra pounds, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Heli Roy.

Want your children to eat more nutritional snacks? Serve them vegetables and cheese instead of potato chips -- they will eat up to 72 percent fewer calories and be just as satisfied, reports a new Cornell study published online in the journal Pediatrics.

Making resolutions together can bring a family closer and provide a support system for choosing healthier behaviors in the new year.

“Our society is fast-paced, and families are very stressed,” said Carla Stanford, Mississippi State University Extension Service child and family area agent in Pontotoc County. “A new year brings an opportunity to sit down with our loved ones and take an inventory of our unique strengths and challenges. What pulls you away from your family? What brings you together? Make a resolution to spend more time doing things that draw you closer and less time doing things that push you apart.”

Take a deep breath - the holidays (and the endless onslaught of food) are now behind us. But don't get too comfortable; we're just days away from 2013, and like countless other Americans, you're probably making some New Year's resolutions. As with all resolutions, good intentions alone aren't enough, especially if you're trying to get healthy or lose weight (hence why the gym tends to empty out sometime mid-February). So what can you do to make changes last well into the New Year?

After holiday indulgences, the New Year brings new opportunities to return to a healthier lifestyle. The high caloric and high fat temptations of the season are gone, and Americans often make resolutions to lose weight or increase physical exercise in the New Year. Adhering to the New Year's resolutions can be strengthened with a plan to set goals for healthier living. However, do not set impossible goals. Millions of Americans set and then break New Year's resolutions each year. Instead of setting yourself up for failure with goals that are too ambitious, make small lifestyles changes and choices that can produce big results in the New Year.