Recent Lynda Murray Columns

After holiday feasting, settle in with some soup

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Who doesn’t love homemade mashed potatoes and gravy? I also love leftover hot turkey sandwiches drowning in gravy. And my holiday isn’t complete without at …

Five safe and sane tips to lose weight in 2012

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Do you blame America’s excess weight problem on large portions, video gaming or the automobile? Actually obesity isn’t a new health problem. Archeologists have found …

A whole Christmas scene made from cookies

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, December 21, 2011

I just love clearing off the vintage worktable I have in my kitchen and tinkering with holiday baking. For those history buffs out there, the …

Make your own new creative traditions, gifts

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, December 14, 2011

The tree is trimmed, the stockings are hung, and now you get the devastating news that your loved one won’t be able to come home …

Four tips help increase energy, mood

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, December 7, 2011

I woke up around 4 in the morning recently with a six-pack cold. I called it that because like a hangover, it robbed me of …

Looking on bright side can make one thankful

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Let’s give Spanx … I mean thanks. I’m thankful for the friend who canceled our lunch date today. For, you see, I’m exhausted from chasing …

Incentive system helped pilgrims survive in America

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, November 23, 2011

I have implemented the concept of a chore list for my young sons. This serves as a compass to help guide them and divvy up …

Don’t let appearance dictate your diet

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, November 16, 2011

I heard one of my clients comment the other day, “I have given up. I have given up dieting.” She continued, “That’s right. I have …

Go simple to take the stress out of Thanksgiving

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Thanksgiving traditionally is a time to dress up your table and your tail. But without sufficient time to prepare a turkey or iron the button-down …

Take steps to emerge victorious against diabetes

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Leaves rustle among the tombstones in the cemetery near my home. On occasion, I take clients there for “working” wellness walks. The cold hard granite …

Keep an eye out for these creepy finger foods

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, October 26, 2011

The statistics about obesity in America are scary. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 33.8 percent of U.S. adults are obese. About …

Turn Halloween candy into more treat, less trick

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, October 19, 2011

“Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat. If you don’t, just beware, I will steal your underwear.” My kids prance …

Top foods for fueling your brain

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, October 12, 2011

I was amazed when I visited my doctor’s office last week and stepped on the scale. This is a ritual I loathe, in case you’d …

Name change accentuates ADA’s mission

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, October 5, 2011

I love change. I love the change of seasons. I love a change of pace by often trying new entrees at a restaurant, and I …

‘White’ is all right when it comes to eating fruit

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, September 28, 2011

It has happened to me once again: Those words of wisdom (or is it just a flapping tongue?) that I share with my readers need …

Easy cookie batter can easily be ‘revved up,’ too

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, September 21, 2011

“Mom, I am so hungry I could eat a skunk if it didn’t run fast enough!” my youngest son roared as he burst into the …

The ancients had the answer for queasy stomach

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Have you been gathering fresh greens and other vegetables from your local farmers market? Take a little cabbage and add some carrots, radish, celery, onion …

Honey has been sweetening our diets for 9,000 years

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, September 7, 2011

“I eat my peas with honey, I’ve done it all my life. It makes the peas taste funny, but it keeps them on my knife.” …

Oatmeal is a dietary champ

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Celebrate Great American Breakfast Month in September with an oatmeal-tasting party. You’ve heard of wine tasting parties? Well, wine is good for your heart, and …

Fruit puts a smile on kids’ faces – and in tummies

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, August 24, 2011

I performed the ritual one more time this morning. School started, and I was back in zombie mode as I assembled one more sack lunch …

Perfect opportunity to Shake the Salt is coming up

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, August 17, 2011

I taught a class about scaling back sodium today for cardiac rehab participants. “I am here because I have high blood pressure and I don’t …

Follow these 12 rules that make for healthy snacking

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, August 10, 2011

I just returned from a spontaneous family trip to Chicago. I received free airline tickets for being a Kiwanis member and used them to visit …

Blackberry Smoothie revitalizes you after workout

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, August 3, 2011

We in Iowa showcased our state to 29 other states and two foreign nations during RAGBRAI – Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. Now …

Cherry concoctions pack powerful health punch

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, July 27, 2011

I feel like Col. Sanders. I have a secret recipe, and I’m not going to disclose it to anyone. My lips aren’t zipped because the …

Peanuts pack a heart-healthy boost for your diet

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, July 20, 2011

While speaking at a state convention in Des Moines, Iowa, recently, I mentioned that peanut butter/peanuts were a top 10 food. You could hear gasps …

If you scream for ice cream, digest these numbers

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, July 13, 2011

My son is playing on our town’s local All-Star baseball team. I was so proud when I found out he made the team that I …

With microwave popcorn, danger lies in the bag itself

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, July 6, 2011

I have a confession to make. I have an addiction. The craving starts around 9 most nights. …

Do you fall victim to these food budget pitfalls?

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Do you ever feel like you have a ball and chain attached when it comes to balancing the family budget? It can be downright frustrating …

Don’t lose your cool during summertime heat

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, June 22, 2011

I could write a chilling book. My children raised the hair on my head more than once this weekend. My blood went from goose bumps …

Make fruit, veggies fun – and handy

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, June 15, 2011

June is Fruit and Vegetable Month, a time to pair your favorites of each. Try strawberries and spinach in a fresh salad, or tomatoes and …

Water you waiting for? Drink up

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, June 8, 2011

This is set to the tune of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s song “Bad Moon Rising”: “I see the mercury arisin’. “I feel my brow break in …

Discover the right iron for your dietary needs

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, June 1, 2011

I’ve been running competitively since I was 18 and naive enough to run in shoes purchased from a discount store. The pain of shin splits …

Recruit blueberries for war against disease

Lynda Murray | Wednesday, May 25, 2011

What foods and beverages help build strong bones? Blueberries might not be the first answer that comes to mind, but maybe it should be. Scientists …