As a kid I was known as a pancake devourer. As an adult I’ve been deemed the “pancake queen.” Devourer, queen – either way you put it you can tell I love a stack of warm, fluffy pancakes in the morning just as much (or more) than the next girl. So, when I recently caught wind that there was a type of lemon I’d never tried – Meyer lemons – I couldn’t wait to create a new pancake recipe utilizing them as the star ingredient.

Meyer lemons get their name from Frank M. Meyer who worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the early 1900s and brought the fruit back to the U.S. from China where they were cultivated. They are still tart but lack any harsh acidity, and taste slightly sweeter than a regular lemon.
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You likely have at least one person in your life who is endlessly inspiring, always pushes the limits of their fitness, and dreams up healthy meals that taste better than takeout.

That person in my “blogging life” is Janetha Gallegos – author and creator of the healthy living blog, Meals and Moves.

Janetha is one of the fittest women I know and is always churning up healthy, mouth-watering recipes much to the delight of her ever-growing readership. We had the pleasure of talking with Janetha recently about her blog and where she draws her inspiration for healthy living. Here’s what she had to say.

Why did you start your food blog?

I started Meals & Moves to share my healthy meal ideas with friends and family and also to keep myself accountable for what I was eating. Since I had recently lost a lot of weight, I wanted to be sure to keep it off and my blog helped me do just that.

How would you describe your approach to eating/health?
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They say there’s a story behind every recipe and these peppers are no exception to that rule. After somehow deleting all of the photos I’d taken of these little beauties the first time I’d made them, I was consequently forced to make them again for this story. This would’ve been far more unfortunate had they not been so simple to prepare and so extremely delicious. I can attest to their robust flavor as I sit here eating one for lunch while writing this post.

Pizza inside a pepper – who would’ve thought? Not I. But they are certainly the best stuffed pepper I’ve ever tried.

On top of requiring minimal ingredients and coming together in about 40 minutes tops, they’re much healthier than eating an actual pizza. This is because a fiber-loaded bell peppers replaces the crust, and little whole grain bread cubes step in to mimic that “crunch” a thin crust pizza would have.
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The Biggest Loser season 14 is off to a roaring start with Jillian Michael’s team already down to two contestants. But what everyone seems to be buzzing most about are the show’s three teens, and specifically, what they’re doing to improve their diets safely. That’s where Joanna Dolgoff, M.D. Pediatrician steps in.

Dolgoff is the show’s official pediatrician and child obesity specialist and the brains behind the diet program the Biggest Loser teens are following. Dolgoff’s prescription for a healthy diet is defined in her book “Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right,” which aims to teach kids how to make healthy choices based on the principles of the traffic light.

Green light foods – such as lean proteins, fruits and vegetables – are the most nutritious; yellow light foods – such as popcorn – are moderately nutritious; and red light foods are the least nutritious and limited to twice weekly indulgences. In addition to offering basic diet advice, the book also includes sample menus, recipes, and an index of more than 1,000 color-coded foods.

While Dolgoff’s message is primarily aimed at the teens on this season of The Biggest Loser, it’s applicable to people of all ages who are trying to eat well. We recently spoke with Dolgoff about what exactly junk food is and how we can eliminate if from our diets for good. Here’s what she had to say.
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The Golden Globes are happening this weekend. Do you have any big plans? We certainly do. With a line up of sitcoms and films we absolutely gushed over in 2012, not watching simply isn’t an option. After all, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey – two of our favorite female comedians – are hosting, which is just one more reason to tune in this Sunday to see who takes home gold.

If you’re planning on having a gathering, chances are you’ll need to feed your guests. But just because you’re in party planning mode doesn’t mean you should stress over the menu.

In honor of this year’s Golden Globes we’re dishing up eight healthier recipes inspired by some of our favorite nominees. With a mix of sweet and savory, light and filling, you and your guests will be well fed while tuning in to see who gets crowned Hollywood’s finest talent.
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