Inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative to address childhood obesity, the team here at Bel Brands wanted to try and find some simple practices that can be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle and contribute to a healthy weight. So we teamed up with Dr. Brian Wansink, director of the Cornell University Food [...]

Read post

In the winter, waking up early to exercise can be miserable. It takes a great deal of willpower to avoid hitting the snooze button. It’s cold, still dark, and you can always just do it after work, right? I would advise you to get up and get it over with! I challenge you to try [...]

Read post

Did you miss Community Leader and Registered Dietitian Patricia Bannan’s Eating Smart Around the Holidays Twitter Chat? We discussed smart strategies for staying on track, including pre-party preparation and the best selections from traditional holiday fare to add to your plate. Making smart choices can be difficult around the holidays, especially when all of your [...]

Read post

This morning I decided to have fun with my standard breakfast of two eggs. I’ve learned after years of breakfast making that: 1.) Nothing beats a warm breakfast and 2.) Nothing fills me up like two eggs in the morning. Now, you may think you don’t have time to cook eggs during your busy morning [...]

Read post

This year was full of new recipes, nutrition tips and fitness activities from our community leaders and The Laughing Cow community members! Although it’s tough to pick favorites, we selected some of the top posts that we thought were worth remembering and recognizing at least one more time. Recipes With the launch of Smooth Sensations [...]

Read post

Exercise can be challenging to fit in your schedule but can be the best stress reliever during the holiday season. Be warned however, putting off your daily sweat session for after work can get you into trouble this time of year. Pop up get togethers and holiday celebrations can push back your need to attend [...]

Read post

I often wonder why the best time of year often gets the best of us. We imagine the Holiday Season to be filled with family, food, friends and seemingly effortless shopping trips. Instead, all too often we find ourselves overworked, over stressed and ready for January 1 to take over. The Holiday Season is rarely stressful for [...]

Read post

With shorter days during the winter, many people only have the option to exercise while it’s dark! From the early bird to the after-work crowd, I think we can all agree it’s a bit more difficult to get inspired to move when we feel like we should be in bed, warm and enjoying comfort food. [...]

Read post

While summer may seem like the ideal season for eating right and staying fit, there are many plus sides to keeping up your healthy routine through the winter. Here are a few easy ways to winter proof your diet. Oatmeal: Although this breakfast staple is available year-round, winter is a great time for a bowl [...]

Read post

Whether you plan to practice moderation, make healthier alternatives or go all out this thanksgiving, odds are good that you are looking to burn extra calories. Fortunately, turkey trots and boot camps have sprung up throughout the country for this annual Thursday morning. Even if your gym is closed, there are plenty of alternatives to [...]

Read post

Are you on Pinterest yet? Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. And by “beautiful,” of course I am including food, scenery and creative ideas in this equation. Pinterest has led to a ton of inspiration for many different aspects of life, including personal style and what [...]

Read post

I have a Thanksgiving Swap you are going to love! This idea is simple, tasty and lightens up my favorite Thanksgiving side dish staple, mashed potatoes. I’ve seen recipes for mashed potatoes using butter, whole milk, heavy cream, and sour cream – all yummy additions, of course. However, on a day like Thanksgiving, when you’ll [...]

Read post

Grocery shopping for the Thanksgiving Day meal can become quite overwhelming if you’re not prepared. Not only is developing the grocery list tough, but you also need to decide which tasty dishes you will make! Here are several items and ideas to get your Thanksgiving Day grocery shopping list started (in a healthy, delicious way): [...]

Read post

With all of the delicious fall produce available, it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy your favorite flavors of The Laughing Cow! The creamy textures and perfect portions compliment every meal – giving you added taste without the extra calories. I have always loved incorporating The Laughing Cow Light Cheese Wedges and Mini Babybel cheeses into [...]

Read post

As the holiday season gets underway most of us have our time booked up well through the end of the year. Busy schedules often mean last-minute food grabs, which tend to result in snacks that are lacking in both nutrition and variety. Here are some fresh and fast fall favorites to keep in your snacking [...]

Read post

As the approaching holidays cause stores to fill up with bags of candy and seasonal treats, something really great will grace the stores: Pumpkin! Most pumpkins wind up on the front porch, but there’s more to do with them than carve a face. Like so many great fall vegetables, pumpkin has a rich flavor that [...]

Read post

There are some things I think kids should just be able to enjoy, and Halloween Trick-or-Treating is one of them. I love the tradition of going door-to-door, meeting neighbors and getting a small treat. I have fond memories from my childhood, and I’m hoping my kids will remember these moments as well. However, the can [...]

Read post

With all the tasty goodies that seem to make their way into your homes and offices around the holidays, many of us worry about how to indulge without packing on the pounds.  Since total deprivation isn’t fun — or realistic — how can you have your cake and eat it too? A good start is [...]

Read post

Looking to spice up your gym routine and challenge yourself? We all get in ruts, and more often than not, end up doing the same exact moves each time we go to the gym. It’s what we know and are comfortable doing. However, as you do the same exercises, your body gets used to the [...]

Read post

True or False: It’s still exercise even if you enjoy it. True! Yes, exercise can be enjoyable. The definition of exercise states, “bodily or mental exertion, especially for the sake of training or improvement of health.” Make note that it never says anything about long hours on a treadmill or paying steep gym memberships to [...]

Read post

Did you know that a wedge of The Laughing Cow cheese added to a can of tuna makes some of the tastiest, lightest tuna salads? Simply replace the mayo in your favorite tuna salad recipe! It not only cuts out a lot of fat and calories, but also adds in some creamy and delicious flavor! [...]

Read post

The second week of October is National Get Organized Week! In honor of this random celebratory cause, I am encouraging you to organize your workout schedule! Coming up with a plan will keep your goals on track, get results quicker and keep up motivation. My current trick is signing up for class ahead of time. [...]

Read post

I am very organized and detailed, but if you came to our house you’d never know it. (I mean, unless of course my husband just got done with a clean sweep.) Thankfully, I am not here to share all my housekeeping secrets – because I don’t have any. However, I do have some tips for [...]

Read post

In my opinion, breakfast is one of the hardest meals to be creative with, especially when feeding kids. Time is tight and patience is low, so cereal ends up as a quick compromise in my house just to get something in bellies before school. Cooking in the morning can be very quick and easy! Here’s [...]

Read post

I know you already know you should eat breakfast. But if you’re too busy in the morning to prepare a meal or you’re not hungry first thing, it can fall to the bottom of the get-out-the-door list. The truth is, breakfast doesn’t need to be complicated. You don’t have to eat a lot – just [...]

Read post