SparkPeople Editor and Health Educator
Melinda has a bachelor’s degree in health promotion and education and is an ACE-Certified Personal Trainer. Before working as an editor for SparkPeople, she developed and taught health programs for several non-profit organizations. She enjoys writing, interval training, yoga, and cooking with friends. 
Read More of 's Blogs:
The Shamrock Shake: Festive Snack or Meal in a Glass?
St. Patrick's Day is upon us, and restaurants everywhere have officially "gone green" (and I don't mean in the environmental sense). Late last month, dining establishments across the nation began transforming foods and drinks into festive shades of emerald in honor of the March 17th Irish holiday. Every year, McDonald's jumps on this bandwagon (or perhaps leads the bandwagon), with their infamous Shamrock Shake, a minty green treat that's only available through March. The drink looks innocent enough in a small size, but how many calories are packed into that 12-ounce cup: 220, 530, 640, or 810?
Posted 3/9/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 127 comments 106,146 views
The Surprising Benefits of Nut Butter
Nut butters have become popular in the health world in recent years—and for good reason! Nut butter is a great source of healthy fats, which are important for regulating your energy, mood, and even your weight. However, some nut butters also deliver a more unexpected benefit: They're great for your bones! Let's take a look at two of the most popular nut butters--almond butter and peanut butter. Between the two, which one should you choose for better bone health?
Posted 3/2/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 125 comments 80,805 views
SparkCoach: The Official Blooper Reel
My one-year "Sparkversary" of working at SparkPeople came and went in January, and I've been reflecting on all the amazing things I've gotten a chance to do over the past 12 months. Between writing, editing and managing content on the site, I also got to go on a whirlwind adventure to California to help direct and film a batch of videos for SparkCoach, our premium interactive coaching program. But I wasn't in this alone—I also had the pleasure of working with SparkGuy himself and SparkPeople member Shelli (MOSTMOM1). (You might remember Shelli's "SparkPeople Cup'' and "Hooping Gangnam Style'' vlogs—needless to say, this woman is FUN to work with; we had a blast! You can read her account of our trip here.)
Posted 2/26/2013 12:00:00 PM By: : 60 comments 24,760 views
Meet the Best Meatless Protein Sources
If you're a vegetarian or vegan, you've probably been asked countless questions about how you get your protein. The truth is, it's not as hard as you might think to meet your protein needs when you're going meatless. However, some plant sources are higher in this important nutrient than others. Which veg-friendly food packs more protein: 4 ounces of tofu, 1 cup of cooked lentils, or 1 cup of cooked quinoa?
Posted 2/23/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 63 comments 67,284 views
How Much Sugar is in Your Favorite Fruit?
Fresh fruit boasts a high amount of fiber, water, and a slew of other vitamins and minerals--but it can also come with a good amount of sugar. Even though fruit contains only natural sugars and is a healthy choice in moderation, it's a good idea to watch how much sugar you're taking in regardless of where it comes from. Have you ever wondered just how much of the sweet stuff is found in nature's candy? If you were to choose the fruit with the least amount of naturally-occurring sugar, which would be your best bet: Bananas, apples, or oranges?
Posted 2/16/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 117 comments 645,834 views
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How Many Calories Are in Your Favorite Valentine's Treats?
Whether you're single, taken, or somewhere in-between this Valentine's Day, one thing is for certain: You're bound to be bombarded with chocolate. From the office candy jar, to the red and pink display in the grocery store, there's no escaping decadent truffles, chocolate-covered strawberries, and other pretty, sugary delights. The good news is that it you can have your chocolate and eat it, too, as long as you know what to choose! If you had a choice between three pieces of Godiva chocolate or five Hershey's Kisses, which would be the slimmer pick?
Posted 2/9/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 50 comments 62,268 views
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Don't Fumble Your Diet by Choosing This Snack!
It's the best time of the year for football fanatics: Super Bowl Sunday! But it's not just about the football (and hilarious commercials)--the festivities also typically include a smorgasbord of salty and fatty snacks galore. You've probably indulged in the common 7-layer Mexican dip and wings with ranch dressing, but have you ever thought about how these snacks compare, nutrition-wise? The 7-layer dip doesn't sound so bad—it's made with a lot of healthy ingredients like beans, olives and guacamole. And how many calories could really be crammed into just 6 tiny wings with ranch dressing?
Between a cup of 7-layer dip (made with beans, cheese, guacamole, black olives, sour cream, and onions and served with baked tortilla chips) and 6 wings with 1 ounce of ranch dressing, which is the lower-calorie game day snack?
Posted 2/2/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 74 comments 67,828 views
'I Lost 60 Pounds (at 60 Years Young)!'*
Meet Joyce (username GATORJOY), a SparkPeople member who has lost 60 pounds! Learn how she did it, and see how she continues to keep the weight off!
What is your age?: I am 60 years old.
How long have you been a SparkPeople member? How did you find SparkPeople?: I have been a SparkPeople member since July of 2010.
What is your favorite feature on SparkPeople?: The Nutrition Tracker.
How much weight have you lost?: Between 55 and 60 pounds.
How long did it take to lose the weight?: It took me 9 months.
What was your light bulb moment that made you decide to lose weight?: I saw a picture of myself that showed me how big I had become.
Posted 1/29/2013 12:00:00 PM By: : 120 comments 131,545 views
Condiments: The Good, the Bad and the Salty
There's no doubt about it: Americans are crazy about condiments. Whether it's ketchup, hot sauce or salsa, we just love to top our foods with zesty sauces. Unfortunately, though, those little toppings can add up to a lot of extra salt. If you had to choose between two of America's favorite condiments, ketchup and salsa, which would be the low-sodium winner?
Posted 1/26/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 59 comments 49,214 views
A Better Way to Get Vitamin C (Besides Orange Juice!)
With cold and flu season in full swing, most of us are trying to do all we can to avoid catching one of the nasty viruses floating around. Some swear by vitamin C-rich orange juice for warding off disease. Although the evidence about vitamin C's illness-fighting powers is conflicting, there's no doubt that it's still a good nutrient to consume. Since the body does not produce vitamin C, you must obtain it from outside sources to create and repair skin cells and fight off the effects of damaging free radicals. If you eat your veggies, though, it's not hard to reach your daily quota, since all fruits and vegetables contain vitamin C to some degree. That's right; orange juice isn't your only option for getting this important nutrient! Which type of produce will deliver the highest amount of vitamin C per serving: Red bell peppers, broccoli, kiwi, or oranges?
Posted 1/19/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 93 comments 113,087 views
The Vitamin You Need to Watch This Winter
Winter is in full force, and you might be experiencing a lot of overcast days in your part of the world—which could be having an effect on your body's supply of vitamin D. Often called ''the sunshine vitamin,'' vitamin D can be synthesized by the body when we get enough exposure to sunlight. However, in the colder months when sun isn't as readily available, we sometimes have to rely a little more on nutrition to meet our daily vitamin D quotas.
Vitamin D is an important nutrient for bone health, as it promotes the absorption of calcium, and some studies even show that it could help prevent cancer. Obviously, vitamin-D milk is a good source of vitamin D, but salmon has also been said to have a hefty amount of the important nutrient. Which do you think contains more of the ''sunshine vitamin'': A 3-ounce portion of cooked sockeye salmon, or 1 cup of nonfat, vitamin-D fortified milk?
Posted 1/12/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 50 comments 50,508 views
SparkPeople Members on the 'Today' Show!
Every day at SparkPeople, we hear amazing stories of our members' successes, both in weight loss and in life! Today, we have some especially exciting news: Katie (SLIMKATIE) and Carly (CARLYOLEO41) were featured on the ''Today'' show this morning to talk about their amazing experience participating in the Ragnar Relay Race in Key West, Florida. Although they were not featured on the show, John (RUNNER12COM), Jennifer (JERSEYGIRLJEN), Linda (LINDAK1971), Lealah (JUSTLEALAH) and Allison (LYSSAYN) were also members of the team. This group of SparkPeople members ran the Ragnar Relay together as a part of the documentary From Fat to Finish Line, which ''will document the journey of 12 people who share the common bond of losing 100 pounds.'' Check out the ''Today'' show video clip below!
Posted 1/10/2013 12:00:00 PM By: : 90 comments 37,801 views
Success Story: 'I'm in Training for the Rest of My Life!'*
Meet Jennifer Schmidt (username OAKBORN), a SparkPeople member who lost 60 pounds--and got fit enough to join the Army! Read on for more about her inspiring journey.
What is your age? I am currently 47 years old.
How long have you been a SparkPeople member? How did you find SparkPeople? I have been a SparkPeople member since January of 2008, but didn't really start using the site until April of 2008. I was using a couple of other sites, but they didn't fit my needs as well as SparkPeople does.
I think I found SparkPeople through a web search, and it was also recommended to me by a friend. I kept coming back to it, and the more I saw, the more I found that the site really fulfilled my needs.
What is your favorite feature on SparkPeople? I love the SparkTeams, the Nutrition and Fitness Trackers, the blogging, etc. I use them all. I made a great friend in one of the groups, and we hit goal together and have remained friends. I plan to meet face-to-face with her someday. (I hope sooner than later!!)
I guess if I had to choose one thing, it would be the support of people just like me, going through the same ups and downs... and the wisdom that we share. I also love the solid science behind everything SparkPeople has to offer, rather than the sensational ''eat 42 grapefruit a day and lose 30 pounds this week'' diets.
How much weight have you lost? I lost a total of 60 pounds. My joining weight was about 205, and I got down to 145. I hang around 150 now, give or take 2-3 pounds.
How long did it take to lose the weight?
Posted 1/8/2013 6:00:00 PM By: : 72 comments 42,392 views
10 Tips to Lose 10 Pounds
Congratulations: You have officially survived the holiday season! Now it's time to get back on the wagon and reach some major milestones in the new year. Weight loss may be at the top of your list of goals for 2013, as it is for many people. And whether you want to lose 10 pounds or 100 pounds, you're going to have to make some changes to your lifestyle habits.
The good news is that you don't have to completely overhaul your life all at once. At SparkPeople, we believe that small changes can lead to BIG results—and the ever-growing number of success stories from our members is proof of that! Millions of people just like you have been in your shoes and have come out on the other side happier, healthier and fitter than they could have ever imagined. And they've learned some bits of wisdom along the way that you can now use to your advantage along your own journey. Are you ready to lose your first 10 pounds of 2013? These helpful weight-loss tips from successful SparkPeople members will help you do just that!
Posted 1/3/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 77 comments 75,805 views
Need More Protein and Fiber? Try This Lucky Legume!
There are just a few days left until the new year! Although you're probably putting a plan in place to reach your healthy goals in 2013, a little extra luck couldn't hurt, right? In some countries, it is customary to eat legumes on January 1st for good luck in the new year. Many southerners in the US traditionally make Hoppin' John--a dish made of rice, onions, pork and black-eyed peas. Due to their coin-like shape, lentils are also eaten in many cultures to symbolize a prosperous new year. If you were to pick the more nutrient-rich legume to kick off a lucky 2013, would black-eyed peas or lentils be the better choice?
Posted 12/29/2012 6:00:00 AM By: : 49 comments 43,678 views
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