eat and run

Vegetarian Times, May, 2001 by Suzanne Gerber

Right up there with "Sit up straight" and "Get your hair out of your eyes" is another piece of maternal-sounding advice we all hate to hear: "Exercise more!" And yet we know in our heart of hearts what sound advice that is. The heart's not only the repository of that wisdom, it's also the beneficiary. Study after study shows incontrovertibly how important regular physical exercise is for cardiovascular health. Don't take my word for it--catch up on some of the latest research in our News Bites section on page 14.

Every May we dedicate a hefty chunk of the issue to fitness, and this year is no exception. But rather than hit you over the head with facts and figures or try to guilt you into action with all sorts of scare tactics, we thought the best thing we could do was offer a small dose of inspiration. Thus was born our feature "Punch, Kick and Roll," written by our own in-house exercise devotee Amy Rapaport. Her assignment: Find the newest, hippest, most fun trends in the world of fitness. If you'd rather climb a tree, sing karaoke or kick up your heels than take a step aerobics class, have we got good news for you, on page 58!

But as usual, there's plenty more than exercise in these pages. May is the official kick-off of party season, and we've created some delicious recipes for you. Just in time for Cinco de Mayo (what? you don't celebrate Mexican Independence Day?), we bring you a Mexican feast, concocted by a top Southwestern chef (p. 26). Maybe you'd rather whip up your own delicious pizzas. Flip to page 36; your only dilemma will be which to make first, and how soon. Not only is it a terrific recipe, but it (and the cakes, waffles and muffins) is wheat- and gluten-free. Actually, come to think of it, everyone will love them. But the biggest surprise of the month was wrested from the closely guarded files of the kitchen at Miraval Resort in Catalina, Ariz. Chef Cary Neff shares with you his amazing recipe for Fruit Creme Brulee (p. 50). All these delicious dishes make the best argument for instituting, and sticking with, a workout routine: Exercise regularly and you can indulge in these wonderful treats (almost) guiltlessly!

Everyone's a Critic

And that's never more true than when it comes to food. That's why we'd love to hear about your experiences with our recipes. Please take a moment and share with us which recipe in this issue is your favorite. We also want to know why, so be sure to include a short paragraph about your reason, such as your finicky kids loved it, the dish reminded you of a meal you'd enjoyed in Florence, or your spouse actually helped cook it. In each issue, we will select a winner and feature his or her story. At the end of the year we'll select a grand-prize winner who will receive something from the VT gift shop.

Write to us at: VT Favorite Recipe 9 Riverbend Drive South Stamford CT, 06907

Be sure to enclose your address and phone number.