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THINK SMART Helpful tips for your everyday life

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Invite a crowd

Here's a healthy potato salad high in antioxidants from colorful vegetables. The vinegar also lessens the blood-sugar boost of the potatoes.

Mustard Dressing:
2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 Tbs. whitebalsamic orrice vinegar
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsps. Dijon mustard
3 cloves garlic, crushed

In a large pot, cook whole potatoes until done. Cool. Cut into bite-sized pieces.

In a very large bowl, combine all ingredients from potatoes through basil.

Whisk together dressing ingredients. Toss with vegetables, and add salt and pepper to taste. Chill. Serve.

Serves 24
Per 3/4 cup serving: 120 calories, 2g protein, 14g carbohydrates, 6g fat (1g saturated), 0mg cholesterol, 3g fiber, 161mg sodium

For more great USA WEEKEND recipes, visit allrecipes.com.

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Eat for fitness

Eating to maintain energy balance is important. And recent research shows that when you eat is more important than previously thought.

"[In the past,] energy balance was considered in 24-hour increments," says Dan Benardot, author of Advanced Sports Nutrition. "We looked at athletes who seemed to be in perfect energy balance but had too much body fat and struggled in training. We broke their caloric intake into hourly units and found energy balance throughout the day is key."

"Energy balance" is calories consumed vs. calories burned. If you consume 2,000 calories and burn 2,500 calories in 24 hours, then your energy deficit is 500 calories. But when you take in the calories is also key: Eating small amounts of food all day long keeps blood sugar level and insulin production controlled, leading to less fat production.

Depending on size, serious athletes should aim to stay at plus or minus 300 to 400 calories throughout the day. To gain muscle, finish the day on the plus side; to lose fat, aim for the minus side. Avoid "carbo loading" before a tough workout, too. The body converts many of those calories to fat because it can't store it all as ready energy. Refueling throughout the workout is more efficient. Other studies show this helps to maintain energy levels, sustain muscle and reduce injury.

For athletes who want to maximize potential, sportsnutritionclinic.com will analyze your food intake and create a personalized program to maximize your energy balance.

Contact Jorge Cruise, author of "The 3-Hour Diet," at 3hourdiet.com.

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Shopping for TV service?

Today you have more TV viewing choices than ever before. Check out the options in your area, then compare (all prices here are from a recent "Consumer Reports" reader survey):

SATELLITE
Pros: You'll get the most channels with this option. The average cost of satellite service is $54 a month. HD programs are available at an extra cost.

Cons: You may have service disruptions in bad weather. Hardware is pricey, too, but you can find deals.

DIGITAL CABLE
Pros: It's the only way to get high-definition shows via cable. There is a huge selection of channels.

Cons: It averages $70 a month.

ANALOG (OR PLAIN OLD) CABLE
Pros: It's the least expensive service ($46 a month on average), and it's generally reliable.

Cons: You'll get the fewest channels and lowest picture quality.

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Clean your DVDs and CDs

It may be cool to scratch records, but not CDs, DVDs and game discs. If your coveted collection has a bad case of cuts and abrasions, the Disc-Go-Pod Plus, made by Disc-Go-Tech, can return even the most devastated discs to their original playing state.

Here's how it works: Just pour in the polishing compound, pop in your disc and press a button. That's it.

Weighing in at roughly 10 pounds and at $495 (discgotech.com), this hefty gadget is built for bulk fixes, perfect for a small business or rabid collector.

For those who have just a few broken discs, the wallet friendly Aleratec DVD/CD Disc Repair Plus ($24.99 at amazon.com), which won an Editors' Choice Award from PC Magazine, may be a better choice.