Despite how cold it is - who knows, maybe you've taken a liking to the cool Carolina spring - we know you're working hard towards your health goals, which is why this week we're going to talk about "green" exercise.

First off, "green" exercise simply means any physical activity done out of doors, whether urban, suburban, or rural. If there is an exercise you love to do, try doing it outside, especially with friends. Some studies suggest that one's perceived exertion, the amount of effort you put into a task, is lowered, while the amount of the activity is increased. In other words, when we exercise outside, we exercise more and it feels like less.

Here are five activities to try:

1. Walking
2. Jogging/Running
3. Cycling
4. Hiking
5. Group fitness classes

Hit the Trails!

Other than your neighborhood, there are many places to choose from in the Triangle. Here is short-list of our personal favorites:

• The American Tobacco Trail
• South Ellerbe Creek Trail
• Here is Indy Week's top 7 trails

They're all wonderful places to walk, especially in early Spring.

Featured Weekly Recipes

Go Green Healthy Salads

Go Green this week by indulging in one of this week's healthy salads! Our featured salads are hearty enough to be eaten as a main dish or can be added as a nutritious side to a balanced meal. The USDA recommends a minimum consumption of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Having a delicious, produce-packed salad will help you in reaching this goal.

Here is a list of this week's recipes to look forward to:

• Black Bean Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing
• Orange-Walnut Salad with Chicken
• Apple Dijon Kale Salad
• Chef's Salad with Creamy Dill Ranch Dressing
• Chopped Greek Salad with Chicken