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4 Foods to Avoid Before Bedtime

January 7, 2016 by

If you’re the type of person who loves a good midnight snack, you may be wreaking havoc on your quality of sleep without even realizing it. While some foods are okay to eat right before bed, others will make it much more difficult to drift off into a dream state. Here are a few foods to avoid before hitting the hay!

  1. Potato chips. Foods that are filled with grease and fat, such as potato chips or French fries, take quite a bit more effort to digest. With your stomach working overtime, it is much more difficult to fall asleep.
  2. Ice cream. Think twice before having that bowl of ice cream while watching late night TV. Fatty foods like this are also more difficult to digest, which could lead to you lying awake with cramps and discomfort.
  3. Candy. Sugar-packed candies will cause your blood sugar levels to spike, leaving you feeling too restless for rest.
  4. Red meat. If you grab a fast food burger on your drive home after a late night, you may not be able to fall asleep once you actually crawl into bed. Red meats like this sit in your stomach much longer than other types of foods, and your body uses a lot more effort to digest them.

9 Things Your Should Never Eat or Drink After 9PM [Bodybuilding.com]
The 5 Worst Types of Foods to Eat Late at Night [Prevention]
The 10 Best and Worst Foods to Eat for Sleep [Fitness]
10 Foods to Avoid Before Bed [Fox News Health]

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How to Stick to a Healthy Diet During the Holiday Season

December 17, 2015 by

Your diet has been going well for months, but with the holidays coming up you may start to worry about overeating or consuming too many unhealthy, sugary sweets. With a bit of self-control and a few smart tips, you can navigate the holidays while still sticking to your diet. Here are some ways to do it.

  1. Eat healthy foods first. Fill your plate with a mixture of healthy vegetables and even a few not-so-healthy indulgences like carbs, starches and sweets. Eat the healthy foods first to prevent you from overeating afterward.
  2. Eat slowly. Many people get so excited about a delicious holiday meal that they stuff themselves before even realizing it. Cut your food into small pieces and eat slowly, stopping as soon as you’re full, to ensure that you fully enjoy your meal without overdoing it.
  3. Go easy on the toppings. If you’re already allowing yourself to cheat with a piece of pie, sacrifice the sugar-heavy whipped cream or ice cream topping to cut calories.
  4. Don’t skip your other meals. To avoid overeating at a holiday celebration, be sure to eat filling, nutritious meals throughout the day beforehand.
  5. Stick to your current weight. Instead of attempting to continue losing weight during the holidays, it’s more realistic to simply maintain your current weight.

Holiday Healthy Eating Guide [American Heart Association]
9 Healthy Holiday-Eating Strategies [Real Simple]
Tips for Healthy Holiday Eating [Sutter Health]
12 Ways to Survive a Holiday Eating Frenzy [Better Health USA]

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How to Cut Calories on Thanksgiving Day

November 19, 2015 by

Thanksgiving is the one day of the year when you can eat as much as you want (and, for many people, as much as you possibly can) without feeling guilty. Although you want to indulge in stuffing and pumpkin pie, you also don’t want to go overboard and wreak havoc on your diet. Here are a few smart ways to cut calories on Thanksgiving — without cutting out the sweet potato casserole.

  1. Remove the turkey skin. While the turkey is the focal point of any Thanksgiving meal, you can save up to 20 calories and 3 grams of fat per serving without even noticing it simply by removing the skin before eating.
  2. Eat light meat. Instead of reaching for the dark turkey meat, opt for the lighter sections and save about 20 calories and 4 grams of fat per serving.
  3. Create a low carb stuffing. If you’re in charge of bringing the stuffing, swap half of the bread for veggies like onions or water chestnuts and low-fat chicken broth instead of butter.
  4. Practice portion control. The only real foolproof way to eat everything that you want without going overboard on Thanksgiving is by limiting your portions. Split that piece of pie with a family member, or take small portions and only reach for more if you’re still feeling hungry.

21 Ways to Slim Down Your Thanksgiving Feast [SparkPeople]
20 Ways to Cut Thanksgiving Calories [FitDay]
Top 10 tips to cut back on calories and guilt this Thanksgiving [The Ann Arbor News]
10 Tips for a Thinner Thanksgiving [Web MD]

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How to Get the Most Storage Space Out of Your Refrigerator

October 22, 2015 by

Organizing your fridge doesn’t just keep things in their right place, it also lengthens the lifespan of the foods inside. Here are a few smart ways to get the most storage space out of your refrigerator.

  1. Start by going through your entire refrigerator and throwing away anything that is past its expiration date. Wipe out the shelves and drawers and prepare to put things back inside.
  2. Consider your storage and see where you can add more. If there is a particularly large shelf, purchase additional shelving or bins from your local home goods store.
  3. Organize food items by size, leaving the larger items in the back and the smaller ones in the front so that you can easily see everything at first glance.
  4. Place the vegetables in the designated vegetable drawer, as this is often a so-called “crisper” that is designed especially to keep delicate vegetables fresh.
  5. Only store condiments on the door, as this is the warmest part of the refrigerator and can cause other items to spoil.
  6. Store raw foods, such as meats, on the bottom shelf so that they don’t contaminate other items.

Fridge and Freezer Organization [The Container Store]
The Best Way to Organize Your Refrigerator [The Kitchn]
How to Store Food in the Refrigerator [Real Simple]

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How to Prep Your Home for Fall

September 17, 2015 by

Spring cleaning may get all of the glory, but there’s certainly something to be said about deep cleaning your home before the fall season hits. Here are some of the best things to do to prepare your living space for the chill of fall.

  1. Thoroughly wash windows. Prepare your windows for fall by cleaning each one thoroughly with a steak-free cleaner.
  2. Deep-clean any carpets. Whether you own a carpet shampooer or you decide to pay for a professional, it’s important to deep-clean the summer’s worth of dirt out from inside of your carpets.
  3. Organize your closets. Donate any unworn clothing, pack away summer items, and organize your colder weather clothes throughout your closet.

Fall Homekeeping Tips [Martha Stewart]
Fall Cleaning Checklist [Real Simple]
5 Tips for Cleaning for Fall [How Stuff Works]

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How to Keep Your Apartment’s Entryway Neat and Clutter-Free

August 20, 2015 by

Instead of dropping your bag, shoes, jacket, and keys on the floor in front of your door, use these tips for creating a neat and clutter-free entryway.

  • Add hooks. Invest in some sturdy, attractive hooks and install them just to one side of your door. Larger ones can accommodate jackets and coats, while smaller ones are perfect for hanging a scarf or purse.
  • Add seating. Many people like to add seating where guests can sit to take off their shoes. Consider a compact bench with storage underneath to maximize your space.
  • Place a basket near the door. To avoid clutter around the doorway, add a small basket or decorative tray where you can toss your keys, mail, and other small items.
  • Consider the lighting. Do you often come home to a dark apartment at night? If so, you might also want to add a standing lamp to light the way when you enter the door.
  • Finish with a doormat. A doormat is essential for wiping muddy feet and keeping guests from tracking dirt through your home. Choose one in a bright color or with a witty greeting.

Maintain an Efficient, Orderly Entryway [Better Homes & Gardens]
Makeshift Mudroom: Tips to Keep Your Entryway Clear [Storage Pros]
11 Super-Organized Entryways to Clear the Way for Guests [Porch]

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Quick and Easy Potluck Recipes

July 23, 2015 by

So you were invited to your first of many summer potlucks this summer, and you’re totally stumped on what to bring. If you’re searching for the perfect recipe for a group, you’ll want something that’s easy to make and easy to serve, but still really delicious. Here are three unique summertime recipes that are also potluck-friendly.

Key Lime Bars [myrecipes.com]
If you’re in charge of bringing the dessert, these key lime bars are the perfect addition to any potluck. They’re the perfect blend of sweet and tart, and although they’re made entirely from scratch from crust to filling, they’re still simple to prepare.

Salsa for a Crowd [tasteofhome.com]
While salsa is a dish that feeds a lot of people at once, it’s still a really easy dish to throw together. This unique, summery salsa recipe combines corn and black beans with the usual tomatoes and spices to create the perfect topping for tortilla chips, pita wedges, or even tacos.

Sunny Broccoli Salad [midwestliving.com]
Bring a side dish that’s both delicious and healthy when you prepare this broccoli salad. It takes just 20 minutes to make, and unexpected ingredients like low-fat mayonnaise, bacon, and sweet raisins create a punch of flavor that will have all of the other guests asking for your recipe.

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Fast and Easy Grilled Dessert Recipes

June 18, 2015 by

Whether it’s the dog days of summer or the crisp chill of fall is already in the air, preparing dinner on the barbecue grill is always enjoyable. While burgers and kabobs are usually on your arsenal of grillable foods, you may have overlooked the number of desserts that can also be prepared on the grill! Here are a few of our favorite grilled dessert recipes:

Honey-Rum Grilled Bananas [tasteofhome.com]
The sweetness of the bananas and the flavor of the rum are perfectly accented by the smoky flavor from the grill in this recipe, creating a taste that will make you feel like you’ve traveled to a tropical paradise.

Banana Nutella S’mores [foodandwine.com]
Everyone loves making s’mores, but if your taste buds have grown up a bit, you may want to incorporate a more complex flavor into the campsite favorite. This recipe uses a hazelnut spread instead of the usual milk chocolate, which tastes even better when cooked over an open fire.

Grilled Peach Melba [marthastewart.com]
This Southern dessert is positively meant for the grill. Top your warm peaches with vanilla ice cream and watch as it melts over the sweet, blackened fruit.

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How to Put an End to Junk Mail

May 21, 2015 by

All of that junk mail that arrives in your mailbox isn’t just annoying to you, it’s also harmful to the environment. If you want to put an end to junk mail once and for all, these little-known tips can help.

  1. Write back. Any organization that receives a written request to remove you from its mailing list is legally obligated to comply, even companies that you’ve done business with in the past. Simply write a short request to be taken off their list and mail it back to the sender’s address.
  2. Use the Direct Mail Association website. Registering your name and address with a service called the Direct Mail Association can reduce your amount of junk mail by 95 percent. Though it takes a few months to fully take effect, this is certainly one of the most surefire ways to end your junk mail dilemma.
  3. Stop junk mail before it starts. Pay closer attention when filling out forms for things like credit cards or sweepstakes, or even when shopping online. There is often a box that you can tick that indicates that you do not want to receive mailings from that company, and if you forget to check it you could sign yourself up for a lot of unwanted correspondence.

Unwanted Mail [Recycle Now]
Stopping Unsolicited Mail, Phone Calls, and Email [Consumer Information]

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Awesome Facts About the World’s Tallest Roller Coasters

April 16, 2015 by

Adrenaline junkies love seeking out the highest, fastest roller coasters at any amusement park, but some of these rides are crazier than others. Here are a few unbelievable facts about the tallest roller coasters in the world.

  • The Steel Dragon 2000 coaster in Japan’s Nagashima Spa Land measures in at a whopping 318 feet high and 8,133 feet long, which makes it the longest steel coaster in the world. Even more impressive is its insane price, however: The coaster required extra steel to make it earthquake-proof, totaling $50 million!
  • Since 2005, the Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey has held the title of the tallest roller coaster in the world. It stands 456 feet tall and drops riders at a stomach-churning 128 miles per hour in just 3.5 seconds.
  • If you prefer upside down roller coasters, the roller coaster with the most loops is The Smiler in England’s Alton Towers park. Although its name sounds sweet and innocent, this coaster boasts a whopping 14 loops.
  • If speed is more your thing, the world’s fastest roller coaster is, predictably, located at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi. This bright red, Ferrari-themed coaster reaches speeds of 150 miles per hour in just five seconds.

World's Scariest Roller Coasters [Travel + Leisure]
Awesome Roller Coaster Facts: The Tallest One, Fastest One, Most Loops & More!
[Fun Times Guide]
8 Record-Breaking Roller Coasters from Around the World [Thrillist]

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