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How Much Oil Should You Consume?

March 19, 2015 by

Oil has a reputation for being bad for the waistline, but select oils are very beneficial when consumed in moderation. This helpful guide from the USDA provides simple, accessible descriptions of the main types of oils, then helps you to make informed decisions about which to use. Here are the highlights:

What are oils?
Oils are fats that become liquid at room temperature. Things like canola oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, and olive oil are common, as well as the oils found in foods like nuts, olives, avocados, and some fish.

How are oils different from solid fats?
Solid fats contain more saturated fats and/or trans fats, while oils contain more monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Saturated fats and trans fats raise the “bad” cholesterol in your body, which increases the risk of heart disease.

Why are oils important?
It is important to consume oils because they provide essential nutrients. Oils are the major source of essential fatty acids, which are necessary for your health, and they are also provide the majority of your body’s Vitamin E.

How much oil should I consume?
The average American adult needs anywhere from five to seven teaspoons of oil per day, depending on factors like your gender, age, and level of physical activity.

What Are “Oils”? [USDA]

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These Tips Can Help You Enjoy Fruits and Veggies on a Budget

March 5, 2015 by

If you think that you have to increase your grocery budget in order to begin a healthier diet plan, think again. There’s no reason why a meal plan filled with fresh fruits and veggies should cost more than one filled with snacks and sweets, and these helpful tips will show you how to do it — even on a tight budget.

  1. Buy in-season produce. You’ll often find better deals on fresh produce when it’s in season, so consider stocking up on large quantities of, say, apples in the fall or berries in the summertime. If you buy more than you can consume, freeze the fruit for future use.
  2. Plan meals in advance. One of the best ways to make the most of what’s in season (and avoid throwing away produce that has gone bad) is by planning a week’s worth of meals in advance. You can even make a few meals over the weekend and freeze them to eat on busy weekdays.
  3. Use sales to get adventurous. If you purchase only fruits and veggies that are on sale at the grocery store, it won’t just save you money, it will also give you an excuse to experiment with new foods that you wouldn’t normally try. Rhubarb, anyone?
  4. Store produce properly. If you get frustrated about how quickly your fresh produce goes bad, create a more organized storage system to maximize its lifespan. Keep vegetables separate from fruits, as many fruits emit a gas that causes veggies to spoil more quickly.

Fruits and Vegetables on a Budget [Fruits and Vegetables More Matters]
10 Smart Tips for Eating Healthy on a Super Tight Budget [The Kitchn]

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How to Steer Clear of Saturated Fat in Your Diet

February 19, 2015 by

Saturated fats are some of the main things that you should watch out for when you’re trying to lose weight or improve your health, but unfortunately they’re very common in many of the foods on the market today. If you want to cut saturated fats from your diet, these three foods are some of the main ones to avoid.

  1. Butters and margarines. This is a tricky subject, because butter and margarine have both positive and negative qualities. When choosing a spread, first compare both the trans fats and the saturated fat contents of each product. Whichever one has the lowest number of trans and saturated fats is the healthier option.
  2. High-fat meats. Meats like steak, ground beef, pork, and sausage with visible, marbled fats are always very high in saturated fats. Dark meat poultry and poultry with skin on it also contains much more saturated fats than other types. Choose leaner cuts of meat, chicken, or fish instead, or you can substitute ground beef or sausage with ground turkey.
  3. Dried coconut. While coconut is a common topping on many cakes, cookies, and candy bars, it contains about 57 grams of potentially harmful saturated fats per serving. This is an alarming 286% of your recommended daily intake, so be sure to limit the amount of dried coconut that you consume.

Top 10 Foods Highest in Saturated Fat [Healthaliciousness]
Saturated Fats Are Primarily Found in What Groups? [SF Gate]
Saturated Fat [CDC]
Fat and Oils [Better Health Channel]

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Just Add Candlelight: Romantic Valentine’s Dinner Ideas for Two

January 22, 2015 by

Whether you’re on a budget or you simply want to plan a more personalized Valentine’s Day date than dinner at a crowded restaurant, making a home-cooked meal for that special someone is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday. Here are three romantic dinner ideas that are made for two—just be sure not to forget the candlelight!

Surf-and-Turf for Two [coastalliving.com]
This is normally one of the priciest dishes on the menu at an upscale restaurant, so preparing it at home is a more affordable way to enjoy an indulgent Valentine’s Day meal. With tender, juicy steak and plump scallops cooked in a champagne-butter sauce, this meal will surely elicit a thank-you kiss.

Creamy Tomato Soup [myrecipes.com]
Valentine’s Day falls at the tail end of the winter in most parts of the country, so snuggle up with your better half over a bowl of steaming hot tomato soup. Gain a few extra romance points by pairing it with grilled cheese sandwiches cut into festive heart shapes.

Mini Heart Pizzas [thenerdswife.com]
Pizza is the fastest route to just about anyone’s heart, as you’ll quickly learn when you present your special someone with these adorable (and delicious) mini pizzas. They’re baked in the shape of hearts for a more festive flair, and they’re so easy to make that even the most novice home chef can prepare them with ease.

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Are You on the Right Career Path? Take These Fun Quizzes to Find Out!

January 8, 2015 by

Do you ever feel like you’re unsure if your chosen career path is the right one for you? Just about all people worry about their job choices from time to time, but it can be difficult to take the plunge into actually switching career paths. Here are three helpful online quizzes that will give you some insight into if you are truly happy in your chosen career—or if you should leave it behind and try something new.

What Career Should You Actually Have?
This quiz from popular pop culture website Buzzfeed promises to show you the career path that is best suited to your unique personality so that you can compare it to the one that you’re actually on. Use the clean, attractive layout to answer gut reaction questions and find insight into your hidden talents.

Career Bridge
If you’re looking for a more professional resource to help you decide on a perfect job, the Career Bridge quiz aims to target things that you actually think rather than things that you believe other people want you to think. By answering questions about your interests, you’ll find out what line of work you’re best suited for.

Career Test
Whether you’re already in a chosen field or you’re still in college, this simple quiz is targeted to adults of all ages. It asks very specific, job-driven questions that pertain directly to different career fields.

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What You Don’t Know About Plastic

December 18, 2014 by

Plastic is an important part of your life whether you realize it or not. The world today consumes 600 billion pounds of plastic per year, and this number is anticipated to grow. Since we use plastic so much, we should at least know a little bit more about it! Here are some must-read facts about plastic.

1) The most common form of plastic is polyethylene. This plastic is typically found in grocery bags and water bottles. In fact, it's estimated that more than 100 billion plastic grocery bags are used annually. The average person uses 290 bags per year, and these plastic bags are typically put into use for only 15 minutes.

2) Plastic is forever. Plastic does not decompose naturally, which is why recycling plastic is so important. Recycled plastics are given new life as bottles, fleece jackets, and fiber fillings, among other uses.

3) Plastics represent 13 percent of total solid waste. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that in 2012, the U.S. produced 32 million tons of plastic waste. Of that 32 million tons, only nine percent was sent to be recycled.

20 Things You Didn't Know About… Plastic [Discover]
Plastics [EPA]
Plastic Facts [Kids Go Green]

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Planning a Wedding? Check Out These Apps for Apple Devices!

December 4, 2014 by

Planning a wedding is very stressful for most soon-to-be brides and grooms, but it doesn’t have to be. With a lot of organization, some great time management skills, and help from these impressive digital magazine apps, you can plan your wedding right from the convenience of your iPhone or iPad.

BRIDES Magazine
Conde Nast’s premier bridal magazine goes digital in this all-inclusive wedding planning app. By paying a small subscription fee you’ll have access to the digital versions of every issue of BRIDES magazine, or you can purchase a one-month subscription for a low rate. Swipe across your phone or tablet’s screen to browse the magazine’s wedding dress ideas, celebrity wedding coverage, planning tips, and much more. The magazine is ideal for the modern bride with an affinity for all things chic and glamorous.

Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine
If your dream wedding is more rustic than couture, you’ll love the content in Martha Stewart Weddings. The app version of the popular magazine includes all of the best features from each issue, from creative ideas for the wedding cake to the best ways to incorporate vintage elements into a modern ceremony. Martha Stewart Weddings even offers great ideas for a honeymoon on a budget.

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Nutrition Tips for Vegetarians

November 20, 2014 by

Whether you want to show support for animals or simply choose to avoid meat products, becoming a vegetarian can be a very healthy lifestyle choice. Though it decreases your risk for many long-term diseases, a vegetarian diet can make it difficult to get the protein and other nutrients a person needs to stay healthy and energized.

These vegetarian eating tips can help you create a balanced, meat-free diet:

  • Make sure that you get enough protein by incorporating nuts, beans, peas and soy products into meals and snacks.
  • Keep up with your necessary iron intake to create healthy oxygen absorption in the blood by eating a lot of spinach, kidney beans, lentils, black-eyed peas and iron-fortified cereals.
  • Choose calcium-fortified soy milk to replace the calcium normally found in regular cow’s milk.
  • Consider vegetarian alternatives to traditionally meat-based foods to keep your diet exciting (for example, bean burritos, veggie lo mein, or vegetarian lasagna).

Tips for Vegetarians [USDA]

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These Halloween Dessert Recipes Are All Treats, No Tricks

October 16, 2014 by

Everyone knows that candy is the best part about Halloween, but there's still something to be said about seasonal sweets that don't require a wrapper. If you're hosting a Halloween party this year, these Halloween recipes are all treats and no tricks!

Marshmallow Witches [myfabulousrecipesbackup.blogspot.com]
The kids will love to help make these not-so-wicked witch treats! Large marshmallows are decorated with chocolate chips, candy pieces, and cookies to create a coven of seriously sweet witches. These treats don't requiring any prepping or cooking, which leaves more time for the fun part: the decorating!

Pumpkin Cookies [Food and Wine]
Catering to more refined palates, these pumpkin cookies boast a cake-like texture that's complemented by tiny pieces of candied ginger. Pumpkin spice imparts an autumn flavor, while a sugary glaze tantalizes the taste buds.

Spider Cookies [Delish]
A spider shaped cookie cutter transforms basic sugar cookie dough into a tempting dessert that might just make your skin crawl. Each arachnid is dipped into black sanding sugar for a sparkly-sweet finish, then arranged on cookie cooling rack that resembles a web.

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How to Prepare a Perfect Plate of Pasta

September 18, 2014 by

If you’ve ever overcooked or undercooked pasta and suffered the consequences throughout your entire meal, you know how touchy this seemingly simple dish can be. Luckily, these simple steps will show you how to prepare the perfect plate of pasta.

  1. Use a large enough pot. One of the most common mistakes when cooking pasta is using a pot that isn’t large enough to accommodate your noodles and water. As a general rule, one pound of pasta should be cooked in about 5 to 6 quarts of water or more.
  2. Start with cold water. To avoid tainting your pasta’s taste with the metallic taste of your sink’s pipes, fill the pot with cold water to start. Hot water dissolves contaminants like lead much more easily, which could affect the taste of your pasta.
  3. Boil thoroughly. Cover your pot with a glass lid and bring the water to a quick boil. Add a pinch of salt to bring out the natural flavors.
  4. Cook pasta. Most pastas cook for 18 to 20 minutes after the water returns to a boil. Be sure to remove a noodle or two and taste them throughout the cooking process.
  5. Drain and serve. Drain your noodles over a large colander, but be sure not to over-drain them, as this could cause them to dry out and stick together. Pour warm sauce over all of the noodles, and then serve.

The Most Common Cooking Mistakes [Cooking Light]
How To Cook Perfect Pasta [What’s Cooking America]
10 Secrets to Perfect Pasta [Good Housekeeping]

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