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Additional Articles/Posts by HellaWella

  • Beer Isn't Just for Drinking: 10 Recipes That Use a Brew
    You’ve probably cooked with wine before, but what about beer? In addition to being a refreshing alcoholic beverage, a good ale — or lager, pilsner, [insert your favorite type of beer here] — can be just the ingredient your dish needs. A...

  • Do Healthy Substitutes Stack Up in Flavor?
    You’ve seen the charts making the rounds on Facebook, Pinterest, and Tumblr listing healthy substitutes for fatty — but delicious — ingredients. Some seem pretty obvious, such as using applesauce rather than sugar, but other...

  • Truth Behind 4 Chocolate Myths
    For plenty of us, choosing between chocolate and cheese is easy: chocolate. But the dessert staple has also gotten a bad rap over the years, purportedly causing everything from pimples to poor cholesterol. We decided to get to the bottom of these claims...

  • Should You Be Avoiding Rice to Limit Arsenic Intake?
    The word "arsenic" conjures up images of old lace, of murder by poison, and — as was aptly suggested by Kent Sepkowitz, an infectious-disease specialist, in his Sept. 20, 2011, article for the Daily Beast — of a murder mystery tale....

  • Should You Join a CSA?
    With health and wellness taking center stage, more and more consumers are becoming invested in how and where their food is produced. If you’re a health-conscious, vegetable-loving cook, community-supported agriculture may be just what the doctor...

  • Meet Your Meat: Calories, Fat, and Protein in Popular Cuts
    Beef brisket might be fingerlickin’ good, but a mere 3 ounces of the meat packs 300 calories, 24 grams of fat, and less protein than most other cuts. With all the different cuts of meat, it can be overwhelming to choose what to cook for dinner while...

  • More Bean for Your Buck: Cheap & Hearty Bean Dishes
    Let’s face it: Times are tough all over, and we have to pinch our pennies where we can. Usually, we pinch them at the grocery store because we don’t think it’s possible to eat healthy, homemade food prepared with fresh ingredients on the...

  • It’s a Wrap: 6 Simple Recipes to Roll in a Tortilla
    Take a break from the bread slices and roll together a different type of lunch with wraps — the best thing since sliced bread. Seriously — they don’t get all soggy like bread does when you bring your lunchtime sandwich to the office with...

  • Trendy Health Food Du Jour: Freekeh
    We hope you’ve had your fill of quinoa, because it’s already yesterday’s news now that freekeh has stolen the spotlight. Pronounced "freek-ah," this ancient grain is actually green durum wheat that’s harvested young,...

  • Baking Gluten-Free: Why Is My Bread All Crumbly?
    Gluten is a protein found in foods processed from wheat and wheat-related grains. In the case of bread, it functions as the glue that holds it together and gives it a chewy texture. It is also the bane of people who have celiac disease or who are gluten-...

  • Grow Your Own Vegetable Garden From Leftover Scraps
    Starting your own vegetable garden may sound like a daunting task, but it can be as simple as saving the scraps from last night’s dinner. Click here to see the Grow Your Own Vegetable Garden From Leftover Scraps Slideshow Scraps? Really? Yup! Many...

  • How to Make Your Own Pickled Vegetables
    A single bite of pickled vegetables is all it takes for even the staunchest veggie-hating meat-eater to appreciate the complementary kick they lend to savory dishes. Almost every vegetable can be pickled — from garlic and radishes to cucumbers and...

  • 5 Easy Ways to Reuse Tea
    You’ve probably heard that a hot cup of Earl Grey is good for your body and soothes your soul, but did you know that it can also help you make a greener home? Reusing tea for these common household tasks is a great way to avoid using chemical-based...

  • Farming of the Future: Gardening Without Soil
    Flexing your green thumb doesn’t have to mean getting down and dirty — at least if you opt for hydroponics, an alternative form of gardening that doesn’t use soil. Sound like something from The Jetsons? Well, it kind of is. Back in 1990...

  • The Secret Antidotes to 'Hot Pepper Hands'
    After chopping up chile peppers like jalapeños and poblanos, many a home cook has fallen victim to the intense burning sensation we like to call "hot pepper hands." Click here to see the Secret Antidotes to 'Hot Pepper Hands' The...

  • POTUS Potables: US Presidents' Favorite Drinks
    As someone who greedily devours everything Sarah Vowell and David McCullough write and who owns the Founding Fathers Pez dispensers — mint in box, thank you very much — I get pretty hardcore about the history of the presidents of the United...

  • 10 Reasons Why Avocados Are the Best Things Ever
    We’ve raved about quinoa, jumped on the chia seed bandwagon, and pinned more Brussels sprouts and asparagus recipes than we thought possible; but at the end of the day, the healthy food that truly steals our hearts is the avocado. From guacamole to...

  • Food Fixes for Dry, Winter Skin
    Winter is upon us and so is dry skin. If your moisturizer isn’t cutting it, it could be time to try addressing the problem from the inside out. Vitamin A for dryness, anti-aging Vitamin A is essential for preventing skin from drying out and staving...

  • Chew on This: Best and Worst Foods for Your Teeth and Gums
    When choosing what foods to put in our mouths, we often give tons of consideration to our waistline. But do you ever give a thought to your oral health? Read More: The Best and Worst Foods for Your Teeth and Gums Slideshow Even if you’re brushing...

  • 5 Hearty Winter Squash Recipes
    Winter squash, despite its name, is actually grown in the summer and, unlike summer squash, isn’t usually harvested until the fall, when the seeds are fully matured and the skin is hardened into a tough rind. Click here to see the 5 Hearty Winter...

  • Why Does Asparagus Make Your Pee Smell Funky?
    You know what we’re talking about: You chow down on those tasty green stalks with dinner and then get a wafting reminder of the spring veggie the next time you hit the restroom. While asparagus has plenty of benefits — it’s a very good...

  • 8 Foods You Should Never Freeze
    When you make enough soup to feed a family for months, you can just pop it into that time capsule we call a freezer. Read More: 8 Foods You Should Never Freeze But not every leftover can survive that deep freeze. Frozen food stored at a constant 0 degrees...

  • 5 Signs You Might Be Addicted to Food
    Most of us lose the Lay’s potato chip wager of "bet you can’t eat just one." Even if chips aren’t your weakness, you most likely crave another treat, like ice cream, chocolate-covered pretzels, or a cheesy slice of pizza. But...

  • 5 Easy Snack Ideas That Help Your Diet
    To snack or not to snack? That is the existential question of most dieters and anyone trying to eat healthy without feeling hungry. It’s easy to overdo it, but snacking during the day helps you avoid serious binge eating when mealtime does roll...

  • Oatmeal 5 Ways: PB&J, Blueberry Almond, and More
    If you would have asked me what my favorite oatmeal variation was a few years ago, I would have replied with "Huh? Don’t you just add oats and water?" Well "Boring Breakfast Britt" no longer exists, and thank goodness! Click here...

  • Periodic Table of Cocktails: From Appletinis to Zombies
    No wonder James Bond kills it in those suits — martinis are one of the lowest-calorie options when it comes to cocktails. Don Draper and his Old Fashioneds? Considering all the sugar, we expect a steadily expanding waistline as he tipples his way...

  • 10 Mind Tricks to Fool Yourself Into Eating Less
    When it comes to food, humans aren’t great with self-control — as evidenced by the fact that more than one in 10 of the world’s adult population is obese (of course, self-control isn't the only cause of obesity). But if you'...

  • Leftover Lesson: To Eat or Not to Eat
    Leftovers are the best friends on which you can always rely in times of need. They offer convenience, cooking-free nights, and delicious next-day meals — that is, assuming you’ve stored and reheated them properly. In other words, don’t...

  • Come Home to 6 Slow Cooker Recipes
    There’s no better — or easier — way to make some old-fashioned, hearty comfort food than with a slow cooker. You can take care of the prep work before you leave the house in the morning, or over the weekend, and come home from a long,...

  • Why I Gave Up Diet Coke
    You’ve heard it before: If you want to lose weight, stop drinking soda. But what about diet soda? I used to love Diet Coke — no, I mean, REALLY love Diet Coke. I was known to consume 2 liters a day. But I’ve since learned that it was...

  • 8 Vegetarian Soup Recipes for the Chilly Days of Winter
    Believe it or not, there is more to cold-weather soups than butternut squash (though we couldn’t help but add a butternut squash and apple soup to this list). With so much incredible produce in season, the possibilities are endless. 8 Vegetarian...

  • 6 Reasons to Give Veganism a Try
    Dietary veganism — the practice of abstaining from eating animal products — is a lifestyle rife with mystery, myths, and misconceptions, and is often erroneously regarded as a dietary regime for extremists. In fact, amid copious health-and-...

  • How to Get Your Vegetable Fill Sans Broccoli
    In Woody Allen’s Whatever Works, Larry David’s character complained in a very Larry David fashion, "Christ, if I have to eat nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day to live, I don’t wanna live." And he has a point. How the...

  • Yellow, White, Sweet, or Red: How to Choose the Right Onion
    Not every onion is alike. Different types should be used in different ways — otherwise, you might end up with a salad that has too much bite or caramelized onions that don’t have enough flavor. Click here to see the Yellow, White, Sweet,...

  • How to Make Your 10 Favorite Takeout Meals at Home
    Just because you’ve always ordered pad thai from a restaurant doesn’t mean you can’t cook it yourself. The same goes for takeout classics like General Tso’s chicken, tikka masala, and even sushi. With this nifty recipe guide, you...

  • Your Thanksgiving Meal Is Pricier This Year
    Your grocery bill’s going to be a little higher this year if you’re planning on celebrating Thanksgiving with traditional holiday foods. The Wall Street Journal published pricing data from the Dining Alliance — a food service purchasing...

  • 6 Pumpkin Beers You Must Try This Fall
    Pumpkin lends its autumnal flavor to everything from lattes to muffins this time of year, but one of its best uses is definitely the slightly spicy, slightly sweet, pie-y goodness it offers beer. [slideshow:476395] Toast the season with one of these...

  • 5 Condiments You Can Make at Home
    We’re so used to buying everything pre-made and packaged at the grocery store that we sometimes forget we can make all of it ourselves — without the additives. With just a few key ingredients (most of which you probably already have), you can...

  • How to Eat Chia Seeds
    Chia seeds are no longer reserved for growing "hair" on pots shaped like Obama’s head. As it turns out, they’re actually packed with nutrients and are easy to add to everyday foods. What are chia seeds? The seeds come from a plant...

  • Krazy for Kimchi: How to Make and Eat the Pickled Dish
    While Americans swear by chicken soup’s remedial effects, Koreans believe kimchi cures everything from an upset stomach or a hangover to severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS. And the Korean staple has been infiltrating U.S. restaurants and...

  • A Fattier Salad Dressing Could Mean a More Nutritious Salad
    A Purdue University study found that certain fats in salad dressings could boost your body’s absorption of the salad’s nutrients — which means some of those low-fat dressings might prevent your body from absorbing the maximum amount of...

  • Popular Restaurants' Positive Chain-ges
    While no one — except maybe a delusional McDonald’s chef — associates fast food with good health, some restaurant chains have been taking baby steps toward healthier food and a more eco-friendly business. Click here for Popular...

  • Americans Spend Almost 25 Percent of Grocery Money on Processed Food
    While the excessive portions dished out at American restaurants can’t be helping the obesity epidemic, new data shows that we’re also making poor choices at the grocery store. Some new charts compiled by Planet Money as part of its Graphing...

  • Thirst-Quenching Foods that Hydrate for Summer
    On a hot day, you know that a bottle of water is a must to stay healthy and hydrated. But eating certain foods can also help fight thirst while replenishing your body with vitamins and minerals. And make sure you know the warning signs of dehydration: dry...

  • Beat the Heat with Something Sweet: 5 Ice Pop Recipes
    Summer isn’t complete without a refreshing, fruity ice pop to cool you down while you’re basking in the summer sun and enjoying an all-American beer. From creamy to refreshing to boozy, this recipe roundup has a colorful, party-perfect ice pop...

  • Green Market Glossary: Farmers Market Labels Demystified
    Shopping at your local farmers market is a great way to support farmers and food practices you believe in — and often pay less for fresher, tastier produce and meat. But all of those little labels poking out of crates of corn and stuck on egg...

  • Drinking Myths Debunked
    Drinking myths are passed down from generation to generation, usually when one heads to college. But not all hold up under scientific scrutiny. Check out this quick list before you head out to see if your alcohol folklore will really help keep hangovers...

  • How to Make Water More Exciting with Natural Flavoring
    Ah, water. It’s refreshing, 100 percent natural, and it keeps us hydrated. Unfortunately, it’s also boring. It’s tough to always choose straight H2O when we’re constantly surrounded by sweeter, tangier, or just more flavorful...

  • When Healthy Eating Shows: What to Eat for Beautiful Skin
    Who wants to admit to the old adage of having "egg on your face?" Eating an egg, however, happens to be perfectly good for your face. Very egg-citing, isn’t it? In addition to the emergence of egg puns, new studies bring to light the...

  • Top 10 Most Controversial Foods
    We hope you didn’t eat in the past hour — some of these foods and the ways in which they end up on your plate are hard to stomach. This list breaks down the top 10 foods that have stirred up the most controversy, whether it’s due to...

  • 5 Refreshing Cocktails for Summer
    You’re sitting outside, relishing the feeling of the sun on your back, and listening to your favorite song. Could this summer moment be any better? Yes, actually, it could. Grab a pitcher and a bag of ice and get mixing! Be prepared for a summer...

  • 10 Easy Ways to Eat More Sustainably
    No one expects you to run your own farm and live off the land, but there are plenty of simple ways you can reduce the impact your food has on the environment. Sustainable eating means the production of your food doesn’t hurt the environmental...

  • Food Allergy vs. Food Intolerance
    Gather round, boys and girls. We’re going to make you aware of something you probably don’t know much about unless you’re part of the 1 percent. No, not that 1 percent — the 1 percent of adults with food allergies. See, you already...

  • 5 Exotic Meats with Less Fat and More Protein Than Beef
    Beef might be king of the red meat industry now, but leaner specialty meats have been finding their way onto menus all around the United States. In fact, Bareburger — a New York City restaurant chain serving organic, all-natural, free-range burgers...

  • 100 Popular Frozen Meals Ranked by Sodium Content
    When shopping for healthy food, you probably check the nutrition facts label for calories and fat — but even the seemingly "healthy" foods can sometimes pack absurd amounts of sodium. Too much salt can lead to high blood pressure, a...

  • Pack a Perfect, Healthy Picnic
    Summer is the ideal time to bring lunch out of your kitchen (or the takeout place around the corner) and into the great outdoors. Picnics make a great date or a fun afternoon with friends; but no matter your plans, there are a few important steps to make...

  • The Soda Ban: Admirable or Too Intrusive?
    New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg sparked national controversy when he announced proposed legislation that would ban the sale of sugary drinks in containers holding more than 16 ounces in an effort to slow the obesity epidemic. If the proposal passes...

  • 6 Light Pasta Dishes for Summer
    Pasta shouldn’t be reserved for the winter months. If you’re craving the carbs but not the calories this summer, these lighter pasta dishes will hit the spot. Pesto pasta salad with roasted asparagus, string beans, cherry tomatoes, and olives...

  • 5 Alternatives to Traditional Dairy
    If you don’t want your standard glass of milk, you can find soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, and now… grass milk? Don’t worry, it’s not made from anyone’s lawn, but it does come from cows who consume a diet of only grass...

  • Serving-Size Comparisons to Keep Your Portions in Check
    "Thank you, sir. May I have another?" It’s the infamous quote lamented by Kevin Bacon in Animal House. It’s also a phrase healthy individuals try not to utter when it comes to food. Try as we might to opt out of "another,"...

  • 8 Summer Salads So Good You’ll Forget They're Healthy
    If you think salads are bland and boring, you’ve been using the wrong recipes. In honor of National Salad Month, we’re here to help you change that. These eight delicious salads keep the calories and fat to a minimum and instead offer an...

  • Tote-tally Gross Bacteria Is Probably in Your Reusable Tote Bag
    We’re willing to bet you don’t wash your grocery totes — a study released this month revealed that only 15 percent of Americans do. Here’s another lovely statistic for you: A 2010 study found coliform bacteria — a type...

  • Is Your Cereal Breakfast or Dessert?
    If you’re a serial cereal-eater, you might be knocking out half of your day’s allowance of added sugars at breakfast. We spent some time in the cereal aisle recording the sugar content per serving of 44 of the most popular cereals and were...

  • How to Make Your Own Soda at Home
    Want to add a little bubble to your beverage? Homemade soda can be like a masterpiece in the making. Simply call upon your inner artist to help create endless and delicious flavor combinations. Implementing fresh ingredients and limiting sugar and...

  • 10 Nutritious and Delicious Appetizers for Spring
    Appetizers don’t have to be wrapped in bacon or submerged in some fatty dip to be finger-licking good. Add some nutrition and subtract some fat from your usual assortment of hors d’oeuvres for any springtime soirée. We found the most...

  • What to Eat After a Prediabetes Diagnosis
    A diagnosis of prediabetes isn’t a life sentence to type 2 diabetes — think of it as probation. You have a chance to change your outcome, to fight the disease, and you don’t have to feel restricted in your food choices even though you...

  • The Great Debate: Is a Tomato a Fruit or a Vegetable?
    We’re writing this so that all of you can finally shut up about whether tomatoes are classified as fruits or veggies. You’re all correct — sort of. Now find another pointless topic for debate, like how to pronounce the word "mature...

  • How to Make the Perfect Hard-Boiled Egg
    Could you just dye for a perfectly hard-boiled egg? (Note: We do not apologize for our terrible puns.) Even though Easter and Passover are long gone, it's never too late to learn how to cook them with the best results. Believe it or not, older eggs...

  • Why a Juice Cleanse Might Be a Waste of Time (and Money)
    The juice cleanse business is drawing in customers like fruit flies, promising weight loss, body detoxification, and the treatment and prevention of everything from the common cold to cancer. Retailers are taking advantage of the craze, too, with Duane...

  • The Great Beeramid! How Suds Stack Up
    This St. Patrick’s Day, consider yourself lucky. Your liver might be working overtime, but your metabolism doesn’t necessarily have to. With our Great Beeramid infographic, you can figure out ahead of time how to keep the calories and/or...

  • 10 Reasons Organic Food Is So Expensive
    You might think organic food would cost less than conventional food since the production is spared the cost of the chemicals, synthetic pesticides, and antibiotics. Yet organic products typically cost 20 percent to 100 percent more than their...

  • How Long Does Food Really Last in the Fridge?
    Nobody likes guessing whether or not that week-and-a-half-old brie is still safe to eat. And now you don’t have to. Print out this guide to storage times for refrigerated and frozen food and stick it on your fridge. — Melissa Valliant,...

  • 5 Religious Weight Loss Plans
    Don’t be surprised if waistlines around the Bible Belt seem to be shrinking of late. The recent popularity of Bod4God suggests that the Scripture-hungry are gobbling up the advice from faith-based weight-loss programs. Founded by Steve Reynolds,...

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