How To Have a Healthy, Happy Thanksgiving This Year
It’s been a year full of unprecedented this and uncertain that. As Thanksgiving approaches, most of us are wondering what this year is going to look like. The one thing we can count on: It’s definitely not going to be a typical holiday season. But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy Thanksgiving.
What Are Electrolytes and Why Should I Care?
Staying hydrated is one of the pillars of good health, one of those things you’re probably focusing on doing every day or have on your list of top health goals. But staying hydrated isn’t always as simple as just drinking more water, especially if you’re active.
Craving Childhood Comfort Foods? Here Are the Healthier Versions to Try Today
My story of childhood is not all that different from other Gen-X-ers: I was a latchkey kid, and my single working mom expected my brother and me to manage a lot for ourselves. Packaged snacks and heated-up frozen food eaten in front of the TV were very common in our house.
The Clean Plates Team Shares the Podcasts We’re Listening to Nonstop
All of us here at Clean Plates love reading, watching and listening to as much as we can around health and wellness—it’s what we do. But even for us, the sheer volume of information can feel like drinking from a firehose.
The Best Thing You Can Do with Frozen Cauliflower
So, you stocked up on frozen veggies at the start of sheltering in place — but now it’s 8, 9, 10 weeks later (or 2 years, who even knows anymore?) and you want your freezer back. We’re with you.
The Simple Customizable Salmon Cake That Uses Canned Fish and Whatever’s in Your Fridge
Whether saving money is on your mind, or minimizing trips to the grocery store, or using up what’s in your pantry, or all of the above, it’s hard to argue with canned wild salmon. It’s shelf stable, it’s far cheaper than fresh, and it’s super versatile.
Why Red Meat Is An Essential Part of My Healthy Diet
Red meat and I were on again-off again for most of my life. It was never that I didn’t love meat; I always have, especially beef and lamb. But I’ve always made a big effort to be a healthy eater, and up until about 6 years ago, I thought eating meat and being healthy were at odds.
This is a Great Time to Start Making Pour Over Coffee
There are two kinds of people in the world: People who love their coffee, and people who are wrong (I say it with love; somehow I ended up married to one of the latter). Now that we’re sheltering in place, most coffee shops are closed—so if you’re coffee obsessed and used to getting your fix on the go, you may be struggling right now.
No Way to Take A Mental Health Day? Try These Mental Health Moments
Working from home (or being out of work), trying to homeschool kids, caring for at-risk parents—managing stress right now is more of a challenge than ever. When things got to be too much pre-COVID, we would turn to the occasional mental health day to help us calm down and reset. But right now, it’s difficult if not impossible to do that.
Why (and How) to Practice Mindfulness Right Now
If there’s an “it” buzzword that’s emerged in the heath world in the last couple of years, it’s mindfulness. We’re encouraged to practice it all the time, since its purported benefits include reducing stress, improving concentration, boosting immunity and even protecting our genes in a way that may enhance longevity.
How to Move Now That Gyms Are Closed
Among the many changes to all of our lives as we shelter at home is the closure of gyms and boutique fitness places. Whether you never missed a SoulCycle class, banged out Barry’s Bootcamp or got your yoga on on the reg, it’s all on hold. Plus, our daily non-workout movements—commuting, walking around the office, running errands—are curtailed as well.
Guess What? You Can Roast Frozen Vegetables
When news of the seriousness of COVID-19 started to hit home (it was only a few weeks ago, or 10 years, hard to say at this point), many of us ran out and stocked up on frozen foods, just in case.
Everyday Foods That Support a Healthy Immune System
If you’re reading this, you already know how important eating well is for good health. As Dr. Mark Hyman puts it, “Food is literally the most powerful medicine you have available to control your health.” That’s always true—but right now, as we’re all trying to protect ourselves and our families from a global pandemic, eating healthy feels even more urgent.
How to Give Anyone (on Any Diet) a Sweet Treat on Valentine’s Day
Giving someone a box of chocolates is classic for Valentine’s Day… but these days, with a zillion different dietary styles, preferences, allergies and so much more, the simple act of giving a gift can feel pretty fraught.
How to Feel Better When You Feel Left Out
Imagine checking your friend’s Insta, and finding that she and a whole group of your friends had an amazing night out… without you. Maybe it was a simple oversight that you weren’t on the group email, maybe there’s something else going on—either way, it hurts.
These Smart Food Combinations Help Maximize Nutrition
Bella and Edward, Harry and Sally, Romeo and Juliet—some things just go together. The same is true for foods.
3 Low Sugar Ketchups That Actually Taste Like You Know Who
Ketchup: It’s hard to imagine life without it. Whether you dip everything in it, can’t imagine a burger without it, or use it as a base for your fancy DIY barbecue sauce (respect!), ketchup is one of life’s necessities.
How to Feel Better When You Skipped the Gym For a Week
Maybe you were on vacation, maybe you had a big deadline, a work trip, a sick child. Maybe you just couldn’t get yourself to the gym. It happens. Here’s solid expert advice for what to do now.
5 Awesome Meat-Free Grilling Recipes
We love a smoky grilled piece of meat, fish or chicken as much as anyone, but vegetables enjoy just as prominent a place on our grates. Whether you’re a full-time vegetarian or just looking for summer grilling inspiration, here are some tasty and healthy dishes to light your fire.
5 Ways to Chill Out When You Only Have 10 Minutes
You could probably use an hour or two of relaxation time every day, right? Time for some leisurely self-care?
Only Have 5 Minutes for Breakfast? Here’s What to Eat
Are your mornings as hectic as ours? We bet they are — and since you can’t decide to not get dressed or brush your teeth, often when something has to go, it’s breakfast.
10 Things I Always Keep In My Kitchen For Healthy Dinners
There are a few non-negotiables in my kitchen at all times to make sure I can put together a healthy meal, quickly and without hassle. Some you might expect; others are little less typical. Hint: Pre-peeled garlic is one of them.
5 Expert Tips for Ordering at Panera Bread
Panera Bread—so often the solution whether you’re looking for a quick breakfast on the go or a lunchtime option that has something for everyone. Now, don’t think just because they have “bread” in the name you won’t be able to make healthy choices. We asked experts for their tips on how to order like a champ.
How to Bring the Yoga Retreat Experience Home with You
Picture this: You’re at the gorgeous, serene Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in the Berkshires. You’re doing yoga. You’re meditating. You’re getting ayurvedic massages. And, of course, you’re eating amazing, nourishing spa food. You feel peaceful and powerful.
We Don’t Ask Ourselves This Question About Healthy Habits Enough
We ask ourselves tons of questions about how to support our health every day. What should I eat for breakfast? Should I go to yoga or boot camp? Should I try a meditation app?
Hot Beverage Trend Alert: Just-Add-Water Superfood Lattes
It wasn’t that long ago that you had to head to the hippest coffee spot in town to find fancy lattes with turmeric, adaptogenic mushrooms and other health-boosting ingredients. And if you wanted a non-dairy milk, well, that would cost you extra.
5 Potassium-Rich Foods That Are Not Bananas
Pop quiz: When we say potassium, you say… We’re guessing “bananas.” And yes, bananas are a great source. But not the only one.
Routine vs. Practice: What’s the Difference?
Stripped down to the most basic difference, a routine is something you do because the act of doing it is good for you or preventative of something bad for you.
A Psychologist Explains How to Deal When the News Feels Overwhelming
We try to stay positive and see the good in the world, we really do. But sometimes it feels like tragedies pile up, like there’s just so much bad news all the time. Then, when an especially big thing happens, it’s too much.
What’s Missing from Your Healthy Meals? A Cookbook Author Reveals the Secret
There are roughly a zillion healthy cookbooks hitting the market every day, and it’s part of our job at Clean Plates to sift through them and bring you some of the best.
5 Grab-and-Go Breakfasts to Streamline Your Morning
We’ll be the first to admit that some mornings are insane. From the second your alarm goes off, it’s game on. Work out, shower, figure out what to wear—and multiply that by 100 if you have to get kids out the door. No wonder feeding yourself something healthy and delicious often falls by the wayside.
5 Make-Ahead Paleo Meals to Kill the #SadDeskLunch
Weekday lunches can be such a hassle. Whether you rush to throw things together in the morning, you get through a plate of last night’s leftovers, or you spend your hard-earned cash on takeout that always seems to disappoint, the midday meal is never as healthy, tasty, or enjoyable as we want it to be.
How to Have Mac and Cheese and Still Feel Amazing
Mac and cheese: The ultimate comfort food. If we were playing Family Feud right now, and the clue was “comfort foods,” mac and cheese would absolutely be in the top 3, probably no. 1.
5 Lessons About Healthy Eating That I Want Everyone to Know
When it comes to our relationship to food, the status is: It’s complicated. Food can be nourishing, comforting, energizing, an expression of love, a way to gather loved ones together. It can also be the source of anxiety, stress, and self-hatred.