Jess N, Author at Clean Plates

Elecampane inula, an herbal medicine and flower

I’ve Had Long-Haul COVID for 20 Months, and These Practices Are Helping Me Recover

By Jess N / November 10, 2021 /

Brain fog; trouble speaking; persistent chest pain; extreme exhaustion. The symptoms of long-haul COVID can be rough, but these practices have really started to help me on the road to recovery.

Healthy Frozen Foods (one has a smiley face drawn on it)

Editor’s Picks: The Healthy Frozen Foods I Always Keep on Hand

By Jess N / November 9, 2021 /

Keeping these healthy, quick-to-defrost healthy frozen foods ensures you can always cook a fast dinner that’s seriously good for you.

vegan thanksgiving recipes: vegan mushroom wellington

7 Plant-Based Thanksgiving Recipes Everyone Will Love

By Jess N / November 9, 2021 /

If you live a plant-based lifestyle, this is the ultimate guide to this year’s vegan Thanksgiving sides. Vegan or not, with sides like these, who needs turkey?

An illustration of an air fryer, herb scissors, and other kitchen tools

Editor’s Picks: 5 Kitchen Gadgets That Honestly Take the Stress Out of Thanksgiving

By Jess N / November 8, 2021 /

You could stress yourself with three days of prep and an intense spreadsheet with calculations for when each dish needs to be started and finished… or, you could pick up a few of these stress-busting kitchen gadgets.

A Yoga Instructor’s 2 Favorite 2-Minute Poses for Melting Stress Away

By Jess N / November 5, 2021 /

Seriously, don’t worry if you can’t touch your toes — these can totally still work.

green juice with broccoli, spinach, and apple

7 Deceptively “Healthy” Foods That Actually… Aren’t

By Jess N / November 3, 2021 /

Vegetable chips, nut butters, yogurts, energy bars — they all *sound* healthy — but much of the time, they’re only masquerading as nutritionally sound. Here’s how to decode labels and avoid those secretly bad-for-you snacks.

I’ve Been on the Vegetarian Keto Diet for One Month — Here’s What I’ve Learned

By Jess N / November 3, 2021 /

Going vegetarian keto may sound like an oxymoron, but it’s actually a really healthy choice. We tried it and interviewed a doctor for help.

A microphone set up before a public speaking event

The Simple 3-Step Process That Can Help You Tackle Anything Outside Your Comfort Zone

By Jess N / November 1, 2021 /

Often, people attempt to start off too far outside of their comfort zone. Instead, identify what feels doable and use this 3-step system to get past the fear, recover faster, and be open to stepping outside your comfort zone again.

The Science-Backed Technique That Can Calm Your Anxiety in Under 5 Minutes

By Jess N / November 1, 2021 /

EFT, or tapping, combines cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy approaches with acupressure to relieve physical and emotional distress. Personally, it helps me bring my anxiety down from a ten to a zero faster than anything else.

Foods That Help with Anxiety: 10 Recipes Containing Anxiety-Busting Ingredients

By Jess N / November 1, 2021 /

Crunchy, fried snacks and sweet treats might provide a momentary sense of relief from anxiety, but these powerful, whole food ingredients work harder to actually lower your anxiety levels in the long run.

Is There Plastic In Your Takeout? New Study Provides Worrying New Evidence

By Jess N / November 1, 2021 /

81% of the food samples contained a phthalate.

Gummy Vitamins Are More Effective Than You’d Think — Here’s Why

By Jess N / October 29, 2021 /

For years, I rolled my eyes at the very idea that a gummy vitamin could be remotely healthy but boy, was I wrong. In short: gummy vitamins are often more effective than pills.

Healthy Air Fryer Hash Browns

By Jess N / October 28, 2021 /

If you’re on #teamsavory when it comes to breakfast (or you’re just looking for another excuse to use your beloved air fryer) you’re going to seriously enjoy these hash browns. They’re crunchy, crispy, and best of all: actually healthy. Because air fryer hash browns are crisped up using convection heating mechanisms, they require much less…

New Study Shows How Processed Foods Harm Aging Brains (Here’s What You Can Do About It)

By Jess N / October 27, 2021 /

We’ve heard it all before: processed foods aren’t healthy, and whole foods are simply more nutritious. But just how bad is processed food, really? Will it cause long-term damage to your health? A recent study performed by researchers at Ohio State University sheds some light — and the results are intense. The 28-day study, published in…

Starbucks Pumpkin Cream cheese muffin copycat recipe (gluten-free, Healthier)

We Gave Starbucks’ Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin a Healthy Makeover

By Jess N / October 26, 2021 /

Pumpkin spice season is at its peak, and Starbucks takes the proverbial cake for their Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin— or do they? We love the flavor combination that they use: that warm spice blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and clove, which contrasts so well with the tang of the cream cheese frosting. But there’s an…

An illustration of boxed and frozen mac and cheese

The Ultimate Guide to Healthy Store-Bought Mac and Cheese

By Jess N / October 22, 2021 /

Homemade mac and cheese can absolutely be made into a balanced meal. But what about the store-bought kind? We tested a bunch of brands so you don’t have to.

5 Low-Cost Ways to Super-Effectively Organize Your Kitchen

By Jess N / October 20, 2021 /

If you walk into your kitchen every day and think, “My day would be so much calmer if I could just get this place organized,” you’re hardly alone. As a professional organizer who has helped hundreds of clients in their homes, I want you to know that kitchens are one of the toughest spots to…

7 Easy Ways I Get My 3 Kids To Eat a Little Bit Healthier

By Jess N / October 19, 2021 /

Getting kids to eat healthy is hard. As parents, we all know how important it is that your kids eat well. In our fantasies, our kids have never heard of a candy bar and live exclusively on lean proteins, vegetables, fruit, and whole grains… but this vision of what we want their diets to look…