Ask Clean Plates: What’s the Best Magnesium Supplement?
There are a handful of different types of magnesium out there. And, as with most things, the best one depends. Here’s what to know.
Zoom Meetings All Morning? Make One of These Energizing Lunches
Zoom-filled mornings called for lunches that are easy and energizing. They should feel fresh and light, but substantial enough to fuel the rest of your day — and they shouldnt take a whole lot of time to make. These healthy lunch recipes nail all of those requirements with great flavors to boot.
10 Healthier Mac and Cheese Recipes (That Are Still Ooey & Gooey)
Is there anything better than creamy, dreamy mac and cheese? On your worst days it’s there to comfort you, and on your best days it feels like a celebration. No one — and I mean no one — doesn’t like mac and cheese. And it’s surprisingly easy to make your favorite dish just a little more healthful.
Why You Have Zero Energy and What to Do About It
The days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer, and the end of the pandemic feels like it’s in sight — so why do you have no energy? And what should you do about it? For starters, don’t force yourself to be productive. Instead, try one of these 10 tips for boosting your energy.
20 Recipes That Will Make You (Really!) Excited to Eat Chicken
If chicken boredom has set in, we have you covered with our chicken recipes mega-list. Whatever you have in the fridge, be it leftover rotisserie chicken, ground chicken, chicken thighs, or boneless skinless chicken breasts, there’s something here for you.
This Chicken Lemon Rice Soup Is Comfort in a Bowl
Make it for a loved one who’s under the weather, make it for yourself because it’s cold and you want to warm up.
10 Cheap & Healthy Trader Joe’s Finds We Love
We love Trader Joe’s for all sorts of things, from healthy frozen dinners to good, cheap coffee. One of TJ’s biggest fans is our own founder and CEO, Jared Koch. So—what’s in Jared’s cart? Here’s a sneak peek at his list, all less than $5.
Our Favorite Instant Coffees for When You’re Busy
In the last few years, instant coffee has gotten a welcome makeover. There are tons of tasty options out there, whether you want a fatty cup for your keto diet, you’re looking for a tasty delivery system for adaptogenic mushrooms, or you simply need a super-convenient way to get caffeinated in a hurry. These are our favorites.
Super-Fast Breakfast Ideas for Sweet and Savory Mornings
Mornings are crazy—you don’t need us to tell you that. But we pinky swear you have time for breakfast. We gathered up some quick breakfast ideas to help you get in a nutrient-rich meal you’ll look forward to eating, whether you’re craving something sweet or savory.
Here’s What to Eat After a Really Stressful Day (It’s Not Pizza)
Stress relief is just a healthy meal away. Here are some stress-relieving foods and easy, tasty meals to make that put them in the spotlight.
10 Ways to Turn a Can of Chickpeas into Dinner
Whether you call them chickpeas or garbanzo beans, there’s no denying these hearty beans are a nutritional powerhouse. Packed with protein and fiber, as well as folate and iron, they make meatless dishes taste, well, meaty.
Chicken Salad Recipes for Easy WFH Lunches
Chicken salad is delicious, it’s easy, it’s make-ahead, it’s adaptable, and it’s generally a healthy option that’s packed with protein. In other words, it’s the perfect work-from-home lunch. We’ve rounded up some of the best chicken salad recipes for you to try right now. From a curried chicken number to classic pesto, you’ll find plenty of inspiration.
The Best Healthy Pancake Mixes You Can Buy at the Grocery Store
Who doesn’t wake up on a Sunday morning craving pancakes? But making them from scratch is sometimes too much to ask on a weekend morning. And what if the desire for pancakes hits during the week? Enter these healthy pancake mixes.
How to Make Perfect Cauliflower Rice Every Time
There’s a right and a wrong way to cook cauliflower rice. If you’re not careful, you can easily be left with a bowl of soft, tasteless mush. Here’s how to make perfect, crumbly, couscous-like “rice” every single time.
5 Things to Eat When You’re Craving a Candy Bar
Whether you’re #teamSnickers or #teamMilky Way, candy-bar cravings happen. And, while enjoying your favorite candy bar every now and then isn’t the worst thing you can do, there are healthier choices you can make that are just as satisfying. Here are a few sweet things I find always help kick my own craving.
These Easy, Weeknight Meals Are Loaded with Complex Carbs
These weeknight dinners feature the good kind of carbs — think beans, legumes, nuts and seeds, whole grain breads, cereals and pastas, fresh veggies and fruits — paired with clean proteins. You can pull them off without breaking a sweat and you’ll feel full, in a good way.
This Hearty Greek “Rice” Is the Perfect Work-from-Home Lunch
We don’t know about you, but we don’t really feel like eating salad right about now. We want something warm and cozy and filling. In an ideal world, we also want something easy and healthy that you can make ahead for busy days. Enter this riff on a Greek salad.
10 Easy Weeknight Meals to Make After a Really Long Day
These weeknight recipes are as feel-good as they are lazy, and proof that no matter what kind of day you had, a wholesome meal is possible.
7 Strategies for Reducing Your Sugar Intake
Wheat, dairy, soy, red meat — are they healthy or harmful? These days, you can line up an army of nutritionists and doctors who will argue both sides. But there’s one thing that is almost universally believed to have a negative impact on health: your sugar intake.
This Roasted Sweet Potato Soup Is Winter Wellness in a Bowl
A bowl of flavorful soup is so soothing and warming when it’s cold outside. This creamy, hearty sweet potato soup is also gut-friendly two times over, with plenty of spicy fresh ginger and unflavored Youtheory® Spore Probiotic Powder.
How Sourdough Bread Changed the Way I Think About Carbs
I’d always had a somewhat tumultuous relationship with carbs. We’d been on-again-off-again for years: When I tried cutting them out completely, I felt cranky, weak, and tired. When I ate too many, I felt sleepy, bloated, and generally not-so-well. Until a trip to Australia and a daily habit of scrambled eggs on thick slices of sourdough bread changed everything.
This Pistachio Pesto Is Good for Your Gut
There are so many reasons to love pesto: Loaded with fresh herbs, olive oil, and nuts, it’s super-healthy. It’s also quick to whip up in a food processor and it’s versatile. Use it to dress up pasta, fish, or chicken. Or combine it with yogurt or olive oil to make a quick salad dressing. Yep, it’s pretty much a kitchen pantry all-star.
7 Clean Comfort Food Recipes You Can Make On a Weeknight
After a busy or stressful day you just want something that makes you feel good on the inside, like a warm hug or a meal that’s as comforting as it is nourishing. That’s why we reach for comfort food.
7 Recipes That Prove Chicken Breast Doesn’t Have to be Boring
Chicken is a staple for many of us because it’s a versatile, lean source of protein. But you don’t have to slather chicken in cheese, bread it, or fry it to make it taste great.
The Surprising Plant-Based Protein My Kids Will Always Eat
We all need those go-to ingredients, snacks, or dinners that we know will be a hit, regardless of anything else. Those sorts of foods are first-string in the kitchen.
Clean Confetti Cupcakes With Whipped Coconut Frosting
Cupcakes are the perfect festive treat for an at-home birthday celebration. But if it seems like a hassle to bake from scratch or you’re turned off by all that sugar and white flour, we have good news.
5 Tiny Ways to Take a Break Right Now
Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is take a break. Here are 7 little ways to hit the get out of your head, and push reset.
5 New Ways to Use Up All that Zucchini
Zucchini can be found year round at most grocery stores, but summer is the peak season. When the days start getting shorter, and the zucchini (seemingly exponentially) start getting bigger, and bigger, it’s time to turn this workhorse veggie into a a meal everyone can get behind.
10 Good-For-You One-Pan Dinners Your Family Will Love
Dinners that require one pan, whether they’re sheet pans, a skillet, or a pot, are dinnertime genius. They’re the key to getting something delicious and healthy on the table quickly, with a clean-up that’s even faster.
7 New Ways To Boost Your Water Intake
Getting those 8 glasses in a day can sometimes be challenging, or boring, even, especially if you’re trying to up your intake or make the transition from juices, coffee, or soda.
5 Healthy & Delicious Ways to Make the Most of Summer Corn
Enjoying fresh corn is a summertime pleasure. Corn is naturally sweet and well loved but it’s also bursting with plenty of beneficial nutrients, like folate, thiamin, magnesium, and Vitamin C.
So Your Digestion is Feeling Off. 11 Small Ways to Fix it
Digestive distress is no small thing. It can interrupt your daily activities, upend meals, keep you awake at night, and generally make life miserable.
We Found Your New Favorite Burger: 5 Delicious (& Nutritious) Recipes To Try
From the best Greek-yogurt turkey burgers to a decadent mushroom option that’s completely plant-based — one of these burgers deserves a spot on your burger bucket list.
10 Ways to Make the Most of Summer Berries
Berry growing in the US is at its peak in the warmest summer months. The antioxidant value of these small sweet berries is enough to warrant eating them right from the carton (please, please, wash it first, even if it’s organically grown), but for me, the taste is the real seller here.
7 Healthy & Delicious Things to Make After a Trip to the Farmer’s Market
Farmer’s market trips are a favorite activity in my family and friends, but they are a vital way to get the freshest, most nutrient rich produce and support your local agriculture to boot. Both nutritionists and restaurant chefs alike can be found picking at farmer’s markets.
Which is better for me: Canned Beans or Dried Beans?
Bean popularity waxes and wanes but it’s health benefits are unassailable and timeless. A colossal body of scientific research continues to link bean eating with multiple benefits for people in a variety of age groups and in many healthy eating lifestyles.
Too hot to cook? Here are 10 things to make
Instant couscous has so much going for it, but when it’s too damn hot to even turn on the flame under a pot, it’s incredibly handy. Simply use boiling water (okay, stock if you have it) and let it sit for a few minutes, covered to allow the liquid to be fully absorbed.
5 Creative Ways To Turn Your Leftovers Into Brand New Meals
Whether elevating leftovers into a whole new creation or repurposing them into a salad, sandwich, bowl or soup, a seriously healthy meal may well be in your reach this minute, with components already safely tucked in the fridge from odds and ends using the scraps from yesterday’s (or the day before yesterday’s) meals.
Low Sugar Tropical Smoothie Recipes
A fruit smoothie is great for on the go breakfast, a quick snack or a post-workout recovery drink. And what better time to make a tropical smoothie recipe than in the summer when those types of fruit, like papaya, mango chunks, ripe banana, and pineapple are right in season?
10 Surprising Ways to Use Greek Yogurt in the Kitchen
Chock full of protein, loaded with calcium and potassium, Greek yogurt is, without a doubt, a great way to get dairy into your diet. Sure, you can have a cup of commercially prepared plain yogurt, but for nutritional bang for the buck, Greek yogurt soars above traditional yogurt.
Mini Grain-Free Apple Cider Donuts
If there’s any farmers market experience better than sinking your teeth into a warm, cinnamon-y apple cider donut while wandering around the stalls, we don’t know about it. Now you can have that favorite treat any time, at home—and the best part is: We created one that’s actually good for you.
5 Summer Snacks to Buy at Costco Right Now
Snacking and summer go hand in hand every summer, with everlong, languorous days and comfortable, entertaining nights. Right now, with so many of us at home, handy, healthy, price-conscious snacking is vital.
5 Tips for Better Cooking in the Slow Cooker
Your slow cooker can definitely be your friend, but so many slow cooker recipes disappoint. What seems like a really promising idea—a hands-off dinner while you’re out or at work or otherwise engaged in other things—turns into a flavorless, mushy, inconsistently cooked dish with too much liquid.
10 Easy Ways to Add More Protein to Your Diet
If you don’t think you’re getting enough protein in your diet, you don’t have to start eating steak every night, or mix yourself a protein shake every morning. In fact, you really shouldn’t. Here’s what you should do.
5 New Ways to Use Canned Salmon
There’s a quick and economical ingredient that may be sitting in your pantry right now: canned salmon.
We Tried a Bunch of Plant Based Meats, Here’s What’s Perfect For Taco Night, Deli Sandwiches, and Even Thanksgiving
Move over, beef, pork, and chicken. Plant-based meats — ones that mimic real meat but are made with legumes, grains, nuts, fruits, or veggies — have arrived. This March, with Covid-19 shutdowns sending us to our own stoves to cook, plant-based meats sales skyrocketed 148 percent, far exceeding sales of animal products.
Too Hot to Cook? Here’s How to Still Make Breakfast
Sometimes cooking breakfast isn’t on the agenda despite how we try, and there are myriad reasons why firing up the stove first thing in the morning isn’t in the cards. Maybe you’re running late. Maybe you want to eat something awesome but exude minimal effort.
I Lost 15 Pounds During Quarantine. Here Are the 5 Things I’m Doing Differently
Before lockdown, my family (two kids, two dogs and one husband) were always on-the-go with busy school and work schedules. We honestly ate unhealthy meals, at fast food and chain restaurants, in the car and not at home together.
10 Quick One-Pan Dinners Your Family Will Love
Dinners that require one pan, whether they’re sheet pans, a skillet, or a pot, are dinnertime genius and the key to getting something delicious and healthy on the table quickly, with a clean-up that’s even faster.
The 10 Best Things You Should Be Buying at Lidl
Have you heard of Lidl? The German-based chain now runs more than 100 stores in 9 states. If you’re lucky enough to have one nearby, we highly recommend checking it out — and stocking up on these 10 items.
A Step-By-Step Program for Sustainable Weight Loss, Radiant Energy, and Effortless Health
The Clean Plates Approach will Help You Finally Reach Your Health Goals Without Rigid Diets, Counting Calories, or Depriving Yourself. Lose weight, gain energy and look and feel your best.
Is Yogurt Good for You? 5 Benefits, Best Brands & Types
Yogurt is good for you because of the natural vitamins and proteins it contains, as well as the probiotics that can support digestive and immune health. Low-sugar yogurt might be one of the healthiest foods out there.
Clean Plates 5 Secrets To Sustainable Weight Loss, Radiant Energy And Effortless Health
Clean Plates FREE Webinar will Help You Finally Reach Your Health Goals Without Fad Diets or Depriving Yourself! Lose weight, gain energy and look and feel your best.
What to Eat (and Drink) When You Have a Headache
Headaches can really sideline you when they strike, and if you get them often enough, chances are you have a sense of what may be triggering them. Chocolate. Dehydration. Red Wine. Stress. Blue cheese. Hormones.
10 Small Ways to Change a Bad Mood Fast
You’re in a bad mood and who can blame you? If you need a nudge out from under a temporary emotional thundercloud, there things you can do to help yourself look on the bright side again.
What Boosting Immunity Really Means (& 13 Science-Backed Ways To Do It)
The immune system is our body’s natural defense system. It works on our behalf 24/7, protecting us from a constant stream of viruses, bacteria, and cellular changes. Simply put, our immune systems work around the clock to keep us healthy and alive.
The Science of Alkaline Water: Magic or Myth?
You may have heard alkaline water touted as a miracle solution to your woes or wondered what it is when you notice it on a grocery store shelf.
Is the alkaline diet right for you?
The alkaline diet plan is based on the premise that your diet can alter the pH balance inside of your body — essentially, eating to change your body’s levels of acidity or alkalinity.
Why I Ditched Dairy For Years (And How Eating It Has Transformed My Health)
When I was thirteen years old, I declared that I would be a vegetarian. I liked eating potatoes and bread and didn’t like eating chicken, which my parents, doing their best, insisted I finish before leaving the dinner table.
5 Easy, Cheesy Nutritional Yeast Recipes That Will Make You a Believer
If you’re new to an ingredient, it can be daunting to figure out what to do with it — especially one as ubiquitously buzzy as nutritional yeast. But don’t give into your fear of the unknown! Here’s everything you need to know nutritional yeast, plus five recipes that will make you wonder why you waited so long to try it.
10 Healthy Alternatives For Your Favorite Junk Foods
With COVID-19 keeping us at home, out of grocery stores, and noshing to relieve stress, snack foods are selling better than ever. Huge companies like Mondelez, which produces Oreos, Ritz Crackers, and other boxed nibbles, have seen record sales as people hoard supermarket brands — the same ones filled with sugar, high fructose corn syrup, salt, and artificial additives.
Feeling Tired All the Time? These Healthy Habits Might Be the Issue
Low on energy and not sure why? It makes sense that you’ve started looking for answers. Feeling sluggish can be frustrating, and the root cause isn’t always clear. Oftentimes, though, low energy is a sign that we’re not meeting our needs.
7 Small But Powerful Things You Can Do Today To Prevent Feeling Stressed Out
Our bodies are built to handle short-term stresses. Chronic stress? Not so much. When we experience too much stress for too long “the body releases [the stress hormone] cortisol but is unable to lower the levels back to normal in a short time frame,” says Nick Bitz, ND and Chief Scientific Officer for Youtheory®.
Why You Need To Add Epsom Salts To Your Grocery List
Self-care is more important now than ever before. But despite the fact that we’re all at home — many of us with nothing but time on our hands — it can still be hard to prioritize our wellness. Yoga classes, massages, acupuncture appointments, and long walks with friends are currently out of the question. Instead, we’re forced to find ways to wind down and relax within the walls of our homes.
There’s a Surprising Connection Between Gut Health and the Mediterranean Diet
We all know the benefits of the Mediterranean diet on weight maintenance and protecting the heart, as it is high in anti-inflammatory foods, like olive oil, fatty fish, and fruits and veggies, and lower in red meat and processed foods.
7 Simple Recipes for a Quick & Healthy Dinner
Looking for a healthy meal that’s easy to make and doesn’t have a laundry list of ingredients? Well we’ve got you covered. In today’s age, it can be hard to find meals that taste amazing, require minimal effort, and have wholesome ingredients that are clean and nutritious. Yet, it’s not impossible!
Research Shows Both Mom and Dad Must Eat Well as Role Models For Their Kids
If you think it’s enough for one parent to put those veggies on the plate and to bring healthy groceries into the home for the kids, think again—according to new research both parents must practice healthy eating in order to act as positive role models for their children and to influence their eating habits in a favorable manner.
7 Ways to Make a Healthy Veggie-Packed Dinner in 30 Minutes
If your focus come dinnertime is on the vegetables we’re with you. Even when it’s the end of the day and you want something fast. You can make a great veggie-based soup or sheet-pan veggie dish with easy clean up and in a matter of minutes. (We know the urge to go for takeout after a long day at the office, rather than wanting to work on an hour-long recipe!) It’s all a matter of having the right ideas.
8 New Ways to Eat More Kefir
The most important thing I want you to know about kefir is that this fermented milk drink is wildly versatile. Yes, there’s way more you can do than simply sip it or pour it over your cereal. It’s a good idea to stick with the plain, unsweetened stuff since flavored versions are often loaded with added sugar. Here are 8 easy, sweet and savory ways to eat more probiotic-rich kefir.
The Probiotic Power Breakfast You Need to Try
You’ll find me eating a version of this bowl nearly everyday. With a little bit of everything — whole grains, sauteed greens, a yolky egg, creamy yogurt and avocado, and just enough tangy kraut to grace every bite — it’s my ideal breakfast.
10 Quick & Healthy Sides You Can Make in Under 30 Minutes
Most of us — myself included — tend to focus all their energy on the main dish when planning dinners for the week. That usually means I am scrambling at the last minute to figure out a fast and easy side to pair with it that’s also healthy.
Cold Kimchi Soba Noodles
If you love a good noodle bowl, it’s time to kick things up with the spicy funk of kimchi. Not only is it tossed with the noodles, but if you’re lucky enough to have a jar with extra brine, I strongly recommend mixing some into the sauce for extra flavor.
The Small (But Important!) Tip To Maximize The Benefit of Probiotic Foods
In an effort to work more probiotics into your day, Greek yogurt has become your breakfast staple. Some days you partner it with fruit and a few spoonfuls of granola, others you blend it into your smoothie for a boost of probiotics and protein.
Breakfast Is The Best Time For Probiotics. Here's Why
Breakfast is hands down the easiest time of day to eat more probiotics — and it doesn’t matter whether you skew sweet or savory. After writing a cookbook about all the ways to incorporate probiotic foods into your diet, I realized so many probiotic foods are a natural fit first thing in the morning.
Starbucks is Releasing Its First Plant-Based Meat Sandwich
Finding a healthy meat alternative sandwich at a fast-food joint can be a struggle. Yet, because the demand for plant-protein options is high, in order to benefit the environment and our health, as well as to accommodate different diets and lifestyle choices many people are creating campaigns to ask fast-food chains to create new menu items to fill the void.
New FDA Labels Have Changed to Accommodate Real Serving Sizes (And More)
Have you ever looked at the nutritional label on a bag of chips, start grabbing some handfuls, and then realize that the entire bag is gone before you know it? You might start calculating and multiplying serving size calories, fat grams, and sugar grams in your head — but you know you’re not going to be pleased with the final number.
5 Easy, Wholesome Ways to Turn a Bag of Frozen Broccoli into Dinner
For a long time, I always thought frozen vegetables were inferior to fresh. I’d walked quickly past the freezer aisle with my nose in the air because I just assumed if I wanted to eat well, fresh was the only way to go. It turns out, I was all wrong
3 Healthy Ways to Bake with Olive Oil for Every Kind of Baker
When it comes to baking, we all have our own individual styles. Some of us go for the show stopping dessert that makes mouths water and then there are those of us that are truly happy to whip up a batch of cookies.
7 Signs You’re Sleep Deprived (and How to Fix It)
Our busy lives have made it way too normal to skimp on sleep. But you’re not doing yourself any favors. Here’s how to tell if your sleep is unsound — and 10 ways to fix it.
Here are a Few More Reasons to Include Walnuts in Your Diet
Walnuts are one of the healthiest nuts you can eat, since they have omega 3 fatty acids, which can lower inflammation in the body, boost heart health, fill you up and hold you over longer, and help your body function well. They’re a great food to incorporate if you are looking to support these areas of your health.
New Research Shows that Nuts May Have Fewer Calories Than We Originally Thought
Nuts are good for you due to their healthy fats and protein, but you may have been hesitant in the past to nosh on a bag of nuts due to their high calorie and fat count. As it stands, there are several calories per serving, so unless you’re portioning wisely, those can surely add up.
The Smart Rice Pilaf Alternative That’s Making My Meals Healthier (& More Exciting)
These days, it seems like we’re all trying to squeeze more vegetables into our diet — and it’s for good reason seeing as a plant-based diet is both a wholesome and feel-good one. I am an avid salad eater and roast baking sheets of veggies weekly but somehow, I still often feel like I am not getting enough.
Getting on a Plane? These Are The Foods To Eat Before, After & During Your Flight
You booked your flight, found a hotel, got a dog sitter, and packed your bags. You’re all ready for your big trip, right?
How to Love Your Greens, For People Who On the Fence About Vegetables
If you’re health-conscious but haven’t quite grown out of your “I hate broccoli” stage, it can feel like a constant battle to eat enough vegetables. If this is you, you’re not alone. When you’re starting to eat more vegetables — especially if your diet’s been short on them — it can be challenging on your tastebuds.
5 Quick & Easy Healthy Dinners Starring Chicken Thighs
Chicken thighs are the affordable, family-friendly protein that’s perfect for weeknight dinners. Here are 5 easy recipes to get you started.
How to Make Sweet Potatoes Delicious (No Marshmallows Required)
Sweet potatoes are by far one of the most versatile potato varieties. They can be mashed, baked, fried, sautéed, or roasted. They contain a natural sweetness that becomes even more prominent when cooked long enough to caramelize the preexisting sugars.
Habits That Are Guaranteed To Get You Up On Time, From People Who Are Never Late
Do you have a friend, family member, or coworker that is never—and I mean, never— late? If you do, you can relate to feeling like they must have more hours in the day than the rest of us.
Braised Cauliflower Puttanesca
If cauliflower rice and cauliflower gnocchi didn’t convince you that there’s nothing cauliflower can’t do, we’d like to introduce you to braised cauliflower puttanesca.
Which Non-Dairy Milk Is Right for You?
In recent years, the alternative milk section as the grocery store has exploded. Now grabbing a carton can be a whole lot more confusing. So, what to choose? Here’s what to buy depending on what you’re looking for:
The Quick & Clean Snack I Can’t Stop Crunching On
I tend to choose my snacks based on what texture I am craving. If it’s something creamy that’s on my brain, I’ll grab some Greek yogurt. Or if I am feeling like something soft, I’ll make myself a jammy egg. Often, though, what I crave is something crunchy.
Still Confused About the Egg Carton Label? Here’s What’s Important
Decode all the lingo.
Have you noticed how much stuff egg cartons have squished onto their labels? Free-range! Organic! Vegetarian! What the heck does it all actually mean?
The One Thing You Should Do for a Healthier Thanksgiving
So. Much. Food. That’s the thing about Thanksgiving, right? I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to think about limiting myself or sacrificing at Thanksgiving—the entire holiday is built around abundance. And yet, I don’t want to feel bloated and gross, either.
How to Make Cauliflower Delicious (Without Turning it into Pizza or Gnocchi)
We have witnessed the rise of cauliflower as the ultimate multipurpose ingredient. However, if you’re anything like me, then you have probably had your fill of cauliflower crust pizza or gnocchi.
5 Ways to Avoid Germs This Holiday Season
There’s definitely something special about the holidays, no matter which ones you celebrate. People just seem happier, more loving, and more generous. Not to mention the cooler, crisper weather puts a pep in everyone’s step.
The Surprising Habit That May Be Depleting Your Magnesium Levels
When we think about drinking too much alcohol, our minds often jump right to the symptoms of a hangover — like nausea, headaches, and fatigue. But the truth is that drinking can affect our health in a plethora of ways, many of which are far less obvious than the symptoms of a hangover.
3 Wellness Tips I Learned From Traveling In South America
As a health and wellness writer — and a Brooklynite with three juice bars, two yoga studios, and an organic grocery store all within a 2-block radius — I can’t help but feel like I’m smack in the center of the wellness world. But on a recent trip to South America, I landed in the mountain city Medellín and stumbled upon a thriving wellness scene.
4 Habits That Are Guaranteed To Sabotage Your Mood
We all know those people. You know, the ones who seem to go through life unphased by, well, anything. They’re hopeful; they’re positive; and they seem to have un unwithering faith that they’ll be fine, you’ll be fine, we’ll all be fine.
5 Quick & Clean Breakfast Dishes That Are Low in Sugar
Sweet or Savory? The age old breakfast debate. For those who aren’t 100% sold on team sweet, we have some quick and clean morning meals that are low on the sugar but high on the health!
Plot Twist: 5 Quick & Clean Lunch Recipes That You Don’t Have to Reheat
Bored with the same old tupperware tuesday lunch? Instead of reheating the same old dinner leftovers, try one of these brilliant no-heat lunches and you won’t even miss the microwave.
Are You Taking the Right Type of Probiotics? Here’s What to Know
By now, you’re probably familiar with probiotics. You can find these gut-supporting strains of bacteria and yeast in everyday foods, or you can get them through supplement. However you take them, probiotics have been linked to better digestive health, among other things. But did you know that there are different kinds of probiotics? Here, we take a look at the three main types of probiotics and the benefits and challenges of each.
The 3 Most Common Cooking Questions People Have About Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi
What to know before you head into the kitchen.
I lived a happy Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi-free life for well, forever, until the internet, friends, and family told me otherwise. So of course I needed to investigate to see if my meals were missing something good.
This is the Best Tasting Nut You’re Not Snacking On
Before I say anything else, you need to know that I am not much of snacker. Perhaps this makes me square but I am typically quite content with my three meals a day.
How This Natural Makeup Artist Infuses Herbal Medicine Into Her Daily Routine
For a makeup artist, herbalist, and natural beauty expert Jessa Blades, food and beauty are one in the same. “So much of my beauty routine lives in the kitchen,” she explains.
A Physician & Busy Mom On How She Never Misses A Workout
Dr. Bindiya Gandhi has a schedule that would make any person’s head spin. She’s a physician, medical director, and busy mom of one (soon to be two!). And yet somehow, she still manages to get her workouts in.
5 Tips For Better Digestive Health When You’re On-the-Go
Your gut is a delicate and incredibly complex thing that requires lots of TLC. When you’re busy with work, friends, family, and other obligations, it can become tough to give your microbiome the attention it needs. I mean, just brushing your teeth seems like a major chore some nights!
3 New Ways to Eat a Quick and Healthy Dinner
Before you resort to take out…
No matter our family structure, whether we’re trying to feed a whole herd or just ourselves, getting a good dinner on the table in no small feat. Work, school, and play tend to fill our days to the brim, which often leaves us ravaged at 7 o’clock with not a whole lot of time or energy to assemble a meal.
Serena Wolf on Mastering the Art of a Quick & Simple Bath
“I’m very much a tequila person, which people find funny because they assume you’ll have a glass of wine. But I say have whatever you want!” says Serena Wolf, cookbook author and the woman behind the food and healthy lifestyle blog, Domesticate Me.
What Turmeric Really Does For Inflammation
Turmeric is one of those natural ingredients that pops up again and again. It’s been found in kitchens across the world for thousands of years and these days, it’s finding its way into our smoothie bowls, supplement cabinets, and even our favorite taco recipes.
Why a Daily Smoothie is More Ritual Than Routine For This Health Journalist
In the mornings you can find Liz Moody sipping on a green smoothie while checking her texts and emails. Moody — a journalist, podcast host, and best-selling cookbook author — is a jack of all trades; she’s constantly flying around the globe interviewing celebs, trying out new cuisines, and reporting on all the latest trends in wellness.
5 Signs Those Probiotics You’re Taking Are Making A Difference
The Internet is awash with information on probiotics — which strains are best, what they do for your body, etc. — so you know why you should take a probiotic supplement. But once you add probiotics to your wellness regimen, how do you know if they’re actually working?
Recipe: This Tangy Green Smoothie Is Full Of Detoxifying Ingredients
Liz Moody is the green smoothie master. She has dozens of go-to recipes and other times she just wings it, tossing her favorite fruits, veggies, and superfoods in the blender to see what she can create.
5 Good Things to Eat When You’re Craving Something Sweet
I am pretty sure I am the only member of my family who was born with a sweet tooth. It’s so strong, in fact, that I often think I somehow obtained my father and sister’s, too. I protest when they don’t even want to glance at the dessert menu when we’re out to dinner or when they politely decline the cookies I bake for them when they visit.
Why This Life Coach Is Abandoning Her Self-Care Routine
We all have those days. We’re stuck in traffic, our phone battery is at 2%, and we’re late for an appointment. “I used to have a gigantic toolbox for those situations,” says Elli Richter, a transformational life coach and partner of the only meditation studio, Still Soul Studio, in Charleston, South Carolina.
A Doctor's Easy Self-Care Advice for Stress-Free Meal Prep
For Dr. Ellen Vora, a holistic psychiatrist practicing in New York City, there aren’t many things that are more important than eating home-cooked meals. Unfortunately, small NYC kitchens, busy schedules, and the temptation of thousands of restaurants that deliver less-than-healthy food to her door in under 30 minutes can make that a hard goal to meet.
3 New Ways to Think About Dinner for the Week
These tips & tricks make it way less of a hassle.
Does the thought of weeknight dinner make you break into a bit of a cold sweat? There’s no time! How am I supposed to cook something healthy every night? I totally get where the stress is coming from, because I’ve been there.
5 Simple Ways to Avoid Germs at the Gym
There’s nothing quite like a sweaty gym sesh to release endorphins, reduce stress, and leave you feeling empowered. But all that spinning, lifting, and stretching happens in the same place where thousands of other gym-goers sweat it out.
Recipe: Vegan Butternut Squash Mac & “Cheese”
If you’re a frequent meal-prepper, it’s easy to get stuck in the habit of making the same bland foods every week. And while we love an Instagram-worthy salad, as the weather cools many of us are looking for something a little more, well, satisfying.
10 Make-Ahead Healthy Lunch Ideas You Can Try Tonight
We are so lucky that packed lunch has evolved beyond the typical soup or sandwich we used to rely on. There are so many fresh and nutrient-filled options that won’t break the bank or your diet. Stay on track and stress free with easy make ahead lunches guaranteed to bump the midday slump.
5 Quick & Clean Breakfasts (That Aren’t Eggs)
Starting your day with a satisfying meal can be the key to keeping your mind strong and your body fueled but that doesn’t mean it has to be the same plate of eggs and bacon every week.
7 Healthy Pantry Dinner Ideas Perfect for Busy Weeknights
Home from work with no idea what to cook for dinner and with no energy to go shopping? No problem! These quick and clean dishes are easy to make from ingredients you probably have on hand. So dig in the back of the freezer and relax, you may even find your next masterpiece.
Is It Healthy? Trader Joe's Mega-Popular Cauliflower Gnocchi
Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi has been the sweetheart of the health world lately. Just about everyone who’s even just a little bit health conscious or simple curious has been running to the store to pick up a bag or two to try.
5 New Ways to Eat Sweet Potatoes For Breakfast
Sweet potatoes are probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think about what to eat for breakfast, but maybe they should be.
5 Things You Can Do to Avoid Back-to-School Germs
“Back-to-school plague” is 100 percent a thing. It affects everyone from preschoolers to college students, and it happens every year.
The Surprising Good-For-You Products You Can Buy at Costco
We all know (and love) Costco for bulk TP, rotisserie chicken, and surprisingly good in-house wine, but the mega-store is a destination for so much more than crowd-size bags of potato chips.
10 Clean & Delicious Air Fryer Dinners to Make Tonight
Move over Instant Pot! The air fryer has taken over our countertops — and for good reason. It’s a great way to make healthy, crave-worthy meals without a lot of effort. If you need more convincing, or want a few new ways to use your favorite kitchen tool, try one of these clean and delicious air fryer dinners.
5 Fresh New Ways to Turn an Avocado Into a Meal
Avocados are everyone’s favorite plant-based powerhouse. From the creamy taste and consistency to the bonus protein and fiber, there are few things working against avocados.
Probiotic Supplements and How they Impact Your Gut Health
Tens of trillions of tiny organisms reside in your digestive tract, calling the warm and nourishing environment of your microbiome “home.” They affect everything from your digestion to your sleep to your skin and your mood. In essence, by taking good care of your gut microbiome, you take good care of the rest of your body.
5 Simple Ways to Travel Healthier on Planes, Cars, and Trains
Traveling is fantastic — and I’d argue critical — for nourishing the soul and opening the mind. But no matter how awe-striking the viewpoints or how gratifying the hikes, traveling can definitely take a toll on our bodies.
3 Easy Ways to Add Collagen Powder to Your Wellness Routine
Okay, so it’s doubtful that anyone can attribute their luscious locks, radiant skin, or strong muscles to collagen and collagen alone, but it’s worth knowing that collagen can help you in all those capacities.
5 Satisfying & Delicious Ways to Eat Coconut Yogurt for Breakfast
The thing is: food has to be delicious. It seems obvious, but sometimes that message gets lost in all the chatter about nutrients and eating styles. It. Has. To. Taste. Amazing.
3 Things to Read Before You Do Any Grilling This Weekend
The weekend is here and you’ve got a packed schedule of hanging out with family and friends and making sure there’s something good to eat.
3 Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Keep on Your Radar
We’re guessing you’ve heard the term inflammation thrown around quite a bit these days. Inflammation is a natural immune response that happens when your body interacts with anything it identifies as foreign.
Innovative Rice Alternatives Are Changing the Comfort Food Game
What we think of as rice is changing. New options that meet the needs of all kinds of eaters have given everyone the opportunity to let their bodies thrive no matter what their dietary preferences. These days rice can mean anything from the traditional starchy grain to an alternative made with vegetables.
What to Eat When You’re Craving Potato Chips
Crunchy, salty… did we mention crunchy? When a craving for potato chips hits, it’s no joke; the allure is so strong. But then, after the last crumbs are out of the bag, we usually don’t feel so great.
Meet Your New Favorite Summer Dish
A rice salad with fresh veggies, herbs and lemon vinaigrette—it’s a total crowd pleaser. Make one that’s even more delicious and healthier with your secret weapon: RightRice.
5 Things to Do with an Avocado (Before It Goes Bad)
We don’t have to tell you how awesome avocados are. Aside from being insanely healthy (an avocado has 9g fiber—9!—plus potassium, vitamin K, and about a zillion other nutrients).
3 New Grocery Store Finds the Whole Family Will Love
Do you ever find yourself in the grocery store overwhelmed with the deluge of new products? You know there’s some interesting and healthy that will check all the requirements on your list — family friendly, tasty, and nutritious — but with all the options it’s hard to know where to start.
What Is Ashwagandha and Should You Take it?
Used in Aryuvedic medicine for centuries, ashwagandha is a relative new comer to the western wellness scene. But it’s making up for lost time: These days, no adaptogen is more popular. But what is it, what is it good for, and should you take it? Here’s what you need to know.
5 Quick and Easy Vegetarian Breakfast Ideas
It might come as a surprise to some, but the truth is satisfying and nutritious vegetarian breakfast ideas span the morning-meal gamut from savory scrambles to sweet oats and everything in between.
5 of The Simplest Vegan Lunches Everyone Should Know
On busy days, you need lunch stat. And preferably that lunch isn’t going to make you long for a three-hour snooze session when you get back to work. If you’re following a vegan diet, or simply want to pack a bunch of vegetables into your mid-day meal, one of these simple, easy-to-make vegan lunches will do the trick.
5 Simple Gluten-Free Dinner Ideas For Spring
Going gluten-free sounds scary at first, but not once you realize you’ll never have to sacrifice flavor. Sticking to a gluten-free lifestyle is easier than ever with the right recipes.
4 People on How to Get Enough Veggies on Keto
If you’re trying keto and struggling with veggies, you’re not alone. It’s not always easy being green with this particular diet.
5 Ways to Turn Lentils into a Hearty Plant-Based Meal
Lentils are the littlest member of the legume family. Even if they’re small, they’re mighty, rocking many health benefits. Just 1 cup contains 18 grams protein, 15 grams fiber, and an array of minerals, particularly iron and folate.
Yes, Your Fave Summer Recipes Can Be Even Better
Whether you’re grilling, tossing, sautéing or baking your favorite summer dishes—or all of the above—you can give them a serious upgrade by using top-quality extra virgin olive oil.
5 Simple Ways to Avoid the Dreaded Spring Cold
Nothing gets in the way of enjoying the spring weather like a cold, and yet it’s so common to get sick at this transitional time of year. Here are a few steps that will help you stay well while you wait for the days to warm up.
The Back-Pocket Low-Carb Dinners We Make on Busy Weeknights
There are some weeknights when dinner has to be fast and familiar. No trying out that new recipe, no dinnertime acrobatics. On those nights, it’s a backpocket recipe you’re reaching for—one you pretty much make with your eyes closed.
Want to Eat More Vegetables Every Day? Here’s the Secret
News flash: Most of us could stand to eat more vegetables. Loaded with nutrients, they help with everything from energy, to disease fighting, to metabolism, glowing skin, etc. In the food world, most experts agree that vegetables are the MVP.
Why We Need to Marie Kondo “Cheat Days” and “Guilty Pleasures”
Cheat days, cheat meals, guilt-free foods, guilty pleasures—these expressions are so commonplace, we hardly even know we’re using them. They seem harmless enough, like the shirts you never wear that still clog up your closets or the stack of papers piled on your desk that you’ll get to sometime, maybe.
5 Ways to Turn Things Around When You’re Having a Bad Eating Day
Has this ever happened to you: You wake up late and have to fly out of the house before you have time for a decent breakfast, so you either grab a pastry from the coffee place or skip it altogether.
7 One-Pot Vegetable Dinners for Easier Weeknights
The last—and we mean last—thing you need after tackling your to-do list and making dinner on a typical weekday is a sink full of dishes. We’re right there with you. So we gathered up some favorite easy vegetarian dinners you can make in one vessel, be it baking sheet, skillet, pot, what have you, so you can eat, clean up and get busy relaxing for the rest of the night.
5 Super-Simple Healthy Dinners on the Table in 20 Minutes
You get through the entire day as a functioning adult (go, you!), and then you’re faced with that daily dreaded question: What’s for dinner?
5 Things You Can Do to Make Your Meals Healthier
You pile on the veggies, you avoid excess sugar and processed foods—you’ve got this healthy-eating thing down. So now that you’ve got the foundation in place, we want to share a few of our favorite tweaks that can help you up the nutrients and boost the flavor of your meals. These tips and simple habits are just the boost you need for pro-level healthy cooking.
Here’s the One Wellness Tip Every Smart Traveler Knows
You’re going on a trip. Congratulations! You’re all packed and ready to go. You even remembered your cellphone charger and razor this time. Yay! Although you might feel like you packed everything, there’s still something else that truly savvy travelers never forget—and that’s a wellness travel kit.
What’s the Big Deal With Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi?
Trader Joe’s ultra-convenient frozen cauliflower gnocchi can be on the table in 10 minutes and costs less than $3 for a bag that serves 2. If you’ve haven’t tried it yet, here are a few more reasons people are so smitten.
6 Ways to Move Around More All Day
You know intuitively that sitting all day long isn’t great for you—maybe you feel tired, or stiff, or slouchy, or all of the above, after prolonged time spent on your tush. And yet, in our modern lifestyles, with work in front of computers, long commutes and the lure of Netflix, sitting seems like our natural state.
Only Have 20 Minutes for Lunch? Try One of These Healthy Options
It’s noon, and you’re starving—but your to-do list is insane and it’s not going to accomplish itself. We got you. Here are some lightning-fast healthy lunches you can put together and put away in 20, so you can get on with your day.
We Might Buy An Air Fryer Just to Make This Recipe
It’s not unusual to find drool-worthy food photos on Instagram—half the time we wonder if it wasn’t invented just for that reason. But when you come across a recipe that makes you want to buy a gadget you don’t already have and eat a food right now that you normally kind of shrug at?
How to Take Your Healthy Habits on the Road—and When Not To
Since you care about keeping up your healthy lifestyle (we know you do, because you’re reading this — hi!) you also understand that travel presents its own set of challenges. Will you eat healthy and if so, how? Will you exercise and if so, how?
Supercharge Your Morning Coffee With These 5 Health Boosters
No matter how hectic your morning—overslept, waited extra-long for the shower at the gym, kids dawdled over breakfast—there’s always time for coffee.
5 Ways to Enjoy Your Sunday Nights Again
Picture this: You’ve had a great weekend, fun and relaxing, and you’re feeling fine. Then, as soon as the sun sets on Sunday, anxiety begins to creep in. Next thing you know, you’re stressed out and worried because you’re thinking of everything you have to do this week, and it isn’t even Monday yet.
What to Eat (and Avoid) When You Have a Hangover
You eat your vegetables, you work out, you get good sleep, you manage stress—we see you over there, keeping up your healthy habits. But even the best of us sometimes overindulge. It happens. No judgment.
Our Favorite Healthy Food Products of 2020
Here are the top trends of 2020 and the tastiest, healthiest foods and drinks — from keto-friendly everything to CBD brownies and healthier cheese puffs.
6 Ways an Air Fryer Rocks, According to Cooks
Step aside, Instant Pot—the It Girl of kitchen gadgets right now is the air fryer. All over our Insta feeds, we’re seeing tons of creative cooks air-fry everything from meat and fish to vegetables, potatoes, even cookies and muffins.
Protect Yourself from the Most Gross Spots in Planes and Hotels
It’s no secret that travel can be a dirty, unclean and unhealthy experience. The reality is that we do our best to not think about what’s in that recycled air on planes.
How to Order Like a Healthy Pro at Chipotle
We may be super-polarized on a number of topics these days, but it seems one thing we can all agree on is Chipotle. Why? Because there’s something for everyone, no matter what your eating style.
Peek Inside Clean Plates: What Our Team Is Cooking in February
We don’t just love write about and talk about food—we’re in the kitchen cooking, too. Here’s what’s in our skillets and ovens and on our plates this month.
5 Expert Tips for Healthier Mixed Drinks
Mixed drinks and healthy habits don’t, well, mix—or do they? While you probably already avoid going overboard with booze, there are some simple ways to upgrade your cocktails to make them better for you.
3 Easy Ways to Boost Brain Power Every Day
Brain fog can show up as small annoyances like losing your keys, as embarrassing gaffes like forgetting your neighbor’s name. And sometimes it shows up in more serious ways like screwing up at work, forgetting to pick your kid up from an after-school activity.
Stress Less, Accomplish More—Who Doesn’t Want That?
Have you ever had an experience where you meet a person, and soon realize that you’ve met them at the precise moment in your life that you needed them? For me, a significant one was when I met meditation expert Emily Fletcher, founder of Ziva Meditation and author of the new book Stress Less, Accomplish More.
5 Tips for Making Low-Carb Pancakes Taste Like the Real Deal
I gave up grains a few years ago, and I’ve never felt better. Now, this isn’t me preaching to you to eat like I do—we all have to find the eating style that works for us as individuals. For me it’s mostly paleo, and low-ish in carbs (paleo isn’t necessarily low-carb, but that’s a topic for another day). But definitely no grains for me, thanks.
Here’s the Recipe to Make for Your Valentine
I don’t know about you, but I want the same thing from my Valentine’s Day dessert as I want from my date: Sweet but not cloying, sophisticated but fun, surprising yet familiar. That’s what these Tahini Salted Chocolate Date Chews deliver.
Can You Drink and Stay Fit? Tips from a Nutritionist/Trainer
New Year’s resolution season is waning, and we’re starting to notice even our most die-hard friends loosening up on the goals a bit. One debate we all seem to have is whether it’s necessary to give up drinking completely in order to stay fit.
The Secret to Turning Your New Year’s Resolution into a Lifestyle
It’s February now, the end of New Year’s resolution season, and we couldn’t be happier. Not only because the gym is starting to empty out (thank goodness), but also because we can stop hearing all the “New Year, New You” messaging (we love the “old” you, thanks), and dig into what your goals are and how to get there realistically and sustainably.
The One-Pan Meal That Saved Dinner
When it comes to dinner, two things stress me out: Not having some kind of a plan and a fridge full of clutter.
Peek Inside Clean Plates: What Our Team Is Cooking
You’ve probably already guessed that your Clean Plates team is food obsessed. We love bringing you recipes, expert tips and all kinds of information about healthy eating and overall wellness every day.
How to Marie Kondo Your Freezer
So, when’s the last time you cleaned out your freezer? We mean, really cleaned it out. Was “Uptown Funk” at the top of the charts? Yeah, us too.
Best Healthy Snacks to Stash in Your Bag
Picture this: You’re out and about, doing your thing, and suddenly, you are HUNGRY. Maybe you skipped lunch, maybe you’ve had a particularly active day, but for whatever reason, you need a snack, and you need it now. We’ve been there too.
7 Make-Ahead Ideas For a Healthy Breakfast
If you’re taking a look at your busy schedule and wondering how you’re going to manage a nourishing breakfast when you have to be out the door so early, let us offer a suggestion: the make-ahead breakfast.
These Are Our Favorite Low-Sugar Yogurts
Have it for breakfast, use it as a marinade, make a sauce from it, snack on it—we can’t imagine a world without yogurt in it. And there are so many options—flavored, non dairy, grass-fed, fruit on the bottom—how is a healthy eater supposed to choose?
5 Easy Ways to Add Mindfulness to Your Day
Mindfulness—no doubt you’ve been hearing a lot about it lately. But what is it, how do you do it, and what can it do for you? Here are the basics, and some simple ways to incorporate it into your day.
Added vs. Natural Sugar: What’s the Deal?
Have you noticed some changes to the nutrition labels on some of your favorite packaged foods—the calorie number is bigger, the serving size is more realistic (who eats half a cookie? Come on!), the grams of added sugar are listed, and more?
Why (And How) to Avoid This Headline-Making Herbicide
You try to eat organic as often as you can—we’re right there with you. One of the reasons, no doubt, is to avoid pesticides and herbicides.
It can be overwhelming to try to navigate Costco’s grocery aisles, dodging sample stations, and avoiding the crush of carts in any circumstances. When you’re in search of snacks that fit the low-carb criteria? Well, we won’t say mission impossible, but we definitely feel your pain. That’s why we’ve rounded up our favorite low-carb foods to buy at Costco — so you can get in, get out, and get snacking
A Smoothie Bowl That Fights Inflammation (and Tastes Like a Treat)
When it comes to smoothie bowls, we want Clark Kent and Superman—that is, we want it to taste indulgent, but we also want it to have inflammation-fighting superpowers. Registered dietician Jenna Gorham swooped in to the rescue with this Coconut Turmeric Smoothie.
How to (Realistically) Reduce Sugar Every Day
There are so many different approaches to food these days, and everyone seems convinced that theirs is the best. Keto, vegan, vegetarian, paleo—ask anyone who loves their eating style and they’ll happily evangelize to you about why it’s the only right way.
Our 5 Top Health Stories of 2018
As 2018 winds down, we’re taking a good look at the Clean Plates stories that were at the top of your reading list. There’s a healthy mix of articles covering everything from brain health to beauty with coverage on everyone’s favorite topic—gut health—in the mix.
5 Tips for Making (and Ordering) Low-Sugar Smoothies
Smoothies aren’t going anywhere. When something is this convenient and so good for packing in nutrition on-the-go, it sticks around in the recipe arsenal.
How to Deal With Holiday Sugar Temptation (Without Being a Total Grinch)
We asked experts for their best tips on avoiding this most sugary of seasons without being a total Grinch. Here’s what they had to say.
The 10 Recipes You Loved the Most in 2018
2018 was a great year for recipes at Clean Plates, but there were a few that you, our readers, loved more than others. From easy, DIY baked zucchini fries to treats like chocolatey almond butter cups—the mix included everything from easy-to-make sides to desserts you can feel good about.
5 Life-Changing Gifts for the Coffee Lover in Your Life
It’s one thing to like coffee, and have a cup every morning as a habit. But for some among us, that cup of coffee is more than just a pick-me-up—it’s a way of life, a sustaining lifeblood that one simply can’t survive without.
5 Fast Recipes for Easier, Healthier Weeknight Dinners
You get home from work, your stomach is growling, and you have no idea what to make for dinner. Yep, we’ve all been there. Before you grab the takeout menus, check out this collection of super-quick, easy recipes—you can get a healthy homemade meal on the table before Seamless has a chance to load.
10 of the Best Healthy Cookbooks of 2018
2018 was a great year for cookbooks that put flavor and feeling good on equal pedestals. No matter if healthy looks like a plate full of vegetables or not a grain in site, there’s a cookbook that celebrates eating well and healthfully.
Get a Jump Start on Your New Year’s Goal
It’s only part way through December and we’re already feeling it—that drag from too many holiday cookies and sweet cocktails. What’s getting us through? Knowing that come January 1, we can start cleaning up our diets, especially reducing sugar consumption.
5 Delicious, Healthy Crowd-Pleasing Holiday Breakfasts
Christmas morning, New Year’s Day, and the whole holiday week in between—maybe you have a houseful of guests or family in from out of town. No matter what your particular situation, one thing is a given: Everyone wakes up hungry.
This Is the Gift to Give Everyone On Your List
Shop in your pajamas, spend as much (or as little) as you want, and get the perfect gift for everyone on your list. Sound too good to be true? One word: Subscription. Whether your mom/brother/boyfriend/boss is into coffee, vegan snacks, grass-fed meat or anything else, there’s a subscription that’s perfect for them.
Healthy Kitchen Stocking Stuffers Ideas Under $10
Secret Santas, grab bags, stocking stuffers—there are all kinds of reasons why under-$10 gifts are clutch. But you don’t want to give anything lame, even at a low price point. So we tracked down some easy on the wallet but still awesomely useful items perfect for the healthy cooks in your life.
10 Low-Sugar Snack Recipes to Keep You Going
It’s 4 p.m., you’re hungry, you’re tired, and you are jonesing hard for the donuts/cookies/candy/insert tempting treat here in your office break room. (We’ve all been there). But you know that 10 minutes after eating it, you’ll both suffer the sugar crash and feel hungry again.
3 Ways to Get More Magnesium (and Why You Should)
Want to relax more, take the edge off stress, sleep better and improve your digestion? Of course you do; we all do. The secret to all this and more: Magnesium.
5 Ways to Have Clearer Skin
When you have skin issues, whether minor or serious,—or you’re just not looking as fresh and glowy as you want to—it can really zap your confidence. Before turning to harsh approaches, we sought out tried-and-true natural ways to look amazing. Warning: Side effects may include more energy and boosted immunity.
8 Easy 30-Minute Vegetarian Dinners You Need to Know
Whether you’re all plant-based all the time or just want to get more vegetables into your life, having a few quick and easy vegetarian dinners is a good move. Get a tasty, healthy, satisfying dish on the table on the double with these quick recipes which feature new takes on old standbys like a loaded avocado toasts or soon-to-be new favorites like chickpea power bowls.
Upgrade Naptime This Holiday Season
With family visits and office parties and pies on top of pies, the holidays require an extra helping of sleep. That means taking a nap—or two—when you need it. Because ICYMI, the holiday season is also napping season.
The 3 Important Things You Need to Know About the Romaine Recall
By now you’ve likely heard about the warning from the Centers for Disease Control to avoid eating romaine lettuce because of an E. coli outbreak. Given that tomorrow is the biggest eating day of the year, here are the three things you need to know to keep yourself and your family safe.
10 Healthy Sides to Make All Season Long
The winter season brings the opportunity for so many gathering which means you’ll need a batch of healthy sides to lean on when it comes to putting together the meal. Whether you’re hosting Friendsgiving or a guest at Thanksgiving this year here’s how to make something in the better-for-you realm.
6 Healthy Habits to Keep in Mind for Thanksgiving
Even for the healthiest among us, it’s easy to fall into the anything-goes-during-the-holidays trap. We think the most successful holiday season involves balancing indulgence and enjoyment with keeping up our healthy habits, so we don’t find ourselves on January 1 thinking, “What just happened?”
4 Beauty Boosting Breakfast Foods Wellness Bloggers Love
Starting the day with foods that help you look your best is a great way to get going in the morning. You know collagen is the ultimate beauty booster—everywhere you go, people are blending it into smoothies, pouring it into coffee, and adding it to muffins.
7 Healthy Low-Sugar Breakfast Ideas
It’s not like you’re mainlining Lucky Charms for breakfast (uh, right?)—but even some a.m. meals that disguise themselves as healthy can pack in sugar. We found some delicious, hearty meals designed to fill you up and leave you energized for the day without the mid-morning sugar crash.
This 5-Minute Quiz Reveals Exactly What Vitamins You Should be Taking
Vitamins: Add it to the list of things we know we’re supposed to do every day, but don’t always get to. Also, add it to the list of health-related things that we find confusing and are never sure we’re doing quite right. So how do we figure out this whole vitamin thing? We need to ask better questions.
5 Tips for Staying Healthy This Winter
What to eat, drink, and do for cold-weather wellness.
When the temperatures drop, it’s tempting to hole up at home, curl up on the couch with some “comfort” foods and hibernate with Netflix until spring comes around (right? Is it just us?). Since you can’t do that all the time, here are some simple ways to help you stay well until the days grow longer again.
Is Your Gut As Healthy As It Can Be?
Optimal gut health—it’s the holy grail of wellness. Sure, you could take a regular probiotic and eat some salad and hope for the best or you can give yourself a true health boost with a daily dose of 31 organic fruits, veggies, and herbal extracts, paired with probiotics, prebiotics, and digestive enzymes, in a convenient, great-tasting powder created according to science by one of the world’s leading experts on gut health.
10 Easy, Healthy Dinners for People in A Hurry
It’s 7pm, you’re starving, and you’re in no mood for that recipe you were planning to make that requires 40 minutes and 3 pans. (Been there!) No worries—here are some lightning-fast, super-simple meals to get you fed on the double.
10 Healthy Low-Carb Breakfasts To Start Your Morning Right
That classic breakfast from childhood—cereal, toast and juice—today would have us asleep in a carb coma by 10 am. Here are some ways to get yourself going in the morning minus the carbs but with plenty of nutrients to fuel your day.
3 Ways to Make Sure Your Matcha is Top Quality
Matcha, matcha, matcha—that bright green powder is everywhere right now. And no wonder, since it’s amazing for you, loaded with polyphenols, especially EGCG, a powerful disease fighter.
10 Halloween-Night Dinners to Make Before Trick or Treating
Halloween is a blast, we love it as much as the next person wearing an Elsa costume for the fourth year in the row—but it takes some energy.
10 Easy Healthy Pancake Recipes
Pancakes—perhaps the ultimate indulgent brunch dish. Traditionally they’re just straight-up comfort food, something to enjoy on a lazy Sunday when you don’t actually have to accomplish anything else for the day (#CarbComa).
5 Ways to Make a Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte
Starbucks’ pumpkin spice latte is ubiquitous with fall. In the past 15 years that the cult-favorite drink has been served, it has become an obsession.
Make This: No-Bake Matcha Collagen Bars
Two super-healthy and ultra-trendy ingredients together in one easy-to-make, delicious and satisfying snack? Yes, please. These matcha collagen bars feel like a treat and get you the protein and disease-fighting antioxidants your body craves.
Looking For a Great Clean Wine? We Have The Solution.
You work hard to eat clean whenever possible—we see you. Harder still: Finding clean, organic wine at your local grocery or liquor store.
10 Tips for a Better Morning for People Who Oversleep
Some of us are just not morning people (you know who you are). And if you have to be somewhere at a certain time in the a.m., that means morning can be a mad rush. If the craziness first thing leads to not-the-best breakfast options, the rest of your day can suffer, too.
10 Plant-Based Meals to Make in 30 Minutes
Fast meals are a must for busy nights. We want to whip something up quickly and with zero hassle, enjoy it, and then get on with some down time. The meals here bring new meaning to the term “veg out”—they’re all plant based, there’s something here for any craving, and the best part: They’re all good to go in 30 minutes or less.
5 Simple Tips For Better Sleep That Actually Work
Sleep: It’s so crucial to good health, affecting everything from immunity to appetite, mood, beauty, libido and more. We all need it to live a healthy life, and yet so many of us don’t the 7 to 9 hours per night recommended by the National Sleep Foundation.
What We Can Learn From Bees About Staying Healthy This Winter
Autumn is here—and though we always love the changing leaves and cooler weather, we also dread the start of cold and flu season.
Treat Like a Champ: 5 High-Protein Desserts
When you think “protein,” we’re guessing what pops into your mind is fish, a burger, beans, tofu. Definitely not dessert, right?
The Healthiest Tea Is Also the Easiest #winwin
Pop quiz: What’s a caffeinated drink that has tons of health benefits, is flavorful and delicious and belongs in your daily routine? Nope, not that one—we’re talking about tea.
A Surprising Way to Enjoy Matcha
By now we’ve all heard about the benefits of matcha and how it can be a healthier alternative to sugary blended drinks and even your morning coffee.
4 Surprising Foods that Boost Brainpower
We’ve all been there—lost our keys, misplaced our phones, can’t recall if we turned off the oven. And it’s not like it gets better as we age.
Must-Try Dinner: Easy & Flavorful Mediterranean Burgers
Dinner on the table in 35 minutes, and it’s a balanced, satisfying, and has plenty of vegetables and tons of bright flavor? Yes, please.
The Easiest Way to Protect Yourself from Colds/Flu
That cool breeze you feel means autumn is coming—and though we love sweater weather and changing leaves as much as anyone, we always get that “uh oh” feeling as cold and flu season approaches.
Make This Now: 4 Awesome Yet Easy Plant-Based Recipes
If you hear “plant based” and think “boring,” or “rabbit food,” get ready for an entire day’s worth of colorful dishes loaded with flavor—and yes, we included dessert.
How Clean Is Your Skin (Is It Too Clean)?
Are you too clean? That probably isn’t a question you think about much. But yes, you actually can be.
4 Expert Ways to Take In More Water
As essential as we all know it is to drink plenty of water every day, it can be easy to forget, especially when you’re caught up in your busy day. But with a little foresight, and some simple hacks, kicking up your daily water intake becomes much easier.
These Plant-Based Recipes Are Magical
It isn’t your imagination—food really does taste better when it looks beautiful. So it’s no wonder the trend of unicorn food—smoothies, lattes, cupcakes and more—became a thing.
Just When You Thought Ice Cream Couldn’t Get Better
It’s important to try to eat healthy and reduce sugar and have lots of vegetables… but, ice cream. It is just so hard to resist ice cream. #thestruggleisreal
5 Better-for-You Sweeteners to Use Instead of Sugar
If there’s one thing health experts can agree on, it’s that sugar isn’t doing your health any favors. But breaking the habit can be tough. And, well, sometimes you just want something sweet. We get it, and while we still don’t recommend scarfing down the whole tray of cupcakes (sorry), we can get behind using one of these healthier sugar alternatives.
5 Expert Tips For Immunity As We Move Into Fall
You probably don’t think much about your immune system day to day—unless you aren’t feeling well. Most of the time this complex network of cells and organs works 24/7/365 under the radar, fighting off infection and pathogens.
The No. 1 Step to Upgrading Your Health Starts With Better Sleep
Sleep: It’s absolutely essential to good health and quality of life. People who get consistent, good-quality sleep are at lower risk for everything from colds and flu to obesity and other chronic diseases.
5 Hacks to Maximize Hydration
Staying hydrated – it’s one of the top tenets of good health. You work out, you eat right, you manage stress, and you hydrate. You got this, right?
4 Lower-Sugar Boozy Blended Drinks
We’re hanging on to summer for as long as we can—so while it’s still hot out, we’re chilling with blended cocktails. But so many of our favorite drinks are loaded with sugar, which can really ruin the party.
7 Surprising Facts About Hydration
You know it’s important to stay hydrated—but are you aware of all the many reasons why? Turns out it’s not just a matter of keeping thirst at bay and being able to kill it in your indoor cycling class.
A Chef’s Twists on a Fave Late-Summer Dish
Gazpacho—it’s a classic summer treat. Toss a bunch of fresh vegetables in a blender and bam—you have a sophisticated, cool, healthy chilled soup that’s perfect in bowls on its own or served in small cups as the start to a grill-fest.
Low-Carb Noodles with Benefits
If we told you there’s a kind of noodle that’s versatile, filling, rich in fiber, organic, vegan, gluten free, paleo, keto, soy free and even kosher, you’d think it was a miracle, wouldn’t you?
The Cold Brew That Loves You Back
Just when we thought we could not love coffee more, along came cold brew to rock our worlds. It’s smoother and less acidic than the traditional stuff, and it tastes. So. Good. Perfect for a hot day (and hey, for many of us, for any day).
I Gave Up Sugar For a Week: Here’s What Happened
I know sugar is not my friend—and usually I’m pretty good about keeping it in check. But despite my best intentions, sometimes my intake creeps up on me (#thestruggleisreal).
How to Win at Snack Time
Some people are morning people, others are night owls—we are snack time people. Mid-morning, late afternoon—if it’s snack time, count us in.
7 No-Sweat Meal Prep Hacks
Summer is upon us and that means hot weather everywhere. When the weather heats up, the last thing you want to do is add to the sweltering conditions by turning on your oven. But that’s no reason for meal prep to suffer. With fresh produce overflowing from the markets during the summer, the heat is just an invitation to enjoy nature’s bounty in its purest form. Here are our hottest tips for staying cool—without resorting to takeout every day.
A Fast & Easy Secret Beauty Weapon
You’ve heard a zillion times that staying hydrated is crucial to good health (we heard you, Mom!). If that isn’t enough motivation for you, here’s another reason: Hydration is key to looking your best.
Get Your Pretty Face Really Clean
Here’s what we want in a skincare line: It has to be quick and easy to use (who has time for long, complicated beauty routines, #amiright?). It should be made from organic ingredients. It should work great and make us look and feel gorgeous. And it should be truly clean, natural and made sustainably. Is that so much to ask?
What’s for Dinner? Restaurant-Quality Salmon Poke
Poke—it combines some of our favorite things: Omega 3-rich fish, food served in a bowl, and fast preparation. No wonder it’s so trendy. (By the way, it’s pronounced “poh KAY.” You’re welcome.)
Save a Bundle on the Best Healthy Products
One thing we always hear from friends and family is that it’s so expensive to buy healthy food, green cleaning products, etc. Plus, it’s also a hassle trying to find truly great products among the sea of ones that claim to be good for you, but still have questionable ingredients.
How Green Are Your Period Products?
You eat clean, work out, use green cleaning supplies. But what about, well…your vagina? There, we said it. Time to bring your healthy mindset into your feminine hygiene routine.
Meatless Monday: Jerk-Style Cauliflower Steaks
Cauliflower—it’s the chameleon of vegetables. It can transform into rice, into pizza crust, into Alfredo sauce—it can even be a base for smoothies. And now, everyone’s favorite crucifer is turning into… steak.
It’s OK to Love Garlic Powder
Garlic powder—we grab it out of the spice rack when we don’t feel like hassling with fresh, but to be honest, we always felt a little sheepish about it. It just seems so… uncheffy, like a bit of a culinary cop-out.
Win a Year of Award-Winning Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil—it’s luscious, indulgent and insanely healthy. We can’t get enough of Cobram Estate’s ultra-fresh, super-high-quality oil, made from olives raised lovingly by the founders in their California and Australian groves. What could be better?
The Best Face Products with Sephora’s New Clean Beauty Seal
Clean beauty has come a long way. You used to have to shop at healthy retailers to find products free of sketchy ingredients, but now that consumers are demanding transparency from brands, Sephora has blown out its selection of natural products.
Summer Just Got More Fun with Low-Sugar Treats
Swimming, road trips, catching fireflies, playing in the park—no matter what your family’s fave summer activities are, there are usually treats involved. No doubt you want your family to enjoy something sweet without the sugar rush (and crash), so we tapped registered dietician nutritionist and family nutrition consultant Laura Hoover for her best strategies to find that balance.
Feel Amazing with This New 21-Day Plan
So there are plenty of 21- and 30-day plans and challenges out there designed to clean up your eating or get you doing a full set of push-ups on your toes. But what about a plan that addresses all of your health goals at once?
How to Buy the Best Probiotic for You
Have you ever gone to shop for a probiotic, only to stare at a wall (or fridge full) of bottles, each promising a gazillion powerful strains designed to turn you into a superhero?
The DIY Face Mask So Clean You Could Eat It
A soothing face mask is such a great way to practice self-care—it’s quick and easy and it forces you to sit still and just relax for 15 minutes. No matter how busy our days get, we can all make time to do this one little thing for ourselves occasionally, right? Right??
How to Get the Best Real-Deal Olive Oil
Olive oil—it’s one of the healthiest fats on the planet, the backbone of the celebrated Mediterranean diet. But it’s also been the cause of controversy over authenticity—that is, it can be hard to know what’s truly good-quality olive oil, no matter what the price tag.
How to Know If You’re Really Hungry
Are you hungry? Are you sure? Many of us have forgotten what true hunger feels like, and instead eat out of habit, boredom or sadness. Getting back in touch with your body’s hunger signals is a great way to be sure you’re truly nourishing yourself. Here are some techniques to help you read the signs.
Gail Simmons’ Secrets to Easy-Breezy Summer Cooking
We always want to cook crowd-pleasing, chef-worthy food, easily and effortlessly—but especially in the summer. #Goals, right?
The Secret to Feel-Awesome BBQs
We see you there at the BBQ, being so careful, loading up on the vegetables, avoiding the gloopy “salads,” going light (or skipping) the alcohol. Then, you top your bunless burger with some condiments, and suddenly you’ve inadvertently added hidden sugar and other undesirable ingredients to your plate. And all you wanted was a little ketchup.
Why Calorie Counting Doesn’t Work—and What to Do Instead
Calories in vs. calories out—i.e., eating fewer calories than you burn off—has been an accepted weight loss formula for decades. And on its face, it seems to make sense. But a growing body of research is proving what frustrated dieters have already discovered: It’s just not that simple.
The Secret to Fighting Stress, Boosting Immunity and More
You eat clean, you work out, you sleep (well, maybe you’re still working on this one…), meditate, take your vitamins—but no matter how healthy your habits, do you sometimes still feel rundown, stressed out, brain foggy?
3 Ways to Use Up Produce That’s About to Go Bad
Does this sound familiar: At the beginning of the week, your refrigerator is full of vegetables and fruit, and this time you’re going to use it all — really. Fast forward a few days and you open the fridge door to find wilting lettuce, limp broccoli and a bunch of sad radishes. What were you going to do with those again?
Take That, Sugar Cravings
Sweet cravings—we don’t have to tell you how powerful they can be. It’s bad enough we’re surrounded by sweets all day, from the office cupcake party to the restaurant dessert menu (jeez, even seemingly healthy food products are a minefield); the taste of sugar makes us crave more and we feel powerless against the draw of sugar.
Trend Alert: Next-Level Pumped-Up Coffee
You already love your morning coffee (right??), and maybe you’ve even gotten into Bulletproof, blending grass-fed butter and MCT oil into your a.m. brew.
Your Healthiest (and Tastiest) Cookout Ever
Warm weather means cookouts, and we are so ready. What we’re not ready for: That slump that comes from over-indulging at mealtime.
What’s the Deal with CBD?
Cannabis is enjoying a reputation renaissance Olivia Pope would envy, becoming a darling of wellness pros, yogis and health aficionados. But the fact is, not everyone wants to get high. And some of us live in states where it remains illegal. So what’s a wellness seeker to do?
Give Your BBQ a Healthy Upgrade
It’s almost cookout season, which also makes it swimsuit season, plus the time of year you most want to have tons of energy to play outside and enjoy the sunshine. Luckily, with a few simple strategies, you can get your grill on and still look and feel amazing.
Kick the Can—Upgrade Your Soup
Stash the can opener and back away from the MSG-laced soups of the past.
Awesome Sauce(s)
If there’s one thing we love, it’s a trick to elevate our cooking without, well, requiring much effort. We want fantastic meals, and we don’t want to work that hard to make them. Is that too much to ask?
You Worked Out, You’re Sore—Now What?
Okay, so you thought you were doing this amazing thing for your body by hitting the same HIIT class three days in one week, and now….you can’t move.
8 One-Minute Tips for Glowing Skin All Day
If you’re constantly looking for ways to get that coveted “glow,” you may be overcomplicating things. It’s not your fault. Beauty companies have spent decades selling women skincare routines consisting of numerous bottles filled with multiple potions.
Get the Sleep You Need Once and For All
Sleep. You need it. You want it. You feel so much better when you get it. Why is it so important? Along with giving you enough energy to power through your day, sleep is necessary for the body to detox and repair itself.
How to Bake Like a (Grain Free) Pro
If you’ve ever tried to convert a recipe from wheat flour to a grain-free alternative, you may have discovered that it can go terribly wrong.
Unleash Your Superpowers with Coffee
It doesn’t take much convincing to get us to brew a cup of coffee in the morning. The taste, the fragrance—even the ritual of heating up the water is as much a part of our mornings as getting dressed and brushing our teeth (but way more fun).
Ease Post-Workout Pain Naturally
Spring is here (finally!), and if you’re like us, you can’t wait to get outside and play. Whether you’re hitting the outdoor workouts hard or enjoying an after-dinner stroll, the fresh air just feels amazing.
6 Doc-Recommended Foods to Beat Bloat
Ugh, bloating. No matter how well you take care of yourself, it happens. It’s a nuisance, it’s uncomfortable—but you can fight it.
What’s for Dinner: Gluten-Free Chicken Meatballs
We love meatballs, you love meatballs—everyone loves meatballs (even vegetarians). But if you’re gluten free, you may have had to curtail your meatball habit, since most are made with breadcrumbs. Bummer.
Why We Love Turmeric (And How To Get It)
Turmeric is everywhere these days. Golden-milk lattes, chocolates, juice shots—even face masks and lip balm.
What Should You Buy Organic?
Pop quiz: You’re on a limited budget (who isn’t?), but you want to buy organic produce. How do you know which vegetables and fruits you should buy organic vs. which are a-ok to shop conventional?
7 Sneaky One-Minute Mood Boosters
Deep, lasting happiness generally comes from major shifts in things like lifestyle or perspective. That might mean taking on a meditation practice, or making big-picture changes to your diet.
How to Get the Very Best Meat and Chicken
You want the best-quality grass-fed beef, heritage pork and pastured chicken for you and your family. In a perfect world, you would find a fantastic butcher who offered a wide array of cuts, sourced from small farms where the animals were raised humanely and never given antibiotics or hormones.
5 Super-Simple Ways to Reduce Stress Right Now
Truth: Everyone experiences stress daily. And while a little bit can provide drive and motivation to do things well, chronic stress has serious health consequences, from headaches to digestive issues and even heart disease.
The Easiest Way to Have More Energy
You want to be your sharpest, have the most energy, reach your goals—who doesn’t? Although there’s always a stream of gimmicks claiming to get you to peak performance in every aspect of your life, the truth is, the one that’s been proven to work time and time again is: Hydration.
4 Weird Reasons You’re Craving Sweets
It’s not that strange to crave sweets at certain times—we’re looking at you, 4 p.m. energy slump—but sometimes that desire for a treat seems to come out of nowhere.
The Secret to the Cleanest Drinking Water
As a Clean Plates reader, you know it’s important to eat clean food to avoid potentially harmful chemicals. And since you also know how important hydration is, no doubt you’re knocking back plenty of water every day.
Sneak Peek: Health Trends and New Food Products
If you love to seriously geek out about upcoming trends in wellness, and you always want to be the first to try the latest healthy foods, the place to go is the Natural Products Expo West trade show in Anaheim, California.
6 Ways to Supercharge Your Smoothies
Who doesn’t love a good smoothie? Fruit and vegetables alone are fine, but you know adding protein and fat makes your drink even more satisfying.
5 Ways to Stay Healthy on the Road
Traveling to a new country is exciting and can be an incredible adventure. Plus, being out of your routine can be refreshing and fun. But sometimes being in a new place causes us to break our healthy habits, like eating well or exercising.
How Alkaline Are You?
You know eating lots of plant-based whole foods is the best route to good health, energy and looking your best. One reason why is your body’s acid-alkaline balance (pH).
There’s More to Life Than Kale and Spinach
Don’t get us wrong: We love kale as much as the next guy. But there are so many other delicious greens out there, and we especially love ones with personality.
6 Foods to Get You Gorgeous
You’ve heard the old saw, “You are what you eat”—and it’s true, especially when it comes to your appearance.
Are You Taking the Right Probiotic?
Unless you’ve been off the grid for the last year, you know gut health is super-important, affecting everything from digestion to immunity to mood, heart health, oral health and more.
5 Surprising Ways to Improve Digestion
Stomach trouble can throw your whole day (and night) out of whack. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have some fast, easy ways to keep your digestion humming along, so you can enjoy all-day energy and vitality?
All You Need for the Best Toast Ever
Sometimes simple things are the best—like toast. We know we’re not the only ones who love it: #Toast has more than 3 million posts on Insta (beating out #kardashian).
The Superfood that Lives Up to the Hype
There are plenty of magical ingredients out there claiming to give you more youthful skin, stronger hair and nails, improved gut health, and more—but there’s one that’s been scientifically proven to deliver on all of the above: Collagen.
9 Expert Morning Tricks for All-Day Energy
Some experts’ morning routines inspire eye-rolling. As in, “Sure, that’s great that you’ve got two hours to dedicate to working out, meditating, dry brushing, oil pulling, and blending 53 powders into your smoothie, but I’ve got to get to work.”
The New Star of Breakfast: The Sweet Potato
Eggs. Avocado toast. Oatmeal. Smoothie bowls. As much as we love all of these breakfast options, we sometimes wonder: What else is there?
Get a Soup-er Deal on a Gut-Healthy Superfood
A comfort food that’s warm and satisfying on a cold day, and also great for you? Yes, please.
Pro Chef Tips for Enjoying Beef (the Healthy Way)
If you eat meat but feel guilty or uncertain about it, good news: We have some tips to help you enjoy that steak or burger and still feel great afterwards.
Your Secret Weapon Against Winter Ailments
Cold and flu season, winter blues, energy slumps—this season brings with it a ton of hassles.
Wellness Pros Recommend Their Fave Podcasts
So. Many. Podcasts. And so little time—how can a person wade through all the offerings out there and find the shows most worth tuning into?
Our Favorite Low Sugar Granolas You Can Buy at the Supermarket
Granola is one of those foods that seems healthy, but often isn’t. Store-bought granolas tend to be loaded with sugar and seriously lacking in other nutrients. Luckily, there are some great-tasting low sugar granolas out there. Grab a spoon and read on.
Healthy Dinners Made Simple (For Real!)
If your New Year’s resolution to cook more healthy meals is hanging by a thread (or a distant memory), listen up: You can do it, without going crazy spending hours shopping and chopping.
2 Easy Ways to Feel Better Today
There’s no end of complicated diets, juice fasts and other plans promising to help you feel your best. But sometimes the simplest approach is the recipe for success.
Taste Test: 5 Gluten-Free Breads We Love
The best thing since, well, sliced bread
It used to be tough to find bread options if you avoided gluten. Nowadays, as gluten-free diets have become more mainstream, the difficulty has become finding the best-tasting loaves among the sea of choices in the supermarket.
6 Ways to Keep Skin Looking Fresh All Winter
Staying warm, avoiding colds and flu, maintaining fitness—winter brings with it a host of health issues. One that can be among the most challenging: Keeping skin hydrated and healthy.
How Good Is Your Gut Health?
If you follow health news, you already know how important gut health is. Everything from mood, energy levels and even our immunity can be linked to the bacteria and fungi found in our guts.
The Secret to Your Best Skin Ever
It’s the New Year, and if you’re like us, you made some resolutions around your health. Whether you’re determined to work out more, eat better, dial in sleep or all of the above, good for you. One of ours: Upgrade our skincare routine.
The Healthiest Way to Eat Bread
It’s that time of year, when we’re all trying to eat healthier—and for some of us, that might have meant a New Year’s resolution to cut back on the carbs.
Cleaner Cocktails for a Truly Happy New Year
You want to party on New Year’s Eve—but the morning-after consequences are never fun. Plus, there’s nothing like a hangover to make keeping those I’m-going-to-get-into-the-best-shape-ever resolutions really tough.
Delight Your Hostess with a Healthy Homemade Gift
Your mom taught you to never show up to a party or as an overnight guest without a gift (right?). Nothing is more personal, thoughtful and classy than a beautifully presented homemade gift. But what to make, especially during the rush-rush holiday season?
5 Ways to Keep Your Gut Healthy Over the Holidays
Rich foods, late nights, family anxieties—ah, the holidays. Though the parties and travel can be fun, let’s face it, this season can be rough on your belly.
5 Gluten-Free Flours to Upgrade Your Baking
Muffins, cookies, quick breads—just because you’ve gone gluten-free (or paleo) doesn’t mean you have to give up the baked goods you love. Grab one of these 5 grain-free flours, preheat your oven and get ready to enjoy healthier versions of your fave treats.
5 Super-Healthy One-Bowl Meals
Quick and easy meal ideas are always important, but they’re even more crucial during the crazy-busy holiday season. Who has time for multiple dishes, not to mention the extra cleanup?
Get a Spa Chef’s Secret Sauce(s)
Chefs: They’re just like us! Except, uh, their food tastes way better. One way chefs elevate their dishes is by drizzling on a sauce.
Give Yourself a Special Holiday Gift: Become a Health Coach
Are you passionate about wellness and helping others? This holiday season, give yourself an amazing gift—an exciting new career as a health coach.
Chef Worthy (But Easy) Vegetable Sides
We call it Turkey Day, but really, Thanksgiving is all about the sides. Whether you’re making everything yourself or bringing a dish to someone else’s table, here are three healthy, simple to make vegetable sides sure to please any crowd.
How to Boost Your Child’s Gut Health
You feed your children the healthiest food you can (hey, they tried broccoli once, right?), and give them a multivitamin to fill in the rest. Now take it to the next level with a chewable probiotic specially designed to boost your kiddos’ gut health.
A More Environmentally Conscious Beef?
Eat beef, it’s full of B vitamins and iron. Don’t eat beef, it’s a cause of climate change. What’s an environmentally conscious omnivore to do?
The Perfect Healthy Holiday Side Dish: Mashed Cauliflower
If you’re used to spending all day in the kitchen slaving over your holiday sides, get ready to meet your new best friend: A healthy, luscious, crowd-pleasing dish that tastes amazing, makes your kitchen smell incredible and is ready in—wait for it—30 minutes.
Keep That Water Bottle Filled All Winter
We all know how important it is to stay hydrated when it’s hot out, but winter brings with it plenty of reasons to keep on sipping.
Sautéed Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Shallots and Almonds
Brussels sprouts can be a bit bitter—I think that’s why some people don’t like them. But here, any bitterness is countered with lemon juice, fresh dill, and toasted almonds. The result is a really good, completely health-conscious vegetable dish. Even if you haven’t liked Brussels sprouts before, you’re in for a pleasant surprise.
Working Out During Your Period Just Got Easier
It’s hard enough to motivate to get to the gym when you have the fatigue, cramps, and other symptoms from your period. Add fiddling with tampons or pads to the equation, and who wouldn’t rather just curl up on the couch?
The Secret to Better Health Is In Your Glass
Brain fog, lightheadedness, dry skin, dry eyes, fatigue, irritability, headache—you could have any or all of these after a long day in front of the computer at work. But actually these are all signs of dehydration, which is no joke.
Make It or Fake It? 9 Prepared Foods Experts Always Buy
In today’s world of questionable ingredients and the pressure to eat clean and be a super mom, you can feel guilty buying a bottle of marinara or flavored trail mix rather than making your own. In the sake of convenience and speeding up how quickly you can get dinner on the table, are you sacrificing your and your family’s health?
Steal These Tips from the Healthiest People in America
From thermal walks to staycations, 10 experts share their easy secrets to maximizing your health and happiness
New York and L.A. might be the places to find the trendiest boutique workouts and hottest superfoods—but when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, other cities edge them out, according to the most recent Gallup-Healthways Community Well-Being Rankings.
The Whole-Food Snack You’re Seeing All Over Insta
So. Many. Snacks. Sometimes it feels like you need a PhD in nutrition just to pick a good, healthy one. Ready for a shortcut?
Finally, A Healthy Snack Your Kids Will Love
Parents: Are you already sick of playing the back-to-school snack tug-of-war with your kids, where they want a treat and you want them to eat something with good nutrition and no added sugar?
Take Your Whole-Grain Game Beyond Oatmeal
What’s so great about whole grains? Research says eating them can reduce risk of stroke, heart disease and diabetes, and help keep weight in check.
The Easiest Way to Get a Gorgeous, Healthy Glow
What’s the first thing you notice in someone with great beauty? A healthy glow. If you want one, grab yourself some WelleCo SUPER ELIXIR, stat.
Greens, Probiotics and Adaptogens in One Supplement? Yes!
Get your greens. Eat the rainbow. Take probiotics. Incorporate sea vegetables. Try some adaptogens. There are so many things we’re supposed to be incorporating into our diets every day, it sometimes feels impossible to keep up.
How Wellness Gurus Refuel Post Workout
You have your #fitnessgoals, and no doubt you’re fueling up like a pro and rocking your workout. But what about after you’re done? Whether you sweat it out on the spin bike, at the barre, in the weight room or at yoga, refueling is an important part of any exercise routine.
These Back-to-School Snacks Get An A+
Back to school time can be exciting and fun—new clothes and school supplies, a fresh start. But where we start to feel the hassle factor: Snacks.
10 Ways to Detox Daily (No Juice Fasts Required)
If you pay attention to trends in wellness, then “detox” is a word you’ve probably heard a lot. It can mean everything from simply taking a break from sugar after the holidays to a full-on juice cleanse or fast—but no matter the method, the desired result is the same.
Watermelon “Pizza” = A Perfect Labor Day Recipe
If you like watermelon feta salad, you’re going to flip for this delicious, seasonal dish
Planning the menu for your next outdoor BBQ? Watermelon pizza is light, healthy and oh so pretty for summer. Our go-to recipe (see below) embraces seasonality and is bursting with bright flavor.
Back to School Essentials to Ease Lunch-Packing Stress
New schedules, sports teams, classes—back-to-school time brings with it a ton of coordinating and running around. Add to that the daily grind of packing lunches, and you’ll be ready for spring break before the leaves even begin to change.
This Chilled Soup Will Be Your End Of Summer Go-To
Homemade soup is one of our favorite foods any time of year. It may not be top of mind during the sweltering summer months—unless it’s a refreshing chilled soup, of course.
Passion For Wellness? Become A Health Coach
Who says kids are the only ones who get to go back to school? If you’re passionate about health, are always in the know about the latest wellness trends, cruise the aisles of health-food stores just for fun, and love helping others, you may be on your way to an exciting new career as a health coach.
Cold Brew Coffee Marinated Steak
Cold brew coffee makes for a surprisingly delicious steak marinade.
Healthy Faves for Less, Hassle-Free
Shopping for healthy products should be a calm experience, where you get to peruse a big selection of good-for-you products at your leisure, find everything you need easily and pay a reasonable amount at checkout. But it never is, is it?
Personalized Vitamins, Delivered Hassle-Free
The vitamin aisle at the pharmacy or health-food store is packed with so many choices, just finding something basic can be overwhelming. Plus, how do you know that you’re taking what your individual body really needs?
Grilled Watermelon with Feta, Jalapeños and Honey
Grilled watermelon is the perfect summer treat for your next barbecue.
Basil-Mint Fruit Salad with Watermelon Vinaigrette
A basil-mint fruit salad the whole family will love.
Find Your True Path—Become a Health Coach
Are you the go-to person with friends, family and coworkers for healthy eating and lifestyle tips? Do you read about wellness or cruise the aisles of health-food stores just for fun? Now you can turn that passion into a career, and make your living inspiring others to live well and feel their best. With the Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s one-year online program, you’ll explore more than 100 dietary theories, learn about wellness beyond food, and get training and resources to start your own successful coaching business from such renowned experts as Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Mark Hyman and Arianna Huffington. It’s amazing that from the comfort of your own home you’ll not only improve your own health and that of your family but also make a career out of helping others to improve theirs. Want to learn more? Sign up for the free, online sample class to get a taste of IIN and an introduction to the field of health coaching. Ready to enroll? The Institute is offering Clean Plates readers a big enrollment discount if you mention Clean Plates or our founder Jared Koch; call (877) 780-5750 to receive it. Classes begin July 17. Try your sample class today!
Our Favorite Protein For A Lean Healthy Body This Summer
If you’re like us, you’re finding that summer doesn’t provide relief from the crazed morning routine of racing to work, a spin class, or getting the kids ready for camp. With no a.m. time, a hot kitchen, and the desire to look great in our bathing suits, we need something quick that tastes great, keeps us energized and helps us look our best. Turns out, all we need is a morning smoothie powered up with WelleCo’s plant-based SUPER ELIXIR Nourishing Protein. With a hefty 19 grams of organic protein from sprouted brown rice and peas (bonus: the combo gives you all 9 essential amino acids), this nourishing powder reduces bloating, boosts metabolism, stops sugar cravings and will help keep you full and satisfied. THE SUPER ELIXIR has a unique Doctor-created formula which includes whole-food ingredients you won’t usually find in your average protein powder: Pre and probiotics for improved digestion and no more bloating All B vitamins, which help balance everything from mood, weight, digestion and heart health Dandelion helps remove toxins from the liver Anti-aging warriors acai & pomegranate for antioxidant properties that neutralize free radicals Rosehip, which is a concentrated source of vitamins C that builds healthy tissues, collagen and a strong immunity Leucine for muscle repair and phenalanine for fat burning Plus, along with all the health-boosting benefits, it actually tastes delicious. Try adding THE SUPER ELIXIR Nourishing Protein in Raw Peruvian Cacao or Australian Vanilla not just to a smoothie, but a smoothie bowl, energy ball, or chia pudding—or do what company co-founder Elle Macpherson does, and simply blend some into almond milk with a frozen banana and some berries for breakfast. Now’s the perfect time to try THE SUPER ELIXIR Nourishing Protein: Clean Plates’ readers will receive free shipping.* Just use code CLEANSUMMER at checkout. After all, you deserve to take 1 minute to blend up some fat-burning energy before you race out the door. Get lean and energized now! *Free shipping on all orders over $50 from Welleco.com; offer available one per customer until July 15, 2017. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.
The Best Editor-Tested Clean Beauty Products For Your 50s
Like in your 40s, Mikkilineni says 50-somethings will experience an even greater loss of volume in the face, as well as more brown and red spots. To fight that aged appearance, she suggests “a similar skin regimen as you were in your forties, but more exflolianting.”
The Best Editor-Tested Clean Beauty Products For Your 40s
In your 40s, women are largely seeing loss of volume and elasticity, says Mikkilineni. “We have fat pads in certain key areas facially and what you’re seeing is fat pads getting smaller over time, so you don’t get the kind of fullness you normally have in your twenties and thirties,” she explains.
The Best Editor-Tested Clean Beauty Products For Your 30s
As you approach your 30s, your face appears somewhat duller. Think: fine lines, crow’s feet, and mild brown spots sometimes caused by sun damage.
The Best Editor-Tested Clean Beauty Products For Your 20s
When you are in 20s, you have the benefit of time being on your side. “Your skin has a lot of good elasticity, so that means it’s plumper and you want to maintain that in the terms of hydration,” says Radha Mikkilineni, MD, of New York’s Sadick Dermatology.
Taste The World On A Plate With Green Chef
Can’t travel the world this summer but still want to experience the culinary delights of Mexico, Italy, Korea, and beyond? Think of Green Chef as your global guide to all things delicious and embark on an adventure in your own kitchen. Green Chef, the leading organic meal kit service, delivers prepped, high-quality, USDA-certified organic ingredients with easy, quick recipes from all over the world. The menu changes each week, whether you choose paleo, vegan, vegetarian, or one of their many other meal plans. You could be dining on meals like Korean Shrimp Noodle Bowl with Sautéed Veggies, Mexican Sweet Potato Nachos with Black Beans & Red Cabbage, and Peruvian Piri Piri Chicken with Rice and Coconut-Collard Greens. With flexible delivery, eco-friendly packaging, organic and sustainable ingredients, and affordable pricing—plus, Clean Plates readers will get $50 off their first order—there’s no reason why this can’t be the Ultimate Staycation Summer, thanks to Green Chef and that little patch of beach calling your name.
Bring The Farmer’s Market To You Via Jet.com
Why Jet.com is our new go-to resource for stocking up our picnic baskets, pantries and refrigerators.
A Delicious Date Night, Delivered
Green Chef is an organic meal-kit service that delivers all you need to make healthy, home-cooked dishes that impress.
7 Foods Healthy People Always Have in Their Freezer
A well-stocked freezer means you always have healthy food on hand, so which foods are best?
Avocado Mayo, Coconut Oil And More At Wholesale Prices
Thrive Market, an online marketplace that curates and sells the best healthy and organic products at wholesale prices, is giving a free jar of Avocado Mayo when you sign-up.
Are You Missing This Key Mineral?
Sulfur is an essential mineral that plays many important roles in the body, and anyone on a plant-based diet needs to make sure he or she is getting enough.
How Food Can Help Ease Anxiety
Melillo uses her story as a vehicle to share approachable wisdom on how food can be a tool to ease anxiety.
Celebrate with Danielle Walker’s Against All Grain Celebrations
Walker offers delicious recipes free of grains, dairy, and gluten but full of flavor
Bone Up On Getting Calcium And Vitamin D Into Your Diet
How much do you really need, the nutrients that help absorption and which foods are calcium- and D-rich?
A Flu Shot In A Blender
Our delicious elixir, the Flu Shot, is blended up fast for a solid dose of vitamins and minerals, all of which can help boost immunity or reduce symptoms.
10 Super-Achievers On How to Crush Your Resolutions
World-famous doctors, models and nutritionists share healthy strategies for 2017
Ten health and wellness authorities, from model Hilary Rhoda to Honest Company’s Christopher Gavigan, about their own healthy eating goals in 2017 and how to keep yours.
The Secret to Happiness, Straight from a Former Monk
Injecting a little peace, love and understanding in your daily life couldn't be easier
Andy Puddicombe, former Buddhist monk and creator of the popular Headspace app, shows how mindfulness is possible for anybody, anywhere.
Natural Hangover Helpers
Overdo the holiday “cheers”? Here are healthy remedies to get you feeling better quick
Before you have a greasy breakfast to cure a hangover, check out these good-for-you options that will soothe your headache and tummy troubles in a flash.
The One Indispensable Travel Food You Can’t Leave Home Without
Packed with fiber and immune-boosting vitamins, almonds are your best friend on the road
The humble almond is one of our favorite travel snacks. Here are four delicious ways to take the protein- and fiber-rich almonds on the road.
Cheers to Healthier Holiday Drinks
Holiday drinks can sneak in as much sugar as a couple slices of fruitcake! Get these recipes for tasty, festive and healthy mocktails and cocktails.
The Ultimate Meal-Plan Service for Healthy Eaters
Customize Your Home Cooking with PlateJoy
Meal planning and grocery shopping for your healthy diet can be time-consuming and stressful—especially in the frenzy of the holiday season. We could all use some helpful elves at the grocery store and in the kitchen right about now. PlateJoy offers a solution—a personalized, on-demand meal-plan service that’s tailored to your unique dietary needs, taste preferences and busy schedule. Each week, you’ll receive simple, healthy and totally delicious recipes and shopping lists customized to your specified diet, whether it be vegetarian, vegan, Paleo, Ketogenic, gluten-free, Low FODMAP or anything else. And, if you enroll by 12/31/16, you’ll get $10 off your membership with code CLEANPLATES. What sets PlateJoy apart from similar services is their attention to dietary detail. Paleo but don’t like avocados? Vegetarian but hate tofu? No problem. Take PlateJoy’s 3-minute quiz to design a bespoke shopping list for meals that fit your specific palate. Print your list or use the free app to shop easily on your phone or tablet. The “smart” shopping list even remembers what you already have in your pantry. Strapped for shopping time? Opt for same-day grocery delivery from one of their partner stores in your area. The custom recipes fit your cooking time constraints, too, with options as fast as 20 minutes from kitchen to table. Mouthwatering dinner selections run the gamut from Eqyptian red lentil soup to sausage and kale spaghetti squash bowls, with options for breakfast, lunch, snacks and desserts as well. Recipe portions are perfectly scaled to each member of your family, and you can even sync your account with your Fitbit or Jawbone to easily stick to your nutritional goals. Try PlateJoy today to get $10 off your membership with code CLEANPLATES, and start receiving some culinary comfort and joy!
Give the Most to Your Host
Do-it-yourself gifts that are healthy and delicious—and sure to get you invited back
From Superfood Dark-Chocolate Bark and Crunchy Coco-Nut Granola to Cold-Brew Coffee and Maple-Walnut Butter, here are simple gifts you can whip up at home.
The Global Holiday Table
Sample International Delicacies with Try the World
A sweet honey tart made with Israeli dates, an indulgent dip made with Italian truffles, an airy soufflé made with English lemon curd—don’t these sound like insanely delicious additions to your holiday table? If you want to get your hands on these recipes and the internationally sourced, sustainable ingredients used to make them, then you should sign up for Try the World, a monthly gourmet food subscription box service that lets your taste buds travel the globe. Each month, Try the World introduces you to the flavors of a new country with a selection of delicacies curated by notable chefs and culinary experts, ranging in price from $19 to $39 a month. Each item in the box is sourced from small, family-owned companies and artisans who use traditional production methods and sustainable growing practices. You’ll also get a guide that tells the story behind each product, plus recipes to make with the items. Plus, if you sign up now, you will receive 20 percent off all gift and signature boxes. Choose from the Snack Box of mouthwatering snacks, the Pantry Box of pantry staples or the Signature Box—an array of ingredients to cook with, snacks and drinks. You might whip up tapas with the Spain Box, meatballs and dumplings with the Sweden Box or Steak au Poivre with the France Box. This month, Try the World has collaborated with Michelin Guides to bring you the Special Edition Holiday Box filled with eight incredible holiday foods from around the world, including the aforementioned Italian truffle sauce, British lemon curd and Israeli date spread, plus creamy toffees from South Africa, spiced bread baking mix from France, buttery pineapple cakes from Taiwan and more. The recipes are curated by chef Thomas Raquel of New York’s Le Bernardin. Sign up for Try the World today—Clean Plates readers get 20% off all gifts and signature boxes using the code CLEANPLATES20—and prepare to jet set from your table, while avoiding the headaches of holiday travel.
Our New Favorite Nutritional Tool
Ever wish you could calculate the nutrients and calories in the food you make at home? You’re in luck.
Food labels are an essential guide that help you track what calories, fats, protein and nutrients you are eating. But what about when you’re cooking at home? A glug of oil here, a slug of flour there, and suddenly you’re eating a salad that has the same nutritional value as a Big Mac. In a world where you can carefully calculate and calibrate every macronutrient in the processed food you buy, you’re pretty much flying blind when it comes to cooking in your own kitchen. That’s where the magic of Edamam’s Nutrition Wizard comes in handy. The site is easy to use—simply paste the recipe into the wizard, select the number of servings, press enter and you’ve got the full nutritional breakdown of your homemade meal. It counts calories, carbs, and protein and up to 25 nutrients, from zinc to vitamin B6. It also offers healthy substitutions and instantly assesses whether a recipe is appropriate for those keeping a paleo, vegan, low-sodium, or gluten-free diet. As any person who has attempted to calculate carbs while keeping keto knows, that alone is worth the price of admission. The best part? You can save and print the recipes and their analysis. Edamam Nutrition Wizard is like a magic wand, enabling you to track and calculate your homemade food—all for a low monthly fee. If you act now, Edamam is offering 50% off with the code CLNPLTS. Join up today to be an even smarter cook!
Why You Should Make Hummus At Home—And How To Do It
Creamy, sweet, versatile and satisfying, hummus is having a moment. Watch our video to learn how to make it in minutes; it might just be the best tasting hummus you’ve ever had.
Empower Your Health
Easy, Affordable Health Testing at Home with EverlyWell
Are you eating clean and staying active but still don’t feel at your peak? Then you’re going to want to check out EverlyWell—a new, easy and affordable way to gain more knowledge about your body with health testing done at home. Conditions like food sensitivities, Vitamin D deficiency and hormone imbalances are fairly common, but identifying them can mean costly and time-consuming visits to multiple doctors and labs. Not with EverlyWell, which provides expert, convenient at-home health testing ordered by you—for hundreds of dollars less than conventional lab testing. And, Clean Plates readers get 15% off their first order! Here’s how it works. First, you choose from a wide array of lab tests that focus on Sleep & Stress, Fertility, Thyroid Function, Inflammation & Vitamin D, Food Sensitivities, Metabolism and more, all starting at $79. Your test kit arrives to your door in three days. Collect a sample in the comfort of your own home—no going to dingy labs!—and then send it off to a leading laboratory for analysis. The highly accurate results are reviewed by a board-certified physician and available online in a few days. Unlike most lab reports, EverlyWell’s beautifully designed, easy-to-read results are actually understandable. You’ll get crucial intel on your body that might otherwise have a too-hefty price tag. Many specialty tests crucial to health management and chronic illness prevention are not covered by insurance. EverlyWell’s accessible prices empower you to get the information you need to make the best decisions about your health. Try EverlyWell today to get your health on track, and save 15% through the end of November with code CLEAN15. * Due to regulatory reasons, EverlyWell is not able to ship kits to NY, NJ, RI, MD.
Cottage cheese fans, listen up—there might be some weird stuff in your tub of curds. Check out this video to see what that is, and meet the new Destiny’s Child.
Watch as a hunky bystander learns from our hunky interviewer that jam can be, well, jammed with ingredients you wouldn’t want to eat.
A man with a LOUD outfit declares (loudly) he’s breaking up with a certain set of ingredients. Find out which ones.
“If it looks good, I think I’m going to try it.” Our interviewee’s sentiment, shared by many, changed once he learned what was in his chips. See why…
The Chew co-host and cookbook author talks about her breakfast secrets, what she gives her kids, and how she is a huge cream cheese and bagel fan.
Two adorable girls think “it’s pretty crazy” some cream cheese has so many ingredients. See more truths and surprises from the mouths of babes—which includes our woman-on-the-street!
You’d think that whole-wheat bread is always healthy, but not all bread is created equal. Watch the video to find out why—and whether the pooch checks his dog food labels.
Does your cream cheese label look like it has tons of weird ingredients? See what Simone says about that and which ingredient she finds particularly surprising.
Do you drink sports drinks to replenish and rehydrate? Learn why you might want to check the bottle’s label before you take another sip.
Hungry For Something New?
Try Home Chef with three free meals
Do you love the idea of meal delivery services but feel like they don’t offer enough choices and flexibility for your picky palate and busy schedule? Then it’s time to be a box boss. With Home Chef, you’ll get more than just farm-fresh, perfectly portioned, sustainably sourced ingredients and delicious recipes delivered to your doorstep—you’ll get to call the shots on what you want to eat, how much of it and when it arrives. Better yet, Clean Plates readers can try out Home Chef with three free meals today and be entered to win a month’s worth of meals! Each week, Home Chef offers 13 different menu items to choose from, including gluten-free, vegetarian, soy-free and nut-free options. Butternut squash tarte tatin with arugula or turkey meatballs with green beans and cranberry sauce are recent choices. Plus, you can order breakfast selections, fruit baskets and fresh smoothies. And it’s easy to change your meal delivery day, skip a week or pause your account anytime. At just $9.95 per serving, Home Chef charges less-than diner prices for four-star meals. Try three meals for free and you’ll be entered to win a free month of Home Chef! Act now—the winner will be chosen November 11. CLAIM YOUR THREE FREE MEALS NOW!
Let Us Eat Local
A farm-to-table feast benefiting Just Food
On Tuesday, November 1st, Just Food—a nonprofit supporting greater access to healthy, locally-grown food for New Yorkers—will host the ninth annual Let Us Eat Local, a benefit at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea. Over 40 celebrated restaurants and chefs, including Gramercy Tavern and Blue Hill, will feature their specialties that highlight farm-to-table fare. These dishes will be paired with some of the region’s renowned sustainable wineries, breweries, and distilleries, all offering local libations. Proceeds from this event will help increase access to fresh food for nearly a quarter million New Yorkers through Just Food’s network of community food projects. Get your ticket today to eat deliciously local and help others do the same. Photo Credit: Dave Katz
Healthy Harvest
New fall menus and family-style dinners from Green Chef
Autumn has officially arrived, which means the light-and-easy cooking of summer is giving way to the heartier tastes of fall. Hankering for warm stews and roasted root veggies but don’t have time for the slower cooking they require? Then it’s time to “fall” for Green Chef. This organic meal kit service delivers the recipes and ingredients you need to whip up healthy, delicious seasonal dishes like Italian lentil stew with carrots and green beans, herb-roasted chicken with almond- and grape-studded couscous, and fall harvest salad with buckwheat and root vegetables—all in about 30 minutes. And the great news is, as a Clean Plates reader, you’ll get $50 off your first order! Green Chef is like a farmers market on your doorstep every week: You’ll receive the best of the season’s bounty without having to spend time on shopping. With the variety of menus that fit every palate and diet—including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and paleo—you won’t have to worry about meal planning, either. Plus, each meal kit comes with pre-made sauces and pre-chopped vegetables, which eliminates prep time. All in all, you’ll spend more time kicking back at the table and less time getting your meal there. That’s especially awesome if you have a family or are feeding a group of friends. Green Chef has just introduced a new menu of family-style dinners that feed four—the perfect way to gather everyone for a cozy, home-cooked fall meal. Try Green Chef today to snag your $50 discount and savor the autumnal harvest!
Hydration Revolution
Sweet by Nature infuses water with natural sweetness
We all know that the healthiest way to hydrate is by drinking ample amounts of water—it quenches without calories, aids digestion and promotes clear skin. But does the thought of guzzling glass after glass of plain-old water leave you cross-eyed with boredom? If you’re trying to ditch soda and sugary drinks but feel stuck in the plain-water doldrums, then it’s time to enliven your water with Sweet by Nature organic herbal enhancers. Each serving of Sweet by Nature contains just two ingredients: naturally sweet organic honeybush extract and organic flavors like coconut, lemon and mango—with absolutely no sugars or artificial sweeteners. Stir Sweet by Nature into a glass of water, and you’ll skip out on empty soda calories while giving your taste buds the sweetness they crave. But we know what you’re thinking—what’s honeybush extract? This indigenous South African herb is typically enjoyed as a tea that’s naturally caffeine free, low in tannins and high in antioxidants and essential minerals. Sweet by Nature’s sustainably sourced, hand-harvested honeybush extract will infuse your water with a distinctive amber color, subtle honey flavor and sweet aroma. Between the honeybush and the delicate fruit flavors, you won’t miss soda’s sugar or high fructose corn syrup one bit. Pop the convenient Sweet by Nature sticks into your purse, briefcase or knapsack along with your water bottle for a burst of refreshing flavor on the go. Try Sweet by Nature and revolutionize your hydration game today!
12 Instagram Foodies We Love
These food lovers are worth following for recipe inspiration
We’ve all snapped photos of our meals before we take a bite to make others drool with envy, literally. And nowhere is this more in evidence than on Instagram.
A (Naturally) Sweet Deal
Score a Free Jar of Raw Honey from Thrive Market
When it comes to honey, we’re not shy about our preferences: We like it raw. It’s packed with natural enzymes and nutrients that can help heal cuts and scrapes, boost immunity and soothe sore throats, all without spiking blood sugar like crazy. If you want to get your paws on the sticky-sweet stuff but have sticker shock at most prices, then you’re going to want to snag a free jar of Really Raw Honey from Thrive Market. This straight-from-the-hive organic honey is totally unprocessed, so it has a creamy texture, contains bits of honeycomb and pollen and smells deliciously of wildflowers. It tastes like you’ve just collected honey from a hive. Giving away free honey is just one way that Thrive Market can save you money. This enormous online marketplace specializes in selling the nation’s best healthy and organic products. They carry goods to fit every dietary preference, from vegan to gluten-free to Paleo, at prices up to 50 percent below retail and with free delivery to your doorstep. That can add up to thousands of dollars a year in savings. You’ll find your favorite and most trusted brands like Amy’s soups, Cascadian Farm cereals and Bob’s Red Mill grains. And—since they’re always adding new products to the lineup—you’ll have a chance to make fresh discoveries, too, like Alter Eco chocolate truffles and Primal Kitchen avocado oil mayo. The carefully curated and ethically sourced offerings even include non-toxic cleaning supplies and organic health-and-beauty products. Whether you slather the honey on toast or onto your skin, this is an offer too sweet to pass up—so try Thrive Market today!
Max Flavor, Minimum Effort
Cook like a master chef with Sun Basket organic meal kits
Fast, fresh, healthy and tasty: We’re pretty sure that’s the minimum of what you’re looking for in a weekday home-cooked meal. But what if you could have the maximum—all of that along with a truly gourmet sensibility? Sun Basket is a new, organic meal kit service that delivers everything you need to make distinctive-to-the-max dinners and breakfasts in no time flat. The inventive recipes are developed by chef Justine Kelly, the former head chef of the James Beard Award-winning restaurant Slanted Door in San Francisco, and an Iron Chef alum. With her culinary guidance and the finest farm fresh organic ingredients, you’ll cook like an epicurean pro in 30 minutes or less. Each week, you choose three scrumptious recipes (for two or four people) from the menu of nutritionist-approved dishes, with options for special diets including vegetarian, Paleo and gluten-free. The easy-to-follow recipes are all over the map, literally, from Provence-style salade Niçoise with salmon and roasted new potatoes to Southeast Asian-inspired gingered turkey meatballs in lemongrass broth to south-of-the-border chipotle chilaquiles with black beans. You’ll discover new and unusual ingredients along the way like Bhutanese red rice, Sardinian fregola pasta and coconut aminos. But the foundation of each meal is the hand-selected organic produce from the chef’s favorite farms, as well as grass-fed, pastured meats and sustainable seafood from trusted farmers and ranchers. All of the ingredients arrive at your door pre-measured to cut down on prep and clean-up time. Try Sun Basket today to maximize the flavor, ease and fun of healthy, home-cooked meals! P.S.: A special gift to new customers: Three free meals with their first purchase!
13 Creative, Healthy School Lunch Ideas
Move over tuna sammie or PB&J—here are some great sure-fire hits for your kids to try
There’s no need to fall into a rabbit hole of bento boxes and cookie-cutter-shaped mini sandwiches. Try 13 delicious school lunch ideas, recipes and tips.
Sautéed Green and Yellow Zucchini with Pistachios, Mint and Lime
You can use zucchini, summer squash, patty-pan squash or a combination in this side dish.
Halibut in a Pouch with Leeks and Tomatoes
This halibut dish is great for company, because you can assemble the foil packets ahead, chill and then pop them in the oven or on the grill when you’re ready.
Green Chef To The Rescue
Be a dinner hero with these organic meal kits
To get a healthy, home-cooked weeknight dinner on the table, you practically need superhuman powers: You must plan, shop, chop and cook faster than a speeding bullet. If time pressure is your kryptonite, then rescue yourself from the ticking clock and be a dinner hero with Green Chef, whose USDA-certified organic meal kits make it possible to enjoy delicious, nutritious home-cooked meals in an average of 30 minutes. That’s 50 percent faster than any other meal kit service out there! Green Chef saves you precious time by liberating you from all the prep. Every ingredient you need for three delectable dinners per week is delivered right to your doorstep pre-chopped, measured and ready to cook. By eliminating all the prep stress, Green Chef makes mealtime purely fun and creative. The restaurant-quality recipes with photos are super easy to follow, and plating instructions help you serve like a pro. So…what’s for dinner? There are tempting choices to fit every diet, from Paleo teriyaki steak wraps and gluten-free apricot-glazed chicken to vegetarian creamy corn farro risotto and vegan artichoke “crab” cakes. Whether you’re cooking for yourself, date night, family dinner or even an intimate dinner party, be prepared to wow yourself and everyone else around the table. And with the high-quality organic, non-GMO ingredients, you can be confident you’ll be eating healthy. Green Chef‘s service is also super flexible; there’s never any commitment. You can switch between meal plans and menus as often as you like and skip weeks or cancel anytime you want. The menu selections change weekly, so you’ll never fall into a dinner rut again. Clean Plates readers get a special bonus: 4 meals for free with their first order. What could be a better way to celebrate the end of summer? Sign up today.
Love With Food, Love Your Food
Snack Smart with this monthly subscription service while donating to hunger-relief organizations
There are a few times in life when you can score a win-win: Adopting a loving dog from a shelter or learning carpentry skills while building a house for a veteran are two that come to mind. We just discovered a new one: joining Love With Food. This California-based company serves up smart snacks shipped right to your door. When you sign up for a subscription of just $7.99 a month, you receive a bountiful box of better-for-you snacks every four weeks; they select all-natural and/or organic items with no high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, hydrogenated oils, artificial flavorings or colorings. (There are also gluten-free options.) Plus, you receive new offerings that you might not find at the grocery store. But, the ultimate win-win is that for every box sent, a meal is donated to feed hungry children in America. To date, Love With Food has donated more than one million meals to food banks connected with Feeding America and The Global Food Banking Network . Help end childhood hunger by snacking smart and doing good! For one week starting today until Tuesday, August 23rd, Love With Food is offering Clean Plates readers a special sale of 15% off on all subscription plans. Sign up today.
6 Ways to Love Lavender Even More
A new trend is flowering—the purple plant provides not just health benefits but flavor to these foods
Ahhhh, lavender—this delicate flower’s scent conjures up visions of fragrant purple fields and perfumed soaps and lotions that exploit its calming essence.
How To Eat From Root To Frond
Get the most out of your veggies with these tips from NYC's leading health-focused culinary school
Peels, rinds, stems, ends, tops: No matter how you slice it, preparing vegetables can leave you with a lot of undesirable bits. But before you rush to throw that “waste” into the garbage or compost, keep in mind that one cook’s trash is another cook’s treasure.
12 Salads We Love From Instagram
Superfood ingredients and simple hacks will up your salad game
The term “salad days” has new meaning when you drool over these 12 sumptuous creations we curated from Instagram, all of which taste of the warmth and ripeness of summer.
The Better-For-You Beverage
Quench your thirst with organic Harmless Harvest coconut water
After having fun in the hot summer sun, don’t you wish you could dive into the center of a cool coconut and lap up all the good hydration of the water within?
12 Burgers We Love From Instagram
Juicy and piled mile-high, these better-for-you burgers should inspire you to turn the grill on now
Few foods speak more of summer than a big, fat, juicy burger. The quest for fire really intensifies when we see these decadent beauties on Instagram. Here are 12 of our favorites, all from home cooks. They are healthier than the typical fast-food version, made with grass-fed beef, or lean meats, poultry, fish or veggies. Pair them with some grilled veggies, a heaping side of mixed greens, and a cold cocktail or glass of rose, and you’ve got the perfect summer feast. Black Bean & Beet Burger with Beet Cashew Dressing Instagram: @werealljustpineapples Caprese Chicken Burger Instagram: @reciperunner Salmon Burger with Lemon Dill Sauce Instagram: @jessica_gavin Grillable Veggie Burger Instagram: @minimalistbaker Grilled Pesto Turkey Burgers with Mozzarella Instagram: @thelemonbowl Bacon Blue Cheese Burger with Balsamic Mayo Instagram: @foxvalleyfoodie Heirloom Tomato Bun Burger Instagram: @lilsipper Lentil Walnut Burger Instagram: @veganricha Maple Dijon Tofu Burger Instagram: @crazyvegankitchen Roasted Beet Burgers with Crispy Kale & Tahini Sauce Instagram: @shelikes.food BBB (black Beluga lentils, Beets and Black garlic) burger Instagram: @ritaserano
Grilled Sea Scallops with English Peas and Orange-Patis Butter
This recipe is from Around the Fire: Recipes for Inspired Grilling and Seasonal Feasting from Ox Restaurant ($22; Ten Speed Press) by Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton, with Stacy Adimando.
Grilled Beef Skirt Steak with Onion Marinade
This recipe is from Around the Fire: Recipes for Inspired Grilling and Seasonal Feasting from Ox Restaurant ($22; Ten Speed Press) by Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton, with Stacy Adimando.
Water(melon), Water(melon) Everywhere
6 cool ways to think outside the wedge
Is there anything that screams “summer!” more than a wedge of cool, sweet watermelon?
Strawberry “Buttermilk” Sherbet
This recipe is from The New Milks ($17; Atria Books) by Dina Cheney.
Farmers’ Market At Your Door
Farm To Peoples Quinciple box delivers local ingredients to your home
With Quinciple, a weekly subscription box service, the best of the farmers’ market is delivered straight to your doorstep.
The Power of Pitaya
Dragonfruit is a fruit with benefits
Your instinct might be to run the other way from any ingredient with the word “dragon” in it. (Although if you’re a Game of Thrones fan…
Zen and The Art of Eating
5 steps to eating healthier for life
To encourage healthier eating, it’s critical we really enjoy food and experience the physical and emotional sensations associated with it…
Culinary Adventure, Delivered
Spice up dinner with Sun Basket's farm-fresh organic ingredients and recipes
Sun Basket is a service that delivers farm-fresh, certified organic and sustainable ingredients, along with a sense of culinary adventure in the form of easy-to-prepare recipes, right to your doorstep!
Anya Fernald gives us a crave-worthy chickpea torte recipe
A standout vegetarian chickpea torte recipe and more highlights from California chef Anya Fernald’s new cookbook, Home Cooked.
Try this speedy berry-chia recipe for a healthier DIY spread
Whip up a yummy mixed-berry chia jam in seconds with this easy, healthy recipe that’s low in sugar and high in fiber, protein, and calcium.
Free Coconut Oil
...and more healthy staples for less from Thrive Market
If your coconut oil lust rivals ours, you’re going to want to grab this chance to snag a free jar of organic virgin coconut oil from Thrive Market.
Delicious, simple-to-prepare, plant-based meals at your doorstep
Green Chef—the popular organic meal kit delivery service—has added mouthwatering plant-based options to their menu, so now eating a healthy diet is easier than ever.
Sate hunger with Chomps' all-natural, grass-fed beef sticks
Packed with nine grams of protein, Chomps’ beef sticks are an ideal portable snack—just throw them in your purse, knapsack or gym bag for satisfaction on the run.
Eat This Now: Radicchio
The new Love & Lemons Cookbook fires us up with a Balsamic Grilled Radicchio Salad
Jeanine Donofrio’s new release, The Love & Lemons Cookbook: An Apple-to-Zucchini Celebration of Impromptu Cooking ($35) has enough punchy graphics, fresh food photos and creative recipes to give your familiar routine a major spark of inspiration.
Avocado Boats, Good and Simple
Feast on a superfood with these ideas from the Hemsley sisters
The Hemsley sisters’ new book, Good and Simple: Recipes to Eat Well and Thrive, rounds up everything from a one-week reboot…
The Pocket Greenmarket
Market watch with this new GrowNYC app
Love the Union Square Greenmarket? A new app offers a daily map of the market’s vendors, plus what’s in season and what’s available
5 ways to use the stalks—and all go beyond pie
It looks weird, it has weird rules (don’t eat the leaves!), it even sounds weird: Rhubarb…
Purple Reigns
Why purple is your new favorite color
Not to get all elementary school on you, but it’s time to check your colors…
Snack smart with these almond-flour crackers
Finding a cracker that’s both healthier and delicious isn’t as easy as it’s cracked up to be…
Stalking Asparagus
5 ways with this delicate spring vegetable
Of course asparagus is delicious and versatile—its culinary range would be enough to…
Gazpacho To Go
These bottled tomato soups taste like summer
Tío Gazpacho makes smooth, zingy bottled gazpachos that are knocking our socks off.
Pure Energy Bars
Shanti Bars are the best of portable plant-based nutrition
When Lauren Feingold and Ashanty Williams make a protein bar, they don’t mess around…
Tips from two new books help you cleanse toxins with real foods
Juice fasts. Master Cleanses. Tea-toxes. Every year, a new and more extreme way to detox the dietary junk…
Sustainable Fishmongers
Visit Cape Seafood for the ultimate in sustainable seafood
If you love to cook clean seafood at home, you already know that something fishy is going on…
Banish Your Bloat
This book will help you make friends with your stomach again
Robyn Youkilis’s new book, Go with Your Gut, will give you a dose of fascinating stomach-health knowledge, plus recipes for a healthy gut.
How to Soak Nuts & Seeds (& Why You Should)
Dr. Mark Hyman's quick and simple step for healthier nuts and seeds
We recently suggested you try soaking and sprouting grains, like quinoa, oats and brown rice…
Pea Protein
Yes, you read that right—these little peas pack a protein punch
Combine two big wellness trends—upping your protein intake and eating more plant-based foods—and it’s no wonder the hot protein source du jour is peas.
Open Sesame Paste
For a delicious and healthy boost to salads and sandwiches, substitute tahini for nut butter
Tahini can not only do everything peanut butter and other nut butters can, but also it’s a delicious and easy way to round out your diet.
It's Easy To Be Green
You don't need to pulverize a plant to get its benefits, now that they've bottled its essence
Just like leafy greens, liquid chlorophyll is chock-full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Greet the greens of spring with these easy warm salad ideas
Warm salads offer the ideal mix of temperature and texture and coax the best flavors out of spring’s nutritious greens.
Enjoy natural sweetness (and health benefits) with yacon
An ancient staple in South America’s Andes Mountains, yacon is a sweet potato-like root vegetable that tastes like an apple.
Fennel is the Swiss Army knife of vegetables
With its high water content, fresh fennel is hydrating and full of vitamin C, potassium, folate and fiber.
7 Ways to Consume More Grass
Grass-fed dairy and meat products deliver big flavor and health benefits
Lots of companies are meeting the growing demand for grass-fed products. Check out the ones we love!
Barley-A-Day Keeps the Doctor Away
Eat this versatile grain for a fiber boost that benefits heart and gut
We love barley for both for its chewy, nutty taste and its abundant health benefits.
Plum Happy
Why you need umeboshi in your kitchen now
While these fermented and salted plums are a staple in Japan, this quirky ingredient is just starting to make a splash in the American wellness scene.
(Pine)apple of Our Eye
Our favorite tropical treat is also a digestive powerhouse
Think of pineapple as a digestive enzyme (no pill popping necessary) and a delicious dessert in one.
Nut House
Why we love modern milkman NotMilk
Have you seen the ingredients label on a bottle of store-bought almond or other nut milk lately…
Sweet Potato Scones
A mix of gluten- free flours make these sweet potato scones so light and fluffy topped with a decadent glaze of maple syrup.