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TransformationMA16.png Heidi Mathieu watches all the food shows. And she loves The Chew: “I work out to it every day on my StairMaster.” A self-proclaimed foodie, Heidi loves cooking, too, especially for her family. The 53-year-old Whitefield, New Hampshire, resident is also a longtime health and PE teacher: one motivator for her recent weight loss. “You don’t want to be a physical education teacher who’s heavy,” Heidi says. In the last two years, she’s dropped an impressive 52 pounds, reaching her goal: “What I was in college-143....

Known as the microbiome, your gut is home to millions of bacteria and other microbes—both good and bad—and can influence your health in many ways. The key is to balance the ratio of good to bad bacteria. According to a 2019 review in the journal Microorganisms, the “right balance” is different for everyone, as each person has their own personal microbiome profile that is initially influenced by birth gestational date, type of delivery, methods of infant milk feeding and the weaning period....

hormonal migraine pain Credit: Getty / ljubaphoto hormonal migraine pain Credit: Getty / ljubaphoto hormonal migraine pain Credit: Getty / ljubaphoto hormonal migraine pain Credit: Getty / ljubaphoto If there’s anything that can completely annihilate your day, it’s a migraine. Migraines are more than just a “bad headache.” They can be an unrelenting wave of pain that doesn’t let up for days. Something that sends you into your room for a lay-down in the dark—even when there’s work to be done or kids pulling at your side....

When holidays roll around, I know I can always find inspiration from Ina Garten. She’s the queen of simple entertaining, refreshing cocktail ideas and delicious, crowd-pleasing recipes. So when she posted her Fourth of July menu on her blog, I knew I had to check out what The Barefoot Contessa was making this weekend. Spoiler alert: Everything looks delicious. Ina Garten on a 4th of July Themed background Credit: Adobe Stock / Renee / xtock, Getty Images / Andy Kropa She says on her Instagram, “It’s the Fourth of July and it feels like everyone is crawling out of their caves, and I think we need a celebratory cocktail!...

Big props to Discovery, the new streaming service that has allowed us to deep-dive into our favorite old food shows! From 30-Minute Meals circa 2002 to Pioneer Woman episodes from 2012, we’ve already gotten our money’s worth from the subscription with the delicious and timeless meal ideas Rachael Ray and Ree Drummond reminded us about. Most recently, we’ve been binging our way through all things Ina Garten and were delighted to land on her show that focused on “Back to Basics,” and included one recipe that we will be making on repeat for meal prep for the weeks and months to come....

Bok Choy Credit: Getty Images Bok Choy Credit: Getty Images Bok Choy Credit: Getty Images Bok Choy Credit: Getty Images Bok choy is one of the many types of Chinese cabbages widely eaten in Chinese communities. In Cantonese, bok choy means “white vegetable.” You’ll also find this staple available in Asian grocery stores, as well as in many major grocery stores. What’s so special about bok choy? Read on to find out what it is and its potential health benefits....

If you, like me, have been peeling your bananas before adding them to banana bread, banana cake or your morning smoothie, you’re doing it wrong. They’re totally, completely edible and by adding just one more step, you can keep that banana peel out of the landfill. What are the health benefits of eating banana peels? There is limited nutritional data about banana peels (the database EatingWell uses to analyze its recipes, for instance, doesn’t have nutrition information for them)....

Jennifer Garner smiling Getty / jayk7 | Credit: Getty / jayk7 Jennifer Garner smiling Getty / jayk7 | Credit: Getty / jayk7 Jennifer Garner smiling Getty / jayk7 | Credit: Getty / jayk7 Jennifer Garner smiling Getty / jayk7 | Credit: Getty / jayk7 | Credit: Getty / jayk7 Jennifer Garner’s “Pretend Cooking Show” has been a true bright spot during the past two years. Part culinary inspiration, part comic relief, we’ve adored following along with her adventures whipping up her pal Ina Garten’s Skillet-Roasted Lemon Chicken, her grandma’s cornbread, Garten’s Crispy Chicken with Lemon Orzo and more....

When you think of “diet food” you may often think of bowls of cabbage soup, juice cleanses or diet shakes, but what if we told you one of your favorite foods could work even better? A new study from the Center for Nutrition Research at Illinois Institute of Technology found avocados are helpful in filling us up-and keeping us full-making them a powerful weight-loss aid. It’s important to note this study was supported by the Hass Avocado Board, which funds much of the most popular avocado-related research out there....

Padma Lakshmi on a designed background Credit: Getty Images / Bravo Padma Lakshmi on a designed background Credit: Getty Images / Bravo Padma Lakshmi on a designed background Credit: Getty Images / Bravo Padma Lakshmi on a designed background Credit: Getty Images / Bravo Early on in the season of the 19-seasons-strong reality TV cooking competition Top Chef, some challenges entail host Padma Lakshmi sampling 19 dishes. “It can be anything from Mexican food to donuts to ceviche,” the food expert, host, cookbook author and mom says....

plastic food container illustration Credit: Getty Images plastic food container illustration Credit: Getty Images plastic food container illustration Credit: Getty Images plastic food container illustration Credit: Getty Images Even if phrases like “forever chemicals” or “PFAS” are unfamiliar, you may have heard warnings about the sources where they tend to show up. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are the man-made chemicals that make some takeout containers and nonstick kitchen equipment worth avoiding....

While booze may never be “healthy,” it does have some health benefits when consumed in moderation. Plus, it’s delicious and there’s absolutely no shame in enjoying a cocktail with friends or unwinding with a glass of wine at the end of a long work day. Yet, some drinks are better for you than others. Depending on the ingredients and size, some cocktails can have hundreds of calories or be filled with sugar....

Zucchini Noodles with Pesto & Chicken Our column, ThePrep, has everything you’ll need to make meal planning and meal prep as easy as can be. Sign up here to get a meal plan delivered to your inbox every Saturday! I never thought 2020 would end, but here we are ringing in the New Year! Like many of you, I’m feeling excited for a fresh start and motivated to make the most of this year....

On the other end of the spectrum, reviewers are saying, “THE TASTE! Bleck!” and “didn’t notice much difference.” So can a simple drop really chemically change wine enough to really prevent hangovers … or is this simply the placebo effect at play? We asked the experts. Wine Drop Claims There are a whole host of products that claim to reduce hangovers, from wands to sachets to aerators. These drops in particular are growing in popularity recently, as they’re more “discreet,” fans say, than long metal sticks or tea bag-like packets, so you can use them without the whole dinner party or restaurant table turning heads and asking, “huh?...

Florence Pugh is not only a star on the big screen, but she’s proven to be a star home cook. The Don’t Worry Darling actress served up a delicious and quick-to-make garlicky crostini in a recent cooking video for Vogue. Coming from a background of chefs, Pugh mentions that cooking has always been a “huge part” of her life. “Two of my favorite loves, performing and cooking, kind of come in hand in hand time and time again,” Pugh says in the Vogue video....

Figuring Out Portion Sizes Figuring Out Portion Sizes What you eat is important, especially when it comes to making positive food choices, but how much you eat is the real brainteaser of healthy eating. When you look at the oversize food portions, ranging from the diameter of bagels to mounds of pasta, translating a serving size into portions is a big challenge in a more-is-better world. Don’t Miss: Desserts and Sweets for Diabetics...

Rachel Zinman standing outside in a calm shallow pool of natural water Credit: Jaime Kinsella The word “Yoga” means oneness, or wholeness. As a physical form of exercise, yoga can remind you of the nature of yourself: whole, complete, and perfect. When we live with chronic illness, it can be hard not to get lost in feelings of imperfection. Turning your attention to your breath and body can pull your mind away from stressful thoughts and emotions....

Shredded zucchini adds flavor, texture and a nutritional boost to quick breads, fritters, casseroles and more. It’s also a handy way to use up an abundance of fresh zucchini, whether it’s from the farmers’ market or your own backyard. But what’s the best way to grate this popular summer squash? Hands down, the easiest and fastest way to shred a zucchini is with a box grater. In this step-by-step guide with photos, I’ll teach you how to shred zucchini in four easy steps....

We’ve all lived through it: Thinking you can take the heat of a spicy dish and then realizing, to your horror and your friends’ amusement, that your mouth has become a fiery hell that, like hiccups, seems never-ending but really only lasts a few minutes. Why Do Spicy Foods Taste Hot? As pretty much everyone knows by now, the “hot” in hot foods comes from capsaicinoids, a nonnutritive chemical compound that our brains interpret as heat or, in excessive quantities, even pain....

silhouette of a bottle next to s splatter witth a question mark cut out of it Credit: Adobe Stock / dule964 / Jiri Hera Welcome to Thrifty. A weekly column where associate nutrition editor and registered dietitian, Jessica Ball, keeps it real on how to grocery shop on a budget, make healthy meals for one or two and make earth-friendly choices without overhauling your entire life. Variety is the spice of life, especially when it comes to your eating pattern....