It’s ironic, isn’t it? A season that’s meant to be a happy, wonderful time of celebration so often ends up being stress central. A lot of holiday stress has to do with over-commitment. Most of us have pretty full plates to begin with. Throw a bunch of extra stuff in there…where is that extra time supposed to come from? There’s little […]

Sometimes, making big changes can feel way overwhelming. And overwhelm can stop you from changing anything. Where do you even start? It’s easier to just stick with the status quo, right? Get out of that rut with baby steps! Instead of tackling a total health makeover, just make a few tweaks. Small bites are much more manageable, and […]

Quick show of hands: who’s familiar with that 3 pm crash, the inconveniently-timed energy dip affectionately known as the “mid-afternoon slump”? Yeah, me too. If a siesta isn’t exactly an option for you in the middle of the day (it certainly isn’t for me), what can you do? There’s always Starbucks of course. Or chocolate. But…know what might work better? Protein. Yep, […]

My oldest son drinks next to nothing. I swear, he’s a camel. I have to beg him to drink anything, and he’s always been like that. My second son, at 16 months, drinks water like it’s his job. And you know what? They’re both equally healthy. So how much water do you need to drink, really? From the way […]

Do you eat for comfort? If we’re honest, we can all say yes to this question, from time to time at least. The RARE indulgence (say, for example, a nose-dive into a pint of Haagen-Dazs dulce de leche in front of an open freezer door after ending a 4.5-year-long toxic relationship with a total narcissist and cat-hater…ahem…) is not going to […]

I like salt. Okay. There it is. Fact is, I can’t stand bland food. I’m always sneaking extra salt into things. I once heard a professional chef say that the difference between a good meal and a great meal is a box of salt. And, admittedly, I subscribe to that line of thought. This is […]

Women used to complain about their hips and thighs. Now, it seems, it’s all about belly fat. I suppose this could be my imagination since I have, in recent years, joined the post-baby ranks…and now share this particular preoccupation. Or maybe it’s the attention paid to apple vs pear-shaped physiques. Which is an important distinction, actually. […]

My first pregnancy was picture-perfect. Right up until the emergency C-section, that is. (But that’s another story…) My second pregnancy, five years later, was not so perfect. About halfway through I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Surprise! This came entirely out of left field for me, with no risk factors and no family history. And […]

How much free, stale popcorn would you eat in a movie theater? Does it depend if it’s served in a medium-sized bag or a jumbo tub? And what about candy: how much would you eat if it was sitting on your desk? Would it matter if the glass dish was opaque or clear? If it […]