Food

Swapping Baking Stress for Sweet Success and Memories

(ARA) - With the advent of the holiday season, spirited mothers everywhere are faced with a cornucopia of seasonal tasks, from shopping and wrapping to decorating and, perhaps the most time-intensive project of them all, holiday baking. Often a tireless effort to benefit friends and family, holiday baking -- with a little creativity -- can become the highlight of your season.  Read More

Fresh Blueberries for Luscious Salads

(ARA) - Blueberries are most abundant and least expensive in the summer, making it an ideal time to get your fill of these little blue gems. Stock the fridge and freezer with blueberries to make meals, snacks and desserts that are easy on the cook. Blueberries never need to be peeled, pitted, stemmed or chopped -just a quick rinse and they're ready to eat or add to recipes.  Read More

Plan a Monster Bash

(ARA) - You're invited to a "Monster Bash." What's more fun than Halloween? Young or old, everyone seems to get into the spirit. Why not gather a group together this Halloween and have some spooky fun along with a frightening feast?  Read More

Expert Tips for Avoiding School Lunch Box Battles

(ARA) - She's not leaving the house in that skirt. He's not playing on the football team if his grade average drops below a C. And no one, but no one, is going to have potato chips or chocolate cupcakes for lunch.  Read More

Family Dinnertime Benefits Too Tempting to Pass Up

(ARA) - The benefits of the family dinner hour are more than nutritional. Children in families who spend dinnertime together gain dietary, educational and behavioral benefits, as well.  Read More

Cool Tips for Summer Entertaining

(ARA) - At the dawn of summer, people spend more time outdoors and start planning barbecues, pool parties and picnics. But as the mercury rises, thoughts turn to lazing in front of the air conditioner instead of being out in the searing, sticky heat. With a little creativity, you can entertain outdoors while keeping cool this summer.  Read More

Ways to Ward Off Holiday Weight Gain

(ARA) - Each year we see it coming. As the holidays head our way, we brace for the weight gain that often results from the traditional sweets of the season. Many of us gain a pound or two between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. What's more, we rarely lose the extra weight during the spring and summer, the New England Journal of Medicine reports.  Read More

Myth Busting: Some Helpful Tips for a Nutritious Pregnancy

(ARA) - If there ever was a love/hate relationship for the record books, it's the relationship between a pregnant woman and food. On one hand, it's a time when food cravings go on overdrive, and the body shouts "More, more, more!" On the other hand, certain foods can trigger discomforts such as nausea, causing a "Less, less, less!" reaction. Here are some common myth busters about pregnancy and nutrition.  Read More

Make the Most of Your Charcoal Grill

(ARA) - What's more American than firing up a pyramid of pillow-shaped charcoal briquettes in the backyard grill in anticipation of a lip-smacking, smoky-tasting summertime barbecue?  Read More

Bring Out the Silver and Add Class to Your Party

(ARA) - Whatever happened to the silver table service items you received for your wedding? The silver bowls, platters, serviceware and flatware are probably sitting in the china cabinet becoming tarnished because who has time to polish silver? And no one actually uses them, do they?  Read More

The ABCs of a Healthy BBQ

(ARA) - The flowers are blooming, temperatures are rising, and the smell of charcoal is in the air. It's officially grilling season -- the perfect time to fire up that commitment to a healthy lifestyle. While this outdoor tradition adds flavor to foods, it also helps remove fat and calories.  Read More

Water Coolers - Not Just for the Office Anymore

(ARA) - Water coolers -- the machines with a bottle on top that dispense water -- are typically associated with offices. But drinking water is beneficial for everyone, not just office workers, and having a home water cooler is convenient, cost effective and environmentally friendly.  Read More

Easy, Portable Breakfast Ideas

(ARA) - After eight hours of sleep, our bodies feel refreshed, but dehydration and low sugar levels from hours of not eating can leave us dragging. That's why eating breakfast is such an important part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Even if your mornings are rushed, there are easy ways to make sure you get your breakfast and enjoy it.  Read More

Convenient, Economical Solutions for Mealtime Madness

(ARA) - It's no secret that Americans are busy, and getting together for dinner often seems like an extraordinary task. As food prices continue to increase, families are not only taking hits to their household budgets, they are experiencing long work hours, conflicting schedules and not finding enough time to cook a meal and have dinner together.  Read More

Petiquette for Summer Entertaining

(ARA) - Humans are not the only ones who look forward to summer. Imagine warm weather from your pet's perspective - long walks in parks full of green grass and interesting aromas for dogs, and hours of bird-watching from a sunny window for cats. It's also fun for pets to be part of the festivities when their human "parents" do some summer entertaining. However the definition of a party for a furry friend is very different from that of its care takers.  Read More

Rice Helps the Heart, and the Wallet

(ARA) - With the rising cost of groceries, families are trying to make their hard-earned dollars go farther. Buying staples -- as opposed to manufactured mixes -- and using them in several different recipes is one way to reduce costs and yet provide a healthy meal for the entire family.  Read More

Eating Well as Food Prices Rise

(ARA) - Worried about your grocery tab? Rising food prices are a significant cause of concern for 73 percent of consumers, according to a recent USA Today/Gallup poll. For almost half of them, those prices have caused a hardship.  Read More

A Little Planning Can Make for the Most Memorable Family Gatherings

(ARA) - Many families will be gathering this summer to share traditions and make new memories. More than seven out of 10 people agree that the best way to continue their family's traditions is through gatherings and celebrations, according to a new survey by Kelton Research. With each passing year, however, 68 percent of Americans admit reuniting with family is becoming harder. To ensure that your family continues to build lasting memories, a little early planning goes a long way.  Read More

Cocktails and Cuisine: A New Twist on a Classic Spirit

(ARA) - Ah, the cocktail party - it's been a classic, sophisticated entertaining staple for generations of Americans. But a sea change is taking place in how people think about cocktails. Across the country, in fine restaurants and the homes of savvy hosts, cocktails aren't going solo anymore.  Read More

Outside the Snow is Falling and Friends are Calling

(ARA) - It is that time of year when holiday parties and celebrations abound. If you are looking for ways to enjoy the festivities, but avoid the hectic holiday scheduling, why not serve brunch. A breakfast or brunch celebration is a perfect solution for families that have more than one stop to make for the holidays.  Read More

Customized Food Comes Home

(ARA) - The idea of customization is nothing new; American diners have always been inclined to make their own choices when it comes to what goes into (and on top of) their entrees. But as more and more restaurants make the idea of customization their focus, the trend is making its way into our homes at a rapid pace.  Read More

Chocolate - a True American Tradition

(ARA) - You've probably heard the saying, "As American as baseball, mom and apple pie." Well, the original author of that famous phrase left something out. Chocolate is all-American too. So as you celebrate Thanksgiving over a meal with friends and family this year, take a moment to consider how chocolate has helped to shape the American experience for more than three centuries.  Read More

Quick and Easy Meals on a Back-to-school Schedule

(ARA) - The start of a new school year means increasingly busy days are here. When your schedule suddenly fills with juggling work, soccer practice, PTA and carpool, the urge to grab dinner on the fly becomes more and more enticing. A few easy tips will help you get simple, delicious and healthy homemade meals on the table in no time.  Read More

Shopping for Affordable Organic Foods Has Never Been Easier

(ARA) - Providing a family with nutritious, well-balanced meals is hard enough for busy consumers, but in today's changing economy, affordability is also a factor. While it may seem like the cost of everything from gas to groceries is on the rise, the good news is that you can feed your entire family organic and natural foods at a lower cost without having to make an extra trip to a specialty health food store. Now you can find a variety of organic and natural products at your local supermarket, for a lot less than you might expect.  Read More

Solutions for the Back-to-School Breakfast Scramble

(ARA) - A popular TV commercial for an office supply store depicts a dad gleefully dancing through the aisles, filling his cart with back-to-school bargains while a singer croons "It's the most wonderful time of the year" in the background. But when it comes to back-to-school grocery shopping - and especially breakfast shopping - you may find yourself feeling less than wonderful.  Read More

Make Mushrooms Your Pick of the Season

(ARA) - Long overlooked, mushrooms are nature's hidden treasure for helping those focusing on living a healthful life. To promote the nutritional benefits of fresh produce this back-to-school season, Weight Watchers continues Pick of the Season, a public health initiative spotlighting seasonal fruit and vegetables, with recipes this quarter for mushrooms, a produce selection so versatile it can add flare to any every day meal.  Read More

Secrets of Sweet Success for Grilling

(ARA) - Spark up the coals and break out your tongs, it's grilling season. While traditional barbeque continues to be a summertime favorite, the latest Weber GrillWatch survey reports that more than 39 percent of grill owners are firing up more meat substitutes, vegetables and leaner meats in an effort to eat healthier.  Read More

Tasty Dorm Food Made Easy

(ARA) - Remember when dorm food meant cooking on a hot plate? Times have changed. At many colleges, school-sponsored housing means a furnished apartment with a full kitchen -- and the opportunity to eat healthy.  Read More

The Brown Bag is Back

(ARA) - While the days of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches may be a distant childhood memory, the "brown bag" lunch is once again becoming a popular fixture on the office desk. With recent economic factors influencing food purchases, America is looking to the brown bag to save a few bucks. According to a new study from the market research firm NPD Group, weekday packed lunches among adults reached a new high in 2007, and this trend is expected to continue.  Read More

Glam, Gorgeous and Green Entertaining

(ARA) - So you've made the environmentally conscious choice to be green this year ... but with the holidays just around the corner, how will this decision impact your entertaining?  Read More

Boning Up on Bone Health this Back-to-School Season

(ARA) - Each back-to-school season, parents arm children with tools necessary to build a lifetime of knowledge. But children need to develop more than their minds to lead a long and healthy life - they need to develop strong bones, too.  Read More

Drinks to Warm Up Your Holidays

(ARA) - Hand off a hot beverage -- to dinner guests, neighbors who drop by or kids during story time -- and you instantly warm both tummies and hearts. Make sure you treat yourself too; wrapping your hands around a warm mug in the midst of a cold day can help you unwind!  Read More

More Meat-eaters Trying Vegan Foods for Taste, Health and Safety

(ARA) - Ah, the love of the burger - it's a unifying American experience. But if the fat content in fast food burgers makes your heart burn with shame, and meat recalls have you worrying about what's in that burger you made at home, you're not alone. Is it any wonder that interest in vegan alternatives to traditional meat meals is on the rise - even among people who still consider themselves meat-eaters?  Read More

Top Five Spices to Add Zing to Holiday Baking

(ARA) - It's hard to imagine a festive winter holiday without the aroma of baking wafting through our homes. Certain spices -- such as allspice, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and vanilla -- claim the holidays as their own.  Read More

Halloween 2008 -- Friday Night Delight

(ARA) - This year we're in for an extra-special treat as Halloween falls on Friday night. Already the second biggest decorating holiday each year -- Halloween becomes even bigger when there's no work or school the next day. Experts are predicting Americans will make Halloween 2008 the biggest in history.  Read More

Add Some Spice to Your Everyday Life

(ARA) - Emeril Lagasse knows a thing or two when it comes to adding some flavor into life. Known for his signature big, bold flavors, Lagasse has mastered the art of cooking. With the launch of a new show on Planet Green, new episodes of "Emeril Live!" on Fine Living Network, and "Essence of Emeril" on Food Network, he is constantly inventing ways to spice up everyday life.  Read More

Students Vote in Presidential School Lunch Campaign

(ARA) - While their parents are following the presidential campaign trail, students across the country will participate in their own election to name a "President of School Lunch" this fall. Students will learn about the candidates' nutritional values and physical fitness interests before casting their ballot to elect the nation's favorite school lunch.  Read More

The Super Snack Couple: Pretzels and Chocolate

(ARA) - Quick -- what packs antioxidants, nutrients like magnesium, calcium and copper, fiber and grains while satisfying sweet and salty cravings and serving as a convenient, portable treat? It's a match made in snacking heaven: the pairing of pretzels and chocolate.  Read More

Simple Tips Add Sparkle to Holiday Entertaining

(ARA) - This holiday season make all your festive get-togethers sparkle by using simple and innovative ways to entertain friends and family. Being creative with items you already own and a few extras will make your parties shine.  Read More

Healthy Habits for a Happy Family

(ARA) - If you're the parent of a toddler, whether he is in preschool, daycare, or at home, it is important to incorporate healthy habits at an early age. Between hectic work schedules, school, play dates and activities, health and nutrition can sometimes take a backseat to convenience for busy parents.  Read More

Back-to-School Snacking is a Whole New Bag

(ARA) - The haggling over school snacks and lunches is as old as, well, school lunches.  Read More