December 16, 2019 at 07:20PM by CWC When you’ve been married to the same person for 80 years, it’s safe to say you know a thing or two about relationships. Charlotte and John Henderson, the world’s oldest living couple, met in 1934 as students at the University of Texas at Austin. On December 22, they’ll celebrate their “oak” anniversary with eight decades of marriage. In an interview with the Washington Post, 105-year-old Charlotte and 106-year-old John shared their secrets to a happy, healthy, and long marriage. According to John, the couple has made the old adage “never go to bed angry” their relationship motto. All bickering and fighting gets resolved before they call it a night—and good sleep hygiene isn’t the only thing keeping their marriage on the upswing. Apart from keeping the number of arguments to a minimum, the couple leads an active lifestyle that revolves around moderation. The Hendersons enjoys nutritious foods (think: fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins) and drink very little alcohol. John still makes a habit of going to the gym regularly. And another factor may have contributed to their long marriage: The couple never had children. “[S]o some people have said that’s really why we’ve lived so long,” he says. Make of that what you will. While their marriage has lasted 80 years, John and Charlotte have been together for 85—”It took her five years to make up her mind that she wanted to get married,” he says—so don’t rush into it. The
Category: Vegetarians
CoverGirl is launching clean makeup, including a $10 “skin milk” foundation we can’t put down
December 16, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC As more and more makeup products straddle both the makeup and skin-care categories, it’s becoming easier to add pigment while nourishing your skin in one fell swoop. Now, with CoverGirl’s Clean Fresh line, the trend is coming to a drugstore near you. Launching today, CoverGirl—one of the most iconic makeup brands in the United States—introduces a four-product collection of easy-to-use, clean makeup essentials that function as the “jeans and T-shirt”of your makeup bag. As with all CoverGirl products, Clean Fresh is cruelty-free, plus the line is vegan and formulated without parabens, formaldehyde, phthalates, sulfates, fragrance, or mineral oil to give consumers cleaner options for their skin. CoverGirl’s four-product Clean Fresh collection functions as the “jeans and T-shirt”of your makeup bag. In the line are the Skin Milk ($10), a super sheer foundation spiked with aloe vera and coconut milk (real talk: I can’t put it down); the Cooling Glow Stick ($9), which functions as a highlighter or shimmery bronzer depending on the shade you go with; the Lip Oil ($11), a non-sticky lip treatment with pigment; and the Cream Blush ($9), a high-pigment punch to your cheeks (though can work on your lids and lips if you want) that contains hyaluronic acid for moisture. The foundation comes in 14 shades, but according to the brand it matches 99 percent of all skin tones and undertones because of its shade adaptability—aka since the formula is so sheer, it melts into your skin so that
I’m due to give birth on December 25, and these are the essentials keeping me sane
December 16, 2019 at 04:30AM by CWC The first thing I did when I found out I was pregnant—after telling my husband, my mom, and my BFF who had predicted I was knocked up (accurately, it turns out)—was calculate the due date. The big day? December 25, 2019. Beyond hoping it didn’t happen exactly then—give the kid a chance at their own special day!—I didn’t think much about it as the months passed. And suddenly, I was in my third trimester. One benefit of pregnancy is you have a built-in reason to lean into JOMO (joy of missing out, for the uninitiated). If I’m too tired to make it to that holiday party, boom: I simply don’t have to go, no questions asked. It’s a beautiful, albeit Prosecco-free, thing. The one celebration I can’t skip, though? The one with my own family. And because I could be in labor on Christmas day, that means both sides are coming to me. But because the exhaustion and the swollen feet are real, I refuse to let hostess duties stress me out. Instead, I’m outsourcing the heavy lifting to these handy essentials, which, with one simple “add to cart” mean I don’t even have to waddle my way to the store. Pregnant? Not pregnant? Either way, these must-haves will save you from a hostess meltdown. Slip into your maternity (or non-maternity) leggings and cozy up: We’ve got shopping to do. Scroll down for the stress-free holiday hosting essentials you need—whether you’re in your
8 delicious, gut-friendly snacks that registered dietitians love
December 15, 2019 at 08:00PM by CWC Sorry, high-protein everything—we’re all about fiber right now. Why? The nutrient found in foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, and grains, has been linked a whole slew of health benefits from more regular digestion to promoting the health of your gut microbiome. Hell, it can even improve your skin. And unlike protein, most of us aren’t getting enough of it in our diets. That’s where high-fiber snacks come in. They can help you more easily meet your daily fiber quota without feeling like you have to load up all at one meal and risk gastrointestinal distress. Speaking of gut health, here’s the 101 on the topic straight from a dietitian: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpAjl3cFn6A] “Since the standard recommendation of 25 grams for women and 30 grams for men is just an average, it’s helpful to know that the real recommendation is a minimum 14 grams for every 1000 calories consumed,” says Kelly Jones, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN. Adding in fiber to snacks—at least four grams per serving, she says—is an easy way to make sure you’re getting enough each day. But instead of scouring labels all day at the grocery store, we asked a few dietitians to share some of their favorite high-fiber snacks. These picks are sure to keep you and your gut happy. Keep reading for the best high-fiber snacks for optimal gut health. Photo: Courtesy of brand 1. Enlightened Bada Bean Bada Boom Crunchy Broad Beans ($22 for 24) Fiber: 5 grams per serving
The 5 most common mistakes people make when they try to eat plant-based, according to a dietitian
December 13, 2019 at 08:00PM by CWC We called it: 2019 really has been the year where plant-based eating has taken off. Whether people are considering it for health or environmental reasons, it seems like there has never been more innovative products or more interest in making the switch to a plant-forward diet than right. now. But as more of us decide to take the plunge, there are a few common pitfalls that people can fall into that make eating plant-based more difficult than it needs to be. First off, “though the idea of a plant-based diet is typically synonymous with vegan, they’re actually two separate things. A plant-based diet is one with a heavy focus on plant foods—vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds—but that doesn’t explicitly avoid animal products,” says Samantha Presicci, MCN, RD, LD, CPT, Lead Registered Dietitian at Snap Kitchen. “While those who are vegan consume no animal products, those who are plant-based are simply focused on eating real food that is predominantly plant-based, but may still eat animal products.” So what does a healthy plate look like on this eating plan, anyways? “On a truly plant-based diet, someone would make at least half of their plate vegetables,” Presicci says. “Other things to incorporate include fruits, healthy fats—like avocado, avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil, nuts and seeds, coconut oil, coconut milk, and more—and high-quality animal protein, along with some unprocessed grains and legumes.” It’s supposed to be simple…but switching up your eating habits can always be tricky.
Tap this back-pocket tip to take the pressure off navigating the holiday food scene
December 13, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC Decked out in your most festive holiday attire, you consider whether to pour yourself a second glass of eggnog. As you poise the pitcher over your cup, you think, Well, I can only get this stuff once a year. In Instagram parlance: It me. Yes, we fully endorse pouring the eggnog (check out these dairy-free recipes). But according to Brigitte Zeitlin, MPH, RD, it’s this this once-a-year-opportunity mindset that trips up a lot of people when it comes to not waking up the morning after every holiday bash feeling totally, well, blah. At our latest Wellness Collective event with Athleta, Zeitlin shared the holiday eating tips that she personally uses to power herself through the season of cookies and eggnog. “The whole point of these events is to connect,” Zeitlin says. “We’re seeing our co-workers outside of the office to know them in a different way. We’re seeing family we only see once a year. These are the conversations and connections you want to focus on, because that’s what this time of year is all about. Keep in mind that the food is the background. It’s not the star of the show.” “Keep in mind that the food is the background. It’s not the star of the show.” By changing your mindset to view this as the season of connecting rather than the season of sugar overload for sugar overload’s sake, it can give “making the most of the holidays” a whole new meaning,
7 healthy eating experts reveal the foodie gifts they really want for the holidays
December 13, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC On the surface, buying a holiday present for someone who loves to cook may sound like an easy feat. But when you really start to think about it, shopping gets tricky. It’s easy to walk through Williams-Sonoma or the cooking aisles at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and debate whether they already own a crêpe maker or a set of festive cookie cutters. After all, they’re already in the kitchen a lot. For inspiration, I decided to go straight to healthy food experts to find out what’s *really* on their holiday wish lists. The picks here are items they’re coveting, secretly (well, now not-so secretly) hoping someone will gift them this year. And if none of them appeal to you, hey, there’s always a bottle of wine. (Or one of the trendy non-alcoholic spirit alternatives.) Keep reading to see the food gift ideas nutrition pros have on their holiday wish lists. Photo: Wusthof 1. Wusthof chef’s knife, $146 “Every home cook, no matter your experience or comfort level in the kitchen, will benefit from having an incredible chef’s knife,” says Nutrition Stripped founder, Well+Good Wellness Council member, and registered dietitian McKel Kooienga, RDN. Kooienga spends a lot of time in the kitchen, so this year she’s coveting a new chef’s knife that will make will make cooking both easier and safer. (She has her eye on one from German knife brand Wusthof.) Photo: OXO 2. OXO Good Grips hand-held mandoline slicer, $15 As a
9 foods high in folate worth filling up on—whether you’re pregnant or not
December 12, 2019 at 07:33PM by CWC There are two types of vitamins: the scene-stealers you *know* are important, like vitamin C, D, and magnesium, and the stage hands with little name recognition who consistently work behind-the-scenes to keep your body working properly. Folate is definitely one of the latter. Even though it typically only comes up when talking about prenatal health, everyone needs to make sure they’re getting enough folate, aka vitamin B9. “Because folate plays a crucial role in preventing neural tube defects, we tend to associate it with prenatal nutrition and supplementation. But folate is also involved in DNA synthesis, tissue formation, and formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow,” says Gena Hamshaw, RD, a registered dietitian and Full Helping blogger. Not getting enough folate, Hamshaw says, can result in certain forms of anemia. “All women, even those who aren’t thinking about becoming pregnant, should be mindful of their folate intake, especially since adequate folate can be difficult to obtain through food, which is why many cereals and grain products are fortified with it,” Hamshaw says. The average woman should aim to get between 300 and 400 micrograms of folate a day. Hamshaw says women who are pregnant (or actively trying to become pregnant), or have kidney, liver, or digestive diseases, especially need to be aware of their intake. Just because meeting your required folate intake from food can be difficult doesn’t mean it’s impossible (or pointless). If you’re wondering what foods to fill up
There’s only one month a year when it’s acceptable to drink eggnog—here’s how to do it vegan, dairy-free, and delicious
December 11, 2019 at 11:00PM by CWC Even if you’re the type of person who likes listening to Christmas music year-round, even if you put your tree up when there are pumpkins on your porch, even if you don’t understand the backlash against Love Actually and are committed to defending it as the best movie of all-time, it’s still socially unacceptable to whip up a batch of eggnog in any month other than December. It just is. Could you imagine if someone offered you the velvety drink in the height of summer, when everyone else is drinking coconut juice cocktails? Or in February, as a Valentine’s Day after-dinner drink? There’s a reason why it’s restricted to the holidays: when else does warm milk sound appealing other than when the weather is outside is frightful? A glass of eggnog is delightful on a cold winter night whether spiked or spirit-free. Traditional eggnog is made with egg whites, egg yolks, heavy cream, whole milk, sugar, and an optional shot of brandy, whiskey, or rum —definitely not a combo that was crafted with vegan or dairy-free eaters in mind. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with rich and creamy vegan eggnog recipes. Dairy-free and vegan eggnog recipes that are rich and delicious Photo: Minimalist Baker 1. Coconut milk maple eggnog All it takes is 10 minutes and six ingredients to make a batch big enough to serve a dozen party guests when you follow this eggnog recipe from Minimalist Baker’s Dana Shultz.
The 9 healthy cookbooks of 2019 that inspire us to eat and live well
December 11, 2019 at 09:23PM by CWC A good cookbooks is one gift that never goes out of style. With hundreds of healthy cookbooks released each year, it’s hard to know where to start. I’ve done the legwork for you, paging through many of my favorites to find not just the best recipes, but the books that serve specific dietary needs with creative recipes and gorgeous photography. The books rounded up here are timeless, the best of the best, the ones bound to be the gifts that keep on giving for years to come. These are the best healthy cookbooks of 2019 1. Well+Good Cookbook by Alexia Brue and Melissa Gelula Did you know Well+Good has a cookbook? It has 100 amazing recipes by friends close to the brand. A very small sampling of what you’ll find tucked inside: Lea Michele’s shaved radicchio, Parmesan, and truffle pizza; Elle MacPherson’s chocolate mousse with fresh raspberries, and cacao nibs; and Well+Good co-founder Alexia Brue’s CBD strawberry smoothie. Pretty epic, right? 2. The Blue Zone Kitchen by Dan Buettner Take a literal page out of a book inspired by people who live to be over 100. Blue Zones expert Dan Buettner has been preaching their healthy lifestyle tips for years, but this is the very first time he’s releasing a cookbook. It hits shelves December 19, so there’s no chance the foodie on your gift list has it yet. 3. Whole Food Cooking Every Day by Amy Chaplin This elegant book has a