March 08, 2019 at 06:17AM by CWC It’s easy to get overwhelmed by dating apps. The endless stream of matches, messages, gifs, and shirtless selfies is a lot. But the dating burnout can start as early as not knowing which dating app to use in the first place. Tinder? Bumble? Something that connects you with dogs (I mean, dog owners)? How do you choose the best dating apps for you? Now, I’ll level for you, your literal mother and I are probably the only two people who aren’t using dating apps at the moment. To each their own, but I can’t do it, it’s too Seamless-y (and IDK, it would probably tick off my S.O.). But I’m not like a regular mom, I’m a cool mom, and if you’re going to use the apps I’d rather you do it based on what you’re looking for. And whether that’s a DTF dude to boink, a woman you can grow old with, or someone with a full and robust beard, here’s how to get started. These are the best dating apps to use right now, in no particular order 1. Tinder Great if: You’re looking for something easy right now. I won’t sermonize here because most of you are intimately acquainted with the app. In short, Tinder is best if you’re looking for something low-commitment, in uh, a variety of ways. It’s no muss, no fuss swipe-intensive approach works for quick hook-ups with the very occasional long-term success story. 2. Ship Great if: You, like,
Category: Vegetarians
The scientific reasons why sweet-and-salty foods turn us into snack monsters
March 08, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC I like to think I have a decent amount of self-control when it comes to snacking. But put any sweet-meets-salty treat in front of me—like yogurt-covered pretzels or chocolate-dipped potato chips—and suddenly I turn into a leggings-clad Cookie Monster, leaving behind nothing but an empty bag and a few crumbs. To be clear, it’s only the combination of sweet and salty that I can’t resist. I don’t care for straight-up savory snacks, like plain pretzels or chips, and can only eat a few bites of a sugary dessert without feeling nauseous. Judging by the number of hybrid flavors at the grocery store right now, from salted caramel ice cream to Chicago-style popcorn, I’m not the only one who’s obsessed. So what’s up with that? In a quest to find out why salty-sweet snacks are so damn addicting, I first called upon food historian Sarah Wassberg Johnson. She confirmed that the roots of this pairing go way back, long before the peanut M&M was born. “Sweet and savory combination foods were quite popular in the ancient Middle East and later in Medieval Europe—mostly meat cooked with fruit and, particularly during the Medieval period, with sweet imported spices like cinnamon, mace, allspice, and nutmeg,” she says. (Hmm, def less appealing that PB-filled pretzels.) Candied salted nuts and other desserts were also a thing back in those days, she adds. These were mostly restricted to the wealthy, however, since refined sugar was hard to come by. So,
The sustainable swimwear brands making a big splash this season
March 07, 2019 at 12:44PM by CWC Sustainability is one of the most important movements permeating popular culture today, particularly fashion. And the wave of designers embracing eco-friendly, ethical, socially responsible practices is starting to swell. You can now find cool options for everything from vegan shoes to sustainable activewear, luxe-looking purses made from leather alternatives, sneakers (like these chic French ones made from corn waste), jeans, and ready-to-wear—with a lot of the coolest brands coming out of Cali, btw. Given how much the sustainable fashion market has grown over the past few seasons, it’s unsurprising that there are more options than ever when it comes to sustainable swimwear. Major sportswear brands like Adidas and Athleta continue to expand their ethical offerings and introduce innovative new fabrics made from recycled materials and focused on performance. Then there are the indie, boutique labels that are showing that being eco-friendly and elevated aren’t mutually exclusive objectives, as evidenced by the minimalist maillots from brands like Lacausa and Reformation—plus, the playful suits from lines like Mara Hoffman. Scroll down to see what we mean and shop the sustainable swimwear sure to make a big splash this season. 1. Adidas Photo: Adidas Adidas by Stella McCartney Triathalon Crop Top, $69, and Triathalon Short, $53 Like its activewear, Adidas’ swimwear meets the quality standards of both the Better Cotton Initiative and Sustainable Apparel Coalition, which makes finding sustainable performance suits and separates that can stand up to SUP sessions, open swims, and other watersports, a cinch. 2. Athleta
8 foods that make your pee smell other than asparagus
March 07, 2019 at 09:07AM by CWC Your daily diet makes a big difference in the way you feel, but it also plays a part when it comes to your body odor. In fact, the phrase “you are what you eat” is especially accurate when it comes to your pee. Without a doubt, certain foods impact the pungency of your urine more than others. (Hello, asparagus.) Some foods that make your pee smell are totally healthy. The odor has to do with how the body breaks it down. According to a 2010 study, the reason asparagus makes your pee smell is that it acts as a natural diuretic due to the high levels of asparagine, getting rid of any extra salt and fluids in the body and warding off urinary tract infections in the process. The subsequent odor is the only issue when you load up on the green stuff, according to the Mayo Clinic. But hey—it’s totally worth it. We’ve all take a trip to the loo only to be reminded that we ate asparagus earlier in the day, but there are some surprising foods that make your pee smell. 8 other foods that make your pee smell 1. Brussels sprouts If you’ve been snacking on Brussels sprouts wings lately, your pee is about to show it. When your body breaks down the veggie during digestion, it produces methyl mercaptan, a gas that’s well-known for making your urine smell less-than-stellar. 2. Onions Onions make you cry, and they also make
How to avoid a food fight when you and your S.O. have totally different eating habits
March 07, 2019 at 06:54AM by CWC Understatement of the year: Dating is tough. Are you a Capricorn and they’re an Aries? Do you actually like their friends? Does their sense of humor mesh with your own? It’s already challenging enough to merge two lives… and adding completely opposite eating habits into the mix might be a recipe for disaster. Or is it? “Dating these days is so much harder because things like going out for too many drinks or going to fast-casual, not-so-healthy places, especially at the beginning of a relationship, are the norm,” says Carolyn Brown, MS, RD, at Foodtrainers. “And people are trying out many different diets these days, from paleo to vegan—there’s an awareness that they didn’t have before. It’s part of the new dating landscape.” “People attach a lot of emotion and a lot of their identity to food,” adds Abby Langer, RD. “So if someone does decide to label themselves as paleo or vegan or whatever it may be, it really becomes a part of that person’s identity.” And thus an important part of your relationship together, too. While it might seem like your relationship is doomed to fail because you guys just can’t agree on where to go for dinner, the experts insist that there’s totally a way to date and be happy together, even if you don’t follow the same diet. Experts want you to remember a few things when you’re experiencing the dietary version of Romeo and Juliet. 1. Make some compromises
Are these 5 questionable ingredients lurking in your breakfast food?
March 06, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC Your morning is a win if you manage to blow dry your hair or squeeze in a five-minute meditation before getting out the door. But despite the a.m. hustle, your breakfast is something you can always rely on to treat you right… right? Actually, it depends what you’re putting in your bowl (or grabbing as you run out the door). To find out what’s really in your breakfast food—and what to avoid—we asked Stuart McMillan, farm manager for Legend Organic Farms, for the real deal. And Legend Organic Farms is a smart barometer, because it exclusively grows ingredients for Nature’s Path Foods, an OG of organic cereal, granola, and snacks that’s making a name in radical transparency. On its site, the brand publicly answers all of your questions when it comes to organic foods (just ask and you shall receive). For more real-talk, find out what could be in your bowl right now below. Keep reading for 5 controversial food additives in popular breakfast foods. Photo: Nature’s Path Foods 1. Pesticide residues One place you might not have considered pesticide residue? Your breakfast cereal. According to a recent report published by the Environmental Working Group, your morning bowl of oatmeal, oat-based cereal, or granola isn’t exactly safe from chemical weed killers, which can seep in through direct application on crops (like the oats in your ’meal) or spraying of the land itself. “While the levels are generally low, there remain questions about cumulative effects at
These healthy chunky monkey banana bread brownies aren’t messing around
March 06, 2019 at 11:58AM by CWC Yes, you can eat pizza for breakfast and healthy pancakes every day of the week. But you won’t believe that dreams really do come true until you take a bite of these nutritious chunky monkey brownies. They’re so rich and delicious that you might not believe they’re actually good for you. Jordan Younger‘s chunky monkey banana bread brownie creation is completely vegan and sos-free (no salt, oil, or sugar). “I honestly dreamt it up during my fast, and the moment I got in my parent’s kitchen today, I brought it to life,” writes the plant-based recipe blogger behind The Balanced Blonde. “The verdict? Damn good.” And how can they not be? They’re a merge of some of the best comfort foods, after all. The next time you’re craving something sweet, try them out for yourself. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jordan Younger (@thebalancedblonde) on Mar 2, 2019 at 4:36pm PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js Chunky Monkey Banana Bread Brownies Ingredients: 3 overripe spotty bananas 2 cups buckwheat flour (or gluten-free flour of choice) 1/2 cup almond milk 2 flax eggs (2 Tbsp flax mixed with 6 tsp water) 1 cup pitted medjool dates (soaked is better) 1 banana to top, sliced in half lengthwise (optional) 2 Tbsp cacao powder 1/2 cup sugar-free dark chocolate chips 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar Preparation: 1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
A dozen pairs of sustainable jeans so good nothing will come between you and them
March 06, 2019 at 11:33AM by CWC Socially conscious, eco-friendly, cruelty-free, sustainable. All buzz words you’ve heard to describe ethical fashion. The category—which was once synonymous with scratchy fabrics and blah-as-heck hues—has far surpassed “trend” status. More and more, clothing and accessory brands are innovating with their social and environmental impact in mind and turning out some of the best new fashions out there from swimwear to lingerie, plus one of the most-loved categories, denim. There are a lot of things that can make a garment unsustainable from tons of waste to the use of toxic chemicals and unethical labor practices. The biggest culprit when it comes to denim, though, is water. “Apparel production and in particular denim depends heavily on water availability. Not just in the washing of a jean at the point of garment production, however, [but also] at the very beginning point in the cotton agriculture stage,” says Jac Cameron, co-founder and creative director of the clothing brand AYR. “The water consumption for denim production is usually 1,000 gallons per one wash load, which is roughly about 60 [pairs of] jeans.” Cotton farming can negatively impact the environment, too. “The use of hazardous chemicals used in the cotton farming, dyeing, and finishing stages, and highly repetitive and manual finishing techniques, make the traditional process of making jeans dangerous for not only the environment but also the workers handling the denim,” says James Bartle, founder of Outland Denim, a premium-denim label that was founded with the mission to employ
A healthy guide to San Miguel de Allende, Central Mexico’s best-kept secret
March 06, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC San Miguel de Allende is a colorful colonial city nestled in the heart of Mexico. The architecturally rich respite in the Guanajuato state is about a two-and-a-half hour drive from Mexico City, and it boasts a thriving art scene, a fascinating historical center, and a vibrant heritage. A visit here isn’t complete without taking advantage of spa treatments, vegan eats, fitness studios, organic coffee-shop sips, hikes, and green-juice vendors. But somehow, despite all those healthy offerings, the city still manages to fall blissfully under the radar. And after a few days gallivanting around the Mexican gem, you’ll feel enriched, fulfilled, and oh-so healthy. Especially if you follow the guide below. What to do Parque El Chorro Consider your morning hike found. The steep climb combined with the altitude (more than 6,000 feet above sea level), means you’d be smart to prepare to huff and puff all the way to the top. Considering the amazing view you’ll get as a reward though, you’ll surely feel it was worth the effort. Hotel Nirvana’s hot spring pool Hot springs SMA is built on the edge of an extinct volcano that hasn’t erupted in 12,00 years. Thanks to the subterranean volcanic activity, the countryside surrounding the town is full of healing thermal waters and hot springs. My absolute favorite of the several I visited is at Hotel Nirvana. Take a $10 cab ride outside of town and arrive at this little slice of, well, nirvana. Bathe in the
7 pancake recipes healthy enough for every day of the week
March 05, 2019 at 09:17AM by CWC If there’s one breakfast food everyone can agree ranks superior, it’s pancakes. But not all pancake recipes are created equal. Take a bite into the right kind of fluffy goodness and the world melts away. (Anybody else like to start off brunch with pancakes for the table?) That said, if you don’t devour at least one stack a week, you’re basically committing a crime. A tower of steaming pancakes doesn’t exactly have the reputation as the healthiest breakfast option, but with some easy ingredient swaps and a few fun additions, you can enjoy the comfort food and get a full serving of health benefits. In anticipation of National Pancake Day, we’ve got seven delicious pancake recipes—one for each day of the week. Whether you’re into bright green matcha pancakes packed with antioxidants, adaptogenic pancaked filled with lion’s mane mushrooms, or something sweet with cocoa and dark chocolate, these pancake recipes are sure to be a hit every day, all year round. These pancake recipes are so healthy you can eat pancakes every day of the week. Photo: Markus Karjalainen 1. Sunday: Lion’s mane pancakes These adaptogenic pancakes are packed with lion’s mane mushrooms, which might help lift mental fog. Photo: Candice Kumai 2. Monday: Matcha pancakes When you need a burst of caffeine on Monday morning, why not combine two of your favorite things into one stack of pancakes? They’re loaded with matcha and topped with dark chocolate chips for plenty of antioxidants.