Nothing tastes better than fresh-picked fruits and veggies. If you too prefer your produce when it’s freshest from the farm, here’s what you should be buying in February. Fresh produce is tastier and cheaper since there is plenty of it—simple supply and demand here! So stock up, save money, and enjoy these fruits and vegetables grown this time of year right here in the U.S. Oranges Oranges show up every year right when we need their powerful vitamin C the most. Cold, grey days tend to be synonymous with sickness, but a healthy dose of OJ or a fresh orange a day can help keep the doctor away. Grapefruits Grapefruits also offer a pop of bright color and cheery flavor when we need it most. Grapefruits are perfectly ripe and juicy in February so enjoy them this month in fresh-squeeze juice, salads, or all on their own. Try this grapefruit…
The 10 most popular recipes from Everybody Craves in 2019
If you’re looking to find some new favorite recipes, add these to your list! Each recipe is tried and true, and was tested and loved by the highest number of readers. We published tons of recipes every year, but these are the recipes that really caught your eye in 2019: 10. 20-minute honey mustard garlic shrimp Our lives are busy — and 2019 was no exception! It’s no surprise that this delicious 20-minute meal was a total hit this year. Shrimp cook up quickly, and the garlic honey mustard sauce takes this simple weeknight meal to the next level. Make this dinner tonight. 9. Pizzelle This classic Italian cookie has no shortage of fans. There were plenty of people out there looking to create Grandma’s authentic recipe, and they found what they were looking for at Everybody Craves. Get baking! 8. Lemon almond chicken salad This one checks all of the boxes: healthy,…
Why toothpaste makes orange juice taste terrible
If you every drank a glass of orange juice in the morning after brushing your teeth, you probably wish you hadn’t. It’s a lesson most of us learn as young kids — orange juice and toothpaste just don’t mix. But why? Blame it on your tastebuds. Your taste buds can detect different flavor types: salty, savory, sour, sweet, and bitter. When you brush your teeth, your ability to detect sweet flavors — be it candy, pastries, OJ, or anything else — stops working so well. It goes like this: Your toothpaste and toothbrush work up a foamy lather that creates bubbles and makes your mouth feel clean. But this foam is made by a chemical called sodium laurel sulphate (SLS), according to the American Chemical Society. On top of disabling your sweet receptors, SLS also break up the phospholipids, or fatty compounds that help reduce bitter tastes, meaning that once…
Tips and tricks to save your smoothie
Smoothies are a fun way to get your daily fruits and veggies, but sometimes things can go a little awry. They can turn out too thick, too thin, or just plain “blah.” But there’s no reason to throw all of that goodness down the drain just because it doesn’t taste right the first time. Turn your smoothie into something delicious with just a few quick tips and tricks. Here are the best ways to save that smoothie: It tastes too watery: Perhaps the ice cubes got away from you and left you with a watery tasting smoothie. The fix Save it by adding more frozen fruit (or fresh fruit if that’s all you have). Then add something creamy (like almond butter or Greek yogurt) to help lessen the watery taste. Add a splash of flavorful fruit juice (whatever you have in your fridge) and a teaspoon of cinnamon, nutmeg, or…
What produce is in season in September?
If you’ve ever hesitated at the grocery store because you didn’t know going into fall what fruits and veggies were going to be delicious and which were going to be gross, this article is for you. Of course, “gross” is an exaggeration, but we’ve all purchased produce that was clearly out of season. These fruits and vegetables may look beautiful, but just don’t taste their best. They might be dry or grainy. Plus, out of season produce is usually more expensive, meaning you’re paying more money for less-than-delicious produce. But fear not! Here’s your September guide for what fruits and vegetables are in season. Use this list to plan your shopping list — and your menu — and you’ll be enjoying juicy, nutritious, perfectly ripe produce the whole month long. Apples You know fall is right around the corner because apples have arrived. Learn how to cook and can your…
6 Tips for packing back-to-school lunches on a budget
It’s the start of a new school year, and that means new teachers, new friends, and new lunchtime struggles. While it’s easy to fill your kids’ lunchboxes with pre-packaged snacks, that doesn’t do much in the way of keeping their growing bodies healthy. Sending kids to school with healthy lunches each day doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. “School lunches may not seem significant in a child’s life, but when you add up that they are eating them five days per week, it’s quite a lot of their calorie consumption,” said Dr. Nimali Fernando, a Fredericksburg, Virginia-based pediatrician and founder of The Doctor Yum Project. “Teaching them healthy lunch habits from a young age will give them the tools to build lifelong healthy habits.” Many pediatricians are concerned that children simply do not get the amount of healthy foods they need to begin with. The Centers for Disease Control…
10 Hydrating foods your summer diet needs now
Not drinking enough water is an all-too-common summertime woe. Combine beach boozing, outdoor activities, and a whole lot of sun, and you’re creating a recipe for splitting headaches and serious dehydration. When above average temperatures join the mix, not drinking enough water can be downright dangerous, leading to muscle cramps, low blood pressure, and even organ failure. But dehydration doesn’t have to spoil your summer fun. While water is always your best bet, there are many fresh summer foods that can give your body the extra boost of H2O it needs to make it through the day. Here are some of our favorites: Watermelon Biting into a big slice of juicy watermelon is so enjoyable, you’ll forget it’s good for you, too. Watermelon is 93% water, so it’s an ideal snack on a hot summer day or trip to the beach. Eat it alone, or blend it into a juice…
7 fruits and vegetables you should never juice
The beauty of juicing is that it can save you from the abundance of fruits and vegetables. (It’s a good problem to have, but a problem that needs a solution none-the-less.) Juicing means you’ll still get the nutrients, but you won’t have to nosh of raw produce for days, or come up with recipes for obscure ingredients like kohlrabi. Still there are a few fruits and vegetables that are better left whole. If you find you got carried away at the farmer’s market, or your summertime CSA overloaded you on any of these fruit and veggies, you would have a hard time turning them into juice. For this crop, the blender going to be best. Here’s a list of unjuiceables: Avocados Avocados are great in smoothies, salads — and just about anything else. They’re loaded with healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, so you definitely don’t want to let them go…
Merriam-Webster adds ‘umami,’ ‘ghost pepper,’ ‘go-cup’ and more to dictionary
The English language never stops expanding, and neither does the dictionary. This past week, the editors at Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary added more than 600 new words, among them, a handful of food-related terms that are sure to come up in your food-loving life. In order for new words to make the cut, editors must find that a word is in frequent, widespread and meaningful use — all three of these factors must be in play. Several new words don’t seem new at all. Words you’ve been using for years, like “ghost pepper,” “java,” and “chai latte,” will have you wondering how they’re not already in official status. But that goes to show you that widespread usage is extremely important. “Umami” is another word — as in, one of the five tastes that humans register, along with salty, sweet, spicy and sour — that was elevated to official word status. The word…
Vegan Thai-inspired snow pea salad with peanut dressing
Crunchy, colorful and full of flavor. This crisp Thai-inspired salad tossed in a mildly spicy peanut dressing is a total powerhouse of nutrition. Carrots, snow peas, cabbage, quinoa — it’s going to be your new salad obsession. You can instantly add more oomph with grilled chicken, beef, or shrimp, but it’s just as satisfying and filling without any animal protein added. Vegetarians might already know that quinoa and peanut butter are both excellent sources of plant-based protein. (Quinoa brings about 8 grams of protein per cup, and peanut butter brings about 8 grams per two tablespoons.) This superfood salad is addictive! The peanut sauce is similar to that served at your favorite Thai restaurant with chicken satay or with fresh spring rolls, but it’s easy to whip up with ingredients common at your everyday supermarket. You’ll want to put it on everything! Get creative with your salad. Add anything from…