EatingWell May 2021

thank you, mom

First off, there’s the past 12-plus months of the pandemic, in which the EatingWell team has put together 10 issues of the magazine. For the most part we’ve been collaborating well, each of us sitting in our own home. But how that plays out is very different for someone like me (no kids) than for the moms on our team, especially those with young ones. I know, because I see the tug of war between being a teacher, entertainer, sibling referee, lunch cook AND dialed-in employee going down in the background of our video meetings. While we’re deciding how to photograph a recipe, what edits to make to a story or what to cook on Instagram Live, the kids need help logging into their remote classes or permission to eat…

what's trending on eatingwell.com

1 Meatless May Challenge Want to try going plants-only for 30 days? We’ve got all the best recipes—like this Crunchy Salad with Creamy Vegan Avocado Dressing (above). EatingWell.com/MeatlessMay 2 Mom’s Month Off From breakfast-in-bed spreads that kids can help with, to easy ways to make her feel appreciated, get our fun ideas for showing Mom some love on more than just May 9. EatingWell.com/MomsMonthOff 3 Weight-Loss Tweaks That Actually Work Five surprising mental shifts that dietitians recommend to help you shed pounds. EatingWell.com/WeightLossTweaks THE EATINGWELL GOOD-LIFE GURUS It’s the start of growing season—at least where EatingWell is in the Northeast. Meet some of our favorite family farms to follow on Instagram for gardening eye candy and inspo. @freegrassfarmer Joel Slezak and Erica Hellen raise grass-fed cows, forest-fed pigs and chickens, ducks and geese on 250-plus acres…

please, help yourself

In 2014, Jessica McClard saw a host of Little Free Libraries appearing around her Fayetteville, Arkansas, community and something dawned on her: she could apply the same concept to create a “leave what you can, take what you need” Little Free Pantry. Her church gave her the green light to place one near the building, and the mother of two built a small enclosed wooden structure and stocked it with nonperishable food, as well as other necessities like toilet paper and diapers. She uploaded a photo of her “LFP Pilot” to Facebook and, within a day, items were being donated and taken from the space. Her post was shared over and over—and the project soon had thousands of followers. Media outlets covered the story too. By the end of that summer,…

the whole (grain) truth

First things first: what are whole grains? All grains start out whole. Underneath an inedible shell, the seed or kernel of the plant is made up of three parts—the bran, germ and endosperm. The bran and germ contain fiber, antioxidants, B vitamins, protein and healthy fats, as well as minerals including folate and iron. The “meat” of the grain, the endosperm, serves as energy for the plant in the form of starchy carbohydrates. The mix of nutrients in these layers is what makes whole grains powerhouses of disease prevention, with greater intake linked to a lower risk of diabetes, some cancers and heart disease, as well as a healthy GI tract. Whole grains can be consumed as is, of course (think: brown rice, farro, oats and popcorn), but often they’re incorporated into…

your hair, only better

Color-Treated Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo Dyeing breaks disulfide bonds in the layer of hair that contains pigment and provides strength—leaving it vulnerable to breakage and leaching color. That’s why “choosing shampoo that’s designed for color-treated hair is a must,” says New York City celebrity hairstylist Adam Maclay. Enter Olaplex: an at-home incarnation of a famed salon treatment that bolsters disulfide bonds to lock in color and fortify weakened strands. ($28, Olaplex.com) Frizzy John Frieda Frizz Ease Extra Strength “A good leave-in serum is key for curly or wavy hair that’s prone to frizz,” says Gretchen Friese, BosleyMD’s certified trichologist (a hair and scalp specialist). “That’s because shampoos and conditioners get rinsed out, so only a portion of the beneficial ingredients are absorbed.” This serum is the perfect consistency—not super light or weighty—which, if…

doggone chill

Thunderstorms, fireworks and vacuums—oh my! When pets are faced with fearful situations, they react out of instinct. They’re not able to acknowledge, or address, their stress like we can. And that’s where you can help. While there’s a range of tried-and-true treatment options out there—from prescription anxiety medications to exercise—a growing number of pet owners are turning to over-the-counter supplements. But can these pills really help your antsy animal chill out? Well, there’s not a whole lot of research to say that they can. Few controlled trials have assessed how effective common supplements like B vitamins, chamomile, melatonin or valerian root are at reducing stress in pets. Some small studies suggest that the amino acid L-theanine may help reduce anxiety symptoms like panting and drooling in response to loud noises, while…