Blog Posts by Oprah.com

By Nathalie Gorman

Photo: ThinkstockBy Lynn Andriani

Bruschetta may be best known as toast topped with diced tomatoes, but there are tons of creative variations out there, from lobster to Japanese eggplant. Let these six ideas be springboards for the next time you have friends over or just want a nibble. Whatever your topping, start with toasted slices of baguette, brush them with a bit of olive oil and then rub the cut edge of a halved garlic clove on one side of each slice.

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1. Italian Sandwich
Take the popular combination of melon and prosciutto and turn it into a mini open-faced sandwich: make sure the cantaloupe slices aren't too big, and tear the ham into equally bite-sized pieces. Top with a sprig of fresh mint or basil.

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2. Sweet and Salty
Cook six slices of bacon, remove from pan and break into bits. Saute half an onion in the bacon fat until translucent. Add a splash each of apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, maple

Photo: Marko Metzinger/Studio DWe asked three MDs with their own skin care lines to brag about their standout skin-renewing solutions. The catch: They also had to recommend a stellar product from a competing doctor's line.

Susan Taylor, MD

Photo: Marko Metzinger/Studio DNeil Sadick, MD

Clinical professor of dermatology at New York

Photo: ThinkstockBy Corrie Pikul

While helping your young daughter, nephew or godchild prepare for a day at the beach, you've probably noticed that the trend in kids' sunscreens is the more natural, the better. Many are PABA free, and get UVA protection from a sunblock like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, which can be less irritating than common ingredients like avobenzone. Some brands are also free of oxybenzone, which can cause allergic reactions and has been linked to hormone disruption, as well as retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A that may speed the development of skin tumors when exposed to sunlight. So if kids' sunscreen is safe enough for those chunky toddler thighs and vulnerable little shoulders, should you be using it, too?

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Maybe, says Ellen Marmur, MD, vice chair of cosmetic and dermatologic surgery at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, especially if you have sensitive skin. "Many of the children's products are free of irritating chemicals,

Photo: Marko Metzinger

Photo: Marko Metzinger

Photo: Marko Metzinger

Photo: Marko Metzinger

Photo: Marko Metzinger

Photo: Marko Metzinger

Photo: Marko Metzinger

Photo: Ben Goldstein/Studio DBy Kate Rockwood

For all the criticism it gets, fat is a workhorse in the body. It's crucial to the structure of every cell, helps regulate blood pressure and immune function, and facilitates the absorption of key vitamins. But all fats aren't created equal: Plant oils deliver far more heart-healthy benefits than solid fats like butter, says Roberta L. Duyff, author of the American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide. Here, a few flavorful options:

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Pistachio Oil

Photo: ThinkstockBy Corrie Pikul

The Ultimate: 1-ounce snack bag of potato chips and 1/4 cup onion dip (289 calories, 10g saturated fat)

The foods we find most difficult to turn down are almost always a high-calorie combo of fat and refined carbs, says Susan Roberts, PhD, a nutrition professor at Tufts University and the author of The "I" Diet. The craving is often triggered by proximity: You see it, you salivate. This is what makes potato chips, which are front and center in every vending machine, one of the most irresistible foods on the planet, Roberts says. And once dip gets involved, there's no turning back.

The Alternate: Roberts suggests 1-ounce bags of whole-wheat pita chips or the same amount of homemade chips made from whole-wheat wraps (cut into strips, spray with cooking spray, bake for 5 minutes and sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon salt). Both provide the same salty, satisfying crunch as chips, but without the fat. Pair with 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream (222 calories, 4.9g saturated

Photo: ThinkstockBy Corrie Pikul

Volunteering can be a decent weight-loss alternative to going to the gym, and recent research has found that 68 percent of volunteers said they felt physically healthy after donating their time, while 98 percent--that's just about everyone--claimed it made them feel happy and joyful, says Stephen G. Post, professor of preventive medicine at Stony Brook University and author of The Hidden Gifts of Helping. Here's the breakdown on how doing good can make you feel and look great.

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Serve a Hot Meal to Someone Who Needs It