Blog Posts by The Editors of EatingWell Magazine

Pound cake gets its name from its ingredients-a pound of sugar, a pound of butter, a pound of flour, a pound of eggs. And that doesn't include the "pounds" that we gain by eating this rich cake.

So when one of my friends sent the EatingWell Test Kitchen an over-the-top recipe for pound cake "enhanced" with margarine, a half dozen jumbo eggs and cream cheese, I knew that our ovens would get a workout as we tried to devise a healthier version. (Which we deliciously did!)

Here's how our recipe compares to the original:

Original Version:

• 307 calories
• 16 grams total fat
• 0 grams fiber

EatingWell Pound Cake:

• 217 calories
• 10 grams total fat
• 1 gram fiber

Our Cream Cheese Pound Cake is made with half whole-wheat flour, 38 percent less fat and 30 percent fewer calories-but still has the dense, fine crumb of the original. Serve our healthy makeover of pound cake on its own, sprinkled with powdered sugar or with either sour cherry sauce (as shown) or

Holiday season is travel season for me-and my least favorite thing about traveling is the limited food choices when I'm on the go.

I've found it helps to plan ahead-never be without something to eat, like a healthy snack.

To stay on track try these simple strategies and 4 quick recipes (which have protein to keep you satisfied during your journey):

Pack snacks. On planes, trains and buses, tuck food in your carry-on bag, if regulations permit, in case of layovers or delays. Use layover/delay time to your advantage: walk around the airport, train or bus station (check your carry-on bag in a locker, if you need to); you might just find an out-of-the-way eatery with healthier offerings that won't blow your calorie budget.

• Stirring salsa into versatile canned refried beans to make Zesty Bean Dip & Chips. This 5-minute dip also works well as a sandwich spread with your favorite vegetables and a sprinkle of cheese.

Combine 1/4 cup fat-free canned refried beans, 1

I like to think of latkes as a sort of flattened French fry-toothsome and crispy on the outside and warm and soft in the middle. But the frying that delivers these perfect results is exactly what makes latkes unhealthy. Luckily, we've created a healthier Crispy Potato Latke recipe that's just as delicious as a traditional version, and easy to make too.

We turned to a time-tested method to get crisp latkes without a lot of fat: pan-fry the latkes in a small amount of oil and finish them in a hot oven for a few minutes. To amp up the flavor and compensate for the lack of "shmaltz" (chicken fat) called for in traditional recipes, we added more onion and chopped shallot. With 75% less fat and 61% fewer calories, the results are delicious-a small culinary miracle. A perfect recipe for a healthy Hanukkah celebration featuring Braised Brisket & Roots and Quick Applesauce.

Here are the results of our latke recipe makeover:

Traditional Latkes

• 277 calories
• 17 grams total

With the stock market falling faster than a cold soufflé, many of us are looking at just how much our meals cost. And when we start trimming expenses, our food budget is often one place that takes a hit. An easy way to save money is to eat fewer meals out and make more meals at home. Plus you'll have greater control to create healthy, delicious meals.

Our staff at EatingWell Magazine "shopped" online for ingredients and then calculated the cost per serving for main-dish recipes in one of our recent issues. The results seemed so amazing we even went back and double-checked the math: most of those main-course recipes cost less than $3 a serving.

And if you think that nothing's cheaper than fast food, consider that Pork Chops with Orange & Fennel Salad, a slice of fresh-baked Parmesan-Herb Focaccia and Baby Tiramisù for dessert (total: 488 calories, 3 grams of saturated fat, see recipes below) is less than $6-while a McDonald's Quarter Pounder, fries and apple pie (1,040

With holiday cookies and treats around every turn, my sweet tooth is out of control during the holidays. So to satisfy it without consuming unhealthy junk food and calorie-laden sweets, I try to have a vitamin- and fiber-packed fruit dessert every night after dinner.

These 15-minute fruit desserts are not only fast but they're also a delicious way to eat more antioxidant-rich fruit (when cookies are tempting!).

Satisfy that chocolate craving with Chocolate & Banana. A drizzle of melted chocolate chips over banana slices makes an easy treat.

Chocolate & Banana

1 tablespoon semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 banana, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon nonfat vanilla yogurt
Melt chocolate chips in a small bowl in the microwave. Top banana slices with the chocolate and yogurt.

Makes 1 serving.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 117 calories; 3 g fat (2 g sat, 0 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 23 g carbohydrate; 2 g protein; 2 g fiber; 14 mg sodium; 277 mg

I heart multi-tasking. Especially over the busy holiday season when I seem to have a zillion places to be at the same time, plus bake, shop and travel. So to save time when I'm making cookies for the holidays, I make a no-bake cookie. I can whip up Angel Delights (recipe below), the winner of EatingWell's cookie contest this year, and have finished cookies in 30 minutes from start to finish. It's really awesome.

Better yet, no-bake cookies are perfect to make with kids. EatingWell's No-Bake Cookies are the ultimate kid-friendly cookie, as they don't even get heated on the stove.

If you want more sophisticated options for your holiday cookie swap try Festive Fruit & Nut Balls or Date Bran Jingle Balls.

For oven-friendly cookie recipes, check out our Healthy Holiday Cookie Collection.

Angel Delights

1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups chopped pitted dates (8 ounces)
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups toasted rice

Before I was old enough to cook, my sister Katie and I would perch on stools in the kitchen to help our mom brainstorm menus for our family's holiday feasts. Once we gained a little experience in the kitchen (and eventually both started working for EatingWell) we were invited to help out. Christmas took on a whole new meaning-it became all about trying out new recipes and cooking together in the kitchen. After all, what's the fun in cooking the same thing every year? Plus, our team effort on the meal makes the process relaxing and fun.

This stress-free Christmas menu (complete with a step-by-step planner) is full of delicious, healthy dishes that are easy to prepare so there is plenty of time to enjoy friends and family.

Starter: Red & White Salad
Main dish: Horseradish-Crusted Beef Tenderloin (recipe below)
Side dish: Vermont Cheddar Mashed Yukon Golds
Side dish: Garlicky Green Beans
Dessert: Maple Walnut Cake

Get the step-by-step planner for this menu.

All year I look forward to baking holiday cookies and sharing them with family and friends. I like to make holiday cookie recipes with a healthy twist and EatingWell's recipes call for no hydrogenated fat, all-natural ingredients, only as much sweetener as is necessary and as much whole-grain flour as possible. Being healthy doesn't detract from being irresistibly delicious-tasting and festive. Here are five of my favorite cookie recipes to share (only you need to know they're healthy).

Apricot-Almond Sandwich Cookies

Elegant and delicious, these cookies are the perfect addition to your holiday spread. For a variation, try with raspberry preserves; you can show off the jewel-like filling by cutting the center out of half of the cookies. Make ahead tip: Prepare through Step 4 up to 2 days ahead.

Cookies
3/4 cup whole almonds
1 1/4 cups white whole-wheat flour (see Ingredient note)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt