Blog Posts by The Editors of EatingWell Magazine

Rachel K. Johnson, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D., Contributing Writer for EatingWell Magazine.

Most of us eat too much sugar. On average, Americans consume 475 calories of added sugars EVERY DAY (that's 30 teaspoons). Compare this with the American Heart Association's recommendation that American women limit their added sugars to no more than 100 calories (or 6 teaspoons) of added sugars per day and men consume no more than 150 calories (9 teaspoons) daily.

Don't Miss: 3 Ways to Break Your Sugar Habit

If you're trying to cut back on added sugars in your diet, you've probably already tackled the obvious sources. Sugar-sweetened beverages like soft drinks, energy and sports drinks along with fruit drinks account for almost half of Americans' added-sugars consumption. Desserts like cakes, cookies, pies and doughnuts as well as ice cream and frozen yogurt are among the top sources of added sugars in our diets too.

Recipes to Try: Delicious Recipes for Low-Sugar Desserts

But

By Kerri-Ann Jennings, M.S., R.D. Associate Nutrition Editor for EatingWell Magazine

If you've been exercising more, you may be suffering from the aches and pains of having overdone it at the gym. I've been there. Making sure your workout is challenging without overdoing it is one way to prevent muscle soreness. But research also points to some foods and beverages that can help ward off and minimize exercise-related muscle soreness, which we've reported on in EatingWell Magazine.

Related: Foods to Eat to Improve Your Workout
Post-Workout Breakfast Recipes
What to Drink Before, During and After You Exercise

Blueberries
New research out of New Zealand suggests that the antioxidants in blueberries may help ward off muscle fatigue by mopping up the additional free radicals that muscles produce during exercise.
Recipes to Try: Blueberry Recipes for a Better Workout

Tart Cherries & Pomegranates
British researchers recently found that people who drank 1

By Brierley Wright, M.S., R.D., Nutrition Editor, EatingWell Magazine

Every year I look forward to the Girl Scouts' annual cookie sale (um, who doesn't?!). This year's sale is more controversial than most, with some people banning the treats in opposition to the organization's acceptance of a transgendered member, while others are buying more boxes to show their support. I like supporting Girl Scouts and their activities, but, honestly, I think my excitement really stems from the fact that this is the only time of year I can buy these cookies.

The dietitian and nutrition editor in me kicks in about the time I sit down to fill out the order sheet: does my teeny-tiny family of two really need that many boxes of cookies? Um, no! And which cookies are the healthiest in terms of calories, fat, sugar and ingredients? (Some varieties still contain trans fats.)

Related: Healthy Homemade Cookie Recipes for 100 Calories or Less
5 Tips for Making Your Favorite Cookie Recipes

By Emily McKenna Kennedy, Recipe Developer & Tester for EatingWell Magazine

My mother makes the world's best meatloaf, but it's as high in fat and calories as it is delicious, so as much as I like it, it doesn't fit into my diet. Instead of giving it up, I've decided to tweak her recipe to fit my needs. With a few easy tricks and switches I can have my meatloaf, with less fat and calories, and eat it too.
Healthy Recipes to Try: 5 Delicious Meatloaf Recipes

1. Go Lean:
Buy meat, including beef or pork, that is 90% lean or leaner. You can cut even more saturated fat by mixing in some super-lean ground chicken or turkey.

2. Add Grains:
Replace a portion of the meat with whole grains, such as cooked quinoa, bulgur or barley, all healthy whole grains that deliver protein, fiber and bone-building manganese.
Related: 6 Slimming Carbs to Add to Your Meals

3. Work in Vegetables:
Add finely chopped cooked vegetables-I use whatever I have in the

By Hilary Meyer, Associate Food Editor, EatingWell Magazine

When it comes to cooking a "starch" for your meal, there are few sides easier to make than couscous. It's simple, versatile and incredibly fast to cook-it's ready in just 5 minutes! I made a lot of couscous when testing recipes for our story on this super-fast pantry staple in the January/February 2012 issue of EatingWell Magazine. And through all of that cooking I picked up on these 5 mistakes to avoid in the pursuit of perfect couscous.

Recipes to Try: Cauliflower & Couscous Pilaf and More Easy Couscous Recipes
7 Easy Recipes for Quick-Cooking Quinoa

Mistake 1: You don't choose whole-grain couscous.
Although couscous looks like a grain, it's actually pasta. Make sure what you're buying is whole-grain. You'll get an added boost of fiber. You may also notice Israeli couscous at the supermarket. This kind of couscous has larger granules and cooks differently than the smaller variety, and it is also not

6 Ways to Save $250 on Groceries This MonthBy Matthew Thompson, Associate Food Editor for EatingWell Magazine

A few months ago, my wife and I noticed an interesting phenomenon: Our grocery bill, which used to be so consistent, had started to slowly, steadily creep up week by week. At first we assumed that rising prices were to blame-after all, the economy is in the gutter right now-but a quick double-checking of some of our staple purchases proved this wasn't the case. No, it turned out that our grocery costs were higher simply because we had stopped focusing on our core money-saving strategies.

As any supermarket-savvy shopper will tell you, how you eat can make a huge difference in how big your bill is. Because each purchase is in itself so small-will it really add up if I choose a $5 box of cereal rather than a $4 one?-it's easy for tiny decisions to accumulate into a substantial rise in your bill. For us, that meant that what seemed like perfectly normal eating habits-a package of chicken breasts, a pizza, a few

By Brierley Wright, M.S., R.D., Nutrition Editor, EatingWell Magazine

Some people have trouble falling asleep. Others can't stay asleep. And then there are the people (um, me!) who have trouble turning life "off" and tucking into bed at a reasonable hour. (Get 3 simple tips to help you beat insomnia here.)

Whatever the reason, we're not alone-more than 50 million Americans don't get enough shut-eye. Yet the health benefits of a good night's rest are countless: sleep helps keep you happy, your brain sharp, your immune system strong, your waistline trim, your skin looking youthful-and lowers your risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.
Must-Read: 20 Tips for a Better Night's Sleep

Here's the good news: Adding certain foods to your diet may help to increase your odds of a successful slumber, as reported in EatingWell Magazine. (Though these foods won't answer e-mails, clean your house or complete whatever to-do item is keeping you up late.) Here's what you can

By Brierley Wright, M.S., R.D., Nutrition Editor, EatingWell Magazine

Which will help me slim down-6 mini meals or 3 squares? I get this question a lot, especially from people who are trying to slim down, because I'm a registered dietitian and nutrition editor of EatingWell Magazine. It's a common question, especially among dieters looking to get an extra edge on their weight loss.
Related: 10 Tricks to Make Losing Weight Easier

Many experts say it's best to eat mini meals every few hours. The idea behind it is this: eating frequently may help curb your appetite and stabilize your blood sugar-preventing the dips that leave you feeling hungry-which makes slimming down more doable.

But recent research, published in the journal Obesity, suggests that grazing on multiple mini meals won't promote weight loss any more than sticking to three squares. When overweight or obese dieters spread a very-low-calorie diet over six meals, their appetite and hunger were no different