Blog Posts by The Editors of EatingWell Magazine

By Gretel H. Schueller, Contributing Writer for EatingWell

There's nothing worse than meeting someone and realizing that your breath smells like your tuna lunch, stale coffee or worse. What you eat and poor oral hygiene are the two main causes of halitosis, or bad breath.

When you think about it, the mouth is a dirty worksite: more than 600 kinds of bacteria live in the average mouth. Many produce smelly gases as they digest the tiny food particles lodged between your teeth and on your tongue. Some of the most offensive gases produced by mouth bacteria are sulfur compounds, which are formed during the breakdown of proteins. Garlic and onion also contain many sulfur compounds. A proper oral-hygiene routine, which includes brushing, flossing, rinsing, tongue cleansing and regular visits to the dentist, is an important first step.

But even with good dental hygiene your breath can still stink. About $1 billion a year is spent on breath-freshening products like gum and mints.

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

Some of the things you do--or don't do--every day might be sabotaging your efforts to be healthier. As you read the list of daily habits, don't be too hard on yourself and expect that you'll change all of these at once. The key to success is to slowly integrate change into your life. And if you fall off the wagon occasionally, don't fret--it's more important that you get back on.

Unhealthy habit #1: Not drinking enough water.
Water accounts for 60 percent of our body so it's not too surprising that drinking water benefits your total body health. Staying hydrated helps to keep your memory sharp, your mood stable and your motivation intact. Keeping up with your fluids helps your skin stay supple, your body cool down when it's hot, allows your muscles and joints to work better and helps clean toxins from your body via your kidneys. So, how much water should you be drinking? The Institute of Medicine says

By Hilary Meyer, Associate Food Editor, EatingWell Magazine

French fries are a near perfect food. It's hard to improve upon perfect, but when we're talking sweet potato fries, the old classic may have found its rival. They're a little sweet plus they offer plenty of vitamin A and beta carotene- something a French fry doesn't. But none of that matters if they're swimming in fat and calories--which is an unfortunate reality for most things fried. At a restaurant, a small order of deep-fried sweet potato fries can set you back 260 calories and 13 grams of fat.

Luckily, making your own crispy sweet potato fries is easy to do in your oven, so you don't need a deep fryer. You'll save 122 calories and 11 grams of fat per serving when you "fry" them in your oven instead. Here are a few tips for making perfect crispy (!) sweet potato fries without burning:

1. Cut All Fries the Same Size
Whether you cut your fries into sticks or wedges, the pieces need to be the same size.

By Stacy Fraser, Test Kitchen manager at EatingWell

To me, cookies aren't just for special occasions; I can find a reason for a cookie (or two) anytime. Before I had children, my cookie jar was always stocked with a fresh, homemade batch. Fast-forward 10 years: my time is limited and my cookie jar often bare. Some might resort to packaged cookies or store-bought dough, but being a baker and health-conscious mom, I try to steer clear of processed treats in favor of homemade.

That's why I love this speedy, vanilla-infused cookie dough that can be rolled into a log, stashed in the freezer and pulled out whenever I want to bake cookies (see recipe below). With a roll of this cookie dough in the freezer, I'm just 10 minutes away from a low-calorie, natural homemade treat. Plus, with this master recipe, you're not limited to just sugar cookies: you can transform the dough into four additional flavors (see related links for variations below the recipe). Stir in chocolate and mini

By Stacy Fraser, Test Kitchen manager at EatingWell

There's a new way to make a great meatloaf. Purists focus on the meat, de-emphasizing the importance of the other fillers like breadcrumbs, vegetables and seasonings, but we look at meatloaf as an opportunity to sneak in some extra ­vegetables and whole grains and play with different flavors to give this classic a regular place on a healthy dinner table. In just 30 minutes you can throw together a killer meatloaf that has a fraction of the calories and saturated fat of a traditional recipe. (Our Basic Meatloaf, for example, saves you 170 calories and 6 grams saturated fat per serving.) To get started, pick a flavor combo that you want to try and follow our how-to instructions (see recipe ideas below the how-to tips).

Step 1. Add Vegetables
Add vegetables to meatloaf to improve the texture, boost nutrients and keep portions reasonable without many extra calories. Cook the vegetables first to reduce the liquid in the

By Matthew Thompson for EatingWell Magazine

As a native of New England, I had never heard of Frito Pie until a Texas-born co-worker offered me some. And then…wow! As a fan of both salty, crunchy Fritos and spicy chili (my parents are from LA, so I'm not a total Yankee!), I couldn't get over this delicious dish.

For those not in the know, Frito Pie is essentially super chili. Traditionally, it's made by pouring a delicious, spicy chili over a bed of Fritos and then topping with a slathering of cheese (or Cheese Whiz). Yum!

But, as you might imagine, Frito Pie isn't exactly the world's healthiest meal. Fritos, while delicious, are packed with sodium (510 mg in a 3-ounce serving!) and saturated fat (4.5 g in a 3-ounce bag). Add to that the salt and fat in a serving of beef chili and globs of cheese on top and you've got a recipe for heart disease.

Don't Miss: 8 Tricks for the Best Healthy Chili
Hearty, Healthy Chili Recipes

That's why I was so excited when the

By Kerri-Ann Jennings, M.S., R.D., EatingWell Magazine

Every few months, it seems, there's hype about the latest, hottest superfood--chia seeds and acai berries spring to mind. But LOTS of foods, many of which are stocked in nearly every grocery store in America, are "superfoods"-foods brimming with various disease-fighting nutrients, usually without providing too many calories.

Don't Miss: 7 of the Healthiest Foods You Should Be Eating (But Probably Aren't)

The added bonus to eating more of these easy-to-find super-healthy foods? They won't break the bank. These 12 healthy foods clock in at under a dollar per serving and deliver a lot more nutritional bang for your buck than the offerings you'd find on fast-food dollar menus.

1. Lentils
Cost Per Serving (1 cup): 15¢
Why lentils are so good for you: Like beans, lentils are high in fiber and protein (8 grams and 9 grams per half cup, respectively), which makes them great for your heart. They have the edge over

By Michelle Edelbaum, EatingWell Digital Editor

If you want to melt hearts this Valentine's Day, dark chocolate-dipped strawberries are one of the most romantic foods to serve. They seem fancy and decadent, but they couldn't be easier to make. Just use your microwave to melt chocolate (no double boiler on the stovetop required!). Whip up a batch before dinner and they'll be ready by the time you hit dessert. (For a gift, let the treats cool, wrap in wax paper and place them in a pretty box.)

Don't Miss: Recipes to Make Your Own Box of Chocolates

You can go beyond strawberries, too, of course, and use anything from fresh or dried fruits to nuts or pretzels. More good news: dark chocolate is full of flavanols, which promote heart health and may also help reduce inflammation. (Related: 4 Health Benefits of Chocolate (and Cons to Consider)

Here's an easy 3-step method to make your own fancy dark chocolate-dipped strawberries or other chocolate-dipped treats this