Blog Posts by The Editors of EatingWell Magazine

I don't always pour myself a glass of wine with dinner. Frankly, there are days when I'd rather "spend" those extra calories on a larger dinner portion or dessert. After all, a 5-ounce glass of wine has about 120 calories, a 12-ounce beer has 150 and mixed drinks like pina coladas or margaritas can boast 300+ calories. (Check out these 3 cocktails: they won't bust your diet!)

But what I often forget is that when it comes to drinks, it's not just about the calories. There are health reasons to drink-or not-too. You've probably already heard the good news (alcohol might boost your good "HDL" cholesterol)-as well as the bad (alcohol could also elevate your blood pressure). And now, two new studies give more health reasons to sip-or skip-that glass of wine, or any alcoholic beverage for that matter.

Glass Half Empty
Women who drink even one alcoholic beverage a day have an increased risk of some cancers (especially breast cancer), according to new research done at Oxford on

I often drive to visit my family on long holiday weekends. I used to not enjoy the trips because when I got hungry I would have to pull over at a rest stop and buy fried food that I would spend the latter half of my drive regretting. So now I pack a cooler with healthy lunches that keep me satisfied for the entire trip. When I stop, I find a picnic bench and enjoy a sandwich or salad that I packed and I don't have to deal with swarms of people, greasy food or regrets.

BBQ Chicken Sandwich (recipe below) - Toss leftover cooked chicken with barbecue sauce and crunchy carrots for a quick and healthy lunch.

Greek Tofu Salad - This quick tofu salad is flavored with feta, onion, olives and lemon. Make it a meal: Spoon the salad into toasted whole-wheat pitas and add lettuce leaves.

Londoner's Egg Sandwich - A simple egg sandwich gets added zing from whole-grain mustard and fresh dill.

Crab Salad-Stuffed Pitas - This bright and easy breakfast packs two servings of fruit

What happened to my summer?? It was seriously cold and rainy (six states had their coldest July on record) and now Labor Day is just around the corner!!

Since the weather is finally warm and sunny, I want to savor every last minute of the season. My mantra for the upcoming holiday weekend is to have as much fun as possible! Here are my top picks for Labor Day recipes-I chose four foods that keep time in the kitchen to a minimum so I have more time for fun:

Wraps - Wraps are super-easy, no-cook main courses that are portable. I like to take them out on my boat for dinner while watching the sunset. My two favorites that we've done recently in the EatingWell Test Kitchen are the Dolmas Wrap and the Creamy Avocado & White Bean Wrap, which has chopped chipotle chiles in it to give it a little heat and smokiness.

Sandwiches - Another easy solution for the end of summer is to have sandwiches for dinner. I pack plenty of fresh summer veggies in my sandwiches. A Grilled Eggplant

I'm always trying to cut back on my added-sugar intake. And apparently I'm not alone: according to a recent survey I read, seven out of 10 adults say they want to reduce or avoid added sugars. And to do so, they're turning to sweeteners that deliver zero (or minimal) calories. But not me; I've never developed a taste for sugar substitutes. Too bad, because on the few occasions that I do indulge in soda it'd be nice to save the 200 or so calories and order diet.

As a dietitian, however, I'm often asked about sugar substitutes. (Check out our Buyer's Guide to Sugar Substitutes here.) These days people are asking about the new noncaloric sweeteners made from a purified extract of the stevia plant-known as Rebaudioside A, and also called Rebiana or Reb A. Sold under brand names like Truvia and PureVia, it's 200 times sweeter than sugar and does not raise blood sugar.

Here's the scoop: Until December 2008, stevia and its derivatives could be sold in the U.S. only as dietary

When I was a kid, my mom would always have a snack waiting for me when I got home from school. Cheese, whole-grain crackers and fruit were a staple, but sometimes she'd be inspired and serve my sister and me something fun, like Chocolate Crunch (recipe below), a chocolate-covered version of her homemade cereal mix. As vividly as I remember the food, I also remember talking to her about my day. Seems like such a simple pleasure, but it meant so much. Here's a week's worth of healthy after-school snack ideas to nibble and chat with your kids over.

1. Chocolate Crunch (recipe below): Crunchy wheat cereal, pretzels and almonds coated in bittersweet chocolate makes an addictive sweet-salty snack.

2. Cheesy Popcorn: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper dress up air-popped popcorn.

3. Cocoa-Nut Bananas: One of EatingWell's most popular recipes, cocoa- and coconut-crusted bananas are a treat for moms and kids.

4. Cottage Cheese Veggie Dip: Veggies

My husband and I love to spend our evenings making dinner and talking while we cook. But these days we want to hang out with our 6 month old son too, and cooking just isn't as much of a priority. So we've been making a lot of delicious 20-minute dinner recipes that give us a chance to spend a few minutes over a great meal together, but get us out of the kitchen fast and back to our boy.

Since we're now paying for daycare and diapers, we're starting to watch our budget too. We've been able to keep our food costs down and still enjoy lots of delicious, healthy meals with these 30-minute dinners for $3 or less.

Here are three of our favorite easy, cheap chicken recipes:

Sauteed Chicken Breasts with Creamy Chive Sauce: This sauce, served over pan-seared chicken breasts, is so delicious. Just make sure to serve a little crusty bread to dip in it. Make it a meal: Serve with steamed asparagus or cauliflower, mashed potatoes or orzo pasta, and a glass of Vinho Verde.

Grilled

I just read a seriously startling study that's going to change the way I eat. I read in the British Medical Journal that researchers found that reducing sodium intake slashed cardiovascular-disease risk by 25 to 30 percent. That's a big deal! Most Americans consume more than twice the recommended daily sodium limit of 2,300 milligrams-the amount in just 1 teaspoon of table salt.

The New York City Health Department launched a program to encourage manufacturers to cut sodium in packaged foods in half-a plan that could save 150,000 lives nationwide, every year. You can launch your own campaign to cut back on sodium and do your heart good. Here are 5 easy ways to cut sodium from your diet: Find 3 more easy ways to cut back on sodium here.

1. Don't add it if you can't taste it. As a rule, I don't add salt to boiling water for pasta or potatoes. I prefer to add salt to a dish when its impact will be strongest-usually at the end of cooking. A little salt goes a longer way if it's

My husband, Dan, and I had a crazy-busy summer. We went on several really fun road trips and we ate a lot of unhealthy food that added a few extra pounds. So to get back on track and recharge our lives with healthy eating, we're planning low-calorie dinners in advance and loading our weekly menu with 20-minute dinner recipes. Here are 4 meals on our menu this week:

1. Chili-Rubbed Steaks & Pan Salsa (recipe below) - Any cut of steak will work for this recipe, but we especially like the flavor and texture of rib-eye with these seasonings; look for steak that has been thinly cut. A cold ale, sweet potato fries and vinegary coleslaw can round out the meal.

2. Turkey & Fontina Melts - An elegant presentation of turkey layered with spinach and cheese, yet surprisingly quick to make. Round out the meal with a side of whole-wheat pasta, a salad and a glass of Pinot Noir.

3. Black Bean-Garlic Catfish - This dish is great for folks who are on the fence about catfish because the