Blog Posts by Real Simple Magazine

Whether you act like sisters or sparring partners, you can improve your connection. By Sara Reistad-Long

The Relationship: Best Friends

You have the kind of "favorite dinner date," "first on speed dial" relationship that others envy.

Why it's good: Operating on a level playing field reflects self-confidence on the part of both mother and daughter. "In terms of healthy communication, having this kind of relationship is a big positive," says Deborah Tannen, Ph.D., a professor of linguistics at Georgetown University, in Washington, D.C., and the author of You're Wearing That?: Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation ($15, amazon.com).

Why it's challenging: Sometimes a daughter needs a parent, not a partner in crime. Studies have confirmed what a lot of women know: When daughters face big life changes, such as becoming parents themselves, they rely on their moms to be experienced advisers, not buddies. This dynamic can be tough for moms, too. They can

Don't Miss:
The Ultimate Chicken Handbook
6 Ingenious Shortcut Meals
18 Convenience-Food Upgrades

Real Simple staffers tasted 91 varieties and picked these winners for their breakfast- and family-friendly flavors. By Lindsay Funston

Best Low-Fat and Low-Sugar

Galaxy Granola Raspberry
Wholesome oats, plump dried raspberries, and crispy rice make this a gateway granola for cereal lovers. And with just 1.4 grams of fat and 5 grams of sugar per serving, it's a good choice for dieters, too.

To buy: $5.50 for 12 ounces.

See More: 9 Fast, Healthy Breakfast Ideas

Best Oats and Honey

Cascadian Farm Organic
A classic flavor combo with jumbo, extra-crunchy clusters. It's sweet enough for the kids without putting them into sugar shock.

To buy: $6 for 17 ounces.

Best Fruit and Nut

Kashi Mountain Medley
Like trail mix, but with even healthier mix-ins. You'll find raisins, cranberries, almonds, and pecans here, along with a fiber-rich blend of seven whole grains.

To buy: $5 for 14 ounces.

See More:Better

Eat smartly in an airport, at a rest stop, or even from a vending machine. By Madonna Behen

Vending Machines

Best picks: A small bag of plain pretzels―not honey-mustard or any other flavor, which can add fat. "Pretzels are a satisfying, low-fat crunch without any trans fats or added sugar, and the single-serving-size bag means you get built-in portion control," says Keri Glassman, a registered dietitian in New York City and the author of The Snack Factor Diet (Crown, $13, amazon.com). A close second is a small bag of peanuts or almonds, which is packed with protein that will fill you up, says Sarah Krieger, a registered dietitian in St. Petersburg, Florida. And the petite package prevents mindless eating from a big jar, which can be a danger at home.

Another good option: Whole-wheat crackers with peanut butter. While these little sandwiches can be higher in fat or calories than a serving of pretzels, "they have good fat and a little fiber," says Krieger, which will keep

Dinner's at eight, but you just can't wait. A healthy snack will tide you over. By Maureen Callahan

Cashew-Strawberry Crunch
Think of this as a gourmet cook's PB & J. Spread 1 tablespoon of cashew butter on a slice of Ryvita Fruit Crunch. (Or substitute peanut butter and Triscuits.) Drizzle with ½ tablespoon honey and top with sliced strawberries.

Health bonus: Nut butters are full of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats.

See More: How to Keep Things in Moderation

One-Minute Antipasto Plate
Roll a thin slice of prosciutto or ham around a part-skim mozzarella string cheese. Eat with a few olives and grapes, or add roasted bell peppers (from a jar) drizzled with balsamic vinegar.

Health bonus: Contains almost a quarter of a woman's 1,000-milligram recommended daily allowance for calcium.

Pineapple and Pistachios

Combine about ¼ cup dried pineapple pieces with about 25 pistachio nuts. (For a treat, use chile-lime pistachio nuts, available at

Stay overnight in a historic European castle that has been converted into a hotel.

Ashford Castle
Once owned by the Guinness family, Ashford Castle of County Mayo, Ireland, whose oldest parts date to 1228, was home base for director John Ford while he was filming The Quiet Man; ashford.ie.

Estimated to have been built in the early Middle Ages, Castello di Ripa d'Orcia stands on a Tuscan hilltop less than 30 miles from Siena, in Italy; castelloripadorcia.com.

See More: 20 Tips from Air-Travel Insiders

Château de Salettes

The walls are ancient, but inside them, the decor is modern and minimalistic at Château de Salettes, in Cahuzac-sur-Vère, France; chateaudesalettes.com.

Inverlochy Castle

Queen Victoria was once a guest at Scotland's Inverlochy Castle (as she wrote in her diary: "I never saw a lovelier or more romantic spot"), in the foothills of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in

Real Simple asked five professionals with (unusually) stressful jobs to share their best secrets for keeping a level head.

Before a Stressful Event, Stage a Mental Dress Rehearsal
In surgery, you don't have the luxury of wondering, What if this doesn't work? It has to work. That's why, the night before a big procedure, I run through the entire thing like a movie in my head. I also visualize what I'll do in the event of major complications-which can make a huge difference. During a recent operation, my team encountered a problem when a hole opened in the vena cava, the largest vein in the body, during the removal of an attached tumor. It's a terrifying situation: The person could bleed to death in minutes. But I had considered this possibility beforehand. So when the vein ruptured, I knew exactly what to do and quickly restored control. And I'm happy to report, the patient is doing fine.



Thomas Heffernan is a cancer surgeon in Dallas

See More: How to Make Positive

At home or on the go, these products will help you get the spot out.

Bleach Pen

Problem: There's a spot on your white shirt, but you don't want to douse it with bleach and risk damaging the garment.


Solution: The new Clorox Bleach Pen lets you pinpoint stains with a fine-point applicator. (Bonus: It works on mildewed tile, too.)


To buy: $3, at supermarkets, Costco, Target, and Wal-Mart.

See More: Problem-Solving Laundry Products

Stain Eliminator

Problem: Fruitless attempts at stain removal make your garments pucker.


Solution: Tide Buzz, created by Tide and Black & Decker, is a kind of Water Pik for clothes. It's equipped with an electrically charged wand that injects the stain with cleaning fluid.


To buy: $30, amazon.com.

See More: The Best Spot Removers

Powder Bleach

Problem: You've got a striped shirt with a stain on the white part―but you can't add bleach to a washer full of multicolored clothes.


Solution: Biz