spoonfuls of spices
Health, Nutrition, Recipes

6 Food Swaps Any Home Chef Can Master

Modifying meals to meet multiple dietary needs in one household can feel like a perpetual struggle. Even for those living solo, having to come up with substitutions for familiar recipes to better suit current nutritional goals may take more time than can be spared on a daily basis. The five swaps below are simple to execute; plus, they’ll help you…

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a kitchen waiting to be decorated
Lifestyle, Wellness

How to Elevate At-Home Dining

Eating out frequently is often not an option when working on achieving health goals—and sticking to a budget. But it’s equally common to start to crave the ambiance of a café or restaurant, since dining at home day after day can become a solitary repetition that makes mealtimes far less enjoyable. If you’re bored by the idea of consuming yet…

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onions and potato on table
Lifestyle, Nutrition, Time Management

Healthy Home Cook Hacks

The March/April 2022 issue of TOPS News, “Plant-based Power: One-Pot Recipes” includes four vegan recipes I created. These dishes are a few of my ‘go-to’ entrees when I want a warm homecooked lunch but don’t necessarily want to be stuck in the kitchen for over an hour making one. Occasionally, the most effective way to reinforce positive eating habits is…

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puppy cuddling with toys
Lifestyle, Stress, Wellness

Nourish Yourself … Without Taking a Bite

Nourishment is natural. But it also comes in myriad forms. Too often, food is the ‘default’ reward we crave — or a quick source of comfort on a stressful day. Choices that, left unchecked, can trigger unhealthy behaviors and negative feelings if we over-indulge. The next time you’re craving a little TLC, try one of these nourishing activities instead of…

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two pieces of healthy sweet potato toast
Lifestyle, Motivation, Recipes, Wellness

Tips to Stay on Track (Now That 2022 Is No Longer the ‘New Year’)

Sticking to wellness goals often goes quite well for the first few weeks of a new year. But it’s also equally common to start feeling less motivated as February gets underway. Take this proactive approach for staying on track over the weeks ahead: Remember that food affects mood. So avoid the trap of emotional eating as a short-term distraction from…

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Rachel Werner
Featured, News, Wellness

Nice to Meet You!

Greetings! As the new Nutrition and Fitness Editor for TOPS, I’m really looking forward to sharing wellbeing tips and new recipes I hope you all will enjoy. I’ll 100% admit to being a foodie on — and off — the clock. I’ve been writing restaurant reviews and profiling food-based businesses for almost nine years. In addition, I still regularly create…

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