Author: Lily

Mental health is a term most people recognize. Mental wellness, however, often causes confusion. Many people use these words interchangeably, but they do not mean the same thing. Understanding the difference helps people take better care of their minds—not just when something feels wrong, but every day. Mental wellness is not about avoiding mental illness. It is about building balance, resilience, and emotional strength. This article explains what mental wellness is, how it differs from mental health, and why both matter for a full and healthy life. What Is Mental Health? Mental health refers to a person’s emotional, psychological, and…

The Super Bowl is a day for football … and for food. What’s a football party without sliders, wings, and dips? Cooking party food, especially for a large crowd, can seem daunting, but we are here to make it a little bit easier. Check out these 23 lazy recipes perfect for your watch party. All these recipes use a handful of ingredients, make use of a slow cooker, or are ready to eat in about 30 minutes. Pretzel Bratwurst Bites Allrecipes Magazine “Put bratwurst slices in the middle of pretzel bites to create a new and delicious snack made easy…

Indulge in the delightful experience of Vegan Thai Lettuce Cups, often referred to as Vegan Thai Lettuce Wraps, which are sure to become your new favorite appetizer. Filled with vibrant, fresh ingredients and bursting with authentic Thai flavors, this vegetarian recipe is an irresistible treat that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more! VEGETARIAN THAI LETTUCE WRAPS RECIPE This recipe checks off so many items on my foodie list! This recipe is quick and uses minimal ingredients. These lettuce cups are gluten-free and vegan. This recipe tastes SOOOOO good, you won’t have leftovers. That about sums it…

If you’ve been doing keto for a while and noticed changes in digestion (like bloating, constipation, or just feeling “off”) you’re probably not imagining things.  Gut health is one of the most misunderstood parts of the keto lifestyle, and it’s also one of the most important. But don’t worry, it’s absolutely possible to maintain good gut health while following a keto lifestyle.  In fact, when done thoughtfully, a keto diet can support a healthy gut microbiome. You just need to know what to focus on. In this guide, we’ll explore: what’s really happening in your gut on keto,  which foods…

With cranberry beans and sweet corn, this collard greens recipe is a hearty vegan Turkish soup everyone will love. Photo Credits: Ali Redmond Why Turkish Soup Is My Favorite Way to Eat Leafy Greens It turns hearty greens into comfort food: Slow-simmered collards become tender and savory. It’s a complete, nourishing meal: Beans, corn, and olive oil make this soup filling enough for lunch or dinner. It tastes even better the next day: The flavors settle and deepen, making leftovers something to look forward to. I love the hearty collard green soup, which in Turkey we call Karalahana Çorbası. It…

Get my secrets for making the BEST, creamiest strawberry chia pudding EVER! Layers of creamy chia pudding with strawberries and sweet strawberry compote are a super delicious breakfast or snack. (Gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free) You can really make this super creamy, refreshing, and easy chia pudding any fruit or combination of fruits you like. It comes together really quickly, and I’ll share my secrets for making the creamiest chia pudding: Hydrate the chia seeds in warm water. You can hydrate them directly in the creamy mixture and leave it overnight, but I prefer to hydrate them in water first. That way,…

Valentine’s Day is a day where many of us take the opportunity to tell our loved ones how much we appreciate them. Whether that’s a significant other, the ladies in your Galentine’s group, or your kids, these chocolate covered raspberry bites are a great way to do that.  They’re a healthy treat that are delicious anytime of the year! Chocolate Covered Raspberries Get an Upgrade Chocolate covered fruit is a favorite in our house. I’ll make this dark chocolate fondue on certain occasions to dip fruit and homemade marshmallows in. While chocolate covered fruit can be a healthy treat, it…

Zaftig Brewing is often the top of the rotation for us when it comes to local breweries. It’s close to home, yes, but I enjoy their roster of beers that ranges from IPAs to strong ales to some killer barrel-aged stouts. Add in some fun events, live music, and a regular lineup of food trucks, and you’re set! At the end of January, Zaftig kicked off an all-new food truck residency featuring one of its regular visitors, Comida El Catrin. Comida El Catrin feature a creative mix of traditional Mexican street tacos and modern versions, plus burritos, chips, guacamole, queso,…

Sauerkraut is the traditional fermented cabbage from Central and Eastern Europe, though its origins are said to be from China. Raw sauerkraut is how you used to get your “fresh” vegetables in the winter and in the springtime when there was nothing in your garden.  It turns out that sauerkraut can be kept for a long time and offers significant gut health benefits. While it’s kind of out of vogue (it’s been out of vogue for quite some time now), it’s making a comeback as a functional food with great benefits for gut health. In this article, I’m going to…

With winter weather in full swing, we’re turning to our tried-and-true comfort meals to add a little warmth to the cold January evenings. Our favorite familiar dishes often come in the form of casseroles, the same casseroles our moms and grandmas made, and their moms and grandmas before them—the vintage recipes that just taste like home. But on busy nights, we want to spend as little time as possible preparing dinner. That’s where these 12 slow cooker recipes come in. Each recipe is a reformulation of our favorite vintage casseroles, developed to have that comforting, delicious, and nostalgic taste with…