Author: Lily

For many years now I’ve preached about the benefits of safe sun exposure. The keyword here is safe! And while it has a lot of benefits, sometimes on occasion, I’ll pull out the homemade sunscreen. Many of you have asked for a lip sunscreen with SPF, so I finally got to work in the kitchen and came up with one.  Why You Should Not (and Should) Use Lip Sunscreen I’m not usually a fan of sunscreen for several reasons. We need the sun to make the hormone vitamin D, have a strong immune system, regulate hormones, and so much more.…

Happy Friday! Here’s the latest Columbus restaurant news: Chef Josh Dalton and his team open their newest restaurant, Amara, on Friday, July 10 in the former Milestone 229 space along the Scioto Mile. The restaurant draws on a variety of Mediterranean inspirations for the food and drink. Dalton also owns Speck Italian Eatery, Veritas, and Rosebud’s, and he’s working on Rosalita’s in downtown Columbus. Louisville-based Jeff’s Donuts opened their first central Ohio location at 5717 N. Hamilton Rd. yesterday. Jeff’s has a half dozen locations around Louisville, plus one in Lexington. They’re open 24/7 with a full assortment of yeast-raised…

This veggie wrap with hummus is fresh, creamy, crunchy, and loaded with colorful veggies. Made with simple ingredients in just 10 minutes, it’s perfect for quick lunches, meal prep, or an easy no-cook dinner. This veggie wrap with hummus is one of those meals I make when I want something fresh, satisfying, and quick and easy. It’s perfect for a no-cook meal or an easy lunch. And the secret? Hummus. Lots of hummus. My husband Adam (known as the “Sandwich King” to my Instagram followers 😆) always says a sandwich sauce is key, and there is no easier sandwich sauce…

Everybody wants to have to body of an athlete. Well, why not? They are fit and attractive. They achieve their great body because they are exercising to meet the demands of the sport they engage in. The various sports that they engage in are the fundamental factor in determining their fitness and body. You can’t expect a female swimmer to have the same body as a female weightlifter. While it is not entirely possible to have an athlete’s body, you can use the exercises they engage in to achieve weight loss. The best sports for weight loss are those that burn more calories…

This crispy curry tofu sandwich has amazing, sweet-and-savory garam masala caramelized onions, curry leaf chilli oil glaze and a creamy yogurt sauce with swirls of chili oil. It’s sort of an Indian-inspired hot honey situation, and it’s so delicious! This summer I am bringing you sandwiches inspired by popular Indian sandwiches. This one is a crispy spicy Chikin sandwich made vegan with crispy tofu that is coated in a curry leaf chili oil glaze, topped with garam masala caramelized onions (these are soooooo good) and paired with a herby cooling yogurt sauce. This sandwich packs so much flavor and texture.…

I love having simple breakfast recipes I can make ahead for busy mornings. While smoothies and overnight oats have their place, I also try to prioritize protein in the mornings. This broccoli  cheddar egg bake is a great way to do that. It’s one of those recipes that’s almost effortless to throw together but everyone in my family is a fan.  The best part is that it only takes a few minutes to mix everything together before the oven does the rest of the work. I can prep it while I’m making coffee, then let it bake while I dive…

The Gay Street district in downtown Columbus has long been a focal point of the city core’s resurgence. While there’s always growth and change, comings and goings, the areas around Gay and High have seen new builds, renovated buildings, the addition of public art, and more. Right now the district is being affected by the first phase of construction of The Capital Line, a two-mile bike and pedestrian trail that will connect downtown. It will be great when it’s finished, but for now all the work has put a squeeze on nearby businesses. So to help you navigate it, I…

Key Takeaways: If there are such things as fads in nutrition science (and I assure you there are), then vitamin C is out of vogue, like 50 years out of step. The vitamin C craze was in the ’70s, and now? Now the doctor says, “Don’t bother. But if you want, go ahead and take 500 milligrams, but don’t expect much. It doesn’t even cure the common cold. Cancer? Sepsis? Serious diseases? Forget about it!” the doctor scoffs. But you’ve heard about people using vitamin C for cancer therapy, and you’re curious. Could it help you with your own health…

If you’ve got a child starting school for the first time, you’ve probably heard the terms Crunch & Sip, Brain Break, Fruit Break or Fresh Food Break. While every school calls it something slightly different, the idea is the same. Children have a short break early in the morning (usually around 9:00–9:30am) to enjoy a small, healthy snack and a drink of water. It’s designed to fuel their brains for learning while encouraging children to eat more fruit and vegetables throughout the day. The tricky part? It usually needs to be packed separately from their lunch. The good news is that…

This Strawberry Banana Smoothie skips the ice entirely, no diluted flavor here. Instead, Greek yogurt and a touch of vanilla do all the work, giving it that creamy, melted ice cream taste without the guilt. Jump to: Simple Strawberry Banana Smoothie This is how my mom used to make us a strawberry banana drink. No protein powder, no complicated ingredients, just basic 4 ingredients plus two optional for flavor and sweetness. My mom, though, did not add yogurt. Adding a dollop of Greek yogurt makes the smoothie incredibly creamy with a rich, luxurious texture. Pro Tip For the thickest, most…