Clean Plates

When you’re trying to eat healthier but don’t have time to make lunch, Sweetgreen probably feels like a pretty safe bet. The menu is full of vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and colorful bowls that look a lot more nutritious than your average takeout order. But just because something comes in a salad bowl doesn’t automatically make it healthy. Some Sweetgreen meals are surprisingly substantial, with more calories, fat, and sodium than you might expect. So how healthy is Sweetgreen, really?

Protein powder can make it easier to get enough protein, especially if you’re trying to build muscle, stay strong as you age, or simply make your breakfast more filling. But there’s something you might not think about when choosing one: the sweeteners. Take Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey, one of the most recognizable protein powders on the market. Its Extreme Milk Chocolate flavor contains two artificial sweeteners, sucralose and acesulfame potassium.

Larabars have built a reputation around simple ingredients. Some flavors contain just two or three, mostly nuts and dried fruit. So it can be a little surprising to flip one over and see 17 grams of sugar on the nutrition label. That’s a considerable amount for a snack bar, especially one made with ingredients we generally associate with healthy eating. But there’s an important difference between the sugar in a Larabar and the sugar added to many conventional snack bars.

Finding a convenient keto-friendly snack isn’t always easy, especially when you’re away from home. Plenty of packaged snacks marketed as high-protein or healthy still contain added sugars or more carbohydrates than you’d expect. That’s one reason Chomps meat sticks are a convenient grab-and-go option. They’re portable, don’t require refrigeration before opening, and contain zero grams of carbohydrates per serving. But are they actually a good choice for keto?

Busy nights always make me realize which parts of cooking I have patience for and which ones I absolutely do not. I still want dinner to be healthy, homemade, and something everyone will eat, but sometimes I need fewer moving parts. Here are the three things that help me keep nutritious meals happening during back-to-school season and still stay sane. 1.

Sweet potatoes are one of fall’s most versatile ingredients, but there’s a good chance you’ve never thought to use one in place of toast. The idea is simple: slice a sweet potato lengthwise into thick, bread-shaped pieces, cook until tender, and pile on your favorite toppings. You get something that’s part toast, part roasted sweet potato, and surprisingly easy to turn into breakfast, lunch, or a snack. It’s also a fun way to work more vegetables into your day.

Packing school lunches is one thing. Finding snacks your kids will actually eat, that won’t get squished in their backpacks or require a lot of prep, is another. Aldi has some surprisingly good options, including crunchy snacks made with just a few ingredients, convenient sources of protein, and fruit that doesn’t need refrigeration. And while not every snack needs to be a nutritional powerhouse, choosing options with protein, fiber, or healthy fats can help make lunchboxes more satisfying.

Chipotle can be one of the easier places to grab a balanced meal when you’re short on time. With options like grilled chicken, beans, brown rice, and fajita veggies, you can build a lunch or dinner with plenty of protein, fiber, and vegetables. Of course, not every combination is created equal. Depending on your toppings, calories, saturated fat, and sodium can add up quickly.

Not all body fat behaves the same way. Visceral fat sits deeper in the abdomen, surrounding organs such as the liver and intestines. Unlike the subcutaneous fat just beneath your skin, higher amounts of visceral fat are associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other metabolic problems. You also can’t choose where your body loses fat. No food melts belly fat specifically, despite what plenty of headlines would have you believe.

Fall gets plenty of attention for pumpkin spice, but some of the season’s best foods have something much more useful in common: fiber. Most adults aren’t getting enough of it. Women generally need about 25 grams per day and men about 38 grams, though individual needs vary. Fiber helps support digestion, feeds beneficial gut bacteria, contributes to healthy cholesterol levels, and can make meals more satisfying. And you don’t necessarily need a fiber-fortified cereal or supplement to get more.