During the winter, in-season fresh fruits are limited in many parts of the country. Luckily, we can turn to dried fruit with all its nutritional goodness.

Dried fruit, 5 delicious ways »

Tools of the Trade: Use heat and ice packs to maintain temps as you travel.

A friend or family member asks you to chip in a dish for Thanksgiving dinner — now what? This can get tricky, especially if you’ve got a long car or train ride ahead of you.  Here are some things to consider before you decide what to tote along.

Thanksgiving potlucks: What to bring and how to bring it »

Dana and I recently attended the Food & Nutrition Conference and Expo in Boston, where we were introduced to many products just hitting market shelves. Here are the top 5 we recommend.

5 new products to try »

Blueberry Shrimp Salad - Photo Courtesy U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council

We’re continuing our summer berries celebration  with a salute to antioxidant-rich blueberries. Despite their small size, these nutrition powerhouses are packed with vitamins and minerals.  Serve them up in these five fun recipes, from classics to new twists.

Get all our favorite blueberry recipes »

Instead of buying overpriced flowers and gifts, whip up a tasty treat for your special someone. Serve these for dessert, give them away to friends or pack some in your little ones’ lunchboxes.

For the Kids:
• Chocolate-Covered Banana Pops
• Crispy Rice Squares
• Triple Chocolate Cookies

For the Kids at Heart:
• Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
• Chocolate-Hazelnut Smooches
• Cherry Almond Chocolate Clusters

More Valentine’s Day Ideas:
• Aphrodisiacs: 5 Foods for Romance
• A Lighter Valentine’s Day Menu
• Fall in Love With Chocolate

Lose weight by eating cookies? Really? Well, that’s what this diet claims. These days, there are a variety of “cookie diets,” but we focused on the original version created by Dr. Siegal 35 years ago.

Read more »

Throwing a party can be overwhelming, especially when planning the menu. You may be convinced the ultimate spread includes a fatty cheese ball, sugary cookies and loads of alcohol, but healthy and tasty fare is possible. Here are top tips for planning and a bunch of recipes for your shindig.

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No cookie tray would be complete without an oatmeal option. These crunchy cookies combine vitamin E-rich nuts and high-fiber oatmeal with a touch of ginger — all for only 70 calories and 4.5 grams of fat (2 grams of saturated fat). We like the Food Network Kitchens’ presentation idea; just wrap them in some festive ribbon and you’ve got a take-home treat for party guests.

(P.S.: Don’t forget to give friends with allergies a heads up on the pecans.)

Get the recipe »

When everyone thinks holiday cookies, they automatically assume Christmas, but Hanukkah can have its own special sweets, too. This year, I’m hosting friends and family for three evenings of candle lighting and desserts. Our spread will include these Star of David-shaped sugar cookies, which my family and I pep up with festive blue sprinkles; you can create any holiday theme by using your favorite cookie cutters and icing colors. These are chewy, not crunchy — perfect for the younger kids in the family.

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Peanut butter and chocolate — the perfect flavor combination. These biscotti are bit more time- and energy-intensive to make than a basic cookie, but at a five-dozen yield, they are certainly worth the effort. Package them up into decorative tins to give away as gifts or set them out on a platter at a party. Each piece is 105 calories and just under 6 grams of fat, so going back for seconds won’t blow your dessert calorie budget.

Get the recipe »