Stop, look and listen your way into stress-free entertaining

Don't look now, but your family is descending upon your house for a visit. Have no fear. Entertaining at home can be as easy as pie if you remember what your mother taught you when crossing the street: Stop. Look. And listen. The same lesson applies to entertaining.

Simple steps to help your heart stay healthy

Americans know what they need to do to keep their hearts healthy. But is their heart really in the effort? A new survey seems to indicate many of us aren't as diligent about making heart healthy choices as we know we should be.

Simply sensational homemade soups

No matter what the season, people frequently turn to a comforting bowl of soup for lunch or dinner. What surprises many is how easy it can be to make sensational homemade soups. Whether serving soup as part of an entertaining menu or an easy weeknight meal, making soup from scratch does not have to require hours in the kitchen.

Food safety: Protect your family's health this year

Every January people make New Year's resolutions that focus on exercise, diet or other ways to stay healthy. But the best resolution to keep the entire family healthy is food safety in the kitchen.

Tips to reduce the sodium in your diet without losing the taste

Heart failure, high blood pressure and many other common health conditions all have one thing in common - reducing the amount of sodium in your diet. But the problem is that salt is everywhere in foods, even if you personally don't add it to anything served. There are ways to reduce this ingredient so you can follow your doctor's orders.

Be party smart - simple rules to avoid calories

With the abundance of parties this time of year - from the holidays to Mardi Gras - it can be easy to over-indulge and see the result in your waistline. Even so, it's possible to enjoy party favorites with the right approach.

Blueberries add flavorful flair to salads

A colorful side salad can round out a meal. A bountiful salad can be the meal! Any time of year, salads are a great way to get your fruits and vegetables and, with a little creativity, you can make great-tasting salads your family will enjoy every day.

Easy meals for under $10 get you back into fall routines

With the departure of summer barbecues and the approach of the busy holiday season, more than one family will rethink that familiar question ... "What's for dinner?"

All about broth

Cooler weather and warm coats - it's the season when heartier, warmth-building fare arrives on American dinner tables. And heartier fare cries out for the rich flavorful versatility of broth!

Spruce up your winter entertaining

This winter isn't turning out the way Stephanie Andrews initially planned. The tight economy is forcing her to cancel her vacation to a sunny destination. But rather than get the winter blahs, she's going all out sprucing up her home to entertain family and friends, ultimately creating memories that she believes will end up being far more meaningful.

Rediscovering the joys of shared meals

Having a family meal isn't easily accomplished these days. Busy schedules, long work hours and even technology make it feel easier to simply grab a meal and go, rather than take the time to sit everyone down together around the table. But American families really do miss coming together around the table. Americans who eat with others more frequently are more satisfied with every aspect of their own lives, including their relationships, their physical and mental health and their level of achievement in life.

The lean protein that can help you fulfill forgotten resolutions to eat better

The new year is well under way - do you remember your resolution to live a balanced lifestyle in 2010? Are you making progress toward that goal? Or has the resolution drifted away as the calendar pages turned? It's not too late to get a fresh start at keeping that promise to yourself.

Eat healthy - even while on the go

Busy schedules and holiday activities can keep you on the run, making it hard to eat healthy at this time of year. There are times when you miss a meal and over-indulge at a later hour, but with a little snack preparation, you can stay on schedule and on track with healthful eating habits.

You say you want a resolution . . . here's one for healthier food habits

All the gravy has been ladled. The cookies have crumbled. The red and green candies are on the clearance rack. That can only mean one thing: people all over the country are resolving to eat better, if not less often. The start of the New Year - and with it, a new decade - means that consumers are focusing on their resolutions to live a healthier lifestyle for themselves, their loved ones, and, for that matter, the planet.