Well + Good

pulse check

What's for Lunch?

While I write about health for a living, I also grew up in the diet culture of the ’90s. (Who needs Proust’s madeleine when we had the SnackWell Cookie?) The messaging may be less weight-loss focused now, but there’s still a lot of it. Do I really need to max my protein, fiber, and apparently carrots? If you’re a little confused about what, exactly, you’re supposed to eat… same.

So rather than chase the next food rule, I’ve homed in on the advice that actually makes it easier for me to fuel in ways that feel good:

Rethink the snack. This tip is aimed at families with kids, but it works just as well for anyone staring down a 3 pm hanger attack.
You can still enjoy salad. Cyclospora outbreaks may have you side-eyeing the produce aisle, but vegetables aren’t canceled. Here’s what’s actually been recalled.
Let cookbooks do some of the work. When everyone has an opinion about what to eat, I turn to people who get it. Two favorites: Caroline Chambers — you better believe I screengrabbed this meal plan — and Julia Turshen, whose What Goes With What turns random fridge stuff into an actual meal.
Ask an expert. Many insurance plans cover nutrition counseling, and virtual dietitians make it easy. A few sessions this summer gave me new recipes and strengthened my trust in my food choices.

— Anna “PB&J Is Always OK” Davies, Writer

Well, well, well

What's Making the Rounds

On your next visit to your parents, look out for these behaviors — they could signal that it’s time for more support or a check-in with their doctor.

Can’t put your finger on how you feel? “Emotional granularity” may help. Turns out, “stressed” might not be specific enough.

Here are five things some of the world’s healthiest people have in common. Spoiler: A $12 green juice habit isn’t one of them.

With cyclosporasis cases on the rise, here’s your reminder that the BRAT diet is outdated.

How often should you actually exfoliate? Derms have a rubric.

This breakfast is a favorite of endocrinologists to get through a stressful day — and the ingredients are probably in your fridge.

in our rotation

These stretchy, form-flattering pants — complete with a barely-there flare — can take you straight from working from home to working out, and everywhere in between.*

Prenatals that come in easy-to-take single packets.

Keep scrolling...more recs below

well aware

Is Your Tap Water Safe?

Just when we thought microplastics were the biggest threat to our drinking water, we learned last week that hackers had targeted treatment systems in at least 12 states. The breaches exposed a long-standing vulnerability: Many smaller utilities rely on aging infrastructure, limited security resources, and outdated equipment that’s easier to exploit.

So far, officials say there’s no evidence the attacks contaminated drinking water. Out of an abundance of caution, some affected utilities switched to manual operations, and a few communities issued precautionary boil-water notices after pressure drops. Meanwhile, federal investigators are still looking into possible links to Iran.

For now, you don’t need to change your tap habits — but it’s still worth knowing what to do if an alert ever hits your phone.

For Your Sanity:

Skip the stockpile. It’s a good idea to keep some emergency water on hand, but no need for a bottled-water bunker. The CDC recommends at least one gallon per person, per day, for three days. (Here’s how to store it.)

Follow the exact directions. “Boil water” and “do not drink” mean different things, so check your local advisory. And don’t assume your pitcher or fridge filter is enough on its own.

Avoid overcorrections. Trouble at a utility in another state doesn’t make your tap unsafe. No local advisory? Carry on and let your emotional support water bottle take it from here.

the more you know

Which color clothing can make a summer day feel even hotter?

In Our Rotation

The celeb-approved shampoo Sharon Stone claims helped revitalize her scalp post-hair loss.

A peptide-packed face and eye serum that'll firm your skin and smooth fine lines.

Psst…love our recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram for more products, gifts, and services that are actually worth the hype (and the price tag).

just one thing

Straight Talk

Consider this the laziest productivity hack yet: A new study found that better posture was linked to better mood, and may even affect how you make decisions. Researchers adjusted participants’ tables and tablet stands so they naturally sat either upright or slouched. Then they had them play a computer game where the bigger they inflated a virtual balloon, the more they’d be rewarded — unless it popped.

Those who sat up straighter took good risks, earned more, and reportedly felt a stronger sense of pride afterward.

Sure, playing a computer game isn’t exactly the same as leading a quarterly meeting — but it can't hurt to sit up taller in that swivel chair the next time you talk with your boss.

Well Fed

Summer in a Jar

Sweet, savory, loaded with antioxidants, and winner of the “healthiest fruit” award from the CDC, the tomato contains multitudes.

And right now, probably so does your counter. August is when vegetable patches and farmers markets can produce more heirlooms, cherries, and garden varieties than anyone can reasonably eat before they turn. Rather than let that bounty go to waste, save some for the months when a good tomato is much harder to come by:

Put them on ice. Pop whole fruits into a freezer bag, squeeze out the air, and store. They’ll lose their firm texture as they thaw, so skip the salad — but toss them straight into soups, stews, and sauces where all that summer flavor still counts.

Slow-roast some. A low temp concentrates tomatoes’ sweetness and gives you a ready-made starter for pasta, toast, eggs, and grain bowls come winter. Here’s how to handle any leftovers.

Make freezer salsa. When the tomato pile starts looking less charming and more threatening, make salsa in bulk. Eat some now, save the rest, and congratulate yourself when you pull out a container come fall. (FYI, it’ll last three to four months.)

PS: Ready to go full tomato prepper? There are plenty more ways to preserve the season.

well traveled

Make It Out of the Group Chat

Life is crazy, but carving out time to get away with friends isn't only restorative, it leans into the "11-3-6 rule" of friendship. Here's how to put in the hours without breaking the bank.

If you've got an evening: Forget the standard dinner and drinks and try something new. Whether it's going to a bathhouse together or finally learning how to play mahjong, it's a change from small talk over menus.

If you've got an overnight: Look up nature escapes near you. (This list is Northeast-based, but gives you an idea of what's out there.) A chance to catch up around a campfire with s'mores? Say less.

If you've got a long weekend: Skip the usual spots (looking at you, Nashville) and consider a "destination dupe." Same vibe, lower price tag. Get inspo from some of our favorite spots.

Well Reviewed

Weigh Your Options

Some people can eyeball ingredient measurements with uncanny accuracy. The rest of us? A food scale takes the guesswork out of cooking so that it’s easier to follow recipes as they're actually written. Bonus: They're inexpensive, small enough to stash in a drawer or cabinet, and make you feel (just a little) like Ina in the kitchen.

Your shirt is making you hot