Can a Meal Kit Service Help You Lose Weight? Here's What a Nutritionist Really Thinks

There are more than 100 meal kit options on the market, including Blue Apron, Green Chef, HelloFresh, and Plated, just to name a few. Some of my clients who are looking to shed pounds have asked a key question—can a meal plan help me lose weight?

The reality is that these kits are generally designed to make it easier to cook at home, not slim down. You order the meals online, and the recipes and the correct amount of each ingredient are delivered to your door.

Meal kits aren't standardized, can vary widely, and do not guarantee weight loss. But they may help. Here’s my take on the trend.

10:23:00 AM - By Mpya 0

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10:22:00 AM - By Kunde 0

What Happened When This Mom Wrote About Hating Her Baby Online

Whether or not you’ve have kids, you're probably aware that delivering one ain’t easy. What about the hardships that come after birth, though? Tons of new moms keep quiet about how challenging it is to care for an infant, but one woman challenged that silence when she aired her frustrations on the UK parenting site Mumsnet.com last week—and got a slew of empathetic responses.

Titling her post “I Hate My Baby,” the anonymous mama promised readers that her child is safe with her, but she is at a loss for how to handle his behavior. “He cries all day and all night he sleeps a total of around 4/24 hours all day the rest of it he is crying,” she wrote. “He cries when I’m feeding him. He cries when I’m holding him.”

10:22:00 AM - By Mpya 0

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10:21:00 AM - By Kunde 0

It Was So Cold in North Carolina That Alligators Froze in Blocks of Ice

If you’re on the eastern side of the United States, you probably heard about the “bomb cyclone” that happened last week. Things got so cold that the Shallotte River Swamp Park in North Carolina posted a video of frozen alligators that got people talking. Probably because it’s rare to see something that’s both intriguing yet terrifying.

But have no fear — the alligators in question are okay. In fact, Shallotte River Swamp Park ended up documented a pretty standard practice for alligators that assures their survival in frosty temperatures. After someone asked on Facebook whether or not they were actually frozen, the swamp responded that “their bodies are suspended in the water and noses out for breathing. They are brumating, kind of like hibernating.” They also noted that in doing this, alligators regulate their body temperature. By keeping the tips of their nose out and having the water freeze over them, they’re making sure they’re still able to breathe. The move is just another instinctual way of staying alive, proving that alligators are incredibly smart creatures.

10:21:00 AM - By Mpya 0

The Best Pillows for Stomach Sleepers

Settling into your perfect sleep position can mean lots of tossing and turning, especially when your pillow doesn’t support your head and neck properly.

For stomach sleepers, finding a position that doesn’t stress the neck can be tricky, since most pillows offer thick cushioning and push the head into an unnatural upward position.

“Any pillow with high loft is going to push your neck back a little bit and give you neck pain or cause some discomfort in the lower back,” says Rocco Monto, MD, an orthopedic surgeon in Nantucket, Mass. He recommends searching for a thinner pillow—one that’s about three inches thick ensures your spine stays aligned while you snooze.

Christopher Winter, MD, medical director of Martha Jefferson Hospital Sleep Medicine Center and author of the upcoming book The Sleep Solution, suggests a pillow with a slightly inclined surface to create proper spine alignment while laying face down.

7:42:00 PM - By Mpya 0

Eat This Nutritionist's Go-To Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner to Start 2018 Right

You've committed to eating healthy in 2018, which is awesome. Now the hard part comes: having tasty, good-for-you meal ideas on hand you can easily turn to—especially when cravings for gooey mac and cheese set in or you're too tired to do anything but go on Seamless.

To help you ID the healthiest and easiest meals to keep your goals on track, we asked Megan Roosevelt, RDN, nutritionist and founder of HealthyGroceryGirl.com, to share her go-to breakfast, lunch, and dinner. These versatile options pack plenty of nutrients without skimping on flavor, and they'll help you start your year off on a nutritious note.

7:29:00 PM - By Mpya 0