About Health

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Cuteness Overload: These Packed Lunches Will Blow Your Mind

Cuteness Overload: These Packed Lunches Will Blow Your Mind

Lunches so adorable, you could just eat them up!

If you thought stuffing your salad into a Mason jar was Instagram-worthy, you definitely haven't seen the lunch box genius of BentoMonsters, a blog created by a woman named Ming in Singapore (she doesn't share her last name).

According to the site, Ming started packing bento box lunches for one of her sons back in 2008 as a way to put a smile on his face at school. In 2011, she decided to start the blog to document her lunches, which are inspired by characters like Super Mario, Willy Wonka, and Hello Kitty. Today, the stay-at-home mom of two has more than 70,000 Instagram followers. Her lunches may sound pretty cool—but once you see them, you're going to wonder how the heck she came up with this stuff:

BentoMonsters

Once you've emerged from your cuteness coma, check out these smart, packable lunch ideas. No, they're not as adorable as Ming's creations, but they are delicious and healthy:

6 Easy, Healthy Meals You Can Make in a Mason Jar

5 Foods to Keep at Work for Healthy Last-Minute Lunches

10 Healthy Lunch Ideas

The Top 6 Times Youâ€™re Most Likely to Snack

The Top 6 Times Youâ€™re Most Likely to Snack

And how to keep yourself from munching when you don't really need to

Snacking, if you think about it, is kind of like Facebook creeping: We all do it, it’s pretty much always satisfying in the moment, but later on it can have not-so-sweet consequences (weight gain and stalker status, respectively). According to a new study published in Appetite journal, there are six times when all people are likely to indulge the most: when you're celebrating a special occasion, when food is around, when you're coping with negative emotions, when you're rewarding yourself, when you're under social pressure, and when you're feeling low-energy. We checked in with Keri Gans, R.D., author of The Small Change Diet, to see how to curb your (snacking) enthusiasm in each scenario.

Danger Time: Special Occasions
The key here is to define special, says Gans. “Figure out what’s very special and what’s not as special, and tell yourself you will only snack on truly special occasions,” she says. For example, if your office gets a cake for everyone’s birthday, then office birthdays probably aren’t that special since they happen so frequently. Need some help coming up with your definition? “If you find that something is happening more than once a month, then you should pay extra attention because it may not be as special as you think," says Gans.

Danger Time: When Food's Around
It seems like there is practically always something in your office kitchen when you walk through, doesn’t it? If that’s the case, you have to train yourself to not swipe whatever’s there just because it’s, well, there. One way to do that? “Commit to when you snack,” says Gans. If you make a snacking schedule for yourself—like every day at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.—then you’ll be better able to resist your co-worker's candy jar at 3 p.m.

Danger Time: Tough Moments
Chances are, at some point in your life, you have eaten your feelings; you’re only human. But if you find yourself doing so on the regular, check in with yourself before you munch. “Most people end up feeling worse after they eat their feelings because they’re angry at themselves for giving in," says Gans. Remind yourself that eating won't magically fix the negative emotions you're feeling, and do something else to cope, like going for a run, calling your best friend, or even scrolling through Instagram—anything, really, to take your mind off the problem at hand.

MORE: 3 Ways to Stop Emotional Eating Before You Start

Danger Time: When You Want a Reward
Remember when you were young and your parents or babysitter used to tell you that you could have a cookie if you finished your homework? They trained you that food should be viewed as a reward—when really, it's sustenance. Instead of getting candy from the vending machine, reward yourself with something your body will actually thank you for, suggests Gans. “Buy yourself a new lip gloss, go get your nails done, get a massage, or take a yoga class,” she says. “That way, you’re doing something that’s truly good for your body, not necessarily ‘rewarding’ yourself with something your body would be happy without."

Danger Time: Girls' Night
We don’t have to tell you how hard it is to say no to shared dessert at dinner with friends. You know this. But here’s a way to make it a little bit easier: Verbalize your intention, says Gans. “Tell your friends in advance of the event that you’re trying to eat healthier. It’s easier to follow through with your goals once you’ve already put it out there because you’re more accountable for your actions."

MORE: Mindful Eating: Clean (Up) Your Plate

Danger Time: 3 p.m. Slump
When you’re feeling sluggish in the afternoon or early evening, it’s tempting to try to counter that feeling with a snack because you feel like you need it, says Gans. But often, you may just be thirsty—so try drinking water first. You might want to also try going for a walk around the block to gain energy. If you’re still hungry after those attempts, then you probably do need a snack, in which case, Gans recommends selecting something with a good mix of protein and fiber. “I always suggest KIND fruit and nut bars because they’re the perfect blend of protein and fiber and will give you plenty of energy to power through,” she says.

MORE: Top 28 Best Healthy Snacks

You HAVE to See What This Track Star Wears to Compete

You HAVE to See What This Track Star Wears to Compete

She designs her own competition gear—and it's awesome!

We can't stop staring at photos of professional 800-meter runner Maggie Vessey. For one thing, she's really freaking fitspirational. For another, Vessey has teamed up with a designer to create her own personalized competition gear that features crazy colors, bows, and cutouts—and it's really freaking cool.

When her contract with New Balance expired in December 2013, Vessey used the opportunity to work with designer Merlin Castell and create her own racing attire, according to ESPN W. And while the pieces are super stylish, apparently they're also not uncomfy. "Generally they're really comfortable," Vessey told ESPN W. "When you're out there racing, you don't really think about it anyways. I wouldn't run in anything that wasn't comfortable."

Check out some of her most fabulous ensembles, courtesy of her Twitter feed:

The sun is shining, bright smile, bright outfit. One of my faves! @merlincastell @OneFitnessMaui pic.twitter.com/l38IW3mycV

— Maggie Vessey (@maggievessey) September 29, 2014

Fittings with @merlincastell pic.twitter.com/Rp76bg7qFY

— Maggie Vessey (@maggievessey) September 17, 2014

Not the race result I wanted but for my 1st race after 2mos...Hopeful for another opportunity. Thank you #IstafBerlin pic.twitter.com/bQDGjrBoYH

— Maggie Vessey (@maggievessey) August 31, 2014

Prelims Racing at USA National Championships pic.twitter.com/p9EvReYa92

— Maggie Vessey (@maggievessey) June 29, 2014

Semi-Final run at USA Nationals. Evening race, evening wear. pic.twitter.com/gh7sC2uGcK

— Maggie Vessey (@maggievessey) July 2, 2014

Vessey also told ESPN W that she hopes that her fun outfits inspire others to "find their gift and their voice." Individuality is definitely a concept we can get behind.

20 Signs You're In a Long-Term Friendship

20 Signs You're In a Long-Term Friendship

Too close for comfort? What does that even mean?

True friendship, like true love, is hard to find. But when you discover your platonic life partner, things tend to get a little weird. Although there's no shame in how close you are with your BFF, it’s not always pretty. Here, what friendship really looks like.

1. You Made Up Your Own Language One Time
And yes, you still use it frequently, and no one knows what the hell you're talking about.

2. You Pee in Front of Each Other Without Hesitation
What are you supposed to do when you're in the middle of a conversation? Wait?

3. You Don't Apologize for Venting
When you both are there for each other, there's no need to say you're sorry.

4. She's Obsessed With All the Same Shows as You
Sometimes you talk about the characters as if they're also in your group of friends. Nothing creepy about that.

5. She Doubles as Your Mirror
Your girl performs booger checks and see-through clothing checks on the regular—and knows better than to miss complimenting your killer new boots.

6. She Asks for Updates on Your Family
And yes, she actually cares.

7. You Know Way Too Much About Each Other
From what your boobs look like (and feel like) to when her period is coming. TMI does not exist between the two of you.

8. You Say the Same Thing at the Same Time
It’s a cute thing couples do—and also something that happens to you and your BFF at least twice a week.

MORE: 11 Tiny Life Changes That'll Bring You Major Bliss

9. People Ask If You're Related
Even though you look nothing alike, they assume you're sisters because of your obvious closeness.

10. She Threatens Your Dates
You might not live with your parents anymore, but your buddy could double as your dad when she meets your dates. "If you hurt her, I will find you and hurt you."

11. You Don't Judge Her
Does she know every word to every One Direction song ever written? Yep. Do you make fun of her for it? Not a chance. (You're usually singing them along with her.)

MORE: 18 Mom Friends Every Woman Has

12. You Don't Worry About Owing Each Other Money
Seriously, that tab has to be even by now.

13. She's Seen Your Ugly Cry
It's not cute, but when you have to let it all out, she's there for you and that face.

14. You Know Her Style
Sometimes when you're out shopping alone, you see something she would totally buy and immediately call to ask if you should pick it up for her. That's friendship, folks.

15. You Remember Each Other's Phases
You recall that time when she got four tattoos within two months and shaved part of her head—and she won't let you forget your temporary velour jumpsuit insanity.

16. Sometimes You'd Rather Hang Out than Go Out
The two of you, a bottle of cabernet, and a chick flick sound just as good as bar hopping on any given Friday.

17. You Let Her Tinder For You
Since she knows your taste, she might as well help you multitask while you're busy doing other things.

18. You Know Things About Her Boyfriend
Sexual things. Sometimes you wish she never told you them.

19. You Pick Up Where You Left Off
When you see each other after being separated for a long period of time, it feels like no time has passed at all.

20. You End Your Phone Calls With, "Love You!"
Because you might as well be family.

MORE: 20 Friends GIFs That Are EVERYTHING

About That Study That Says Online Dating Leads to More Breakupsâ€¦

About That Study That Says Online Dating Leads to More Breakupsâ€¦

Read this before you delete your profile.

You may have seen some recent coverage of a study that says online dating leads to more breakups than meeting IRL, but before you go crazy with the delete button on all your profiles, you should definitely take a closer look at the facts.

The study in question, published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, uses data collected by researchers from Stanford between 2009-2011 for another study called “How Couples Meet and Stay Together.” This current study looks at three “waves” of surveys over time to analyze relationship outcomes for couples who met both online and offline.

The first wave of data from 2009 includes a sample of 2,923 respondents, of which 1,876 reported being married and 1,047 reported being in a romantic relationship. Out of the total sample, only 280 met their partners online. By the time the second wave of data was collected in 2010 using online and phone surveys, 32 percent of unmarried couples who met online had broken up versus 23 percent of couples who had met offline. There was no significant change for married couples until the third wave of data was collected, which found that eight percent of married couples who met their spouse online had broken up, while only 2 percent of couples who had met offline had split up.

According to those findings, it seems that online daters were a little more likely to break up and divorce than couples who met offline. But let's remember that these participants were recruited way back in 2009, when online dating wasn't nearly as prevalent as it is today. Plus, only 280 people who met their partners online were taking part in the study, so it's tough to say if their experiences would really translate to the rest of the online dating population—especially several years later.

MORE: 12 Dating Tips That Will Transform Your Love Life

We asked study author Aditi Paul, Ph.D., about these limitations, and she said that the ideal data pool would be more current and include people between the ages of 25-30 to capture the highest percentage of online daters. Still, she says her findings should hold true based on the fact that it is the behaviors and the approach that often come along with online dating that causes the higher failure rate.

What does she mean by that? Paul says that online dating often fosters the idea that there are tons of people out there at the click of a button if your current situation doesn't work out. In this way, it's possible that some people who meet online may not take the bond as seriously as they would if they met offline.

While that could be true, it's also completely possible that some people choose online dating for the exact opposite reason: They're ready for a real commitment and want to cut through some of the noise. "The success of your relationship depends on the intention of both partners who are involved in the relationship," says Paul. So of course it's possible that people meeting on Match with the right intentions could have more success than a couple who met casually at a bar.

MORE: 15 Hilarious Things Your Dating Profile Might Say If Everyone was Brutally Honest

In fact, another recent eHarmony survey found that married couples who met online have an edge on relationship satisfaction and longevity. Paul affirmed she was “in no way suggesting that their claims are wrong” but only pointing out that there could be more than meets the eye when it comes to research suggesting online dating is king.

Still, it seems that if this same study were conducted today, with so many more people meeting up online, the data could show a totally different picture. Regardless, it points to the fact that there's no proven method to meeting The One, but your intentions when it comes to finding and maintaining a relationship are probably the most important piece of the puzzle. Check out our dating center for helpful advice no matter where you're looking to meet someone new.

MORE: This is What Happens When You Ask Out 10 Men on Tinder…In One Night

13 HOT Sex and Love Fantasies You've Probably Had (Because, TV)

13 HOT Sex and Love Fantasies You've Probably Had (Because, TV)

Where's our romantic monologue, huh?!

Last Thursday night, Olivia and Jake were living on a stunning island that's not even on a map, and she was telling him not to stop because they had 10 minutes before their boat full of expensive, rare wine docked. Yes, we're talking about Scandal, and thanks, TV, for yet another crazy sex and love fantasy.

In honor of all the amazingness starting up again on fall TV, we've rounded up 13 romantic hopes, sexual reveries, and some really, really weird dreams we've all had…because, television.

1. Getting a jaw-droppingly hot striptease from your boyfriend (who may or may not have formerly gone by the name Diamond Dan). Because, The Mindy Project.

2. Someone getting off the plane for you. Because, Friends.

3. Making out in an elevator as it climbs from floor to floor, opening at nearly every level. Because, The Good Wife. (RIP, Will Gardner.)

4. Falling for your random Craigslist roommate. Because, New Girl.

5. Having sex on the floor of a house in Vermont that the President of the United States had built just for the two of you. Because, Scandal.

6. Someone stealing a blue French horn for you. Because, How I Met Your Mother.

7. Having a threesome with your partner and your Secret Service agent. Because, House of Cards.

8. Waking up to coffee someone made for you in the diner he owns downstairs. Because, Gilmore Girls.

9. Losing your virginity to your stupid-hot coworker… and eventually ditching your wedding to run away with him. Because, Grey's Anatomy.

10. Randomly going for a steamy hook-up with your ex. Because, Orange Is the New Black.

11. Someone following you to Paris to tell you that he has to be with you. Because, Sex and the City.

12. Hooking up with your boss on the down low. Because, Mad Men.

13. Khal Drogo sex (after they fell in love). Because, Game of Thrones.

all gifs courtesy of giphy.com

#StyleCrave: Glasses for Cool Kids, by Cool Kids

#StyleCrave: Glasses for Cool Kids, by Cool Kids

Another Target collaboration we love!

WHAT: AndrewAndrew Target Optical Collaboration

WHY: AndrewAndrew is a fun dynamic duo that has been on the New York City social scene since 1999. The pair, both named Andrew, look like they could be twins—but they're not actually related. They DJ, design, write theater reviews, and create Podcasts together—and now they're partnering with Target to design eyewear, an accessory that is synonymous with the duo. The first Target Optical collab, a limited-edition 14-piece collection, has five unisex frames in square and circular shapes. The glasses come in classic colors with a few pops—so they look super-smart and chic.

BUY: $129 (including single vision lenses), available exclusively at Target Optical and on TargetOptical.com