Turn the Typical Backyard Barbecue into a Hot Spot for Fun and Flavor
Many American families will forego the traditional summer vacation travel this year and spend more time than ever making home-spun fun in the sun at the backyard barbecue. But if your version of barbecuing involves the same old fare and familiar flavors, it's time to spice up your old standby.

Easy ways to tap olive oil's goodness
Pure, all-natural foods have been gaining in popularity. From choosing whole-wheat pastas over enriched pasta to brown rice over white rice, Americans are paying more attention to what they eat.

Healthy Grocery Shopping on a Budget
American households are rediscovering the art of cooking at home. It's time to take a look at strategic grocery shopping and healthy meal preparation to better survive the recession and keep you and your family healthy in the process.

Sweeten Summer with Cool, Refreshing Smoothies
Warm summer days call for the perfect frosty refreshment. Try homemade fruit smoothies -- sweetened naturally with pure honey.

Stretch Grocery Budget with Frozen Fruit
Saving money is on everyone's mind these days. Gas prices may have fallen, but other costs are still rising. One place Americans are being more frugal than ever is with their food budgets.

Groceries from the Backyard: A Harvest of Savings
Homeowners with shrinking household budgets are looking for help in their own backyards. Can planting a veggie patch really save you money? Government agencies and gardening organizations say yes.

Marinate your grilled fare for taste and safety
Literally soaked in flavor, marinated foods are undeniably delicious. But did you know that marinating also makes your grilled foods safer?

Big, Bountiful Salads That Satisfy
The days when salads were strictly a side dish to something more important -- they're so over. A big, bountiful salad deserves to be the center of attention.

Picnics: Beyond Potato Chips and Turkey Sandwiches
Picnics are a great way to reconnect with family and friends. But don't even think of packing those tired sandwiches and potato chips; it's time to go international with your picnic fare. Packing for a picnic depends upon a few simple factors: the people, the situation, and the location.

Selecting and grilling the season's freshest fish
There are few summer pastimes more honored than backyard grilling and entertaining. But before you fire up the grill for your next bash or weeknight dinner, you should learn how to properly select and grill fresh fish to perfection.

Tasty summer dishes sizzle with sweet Vidalia onions
Maybe it was helping your grandma with her favorite summer recipe or shopping with your mom at the market when the first shipment of the season arrived. No matter the memory, Vidalia onions are as versatile and delicious today as they were back then. Here are some ideas for cooking with this tasty treat from a leading chef.

Temperatures Rising? Take Dinner Outdoors
Hot dogs, hamburgers and pork ribs aren't the healthiest eats in the bunch, especially if getting fit for the summertime is a priority. You won't have to compromise these good ol' grilling favorites at your next barbecue if lighter substitutions are made elsewhere. Here are some ideas from a professional chef.

Fun and Learning with Kids in the Kitchen
It's fun, it's messy, and it means time with an adult -- no wonder most kids love to cook. Kitchen duty provides plenty of learning opportunities for kids too.

Think You Can't Get Your Kids to Eat Their Veggies? Veg-ucate!
With spring blooming, green thumbs coming out of hibernation and gardens glowing in a few weeks, now is the perfect time to "veg-ucate" kids to like, and even want, veggies.

Burger season is back -- don't forget the basics
Americans love hamburgers ... that's a fact. An estimated 1.5 billion pounds of ground beef becomes those favored burgers cooked at home each year. Whether it's gas versus charcoal, with cheese or without, every burger fan has a different opinion about what makes the perfect patty.

'Functional foods' that pack a healthy antioxidant punch
Antioxidants work in our bodies to prevent or slow the damage done by free radicals. Like rust on a car, oxidation can damage our cells and may contribute to age-related health problems. Antioxidants are known to provide anti-aging properties and, according to the American Dietetic Association, may even increase immune function and possibly decrease the risk of infection and cancer.

Fourth of July grilling safety tips
Independence Day is the most popular outdoor cooking holiday of the year with more than two-thirds of Americans firing up the grill, smoker or fryer, according to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association. A few simple steps can help you prepare your grill to make sure you have a safe backyard celebration.

Summer's freshest ideas to feed your kids well
Summertime brings out the best in family meals - fresh vegetables and fruit, fresh air dining and a fresh opportunity for parents to maintain their commitment to feeding their kids well.

Spring Clean Your Fridge and Pantry for Your Family's Health
You clean your windows and vacuum your rugs for spring cleaning. But have you looked inside your fridge and pantry lately? They're begging for a spring cleaning, too.

A cool and refreshing twist for summer meals
Summer is the time for backyard entertaining, whether it's a simple sandwich lunch with a few friends or a patio party for the neighbors. But besides the typical salads and meat on a grill, it's a challenge to find new outdoor menu ideas that are easy, summery light and sure to delight your guests.

Plan the perfect summer soiree
Summer is the perfect time to journey outdoors and mingle with family and friends. However, the stress of hosting summer get-togethers can sometimes be discouraging. This year, avoid a meltdown and make your next barbecue or block party a breeze.

Five Summer Splurges for Less than $10
Even if you, like many Americans, are staying close to home this summer, you don't have to miss out on warm-weather indulgences. Despite lingering financial concerns, simple summer splurges still abound.

Turn off the TV, turn on the oven and turn down the spending
With less money for the movies or a night on the town, families are nesting more at home. Don't let the tough economy keep your family from talking and laughing together -- get up, get creative and get baking cookies.

Flavorful, Budget-friendly Fun Foods
With the economy affecting your budget, your family is staying home for more meals. So it's more important than ever to get the most for your dollar when shopping for healthy foods at the grocery store.

Great dinners start on the grill
Dinnertime is a lot more fun as the grilling season gets under way and aromas of sizzling food fill the air. In fact, there's a good case to make for cooking the whole dinner on the grill.

Reduce Stress and Refocus Your Life
With everyone trying to do more with less these days, it is easy to become over-stressed. By introducing creativity, variety and excitement to your day, you can help avoid succumbing to everyday stress. For example, planning meals ahead of time can lead to dinnertime smiles instead of a stressful dinner rush.

Potatoes Pack a Hearty Punch
It's no secret that heart disease remains the leading cause of death in America, where one in every three Americans is at high risk, according to the American Heart Association. Potassium, like that found in potatoes, may help lower diastolic blood pressure. So when you want to do something good for your heart, reach for potatoes.

Flip Burgers with Mother Nature -- Grill Green This Summer
Each spring, millions of grilling enthusiasts dust off the grill in anticipation of another fun-filled summer of backyard barbecues. But at what cost to the environment? You can grill green, and these simple tips will help you get your grill on while keeping Mother Earth on your good side.

Summer family fun with blueberries
Blueberries are the perfect grab 'n' go snack for active families, combining the best that nature has to offer: good nutrition and luscious flavor.

Grilled beef adds sizzle to summer meals
It's that time of year when enticing smells from the grill waft from yard to yard, tempting taste buds. When it comes to selecting what type of meat to grill for your friends and family, beef ranks supreme.

Iced coffee: A cool way to entertain this summer
As summer draws near and warm weather arrives, the summer entertaining season will be here before you know it. And now more than ever, people are looking for economical ways to entertain at home while maintaining their own signature style.

Growing list of 'superfruits' pack a nutritional wallop
Powering up your diet with superfruit-rich dishes can be easier than you think. The superfruit title is no longer reserved for berries -- nutritionists now include other antioxidant- and vitamin-rich juicy gems on the superfruit list, such as peaches, mangos and oranges.

Helping kids stay strong during the summer months
Summer meals may taste great, but many also lack some of the essential nutrients kids need, especially when it comes to building and maintaining strong bones. The good news is some simple, easy-to-take steps can make a big difference when it comes to building strong bones.

Let Mother Nature be your guide for summer entertaining
As the cost of an evening out continues to grow, so does the trend of staying home to entertain family and friends. If you're a budget-conscious consumer, you don't have to spend a fortune to dazzle your guests; experts say you can get some of the best summer decorating ideas from Mother Nature.

Food Allergy Safety 101
With the number of children with life-threatening food allergies on the rise, practicing food allergy safety is more important than ever. From closely reading labels to understanding hidden allergens and food manufacturing processes, there is a lot that can be done to keep children free of allergic reactions.

Nutrition vital for good eyesight, studies show
Caring for eyes includes paying attention to nutrition, with recent studies showing a strong correlation between good nutrition and the prevention of age-related eye diseases.

Create Your Own Vending Machine to Avoid Office Snacking Pitfalls
You glance at the clock on your desk as your stomach begins to growl and realize you have hit the 3 p.m. slump -- that vulnerable time after lunch yet still hours from dinner. In order to satisfy your hunger, you look for a quick fix to help you finish out the day. However, stuck at the office, with deadlines looming and energy levels low, your choices may not be as sensible or healthy as you would like.

Curb overeating during summer months
The grill is, perhaps, the main reason why many people gain weight during the summer. It's not just the grilled ribs, steaks, hot dogs and burgers, either. It's the potato and macaroni salads that we pile on the side, and the much-loved ambrosia recipes that wrap normally healthy fruits into a mountain of whipped cream. Here are some tips for enjoying all the food summer has to offer in a healthy way.

Summer guide to guiltless grilling
People around the country are getting ready to enjoy the great outdoors and fire up the grill on a warm summer day. The warmer weather and longer days are perfect for enjoying fresh flavorful foods and outdoor activities such as walking.

How to keep summer foods fresh and safe
Summer's warm weather brings an increase in foodborne illnesses when food sits out in hot, humid conditions. Make sure your summer party is memorable for reasons other than food poisoning by taking steps to keep food fresh and safe.

Explore World Flavors with Pantry Staples
Just because grocery budgets are tight, doesn't mean flavor needs to suffer. Preparing dishes inspired by traditional cuisine from around the world is an easy way to add excitement to everyday meals, without breaking the bank or buying an expensive plane ticket. Try exploring the flavors of the world right in your own kitchen, by using key ingredients from your pantry for authentic flavor.

Simple steps to reduce sodium in your summer dining
From the barbecue sauce you slather on your grilled chicken to the frozen dinner you grab between coming home from work and running the kids to soccer practice, sodium is simply everywhere in warm-weather fare. Here are a few helpful tips on reducing sodium in your diet.

Wholesome summertime snacking made simple
Whether by the pool, in the park, or on vacation, warm weather ushers in a season of constant activity. Keeping the family energized during the summer months is important. These easy steps will help make wholesome summertime snacking simple and interesting, no matter the time or place.

A delicious summer twist on American classics
Summer is the time when we break out the grill and dust off the picnic basket to celebrate warm weather with friends and loved ones. It's also the time people bring out classic summer treats from tasty, hot barbecue to all-American apple pie. But classic doesn't have to mean boring when you add a few delicious summer twists.

Create memorable outdoor parties for less
The backyard will be the summer entertainment hot spot as Americans seek affordable ways to spend time with family and friends. But your outdoor party can be spoiled quickly if unwelcome insects show up.

Freshen up your fridge with healthy foods
Summer is filled with vacations, outdoor activities and, of course, lots of exciting meals. But just because you're busy doesn't mean you have to sacrifice delicious for nutritious. Here are some tips for packing your fridge with both tasty and healthy items.

Fresh and Healthy Tips for Delicious Dinners
Whether dining out or making a night of it at home, it's easy to turn everyday meals into special treats by adding healthy, versatile and affordable options. Here are five tasty tips to makeover your next meal, at home or out on the town.

Create a Latin culinary experience at home
In Mexico, the heart of the family resides in the kitchen where friends and family share the comforts of great, flavorful meals. A number of influences from Mexican and Latin culture have affected Americans in how we celebrate, cook and eat. And more of us, no matter what heritage, are spending more time dining at home with our families. With the popularity of Mexican and Latin dishes on the rise, you can celebrate spending time with family while enjoying an authentic Mexican meal in your own kitchen.

Please picky eaters with kid-friendly favorites
What's the best way to get picky eaters to enjoy good-for-you foods? Get kids involved in preparing meals and snacks. Experts agree that when children lend a hand (or two) in meal preparation, they are much more likely to eat what they're proud to have helped make.