January is a good time to clean up your eating habits. Fill your pantry with healthy basics that you can build meals around, such as dried beans, whole grains, and pasta. Keep leafy greens and fresh fruit on hand (and frozen berries—a good, longer-lasting pick). Carve out time each week to plan meals and pack lunches and snacks daily to avoid poor last-minute decisions.
For on-the-go breakfasts, assemble fresh-fruit and yogurt parfaits the night before. To make the superfood smoothie parfait shown here, make a “pudding” of chia seeds soaked in unsweetened coconut milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract, then layer with fruit and plain yogurt; refrigerate overnight. Top with a green smoothie (this one is spinach and mango).
IN-SEASON PICKS
BELGIAN ENDIVE This tender vegetable works well in salads or braised as a side dish. Choose endive heads with crisp, tightly packed leaves at the market; wrap them in paper towels and then refrigerate in plastic bags for a week or so.
CITRUS These fruits offer bright colors and flavors when they’re needed most. Experiment with specialty varieties, such as Meyer lemons and Cara Cara oranges. Choose fragrant, blemish-free fruit that feels heavy for its size. Keep it on the counter for a few days or refrigerate in a plastic bag for a few weeks. Wash if using the zest; zest before juicing.
Garden
Care For Houseplants
Keep plants healthy in winter with these four tips:
1. Yellow foliage can signal too much watering. Cut off those areas; water when an inch below the surface soil feels dry.
2. Plants lean into sunlight; for more even growth, rotate them a quarter turn clockwise each time you water, or every two or three days, whichever comes first.
3. Indoor heating can dry out some plants. Run a humidifier, or place pots on trays of pebbles and water (not necessary for succulents).
4. Remove mealybugs (white fuzz) using a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Cut off stems infested with tiny “brown helmets,” known as scale. Red dots mean spider mites; remove with a cold-water rinse.
