I hope you had a great week and a relaxing weekend. If you like to spend Sunday catching up on news, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s this week’s nutrition & health newsletter:

Last week’s top nutrition and health news:

Listening to music improves recovery after surgery and should be available to everyone having an operation, experts say – The Lancet via ScienceDaily // Patients who listened to music before, during and or after surgery had less anxiety, less need for pain meds, and less pain after surgery, according to an analysis of 7,000 people across 72 trials.

Link between marital distress, poor food choices found by study – University of Delaware via ScienceDaily // When normal weight or overweight married people fight, they often get a surge of ghrelin, the ‘hunger hormone,’ according to a study of 43 couples. The more hostile the arguments, the higher the hormone surge.

Another Approach to Raising Healthy Eaters – The New York Times // The author discusses some of the best strategies for raising good eaters: focus on foods, not nutrients; be authoritative – not passive or overly strict; respect hunger and fullness signals; know the right portion sizes for different ages (it might be less than you think); and make food taste good.

Stomach is the way to a woman’s heart, too – Drexel University via Science Daily // If you can’t find anyone you like, your salad may be to blame. Well-fed women are more likely to respond to romantic cues according to a new study in Appetite.

What 2,000 Calories Actually Looks Like – The New York Times // This isn’t new, but I wanted to pass it along because it’s so interesting to see how much food you can (or can’t) get for 2,000 calories.

7 After-School Snacks That Sound Healthy But Aren’t – Food Network Healthy Eats // On the list: graham crackers, fruit snacks, granola bars, veggie chips, juice drinks, store-bought muffins, and reduced-fat peanut butter.

11 Healthy Habits That Are Sabotaging Your Weight Loss – Everyday Health // A sound list of reasons you’re not losing weight from 11 Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, which includes: you overdo it on dips; you’re confused about the difference between natural and refined sugars; you have a strict list of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ foods; you avoid white foods; and your salads are too big.

My Latest Press Mentions & Articles:

5 Fully Reasonable Breakfast Hacks – New York Magazine / The CUT // Five dietitians share their favorite filling, homemade breakfasts “that don’t require waking up any earlier.” You can make my oatmeal raisin cookie bites days in advance!

The Low-Stress Guide to Packing School Lunch – PBS Parents // Five simple strategies that reduce the stress of packing lunch

Should I Drink Watermelon Juice After Working Out? – New York Magazine / The CUT // I help explain whether or not watermelon juice is worth drinking after exercise. Bottom Line: It’s not.

8 Vegetarian Fast Food Meals Nutritionists Love – The Smart Girl’s Guide to Going Vegetarian // I profess my love for Blaze pizza, a Chipotle-style pizza restaurant that cooks your custom designed (veggie loaded) pie in 180 seconds.

Last Week on CarolineKaufman.com:

 18 Amazing Fig Recipes: Take Advantage of Fig Season Before It’s Over

How to Make a Perfect Grain Bowl (Without a Recipe)

Recipes Worth Making:

Muffins & Scones:

Healthy Blueberry Muffins with Oatmeal – Well Plated by Erin

Whole Wheat Carrot Cake Scones – Kitchen Explorers on PBS Parents

Photo Credit – PBS Parents / Alice Currah

Entrees:

Soy-Marinated Steak Tacos – Nutritioulicious

BBQ Chicken Salad – Skinnytaste

Desserts:

Raspberry-Filled Dark Chocolate Squares – The Fresh Beet

Photo Credit – The Fresh Beet

Mini Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Chip Chickpea Blondie Cups – Holley Grainger, MS, RD

Granola Crusted Yogurt Fruit Tarts – Kitchen Explorers on PBS Parents

Photo Credit – PBS Parents / Alice Currah

Lucinda’s Molasses Drops – Martha Stewart

Fig Tahini Cookies – Sweet Potato Soul

Photo Credit – Sweet Potato Soul

I’d love to know, which article did you find most interesting?