This Slow Cooker Meal Plan is Made for Cold Weather

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February is finally here – but the cold, chilly temps outside aren't letting up any time soon. If you're craving something soul-warming and completely cozy for dinner every night, we've got the perfect solution: A cooked-all-day meal that's served steaming hot right out of your slow cooker. 

Your slow cooker is an incredibly versatile kitchen appliance. It's able to create soups and stews, casseroles, pastas, curries and even meat mains. And best of all, it can deliver warming dishes that are made for winter weather. That's why we've created a one-week meal plan that utilizes your slow cooker to create recipes that fuel you and fill you up with little effort.

Plus, this winter-ready meal plan makes prepping ahead of time a total breeze. You'll use your freezer to stash the ingredients and made-in-advance components so everything can be taken out and dropped right into your crockpot when needed. Grab your shopping list at the link below, and you'll be ready for the week ahead.

Get the meal plan here »

Tired of the Same Old Casseroles? We're Cleaning Up the Classics and Making Them Cool Again

Casseroles are a weeknight comfort food staple. They're easy to make, often require just one dish and offer a balanced combination of veggies, protein, grains and other key nutrients. And with recipes that date back to your mother's and your grandmother's childhoods, casseroles are dishes you return to again and again. But there's kind of a catch: Eating the same casserole recipes repeatedly can get dull.

We're changing the casserole game. We've cleaned up your favorite old-school bakes, revamped them with modern ingredients and updated their flavor profiles. Once you try these totally fresh casseroles, you're going to rethink how you incorporate them into your weekly menu.

Find your new favorite casserole recipe »

Tips and Tricks for Better Winter Health:

Bust Out of the Winter Blahs

Is the cold, gloomy weather bringing your mood down? The winter blahs happen to everyone, and weeks of not-so-sunny days can make you feel stuck. Try these ideas to break up your daily routine and give yourself a boost.

Soothe Dry Skin with These Nutritious Foods

Winter can wreak havoc on your skin, leaving it itchy, dry and just plain uncomfortable. While your skincare routine can help, your diet can deliver much-needed nutrients that'll calm, moisturize and get your skin glowing again.

Travel Smarter with These Health-Saving Strategies

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If you're looking forward to heading somewhere warmer (or even just somewhere that isn't your hometown!), we've got smart travel tips that'll help you stay healthy. Put them into practice before you leave for smooth travels.

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What we've been reading this week:

Did you know collagen is great for your heart health? Better Nutrition shares some of this supplement's most surprising benefits.

Lunar New Year might be over, but there's no reason to not enjoy dumplings. Vegetarian Time is sharing 13 veg-friendly recipes to try.

Thinking about making your daily routine vegan-friendly? Yoga Journal is sharing 6 of the best vegan shampoos that'll help your hair. 

Dehydration can sneak up on you in surprising ways. Oxygen is sharing some of the strangest signs that you may need to drink more water.

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