From Costco to Sam’s Club, free food samples are sometimes only a bite away when grocery shopping. But even the healthiest of them can lead to unhealthy choices, according to a new study.

Published recently in Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science...Read more

ST. LOUIS — It was around Eid-al-Fitr, one of two main holidays for Muslims, that Freshta Zary saw a business opportunity.

When Zary lived in Kabul, Afghanistan, it was customary for people to buy new clothes for themselves and loved ones for the holidays and other special occasions. But in St. Louis, where Zary came as a refugee from the ...Read more

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: Why can’t I find sheer or semi-sheer pantyhose in stores any more?

I don’t like going to work in the office or to meetings with bare legs. Am I “old-fashioned”? Maybe, but I’m only in my 30s. I’m having trouble locating a decent selection in stores where I used to find them. (With samples ...Read more

It only took about 7,000 years, but quinoa has finally arrived in the American mainstream.

Better late than never for the ancient whole grain first cultivated in the Andes region of South America. The nutritional powerhouse packs protein and carbohydrates – two essential macronutrients the body needs in large amounts.

In the 2010s, quinoa ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Keith Albright has a reputation for being a healthy eater. He packs cauliflower for lunch.

“I mean, I do eat healthy, but it’s so I can sin later,” he said. “That’s how I balance the permission to indulge.”

Albright, the marketing insights and analytics manager at Cargill, embodies what he sees many Americans ...Read more

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I have not seen this topic in your column but I thought of you for this reason: I dropped the eyeliner pencil — one that you suggested -- down the “black hole of despair,” in the crack between the seat of my car and the console. It took me a long time and much contortion and frustration to ...Read more

A slew of glorious gowns turned up for the Emmy Awards this month, as one might expect; here are my two favorites of the night.

Anna Sawai, winner of outstanding lead actress in a drama series (for “Shogun”), wore a red Vera Wang dress — beautifully simple, except for one perfectly placed flounce.

And Catherine O’Hara, a presenter, ...Read more

In the ever-evolving world of social media fitness trends, the “stomach vacuum” exercise has been on the rise — and experts say this one might be worth the hype.

Unlike many viral ...Read more

In a recent Instagram post, Anne Hathaway reminded us that even Hollywood isn’t immune to the occasional blemish. The actress shared a candid photo of herself sporting pimple patches, ...Read more

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: For many reasons, I can no longer wear shoes with heels of any height. I need flat shoes. This is not an age problem—I’m in my late 20s—but a foot problem that I must live with.

But what about formal or even work events where I must dress up? I am self- conscious and wonder if I should be. Am I ...Read more

People with obesity who had weight-loss surgery were able to better manage their high blood pressure in the long term than those using medications and lifestyle changes, a new analysis finds.

The research...Read more

Well, it was Italy and not France, but nonetheless the dress code for the jury at the Venice Film Festival, which wrapped last weekend, seemed to involve berets.

Isabelle Huppert, president of the jury, accessorized her sparkling, Champagne-colored gown with a matching chapeau, while jury member Zhang Ziyi topped her sleek black-velvet ...Read more

Well, despite all the options this past week at the Venice International Film Festival (red carpets are back!), I’m simply going to have to highlight this knockout ensemble worn at the “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” London premiere on Aug. 29 by the film’s star Jenna Ortega.

I love the unusual shape of the Harris Reed gown — the black ...Read more

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I read in a story about Princess Kate that said she was wearing “statement” earrings.

What does that mean. What is statement jewelry — or statement clothing or accessories?

--Kim B.

Dear Kim: In fashion lingo, statement anything is an item that raises your look from ...Read more

It’s finally September, which means fall clothes and fall movies are upon us.

I quite liked the autumnal tones of this photo, from Pedro Almodóvar’s “The Room Next Door”; Tilda Swinton in her perfectly tied scarf and Julianne Moore in her buffalo-checked jacket seem like fall personified. (Bina Daigeler, Oscar-nominated a few years ...Read more

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I have a nice collection of straw — or straw-like — hats. But they get squished in the storing process in my closet.

How to revive them?

--Penny K.

Dear Penny: Use a steamer or place them in a closed bathroom while you’re showering, Try a hair dryer to get the fiber more pliable, then shape and/or stuff with ...Read more

As the world faces a loneliness crisis, two Georgia-based founders are hoping their new app can help address the widening disconnect between people.

And they’ve raised $1.65 million pre-seed round to do it, the company ...Read more

Protein is widely recognized by health experts as important for optimal well-being. This essential macronutrient is crucial for muscle growth and maintenance of body tissues, immune support, blood sugar control and healthy weight maintenance.

Protein shakes can be a...Read more

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: My husband and I live on the East Coast and we were on a driving tour of the Midwest. Strolling after lunch in a small Illinois town, I noticed a beauty salon that advertised in its window “ombré eyebrows.”

I had never heard the term. What are they and are they a thing?

--Lyla V.

<...Read more

TikTok has a new dieting craze: “Rice-zempic.” A play on words with Ozempic, the rice and water concoction is ...Read more