Ah, summer...the time of vacations, swimsuits, bbqs and grilling, rushing from one family activity to the next, bussing the kids around, delightfully fresh produce...there's so much to do and so much to see during the summer, you might find yourself a bit overwhelmed trying to fit in healthy eating on top of it all. But not only is it a necessity, it's fun! With so many farmers' markets and produce stands popping up, fresh fruit & veggies abound, and you get to reap the bounty. There are plenty of ways to make eating healthier on the run easy in the summer, promise. Check out our tips below!

Let's face it, sometimes it really is just more convenient to go to the market and buy what you need – like roasted garlic spread. But when you have a few minutes to spare, making this spread yourself means you have full control of what goes in, how much goes in, and you get to enjoy the “joy of cooking”. We've found a few simple roasted garlic spread recipes that you can whip up in NO time that will taste delicious and have your family and friends saying, “WOW!”.

Recipe #1 – 10 servings

Ingredients
4 heads garlic
1/8-1/4 cup olive oil
salt & pepper to taste
½ tsp fresh rosemary, minced

Meet your taste buds. You have about 10,000, mostly concentrated on the top of your tongue. They can detect five basic tastes: sweet, sour and salty, bitter plus the more recently recognised umami. Your taste buds play a key role in helping you enjoy or stay away from certain foods which can be a problem when it comes to very fatty, sugary or salty foods. We've all heard of the “sweet tooth”, but some people have a “salty tooth” tooth as well. In fact, studies show that people with high blood pressure tend to have a preference for saltier foods, which is concerning as high salt intake is a known risk factor for high blood pressure and stroke. You don't have to follow your tastebuds though! You can train them to help you eat more healthily. Here's how.

We get it. Life can be crazed and hectic and leave little time to take proper care of yourself sometimes – like when it comes to eating healthy. Being on the go so much makes it all the more tempting to just grab up some processed food and down more caffeine as you make your way to your next obligation, but we're here to tell you that it IS possible to still eat healthy while on the go! You simply need to incorporate a few small hacks into your lifestyle and in no time you'll be eating well and feeling SO much better than you did before. Check out these healthy hacks for busy lifestyles, take what you need, and go live well!

Mother's Day is almost upon us – what gift will you give mom this year? If your mother is a bit food-obsessed (like us!), we've found a few unique, totally inexpensive (but still luxurious) gifts that Mom will definitely love! Take a look at our Mother's Day gift guide, then add your own ideas. Most importantly, have fun and celebrate all the hard work and wonderful things moms do!

Why does it seem like everyone is crazy about mug cakes, mug brownies, mug pies, and just about every other dessert in a mug these days? Well, as with everything else that fills our overpacked lives these days, it's all about convenience. So besides using your mug as the keeper of the sacred magic known as coffee, you can also use these sometimes silly and wittily decorated cups to make your favorite desserts in mere minutes! It turns out that the ambitious mug is one of the best kitchen tools ever and happens to be the perfect vessel for creating desserts, quickly, without a lot of fuss or muss.

Here are a few of the fabulous (and fabulously simple) mug desserts you can make in the microwave in a matter of minutes. Bon appétit!

CAKES:

Most health and nutrition experts agree that Americans should increase their consumption of fish. Fish are high in protein and low in calories, cholesterol and saturated fat. Some varieties also are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been found to decrease the risk of heart disease and stroke. Because of these health benefits, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015 recommended that adults eat 8 ounces of fish a week. Americans currently eat only half that amount. But which is better – farmed or wild fish?

It's Superbowl time! February 5th will be the day to gather round the TV and cheer on your favorite team with your friends, and Superbowl snacking is an integral part of the Superbowl experience. Melty, cheesy, gooey dips...salsa and chips...wings...appetizers galore...it almost beats the holidays when it comes to food. It's also a day of many, many less than healthy foods. Splurge days are totally okay (and a must!) but you can save yours and have it all with these healthy AND delicious snack ideas!

Omelets are one of the most amazing meals around – you just really can't go wrong with eggs! And while they're good, plain and simple, sometimes we prefer to jazz ours up. We feature many different omelets on our menu from the good 'ole cheese omelet to our Mexican salsa omelet. There's always room for improvement though, so here are a few condiments that will upgrade your Top Chef omelets and take them to the next level!

As the year ends, we at Top Chef Meals want to sincerely thank you for choosing to eat with us in 2016. We greatly appreciate our customers and the valuable feedback provided throughout the year - feedback we've taken to heart and for which we are grateful. We hope you'll continue sharing your thoughts with us in 2017, as we work to make our meals even better and more delicious.