A new, free mobile app aims to help reduce the impact of food waste. The numbers on food waste are staggering: The EPA cites that more than 33 million tons of edible food end up in U.S. landfills each year; and nearly half of the food produced in the world—some 2 billion tons every year—goes uneaten.

Welcome to this week's installment of From Our Friends, our weekly roundup where we highlight some of our favorite posts from the past week and more from our friends and partners around the web. This week's edition includes articles on brain food, how to clean a pacifier, which leafy greens are best, how to de-stress at work, the health benefits of cinnamon, DIY flower planters and a 4 step natural remedy for acne.

More than 1,000 plant varieties are found in the allium family, which includes garlic, onions, leeks, chives and several decorative flowers. Alliums have been cultivated for decorative and edible uses as far back as 1594, and wild varieties have been foraged for millennia. The allium family provides at least one of the staple foods in nearly every culture, as onions, garlic and their relatives often provide depth to nearly any savory (and some sweet) dish. Check out our guide on amazing alliums to learn more about the different plant types and how to grown and use them!

When it comes to natural skincare, you don’t need a bunch of expensive products to look gorgeous. All you need is food. Well, the right foods. When applied topically, certain organic foods can feed your skin, leaving you feeling all over moisturized and refreshed. Some foods can even cure skin irritations, like redness, dryness and eczema. Others can prevent and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Keep a supply of these five foods on hand for naturally sexy skin.

Are you a lover of all things pasta but are trying to cut back on the carbohydrate overload? Vegetable pasta may not sound very interesting, but you'd be surprised what a little change in shape and the addition of a delicious pasta sauce can do to an otherwise neutral-tasting vegetable. The spiralizer is an incredibly useful addition to your kitchen appliance cabinet, as it lets you enjoy pasta in the most nutritious, figure-friendly and delicious way possible. Step away from the boiling water and discover just what a zucchini and some strategic cutting can add to your dietary arsenal. Enjoy!

As the world turns in the West, we are becoming more and more aware of the negative impact our consumer problem-solving mentality has on the environment and humanity's future. It is becoming increasingly important that we be on the lookout for ways to creatively upcycle and begin to practice fostering a pragmatic do-it-yourself philosophy. And one fun-tastic way to do both is with your approach to gardening. More specifically, with container gardening, by making (and repurposing) your own pots and planters.

As ever-popular Tex Mex is slowly but surely being replaced by traditional, authentic Mexican cuisine, both in recipes and in restaurants, the time has come to take a look at some of our favorite "Mexican" cocktails. Frozen and flavored margaritas may be featured on almost every Mexican drink menu, but as summer approaches, take a look at some of these refreshing, traditional Mexican bebidas.

Anyone who has taken a long run in the punishing heat or completed a spinning class in a blazing hot gym knows that hydration is incredibly important. And while we all know that hydrating before a workout is essential, we can forget how important it is to rehydrate after a workout, too.

Despite recent news that the nation's top fast-food restaurant menu items aren't getting healthier, even though many of them boast "healthy" menu upgrades, lurking in the wings are the rising number healthy fast-food options.

Look out four-year-olds. We may be grown ups, but we love tater tots, too. So, we promise not to steal them off of your plate anymore, especially since we can easily make them from scratch with this tater tot recipe.

We all want to lose a few pounds to look smashing in our swimsuits or squeeze into that adorable pair of skinny jeans. Most women -- and many men -- are perpetually self-conscious about our muffin top or bulging thighs. In the case of people who are truly overweight or obese, however, the concern over weight is about more than just vanity. If you're one of these folks -- and there are millions in the United States -- losing as little as ten pounds can literally help save your life, or at least, extend it by a few years. So, instead of obsessing over how you look in the mirror, think about the health consequences of excess body fat and what you can do create a leaner, healthier you. 

Anyone can start a garden, whether big or small, in containers, raised beds or in the ground, indoors or outside. But becoming a successful gardener can take some time, as it requires ample knowledge of plant types, soil science, pests and diseases, and various methods of plant care. To help you delve deeper into the world of horticulture and gain these skills, we’ve rounded up the top five online gardening courses so you can learn from home. Whether you’re looking for a Master Gardener certificate or quick courses for hobby gardening, these resources will provide ample information on keeping a healthy and bountiful garden!

Author, forager, and wild food advocate Hank Shaw finally had his "olympic moment," winning the James Beard Award for Best Individual Food Blog this year—his third year to be nominated.

Incorporating color in our homes can be so scary for many of us. It's a commitment issue. What if I paint the walls red and then change my mind a few months later? What happens when the trend changes? Here are 5 ways you can incorporate color into your home without having to truly commit to a specific color, theme, or trend.

I bet you have a few habits you would like to break, or better yet, a few personal traits – maybe anxiety or depression -- that you would love to kick to the curb, too. Hey, we all do! Those ticks are just part of our pesky human existence. Luckily there are various tools we all can use to help ease the excess stress we face every day. One great tool is meditation.

Bug season has returned, and from the picnic blanket to the dinner table these little critters pop up to bite and annoy us human beings. No matter how “natural” you consider your lifestyle to be, you probably don’t want bugs crawling through your house and over your skin. Although the best natural bug repellent is prevention (keeping your house clean with all food sources sealed away), even the tidiest among us can get attacked by buzzing, biting insects.