I know, food prices are insane. Cliff Smith found a great way to save — and has eaten a lot of great meals in his quest.
Food companies hate this app
ChatGPT
Healthy eating isn’t just trending, it’s something I’ve lived my whole life. I read every label, choose organic whenever I can and try to never eat processed foods. Knowing what’s going into your body matters, and I’ve always believed that.
But even with all that vigilance, it’s easy to get duped by “natural” and “wholesome” packaging. That’s where these apps come in. Let me tell you, the food makers hate these apps, especially the first one.
✋ Yuka it up
I use Yuka for my food smarts. This little French app has blown up with over 30 million downloads, and yeah, it’s that good. Just scan a barcode and instantly see a health score. Green? You’re good. Orange? Think twice. Red? Put it back on the shelf.
Yuka checks three biggies: nutrition, additives and whether it’s organic. All things I care about. Is it perfect? Nope. It won’t know if you’re keto or gluten-free, but if you try to eat clean like I do, it’s great.
Pro tip: Screenshot a food’s result and throw it into ChatGPT (or your favorite AI chatbot) with the prompt: “Please find me up to five healthy alternatives to this food with links to purchase on Amazon or elsewhere.”
⚡️ Quick decisions
Now, if you’re all about quick answers without the deep dive, try the app Bobby Approved. It was created by influencer Bobby Parrish and gives you a straight-up yes or no. Just scan the item’s barcode.
It’s super handy if you’re rushing through the store or have kids pulling at your sleeve. Just keep in mind, it doesn’t get into all the nitty-gritty. You won’t see which ingredients triggered the red flag or why. If you just want a fast go/no-go, it gets the job done.
🧑🏼🌾 Crowdsourced advice
If you’re the type who likes to double-check everything (yep, I see you), Open Food Facts is a great free tool. It’s crowdsourced, meaning everyday people, not only companies, help fill in the details. You can scan barcodes and dig into nutrition, ingredients, allergens and even a product’s environmental impact.
Now, heads up: Because it’s user-driven, some entries can be outdated, wrong or incomplete.
How to get a job as a mystery diner
Any restaurant worth its salt wants to know what it’s doing right and what it’s screwing up. And they’re willing to pay you for that info. But they can’t just judge servers and kitchen staff when they’re on their best behavior. They need someone undercover.
Sip happens
😋 Only food and drink upgrades that slap.
- An automatic dispenser ($20) does the pouring for you.
- These metal straws (22% off) come with a carrying case.
- Get a coaster set (10% off) for no more rings on your table.
- Dull blades? This sharpener (30% off) makes them like new.
- A sandwich cutter (30% off) slices crusts and seals edges.
- Keep your snacks fresh with a container set (20% off).
🎁 Got your Father’s Day gift? Shop my ultimate gift list now, so it shows up by this Sunday.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
National Cheeseburger Day 2024: Best apps for burger deals
Whether you prefer your burgers stacked high, smashed flat, or dripping with cheese, today is all about celebrating the king of fast food with some great deals.
Dessert? Yes, please: It’s not about willpower. The reason you want dessert even when you’re stuffed is called “dessert brain.” When you eat something sweet, your brain releases beta-endorphin, a naturally occurring opiate that makes you want more. Hannibal Lecter’s favorite dessert? A Danish. (Oh, that was bad.)
A Thanksgiving letter from Kim
ID 162420915 © Sonyakamoz | Dreamstime.com
Hello friends,
I hope you’re having a great Thanksgiving Day spending time with the people you love and eating delicious food. Along with watching the parade, having good conversations and slipping into a turkey coma, don’t forget to take a moment to reflect on your own life. I’m sure that there are many wonderful things you are thankful for.
Need a new TV? 3 big options to watch the big game
Amazon.com
Are you hosting a big game party this year? You’d better make sure you’ve got all the necessities.
Your friends and family will be looking for good food and good seats in front of a big screen. Don’t have one? Now is the time to buy your next TV.
Why it’s impossible to overcook mushrooms
Mushrooms are different from any other food we eat. They can elevate any dish and make even the most novice cook look like a world-class chef. But what makes mushrooms so unique, and why can’t they be overcooked?
OK, that’s a good deal
Time to give kitchen chaos the chop.
- A fridge deodorizer (11% off) that lasts for 10 years? Yes, please.
- Your sponge and dishbrush deserve better. Grab a sink caddy (20% off) that keeps them dry.
- Is food prep eating up your free time? A vegetable chopper (22% off) is basically a sous chef.
- A warming mat (55% off) keeps dinner toasty when your kids show up to the table fashionably late.
- A food scale (39% off) is smart to have around if you’re trying to eat more protein or if you love to bake.
🏋️ Let’s get physical: It’s stuck in my head now, too. While you hum along, check out more good-for-you gear.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
These keep selling out
Sometimes, the internet gets it right.
- Paying $15 for an espresso martini at a bar is nuts. Make your own at home with instant espresso martini mix ($17).
- I’ve seen this exfoliating back scrubber (14% off, $15) everywhere. When was the last time you scrubbed your back?
- A bread bow knife ($26) saves your sanity when cutting baguettes and sourdough. No more wonky, uneven slices.
- Chop and toss a salad at the same time with these nifty salad tongs ($23).
- No one will know you stayed up watching a new show all night if you slap on a little under-eye brightener ($6). 💅
💸 Bonus: You looked for something on Amazon and now you can’t find it. Hit this link to see things you viewed but didn’t buy. Amazing.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
It’s a new year
🥳 So try something new! These all sound like a blast to combat the post-holiday blues.
- This pickle kit lets you ferment and pickle anything your heart desires. My favorite? Red onions, yum!
- Crotchet a cute little dinosaur with a crotchet kit for beginners ($25). The step-by-step video tutorials are so helpful.
- Want to get into podcasts (ahem, like mine)? You need a nice set of earbuds like these* that sound great, have a 32-hour battery life and are a fraction of the price of AirPods.
- This cocktail codex (52% off) shows you the fundamentals of drinkmaking and how to make every kind of cocktail. It even gives substitutes if you’re missing any ingredients!
- Try your hand at calligraphy with this workbook for beginners (29% off, $20).
- An indoor herb garden kit (19% off) lets you grow your own herbs and veggies. It comes with a bunch of different pre-seeded pods that make it easy.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Start 2025 right
💪 Focused on your health in the new year? Grab your supplies now!
- Not into going to the gym? A dumbbell set is perfect for at-home workouts.
- Walking is one of my favorite ways to move. Replace your worn-out sneakers — options for guys and gals.
- Get your protein on with an easy-to-use personal blender.
- Keep your calories in check with a food scale. This one has an app with a nutritional calculator.
- I love doing Pilates to get strong. Grippy socks are great and work for barre and yoga, too.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Hosting a New Year’s Eve party?
🕺 3, 2, 1 … Make it count!
- Grab a felt letterboard (8% off) to customize a cute welcome message for your guests.
- Forget political talk; use conversation-starter cards to spark some fun discussions.
- When else would it be socially acceptable to drink sparkly champagne? This cocktail glitter ($9) is completely edible!
- It’s not a real party until someone spills their drink. A red wine stain remover (9% off) should come in handy.
- Your guests don’t want to cheer with mugs. Pick up some pretty champagne flutes!
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Romantic gifts for your significant other
❤️🔥 Turn the holidays into lovin’.
- A hand-casting kit (20% off) makes a mold out of your and your partner’s hands. Freakin’ adorable.
- Scratch off all the food you’ve eaten together on this travel print (11% off). Or maybe just decide what’s for dinner.
- Don’t tell them you got a stuffed waffle maker (29% off), and surprise them in bed with a Nutella-filled waffle. Not advised with white sheets.
- A chalkboard coffee mug ($13) lets you write a new message every morning for your partner. Cute!
- For long-distance lovers, tap this lamp, and your partner’s matching lamp will light up in the same color.
- This portable picnic table (22% off, $35) has wineglass holders — no spillage disasters allowed.
- This homemade gin kit comes with two bottles, so if you mess up yours, you can just steal sips of theirs! That’s love.
- They knead a massage gun in their life.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
2.6 million Stanley mugs recalled: Not the 40-ounce ones everyone’s obsessed with. The lid threads on the 12- and 16-ounce Switchback and 12-, 16- and 20-ounce Trigger Action travel mugs shrink when they get hot and pop off. So far, 11 of the 38 people who have reported burns needed medical attention. Hit this link for a free replacement lid.
The rise of the restaurant robots
We’ve all heard the predictions that robots would take our jobs. Well, for fast food workers, that day has arrived.
Get food freebies with these 3 apps
There’s nothing better than free food. Here are some apps to help you get it.
This mom goes screen-free
Most kids are glued to the computer. But Stacy Liberatore, Deputy Science and Technology Editor at DailyMail.com, takes a different approach — she says no to screens for her daughter. Plus, updates on ChatGPT-4o, Gmail AI features, and fast food freebies.
A mysterious salmonella outbreak has spread across 25 states
© Ralf Liebhold | Dreamstime.com
The Centers for Disease Control is a major part of the Department of Health and Human Services. The CDC protects the U.S. from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and domestic.
The agency has been at the forefront of news since the pandemic swept across the country. It has been studying COVID-19 and advising on how to deal with the virus. Tap or click here to check out an interactive map that tracks the Delta variant’s movements.