Joyce Huang, Author at Healthy Smart Living

Thanksgiving Recipes You Must Try This Year!

November 16, 2021

For the past few Thanksgivings, I've become more adventurous in the dishes I make for the holiday (just don't ask me to make a whole turkey please; I'm not there quite yet!). Whether you're celebrating at home or with friends and extended family this year, I've curated a handful of my favorite easy and delicious dishes that will make everyone fight over who gets to take the leftovers home! Butternut Potato Puffs I absolutely love creamy mashed potatoes, but I love pumpkin and squash even more. Combining the two is a match made in heaven as far as I'm concerned. I like that this recipe cuts the heaviness of potatoes with silky butternut squash puree. It adds texture and a slightly more interesting flavor than regular potatoes alone....

thanksgiving recipes

8 Quick and Healthy Snack Ideas That Don’t Involve Hummus

Joyce Huang

October 21, 2020

Nutrition, Top Picks

Hungry, but not that hungry? Or maybe you’ve put on some quarantine weight and are looking for some healthy snack alternatives to the boxed brownies you’ve been baking every week? Check out some of our favorite snack ideas that are tasty and packed with nutrition. And we have nothing against hummus. We love hummus. We’re just trying to expand out of the hummus box when it comes to healthy snack ideas. Full-Fat Greek Yogurt and Fruit Preserves Snack on some Greek yogurt mixed with fruit preserves for something that’s delicious and will provide you with protein and probiotics. We prefer using full-fat Greek yogurt for this snack because it’s flavorful and very satisfying. Photo by Kelsey Curtis on Unsplash Watermelon-Raspberry Smoothie One of our favorite smoothies to drink, simply...

snack ideas

Face Masks For Kids and Adults

Joyce Huang

October 8, 2020

Family, Style

Face masks aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. What’s fantastic is that getting masks today is a lot more accessible than when mask laws started going into effect in certain states. Between disposable surgical masks and stylish reusable ones, there are a ton of options that you can stock up on for kids and adults. For The Kiddies Ty Face Masks, $2.99 Each How cute are these face masks?!? From colorful owls to sweet sloths, we are obsessing over how fun these designs are. Plus, shipping is free! MasQd Unicorn Mask, $15 MasQd offers a ton of options for kids and adults. We love that in addition to having two layers, you can also add in a filter (also available on their site). This mask does have an adjustable metal molding...

face masks

5 Tips For Looking Great On Zoom

Joyce Huang

October 6, 2020

Body

If you feel like your life is being overrun with video meetings, you’re not the only one! From office meetings to drinks with friends and first dates to family reunions, there are so many events we literally have to be camera-ready for. Check out these tips that we’ve collected during these months of quarantine so that you’re looking fabulous for any and all screen time. Fight The Shine We love a good glow, but sometimes computer lighting can make us look like an oily mess even when we aren’t. Give your face a generous dusting of powder not only keeps shine at bay, but minimizes pores as well. Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Invisimatte Blotting Powder, $32 Becca Cosmetics Soft Light Blurring Powder, $38 Take Care of Your Skin To cut back...

beauty tips

Editor Tips: How to Get in Enough Vitamin D

Joyce Huang

September 24, 2020

Nutrition

Did you get in your vitamin D today? We hope so because it helps with everything from bone health and depression to promoting calcium absorption and fighting respiratory infections. The NIH (National Institutes of Health) recommends that adults (19-70) get in 15 micrograms (mcg) or 600 International Units (IU) of it. A lot of us think of vitamin D as a sun vitamin, as our body produces it when we are exposed to the sun, which makes sense if you find yourself lacking it during the colder weather months. But you can also get your vitamin D in with a plethora of foods and supplements. If you’re trying to make up for any sun that you’ve missed out on, try these foods and supplements to give...

vitamins

In-Season Recipes With Fall Produce

Joyce Huang

September 16, 2020

Nutrition

Enjoying produce at its peak is a must! From the freshest apples to hearty greens, it’s time to get ready to enjoy fall’s beautiful and tasty bounty. Browse through these amazing recipes to see what to stock up on during your next shopping trip. Apples Apples, apples, and more apples! Of course, you know this delicious fruit is in season, as everyone posts apple picking photos each fall. It’s a great item to use in sweet and savory dishes. Chasing James Beard Apple Funnel Cake We love the shortcut this recipe takes by using pancake mix so that you can whip up a quick and easy dessert or snack. Food & Wine Smoked Duck Breast With Apple-Brandy Caramel If you consider yourself quite the cook, then tackle this fancy duck recipe...

fall produce recipes

7 Things We Are Loving For Fall

Joyce Huang

September 10, 2020

Wellness

Can you believe that a new season is about to start? The pandemic had us skipping spring and summer, but since things are opening up now, we are gearing up to get our lives ready for the fall season so that we can enjoy it to the utmost. MegaFood D3 Wellness Gummies, $16.26 As the weather gets colder and there is less sunshine to our days, it’s important to make sure that you’re getting in enough vitamin D still. A gummie version is fun when you want to channel your inner kid. Audiobooks, Free We plan on getting in some long walks to enjoy the fall season. While we’ll be armed with a face mask for CV-19, we’ll also have a bunch of audiobooks checked out from the library....

vitamins wellness

Create The Perfect At-Home Spa

Joyce Huang

August 26, 2020

Wellness

Spas may have opened up across the country, but a lot of people still aren’t comfortable with booking an appointment. If you plan on staying clear of them in the meantime, why not try creating a at-home spa? You’ll be able to melt your stresses away as you pamper yourself with the help of a few key products. You’ll also be saving money by doing it yourself since you’ll be able to use these items more than once. Set the Mood From music to aromatherapy, these little touches will really set the mood. Harlem Candle Company Dream Candle, $45 Plant Therapy AromaFuse Diffuser, $54.95 Plant Therapy Clear Intuition Oil, $19.95 The Wardrobe Slip into a soft robe and a pair of comfortable slippers so that you look and feel the part. Joyfolie Tianna...

spa

CV-19 Face Mask Skincare

Joyce Huang

August 19, 2020

Body

Your skin might be going a bit wonky having to wear a face mask to protect against CV-19. It could be that your face is breaking out from all the oil and heat being trapped under the mask. The pimples become an even bigger problem if they are deep and painful. Some may be experiencing the opposite and will find that their skin is getting dry and chapped. Another downside to face masks could just be plain old redness and irritation. Depending on what you’re experiencing, you might want to change up your skincare products to try and tame your skin to what it used to be. It will make you feel much more comfortable in your own skin, literally. Scroll through these products to see...

skincare

5 Easy Ways to Zhuzh Up Your Smoothie

Joyce Huang

August 17, 2020

Nutrition

The summer months have us craving smoothies every day. Not only are they refreshing when it gets hot, but there are so many mouthwatering in-season fruits to blend up right now. Interested in finding ways to make your smoothies a bit more nutritious or filling? Then add one of these ingredients to your next concoction. Avocado Everyone is on the avocado toast bandwagon, but adding some avocado to a smoothie makes it thick, creamy, and will give you a good dose of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and vitamins like C, E, and K. You’ll feel like you’re sipping on a milkshake. Nut Butter Barney Butter Smooth Almond Butter, $13.49 Vitacost Organic Peanut Butter, $4.84 Nut butters are a wonderful way to add flavor and a bit of protein to your smoothies....

smoothies