Health Tips Line

I’m one of those weirdos who hates a drive-thru and will actually go inside to order. Partly because I’m convinced it is faster and partly to embarrass my children, which is always a good time. But there is one circumstance where I will always choose the drive-thru : bad weather. I hate being wet. I hate being cold. And more than anything, I hate being cold and wet. So if it’s raining, snowing or sleeting, you’d best believe I’ll be in that car lineup. That said, I consider myself a good drive-thru customer. I make a point to have my order ready before I even pull up to the speaker. I turn down the music (lies—it’s a murder podcast) so the employee doesn’t have to compete with the ominous voice coming from my phone. I’ve got my card ready to go (or exact change, if I’m feeling poor and/or ambitious). I say please and thank you, and I actually make eye contact instead of scrolling through my phone. Gold star for me! Perhaps you’re a good drive-thru customer too. But here’s the thing: ...

We’ve all been there: You’re juggling a meeting, a morning commute, a stroller, a briefcase—whatever your version of a.m. chaos looks like. You grab that to-go cup of coffee like it’s a life raft. You take a satisfying sip … and wonder, for the first time (or perhaps the hundredth), what that extra hole on the lid is actually for. That tiny dot off to the side appears on nearly every disposable coffee lid, from neighborhood cafes to big chains . And once you understand why it’s there, you’ll wonder how you ever overlooked it. Theories about the hole’s purpose abound: “It keeps the coffee hotter!” “It’s for the aroma!” “It’s just a design quirk!” The truth, though, is far more practical—and far less glamorous—than most guesses. To crack this caffeinated case, I spoke to packaging expert Stanislav Krykun, CEO of DST-Pack, and did some sleuthing of my own. Let’s pour out what that mystery perforation actually does, and how coffee lids have evolved to keep your caffeine flowing (and ...

Recently, my husband surprised me with a “ get to know you ” question game. Adorable, right? We’ve been married for more than 20 years, have five kids together and finish each other’s sentences, so I figured we’d crush it. Reader, we did not crush it. We barely limped across the finish line. Turns out he had no idea what my dream vacation destination is (it’s South Korea, babe), and I completely blanked on his favorite childhood memory. But the worst part was that we both whiffed the question about our first date. (HOW?!) It was humbling but also hilarious. And it reminded me that the right flirty qu estions to ask a girl aren’t just limited to those butterflies-in-your-stomach early days—they may be even more important the longer you’re together. Of course, what you ask, and how you ask it, depends a lot on the relationship. The questions you’d ask someone you just met at a party look very different from the ones you’d ask your wife of two decades (though clearly, some of us need t...

In Reader’s Digest ‘s new series “Is It Really Rude to…,” Charlotte Hilton Andersen tackles low-stakes etiquette questions from everyday life using a combination of her common sense and vast knowledge from writing 50-plus etiquette stories for this site. Have a situation you can’t stop ruminating on? Email us at advice@tmbi.com , or message Charlotte on Instagram at @charlottehiltonandersen . I was at a friend’s birthday party recently, holding my soda and minding my own business, when another guest—let’s call her Tipsy Tina, because she was several glasses of wine into the evening—loudly announced that she “won’t even talk to me” if I’m not drinking and that I’m “no fun.” In front of everyone. At a birthday party. She then informed the group that it was “really weird” that I’m an adult who doesn’t drink, not even a “tiny sip of champagne for a toast,” and demanded I give her a good reason why I don’t drink. I stood there, face burning, trying to decide if the appropriate response...

Chick-fil-A is turning 80 this year, and the Atlanta-based fast-food chain is marking the milestone in a very Willy Wonka way. Instead of golden tickets, the brand is hiding 3,000 Golden Fan Cups inside a nationwide run of collectible drink cups. Find one, and you’ll win a year’s worth of free Chick-fil-A . What are these cups, exactly, and how can you score a golden one? We’ve got all the juicy details, including whether there are any catches hidden in the fine print. Let’s dig in. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more food news, humor, travel, tech and fun facts all week long. How can you win free Chick-fil-A for a year? Think of this as a modern-day golden-ticket hunt—except the treasure comes in the form of chicken sandwiches and nuggets instead of Everlasting Gobstoppers. Chick-fil-A’s sweepstakes is tied to a limited run of collectible cups, with a small number concealing the ultimate prize. What to know The fast-food chain is rolling out four ret...

Whenever anyone in my family buys something new to wear, I nudge them to throw it right in the wash. My sons—and husband, honestly—roll their eyes at me. Am I being extra? Maybe? I report on places germs hide a lot, so I might be a bit microbe-obsessed. But I know I’m not the only one confused on this issue. You may have wondered: Do I rip off the tags and rock this amazing shirt right now … or is that gross? On the one hand, you’re not considering wearing underwear out of the package. (Um, you aren’t, right?) On the other hand, it probably came from a random store or Amazon warehouse, so maybe you should suds it up before letting it get close and personal with your skin. It’s time we got a definitive answer to this debate. To find out if prewashing new clothes is crucial or just a waste of water, I consulted two experts: a Cornell assistant professor of textiles and a microbiologist known professionally as “The Germ Guy.” Read on to find out whether you should wash new clothes ...

Few things bring a smile to my face faster than a visit to a Disney World theme park. The delicious Disney World food , incredible rides, themed parades and nighttime fireworks—truly, it’s a magical place for kids and adults alike. Not so magical: Discovering that you’ve planned your trip at not only the most expensive time but also when the parks are jammed mouse ear to mouse ear with crowds. It’s enough to make you say “hi-ho, hi-ho” … and head out of the parks altogether. Of course, Disney World is an amazing place to visit any time of year, but it’s important to time your visit to get the best value for your investment and not spend all of your time waiting in lines. Want the inside scoop on how to have the most fun at Disney World? I’ve been there more times than I can count, and I have tons of insider tips on the best time to visit to avoid the crowds and save money. Ready to plan your next Disney vacation? Get out those mouse ears and keep reading. Get  Reader’s Digest ’...