Q: Following a meal plan each week can make healthy eating a lot easier. Spend some of your free time writing up your meal plan and corresponding grocery list for each week. Take into consideration how much time you have each week or each weeknight to prepare foods. This may change what you choose to put on your meal plan or purchase at the grocery store. Plan for super busy nights. For example, you're planning on going to the gym right after work or have a long meeting that will keep you later at the office. Try to schedule prepare quick meals ahead of time or meals with little to no cooking for nights that are extra busy. A well-stocked kitchen is essential to healthy and quick meals. The less time you spend traveling back and forth to the grocery store or looking for ingredients, the better. Make a full shopping list and go grocery shopping before you are hungry. Studies have shown that you'll stick to your list and leave tempting indulgent foods at the store instead of in your cart. Always keep fruits and vegetables on hand. Frozen, fresh, or canned items are all appropriate. Also consider pre-washed or pre-prepared items like bagged lettuce or bagged broccoli florets to minimize preparation time. Pantry staples can also help make for a quick meal. Keep items on hand like: canned beans, whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, or 100% whole wheat pasta), dressings/sauces, and nuts or nut butters. Also consider purchasing pre-cooked grains like brown rice or quinoa. Quick protein foods include frozen items (like fish or chicken); fresh, pre-cooked proteins (like grilled chicken strips or or deli meat); and canned tuna or chicken. These are great to have on hand at all times. Remember that even the best planning does not eliminate surprises! You might not always have time to cook or buy food. A well-stocked kitchen can help you quickly prepare a healthy meal in a flash: frozen veggies, pre-cooked chicken breast strips, and pre-cooked brown rice or homemade tuna salad on a whole wheat wrap and a small side salad. Keep quick items like granola, nuts, apples, or protein bars in your bag or purse. If you need a quick snack when you get caught in traffic or held up at work, you have a healthy option to tide you over to your next meal. Stock up your office with healthy snacks, such as nuts, whole-grain crackers, and shelf-stable fruit (like apples or oranges). If you have a fridge keep yogurts, cottage cheese or a few low-calorie frozen meals on hand.
A: Write out your meals for the week in advance. Stock your kitchen. Plan for unexpected changes in your schedule.

Q: An adult birthday party can be anything from a few people gathering for drinks to a room full of people rocking out to live music. It all comes down to the preferences of the birthday honoree. Simple and classy or totally outrageous? Having it at home is easiest, but that means cleaning, cooking, entertaining, and cleaning some more. However, having it at home is cheaper and you have free reign of your territory. If you do have it at home, consider having everyone bring a dish or a drink. This keeps the burden off you and makes it a more interactive affair. If you're going out, make a reservation as soon as possible. Some places are hard to get into on a moment's notice. Unlike kids, adults have a million and one things going on that they have to attend to. To get all your guests to come, send out invites well in advance, about 2 - 3 weeks. This way they can write down the party in their calendar before the slot fills up. Send something concrete, like an email. A phone call or text is easy to forget and often doesn't seem official. But don't hesitate to send a reminder text a few days before the party. There are a couple of things that can make any party monumental: Pick a theme, where your guests can dress up, eat special foods, and take part in themed activities. This could be anything from an 80s theme with neon colors and bad movies, to golf with parfaits and mini-golf set up in the basement, to a cartoon character theme, where you get to relive your childhood. Plan an event. It could be a photo scavenger hunt throughout the city, a pub crawl, or a macaroni and cheese tasting at your house (where everyone brings a different variation). This adds extra excitement about your party and keeps people from being bored, too. Consider entertainment like live music or a sports game. With this route, all the planning is done for you. If you're having the party at your house, make sure everyone's well taken care of. You'll need hors d'oeuvres for people to munch on all night long, and food to accommodate everyone's allergies and diets. Some gluten-free and vegetarian plates may be a good idea. What's more, you'll likely want alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available. For those that don't drink, keep it fun by making a punch or some other concoction that makes them feel like they're a part of it, too. the area according to your theme. Did you choose "Old Hollywood" as your theme? Get some old film reels, some black and white decorations, and roll out the red carpet on your sidewalk. "90s"? Bust out the scrunchies, the high-waisted jeans, the bright colors, and blast some Spice Girls. The limit is only your imagination and your budget. Don't have a theme? No problem. For that macaroni and cheese party, set up a large board for everyone to vote on or make them personalized voting cards. Make name tags and decorate the table to make the mac n' cheese look better than it already does. Since you're likely the glue that holds this party together, try your best to work in and out of circles, introducing them to one another, and starting games if the atmosphere calls for it. Keep them safe, too. If drinking is involved, take their keys and put them in a safe place. When they go to leave, make sure they're sober before they drive away. If not, arrange a designated driver to take them home.
A: Plan the who, what, when, and where. Send out the invites well beforehand. Choose a theme or over-arching activity. Cover all the food and drink necessities. Decorate Keep everyone mingling.

Q: The sweet potato fries can be cooked at any temperature from 375-450. Spread the fries on a baking sheet. Bake them for 20-30 minutes, turning them over at least once while baking. Depending on the oven, it may take more or less time. Bake them until the fries are crispy and golden brown. Don't place the fries too closely together or stack them too high. You want them to crisp up.
A:
Preheat the oven to 425. Place the fries on a baking sheet.