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Republic Day Special: 9 Amazing Breakfast Ideas To Enjoy The Holiday With Your Family

Republic day is just around the corner. And so is the year’s first long weekend. On the 26th January 2018, India would be celebrating its 76th Republic day. Republic Day holiday is a special one for all Indians. Watching the Republic day parades and March Past on Television is something which is part of every Indian household since decades. Watching the flag hoisting and listening to the President’s speech has been our earliest tryst to the feeling of patriotism. Little Flags, tricolor balloons and badges circulated around Republic day, play their own sweet role in instilling the same. Another thing that makes Republic day holiday all the more delightful is the special Republic day breakfast or brunch. Biting into the piping hot pakodas, greasy sandwiches while listening to the great milestones achieved by us a as nation is a joy incomparable.

Here Are 10 Amazing Breakfast Recipes For You:

1. Pav Bhaji

Master Maharashtra’s favourite breakfast in the corners of your kitchen with this simple and delicious recipe. Pav plays a significant role in Maharshtra’s street food fare. Pav when teamed with Bhaji a combination of different vegetables cooked and mashed together makes for a fiery snack you would love to try.

This republic day make yourself this Maharashtrian delight

2. Mushroom Uthappam

The South Indian savoury pancake dish is all things flavourful, wholesome and oh-so-decadent. Topped with mushrooms, corn, spinach and pepper, this special breakfast is sure to impress.

(Also Read: Republic Day Special: 7 Biryanis of India You Must Try Once In Your Lifetime)

_{The South Indian savoury pancake dish is all things flavourful, wholesome and oh-so-decadent.}

3. Masala Rava Idli

Your regular idli with a spicy twist. These semolina idlis, are flavoured with peppers, curry leaves and mustard seeds and goes best with piping hot sambhar and coconut chutney. There, there, we can see you slurping already.

_{These semolina idlis, are flavoured with peppers, curry leaves and mustard seeds and goes best with piping hot sambhar and coconut chutney.}

4. Spicy Aloo Tikki

Flat spicy patties of mashed boiled potatoes, is every North Indian’s favourite go-to street food. A bite into this fiery and ever-so delightful patty would tell you exactly why. Try making this delightful snack at home with this lovely recipe. Serve with fresh mint chutney and enjoy.

_{A bite into this fiery and ever-so delightful patty would tell you exactly why.}

5.   Poha

Pressed rice cooked with a host of veggies, spices and nuts is a dose of health and flavour bundled into one. Try this light and lip-smacking version and enjoy the holiday with your loved ones.

6.   Medu Vada

Medu vada is an indispensable part of South Indian cuisine that has gained much recognition globally too. Medu vada is prepared using black lentils or urad dal batter and deep fried in oil. This soul satisfying crispy vada dipped in piping hot sambhar with coconut chutney is one treat you shouldn’t deprive yourself of.

7.   Methi Ka Thepla

The flat Gujarati delight is delicious and nutritious snack that would leave you craving for more. Kneaded with methi, ginger, chilies, herbs and yogurt, the flat paratha like snack goes best with chutney, pickle or raita.

8. Keema Samosa With Yogurt Dip

Samosa lovers raise your hands! Crispy dough pockets filled with spicy minced mutton filling. Team them with a refreshing hung curd dip and enjoy.

_{Crispy dough pockets filled with spicy minced mutton filling}

10. Chole Bhature

You saw this coming, didn’t you? Mention chole bhature and a Punjabi heart would take a leap of joy. The soft and puffy bhaturas, and chickpeas cooked in the rich mélange of rustic spices. Serve piping hot with pickle.

_{The soft and puffy bhaturas, and chickpeas cooked in the rich mélange of rustic spices}

Happy Republic Day everybody!

About Sushmita SenguptaSharing a strong penchant for food, Sushmita loves all things good, cheesy and greasy. Her other favourite pastime activities other than discussing food includes, reading, watching movies and binge-watching TV shows.

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January 24, 2025
Are You Stress Eating During The Holidays? Check Out 5 Mindful Tips For The Holiday Table

Rockhampton (Australia), Dec 23 (The Conversation) The holiday season can be a time of joy, celebration, and indulgence in delicious foods and meals. However, for many, it can also be an emotional and stressful period.

This stress can manifest in our eating habits, leading to what is known as emotional or stress eating.

There are certain foods we tend to eat more of when we’re stressed, and these can affect our health. What’s more, our food choices can influence our stress levels and make us feel worse. Here’s how.

Why we might eat more when stressed

The human stress response is a complex signalling network across the body and brain. Our nervous system then responds to physical and psychological events to maintain our health. Our stress response – which can be subtle or trigger a fight-or-flight response – is essential and part of daily life.

The stress response increases production of the hormones cortisol and insulin and the release of glucose (blood sugars) and brain chemicals to meet demand. Eating when we experience stress is a normal behaviour to meet a spike in energy needs.

But sometimes our relationship with food becomes strained in response to different types of stress. We might attach shame or guilt to overeating. And anxiety or insecurity can mean some people under-eat in stressful times.

Over time, people can start to associate eating with negative emotions – such as anger, sadness, fear or worry. This link can create behavioural cycles of emotional eating. “Emotional eaters” may go on to develop altered brain responses to the sight or smell of food.

What stress eating can do to the body Stress eating can include binge eating, grazing, eating late at night, eating quickly or eating past the feeling of fullness. It can also involve craving or eating foods we don’t normally choose. For example, stressed people often reach for ultra-processed foods. While eating these foods is not necessarily a sign of stress, having them can activate the reward system in our brain to alleviate stress and create a pattern.

Short-term stress eating, such as across the holiday period, can lead to symptoms such as acid reflux and poor sleep – particularly when combined with drinking alcohol.

In the longer term, stress eating can lead to weight gain and obesity, increasing the risks of cancer, heart diseases and diabetes.

While stress eating may help reduce stress in the moment, long-term stress eating is linked with an increase in depressive symptoms and poor mental health.

What we eat can make us more or less stressed

The foods we choose can also influence our stress levels.

Diets high in refined carbohydrates and sugar (such as sugary drinks, sweets, crackers, cakes and most chocolates) can make blood sugar levels spike and then crash.

Diets high in unhealthy saturated and trans fats (processed foods, animal fats and commercially fried foods) can increase inflammatory responses.

Rapid changes in blood sugar and inflammation can increase anxiety and can change our mood.

Meanwhile, certain foods can improve the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain that regulate stress and mood.

Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish and flaxseeds, are known to reduce inflammation and support brain health. Magnesium, found in leafy greens and nuts, helps regulate cortisol levels and the body’s stress response.

Vitamin Bs, found in whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans and animal products (mostly B12), help maintain a healthy nervous system and energy metabolism, improving mood and cognitive performance.

5 tips for the holiday table and beyond

Food is a big part of the festive season, and treating yourself to delicious treats can be part of the fun. Here are some tips for enjoying festive foods, while avoiding stress eating:
1. slow down: be mindful about the speed of your eating. Slow down, chew food well and put down your utensils after each bite
2. watch the clock: even if you’re eating more food than you normally would, sticking to the same timing of eating can help maintain your body’s response to the food. If you normally have an eight-hour eating window (the time between your first meal and last meal of the day) then stick to this even if you’re eating more
3. continue other health behaviours: even if we are eating more food or different food during the festive season, try to keep up other healthy behaviours, such as sleep and exercise
4. stay hydrated: make sure to drink plenty of fluids, especially water. This helps our body function and can help with feelings of hunger. When our brain gets the message something has entered the stomach (what we drink) this can provide a temporary reduction in feelings of hunger
5. don’t restrict: if we have a big day of eating, it can be tempting to restrict eating in the days before or after. But it is never a good idea to overly constrain food intake. It can lead to more overeating and worsen stress.

Plus 3 bonus tips to manage holiday stress

1. shift your thinking: try reframing festive stress. Instead of viewing it as “something bad”, see it as “providing the energy” to reach your goals, such as a family gathering or present shopping
2. be kind to yourself and others: practise an act of compassion for someone else or try talking to yourself as you would a friend. These actions can stimulate our brains and improve wellbeing
3. do something enjoyable: being absorbed in enjoyable activities – such as crafting, movement or even breathing exercises – can help our brains and bodies to return to a more relaxed state, feel steady and connected. (The Conversation)

(Disclaimer: Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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December 23, 2024
5 Christmas Cakes From Around The World That Will Make Your Holiday Extra Sweet

Christmas is all about red and green outfits, lots of feasting, decorating everything with lights, and having a good time with friends and family. Among the many holiday traditions, Christmas cakes hold a special place on dessert tables worldwide. While most people are familiar with the plum or rum cake, there is a range of delicious and special Christmas cakes in different parts of the world. This Christmas, embrace the global spirit of celebration with cakes from around the world.

Here Are 5 Traditional Christmas Cakes Worldwide:

1. Christmas Cake – England

The England-style Christmas cake has become a beloved holiday dessert worldwide. This dense fruit cake is packed with candied or dried fruits, nuts, and warm spices – all soaked in spirits like brandy, rum, or cognac. The flavours of the cake are a unique mix of sweet, spicy, and boozy.

2. Buche de Noel – France

In France, Buche de Noel is a popular Christmas cake. This iconic dessert is a light sponge cake rolled into a log shape. The outer layer is coated in chocolate or coffee – flavoured buttercream and textured to resemble tree bark. To add a Christmas-special touch, it is decorated with powdered sugar, edible leaves, and meringue mushrooms.

Photo: iStock

3. Bolo Rei – Portugal

Portugal’s traditional Christmas cake looks fascinating and tastes amazing. Bolo Rei means ‘King’s Cake,’ and that’s what it looks like. The cake is shaped like a crown with a hole in the centre. Just like bright gems, it is adorned with candied fruits and nuts. As per tradition, a fava bean is hidden in the cake, and whoever gets that slice has to buy the cake next Christmas.

Photo: iStock

4. Panettone – Italy

Italy’s classic recipe is another favourite Christmas cake across Europe and beyond. This sweet cake is dome-shaped and has a bread-like texture-light, airy, and yeasty – similar to sourdough bread. Panettone also contains raisins and candied fruits. The true origin of Panettone lies in the medieval custom of enriching the daily bread during the Christmas period.

Also Read:Kylie Jenner’s “Christmas Tree Pancakes” Scream Festive Vibes From Miles Away

5. Bibingka – Philippines

Christmas is a cherished holiday in the Philippines, celebrated with a holiday-special cake called bibingka. This traditional rice cake is made with coconut milk and wrapped in banana leaf moulds, giving it a unique aroma and interesting presentation. It is often topped with caramelized coconut strips.

Which is your favourite cake for Christmas celebrations? Share with us in the comments section.

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December 17, 2024
What to stream: MrBeast jumps to TV, Little Big Town’s holiday special and Squid Game: Unleashed

The griping Vatican-based thriller “Conclave” about picking a new pope and Stephanie Hsu starring in the dark comedy “Laid” as a woman whose former lovers keep unexpectedly dying are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Dwayne Johnson stars as Santa’s bodyguard in the movie “Red One,” internet star MrBeast hosts his own reality competition show on Prime Video called “Beast Games” and Little Big Town host a Christmas special on NBC.

– What goes on inside the Vatican before white smoke flows out of the Sistine Chapel? “Conclave” (streaming now on Peacock), about the election of a new pope, is a gripping thriller that imagines how the gathering of cardinals could go. The film, directed by Edward Berger and based on Robert Harris’ 2016 novel, stars Ralph Fiennes as the cardinal tasked with running the conclave. Nominated for six Golden Globes, “Conclave” is a major Oscar contender and one of the rare recent adult-oriented dramas to succeed at the box office. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr called it “a deliriously fun watch in the way that tense, smart thrillers with an ensemble of great actors can be.”

– It was easy to miss Clint Eastwood’s “Juror No. 2” in cinemas, but the 94-year-old’s latest arrives Friday, Dec. 20 on Max. And “Juror No. 2,” despite its small theatrical footprint, has been much praised by critics. In it, Nicholas Hoult plays a juror in a murder trial who’s struggling with a moral dilemma.

– A sled-full of new Christmas movies arrive every year, with hopes of establishing themselves as a new holiday classic. Of them, “Red One” (now streaming on Prime Video) is distinguished by being the biggest, most garishly wrapped one yet. In the $250 million movie, Dwayne Johnson stars as the bodyguard for a more militaristic Kris Kringle (J.K. Simmons), who teams up with a deadbeat hacker (Chris Evans) to rescue Santa after he’s kidnapped. In my review, I wrote that “there is ample time during ‘Red One’ to ponder who, exactly, put a Marvel-ized Santa on their wish list.”

– Mati Diop’s “Dahomey,” one of the year’s nonfiction highlights, is not to be missed. Diop, the French Senegalese director of “Atlantics,” documents the return of 26 art works seized by French troops during the 1890s from the African kingdom (now southern Benin). In the film, currently streaming on Mubi, Diop casts a wide and fantastic net in chronicling their voyage home, with a wide array of voices debating the ethics and meaning of reparations — including even those of the Dahomey treasures, themselves.

— AP Film Writer Jake Coyle

— ’Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. That is, until Monday, when “Little Big Town’s Christmas at the Opry” airs on NBC, available to stream on Peacock the following day! What says “happy holidays” more than some of country music’s modern greats bringing their twang from the famous Nashville stage to the family living room? A group of great guests, probably – and those include Dan + Shay, Kelsea Ballerini, Sheryl Crow, Kirk Franklin, Josh Groban, Kate Hudson and Orville Peck.

— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman

— A new docuseries on Apple TV+ reveals the habits and behaviors of animals in the wild. Filmmakers spent three years tracking 77 unique species in 24 countries, and capturing everything from jumping spider courtship dances to a killifish in Trinidad breathing through its tail when out of the water. Hugh Bonneville narrates “The Secret Lives of Animals, ” debuting Dec. Wednesday.

— Stephanie Hsu stars in a new dark comedy for Peacock as Ruby, a woman whose former lovers keep unexpectedly dying in mysterious, outrageous ways. Ruby and her best friend AJ (Zosia Mamet, doing her wry observational bit) dig into the past to make sense of what’s happening and save lives. The process prompts Ruby to learn hard truths about herself. “Laid” is based on an Australian series. There are also a number of fun guest stars including Finneas O’Connell, Chloe Fineman and Josh Segarra. “Laid” premieres Thursday on Peacock.

— Internet star MrBeast, (real name: Jimmy Donaldson) whose YouTube channel has more subscribers than any other — is now the host of his own reality competition show on Prime Video called “Beast Games.” Contestants wear tracksuits and compete in wild games for a $5 million prize. It’s like “Squid Game,” without the dying. “Beast Games” premieres Thursday on Prime Video.

— Alicia Rancilio

— Season 2 of “Squid Game” drops on Netflix the day after Christmas, but you and your family can get an early start if you’re already itching for a fight to the death. The streamer is inviting subscribers to download Squid Game: Unleashed, an online battle royale for up to 32 players. It includes familiar season 1 competitions like Glass Bridge and Red Light Green Light, as well as deadly new devices like buzzsaws, wrecking balls and lava pits. Last one to survive … well, you don’t get any money but at least you don’t get squished. The contest begins Tuesday, Dec. 17, on iOS and Android.

— Lou Kesten

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December 16, 2024
Apple’s latest iPhones get the gift of more AI as holiday shopping season heats up

SAN FRANCISCO — Apple is pumping more artificial intelligence into the latest iPhones during the holiday shopping season with a free software update that includes a feature that enables users to create customized emojis within a matter of seconds.

The Wednesday release of the iPhone’s upgraded operating system, iOS 18.2, extends Apple’s expansion into AI months after rivals such as Samsung and Google began implanting the revolutionary technology on their devices. The update builds upon another one that came out in late October to usher in the AI era for Apple and the iPhone, as well as for the iPad and Mac.

The latest round of AI tricks includes “Genmojis,” Apple’s description for emojis that iPhone users will be able to ask the technology to create and then share. Apple says it is placing some limits its AI’s emoji artistry to prevent the distribution of violent or hateful imagery. Other features include an “Image Playground” for a variety of AI-styled illustrations, writing tools and options for summarizing emails.

The technology won’t work on iPhones that Apple made before 2023 because it requires a special processor that isn’t in older models. The AI will work on the iPhone 16 line-up that came out in September and the premium iPhone 15 models released last year.

That exclusivity is expected to propel a cycle of iPhone upgrades during the current holiday shopping season into next year, driving up Apple’s profit even higher from the $94 billion that the Cupertino, California, company pocketed in its last fiscal year ending in September. That expectation is the main reason Apple’s stock price has climbed by about 30% so far this year to push the company’s market value closer to the $4 trillion threshold for the first time.

Apple is broadening the AI suite’s appeal by including English versions tailored for Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. that are included in the latest software update.

Although the iPhone’s AI is similar to many of the features that have already been available from other companies, Apple is taking a slightly different approach to the technology in an effort to stand out from the rest of pack. It is emphasizing its ongoing commitment to protecting iPhone users’ privacy by processing most of its AI on the device itself or corralling it in a secured data center. Users seeking more AI wizardry than the device or the special data center can handle will have the option to reach out to the popular ChatGPT technology made by OpenAI, which has forged a partnership with Apple.

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December 11, 2024
Lifestyle News Live Today December 10, 2024: Merry and glamorous: Christmas fashion ideas to get into the holiday spirit in style
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Lifestyle News Live: Stay informed with Hindustan Times’ live updates! Track the latest lifestyle news including fashion trends, style guide & Tips, India & World Events. Don’t miss today’s key news for December 10, 2024.
Latest news on December 10, 2024: Christmas outfit ideas for all your holiday celebrations

Lifestyle News Live: Get the latest news updates and breaking news stories from the world of lifestyle. Track all the latest fashion trends, delicious recipes, travel tips and more. Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated live blog and has not been edited by Hindustan Times staff.…Read More

Follow all the updates here:

Dec 10, 2024 1:16 PM IST

Fashion News LIVE: Merry and glamorous: Christmas fashion ideas to get into the holiday spirit in style

Dress to impress this holiday season! Check out outfit ideas for every kind of celebration and welcome the Christmas season in style.

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Dec 10, 2024 1:03 PM IST

Health News LIVE: Tired of stubborn acne scars? Dermat suggests skincare routine to treat it

Acne sometimes leaves behind a dark scar or hyperpigmentation. Dermat recommends products that treat the acne issues.

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Dec 10, 2024 11:53 AM IST

Fashion News LIVE: Aaliyah Kashyap-Shane Gregoire’s cocktail night: Bride dazzles in red; Khushi Kapoor-Vedang Raina bring the glam

Aaliyah Kashyap and Shane Gregoire hosted a cocktail party. While the bride dazzled in red, her BFF Khushi Kapoor wore a gorgeous lehenga. See who wore what.

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Dec 10, 2024 11:21 AM IST

Fashion News LIVE: Mahira Khan looks stunning in green tissue saree, fans can’t stop gushing over her adaa

Mahira Khan’s desi look ticked all items on the checklist of a complete desi look- from bangles to jhumkas.

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Dec 10, 2024 10:17 AM IST

Festivals News LIVE: Moskshada Ekadashi 2024: Know the date, time, significance and rituals of the holy day

Mokshada Ekadashi 2024: Lord Vishnu is prayed to on this day as devotees believe it liberates them from the cycle of rebirths and they gain ‘moksha.’

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Dec 10, 2024 10:05 AM IST

Health News LIVE: Woman who shed 45 kg shares weird things that happen to your body after a drastic weight loss

Fitness influencer Eliuth Lopez, who lost almost 45 kg, shared that weight loss brings ‘weird’ changes to your body. Know what are these changes.

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Dec 10, 2024 9:01 AM IST

Fashion News LIVE: Sobhita Dhulipala turns into a glittering goddess for her and Naga Chaitanya’s wedding cocktail event. Pics

Sobhita Dhulipala wore a golden Tarun Tahiliani gown for her and Naga Chaitanya’s wedding cocktail event. The couple wed on December 4.

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Dec 10, 2024 8:12 AM IST

Fashion News LIVE: Shraddha Kapoor in chic gown poses with Andrew Garfield at Red Sea Film Festival; fans call them ‘Tu Jhooti Main Makda’

Shraddha Kapoor wowed in a stunning, colourful gown at the Red Sea International Film Festival. She also posed with Andrew Garfield on the red carpet.

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December 10, 2024
New cricket boss Todd Greenberg makes a STUNNING call on Australia Day after sport vowed to cancel the national holiday
- Sporting body said Australia Day would not be commemorated in 2025
- Cricket Australia did not mention Australia Day at Gabba Test
- January 26 has become a very divisive day for Aussies
By JAMES COONEY FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 18:37 EST, 8 December 2024 | Updated: 19:10 EST, 8 December 2024

The incoming CEO of Cricket Australia says that Australia Day will be commemorated from now on after the sporting organisation decided to not make reference to the national public holiday earlier this year.

Cricket fans across the nation won’t see any team in green and gold playing on Australia Day this summer because of a clash with the Australian Open.

But recently appointed cricket CEO Todd Greenberg says that going forward Australia Day will be celebrated and cricket will be played.

‘The cricket Australia board has spoken about it and they will playing matches in the future on Australia Day – but they do understand that we will need to do that respectfully and consult the right people and the right groups,’ Greenberg told 2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham.

‘My personal view on this is that I’ve loved Australia Day since i was a kid, but when you reflect on history and listen to other people’s views you can appreciate it is a difficult day for some people.

‘So, we have to respect that, but ultimately I think what you’ll see going forward is that if there’s opportunities to play cricket on Australia Day we will be – we will just do it respectfully.

Australian cricket CEO Todd Greenberg (pictured) says that going forward Australia Day will be celebrated by the sporting body

Cricket Australia refused to mention the national public holiday during the second Test at the Gabba in Brisbane earlier this year

Fordham quizzed Greenberg on what he meant by ‘respectfully’, explaining that many Australians feel like they aren’t allowed to celebrate the day.

‘Oh, no, we will be celebrating it – absolutely!’ Greenberg replied.

‘For those who who want to celebrate it, they are more than welcome to – and a day at the cricket is probably the best way to do it.

‘When I say ‘respectfully’, it’s just making sure that we understand that the day means different things to different people. And making sure we find a balance there.’

The decision to schedule the Test over the Australia Day weekend in 2024 was itself controversial, with women’s all-rounder Ash Gardner previously describing it as a day of ‘hurt and mourning’.

Gardner found support from men’s Test captain Pat Cummins and star batter Steve Smith.

Both claimed January 26 is not an appropriate time to celebrate the national holiday, with the date a highly controversial issue due to the landing of the First Fleet from Britain in Australia.

Smith formed his view after chatting with teammate Scott Boland, who has Indigenous heritage.

Indigenous cricketers Scott Boland and Ash Gardner have expressed their reservations about playing on Australia Day

Australia cricket captain Pat Cummins (pictured) has called for the the date of Australia Day to be changed

However Cricket Australia’s attempt to placate such opponents by shying away from acknowledging the national day also angered players who wanted the day celebrated.

Former test player Greg Ritchie was one of those.

‘I am quite disappointed to read the Cricket Australia has decided not to use the phrase ‘Australia Day’ for this Test match,’ Ritchie said.

‘It will be at the Gabba, which is my home ground, and to have an Australia Day Test there is special.’

Ben FordhamAustralia Cricket

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New cricket boss Todd Greenberg makes a STUNNING call on Australia Day after sport vowed to cancel the national holiday
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December 9, 2024
Embracing lifestyle habits for a healthy holiday season

Tis the season to embrace lifestyle habits that will help you during the holiday season.

The holiday season is upon us, and it can come with a mix of emotions if you have been trying to focus on your health goals. An increase in festive parties, family gatherings and seasonal foods can mean increased temptations to eat more often.

There is a common thought that “When January comes; I’ll get back on track.” Unfortunately for a lot of people, “getting back on track” is difficult to accomplish. Here are some tips to be intentional with your lifestyle habits and not find yourself frustrated with a lack of motivation when the New Year starts.

• Change your mindset. Approach the holiday season with a more holistic outlook. The special treats and foods are lovely but not the sole enjoyment of the season. Seeing loved ones we do not see often, making special memories with seasonal events and providing support/resources to those who are missing loved ones or struggle with basic needs can provide joy.

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• Do not take off from the gym or whatever physical activity you have been doing. When time constraints arise, exercise is the first thing to go. Avoid the trap of all-or-nothing thinking – meaning if you cannot do your normal 45-minute exercise class/video/workout, what can you do instead? Do you have time for 10 minutes? Can you be smarter about your time management as opposed to working harder? Increase movement in the day by taking the stairs, getting away from your desk more often or parking farther away. Would this be the time to explore seasonal activities with your loved ones, such as going sledding, snow shoeing or walking around the neighborhood? In physical movement, something is better than nothing at all.

• Avoid skipping meals. Whether it is a busy schedule or thinking you can “bank” your calories for the festive meal later, skipping any meal during the day can affect your hunger/fullness hormones. When we skip meals, the hormone that tells us to eat increases, and the hormones that tell us we don’t need to eat decreases. That’s a recipe for overeating.

• Aim for balance. The nutrients we eat help our body function for everyday use. If we are not eating essential nutrients that we get from a variety of food groups (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein and dairy) each day, we cannot feel the energy and control of our hunger. That can increase our chances of eating quick, highly processed foods that are stripped of nutrients, which can leave us feeling hungry more often and sluggish. To keep up with the busy holiday season, fuel your day with a variety of foods from the food groups and aim to eat about every three to five hours.

• Hydrate: Our body is at least 60 percent water; therefore, we need to stay adequately hydrated. Staying hydrated can get away from us during the busy season or the cooler months, since we may not feel thirsty. A rule of thumb is, if we start to have some signs that indicate we are dehydrated (dry lips; tiredness; dry mouth; passing urine less often, or when we do pass, it is a darker color), that will indicate mild dehydration. Water is the best option to hydrate, but if you want flavor to your water, aim for noncalorie, noncaffeine options. Caffeine can act as a diuretic, meaning it can make you to want to go to the bathroom more often, causing issues with dehydration. For every cup of coffee (12 ounces), add an additional 8-ounce cup of water to your daily goal. A good goal for total fluid intake to hydrate is half of your current body weight in ounces. So, for example, if you are 200 pounds, half of your body weight would be 100 in fluid ounces as the goal to stay hydrated.

• Progress, not perfection: We live in a society that often makes it hard to reach our health goals. Try to focus on what you have control over, as opposed to what is out of your control. For example, you can’t control what is served by a family or friend at a get together, but you could control the amount you eat (portion control). You can’t control the weather (too cold, concerned about slipping on ice) but you can control exercise indoors, such as doing an exercise video or chair exercises.

Rebecca V. Cripe is a Gundersen Health registered dietitian.

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December 6, 2024
Can AI chatbots make your holiday shopping easier?

Tired of thinking about what gifts to get everyone this year? Artificial intelligence chatbots might help, but don’t expect them to do all the work or always give you the right answers.

Anyone scouring the internet for Cyber Monday deals is likely going to encounter more conversational iterations of the chatbots that some retailers and e-commerce sites have built to provide shoppers with enhanced customer service.

Some companies have integrated models infused with newer generative AI technologies, allowing shoppers to seek advice by asking naturally phrased questions like “What’s the best wireless speaker?”

Retailers hope consumers use these chatbots, which are typically called shopping assistants – as virtual companions that help them discover or compare products. Prior chatbots were mostly used for task-oriented functions such as helping customers track down online orders or return ones that didn’t meet expectations.

Amazon, the king of online retail, has said its customers have been questioning Rufus – the generative AI- powered shopping assistant it launched this year – for information such as whether a specific coffee maker is easy to clean, or what recommendations it has for a lawn game for a child’s birthday party.

And Rufus, which is available for holiday shoppers in the U.S. and some other countries, is not the only shopping assistant out there. A select number of Walmart shoppers will have access this year to a similar chatbot the nation’s largest retailer is testing in a few product categories, including toys and electronics.

Perplexity AI added something new to the AI chat-shopping world last month by rolling out a feature on its AI-powered search engine that enables users to ask a question like “What’s the best women’s leather boots?” and then receive specific product results that the San Francisco-based company says are not sponsored.

“It has been adopted at pretty incredible scale,” Mike Mallazzo, an analyst and writer at retail research media company Future Commerce, said.

Retailers with websites and e-commerce companies started paying more attention to chatbots when use of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence text chatbot made by the company OpenAI, went mainstream in late 2022, sparking public and business interest in the generative AI technology that powers the tool.

Victoria’s Secret, IKEA, Instacart and the Canadian retailer Ssense are among other companies experimenting with chatbots, some of which use technology from OpenAI.

Even before the improved chatbots, online retailers were creating product recommendations based on a customer’s prior purchases or search history. Amazon was at the forefront of having recommendations on its platform, so Rufus’ ability to provide some is not particularly groundbreaking.

But Rajiv Mehta, the vice president of search and conversational shopping at Amazon, said the company is able to offer more helpful recommendations now by programming Rufus to ask clarifying or follow-up questions. Customers are also using Rufus to look for deals, some of which are personalized, Mehta said.

To be sure, chatbots are prone to hallucinations, so Rufus and most of the tools like it can get things wrong.

Juozas Kaziukenas, founder of e-commerce intelligence firm Marketplace Pulse, wrote in a November blog post that his firm tested Rufus by requesting gaming TV recommendations. The chatbot’s response included products that were not TVs. When asked for the least expensive options, Rufus came back with suggestions that weren’t the cheapest, Kaziukenas said.

An Associated Press reporter recently asked Rufus to give some gift recommendations for a brother. The chatbot quickly spit out a few ideas for “thoughtful gifts,” ranging from a T-shirt and a keychain with charms to a bolder suggestion: a multifunctional knife engraved with the phrase “BEST BROTHER EVER.”

After a 5-minute written conversation, Rufus offered more tailored suggestions – a few Barcelona soccer jerseys sold by third-party sellers. But it wasn’t able to say which seller offered the lowest price. When asked during another search for a price comparison on a popular skin serum, Rufus showed the product’s pre-discounted price instead of its present one.

“Rufus is constantly learning,” Amazon’s Mehta said during an interview.

Shop AI, a chatbot that Canadian e-commerce company Shopify launched last year, can also help shoppers discover new products by asking its own questions, such as soliciting details about an intended gift recipient or features the buyer wants to avoid. Shop AI has trouble, however, recommending specific products or identifying the lowest-priced item in a product category.

The limitations show the technology is still in its infancy and has a long way to go before it becomes as useful as the retail industry – and many shoppers – wish it could be.

To truly transform the shopping experience, shopping assistants will “need to be deeply personalized” and be able – on their own – to remember a customer’s order history, product preferences and purchasing habits, consulting giant McKinsey & Company said in an August report. the McKinsey report said.

Amazon has noted that Rufus’ answers are based on information contained in product listings, community Q&As and customer reviews, which would include the fake reviews that are used to boost or diminish sales for products on its marketplace.

The large language model that powers the chatbot was also trained on the company’s entire catalog and some public information on the web, Trishul Chilimbi, an Amazon vice president who oversees AI research, wrote in the electrical engineering magazine IEEE Spectrum in October.

But its unclear how Amazon and other companies are weighting different training components – such as reviews – in their recommendations, or how exactly the shopping assistants come up with them, according to Nicole Greene, an analyst at management consulting firm Gartner.

Perplexity AI’s new shopping feature allows users to enter search queries such as “best phone case” and to receive answers derived from various sources, including Amazon and other retailers, such as Best Buy. Perplexity also invited retailers to share data about their products and said those that do would have an increased chance of having their items recommended to shoppers.

But Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas, suggested in a recent interview with Fortune magazine that he didn’t know how the new shopping feature recommended products to customers. But in an interview with the AP, Chief Business Officer Dmitry Shevelenko pushed back on that characterization, saying Srinivas’ comment “was probably taken out of context.”

The context, he said, is that with generative AI technology “You can’t know in advance exactly what the output will be just based off of knowing what the inputs” are from the training materials.

Shevelenko said retailers and brands need to know they can’t have their products recommended in Perplexity’s search engine because they’re “jamming key words” into their websites or using different techniques to show up better on search results

“The way you show up in an answer is by having a better product and better features,” he said.

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December 2, 2024
What to stream: Sabrina Carpenter holiday special, ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ and Rosé goes solo

Sabrina Carpenter hosting a holiday variety music special on Netflix and Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw playing a spy and an assassin in the TV series “Black Doves” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: K-pop star Rosé has her first solo full-length album, Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” enjoys another afterlife odyssey and BLACKPINK’s Rosé has her first solo full-length album.

— Thirty-six years after the original, the Deetz family returns to Winter River in Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice ” (streaming Saturday, Dec. 7 on Max). There, Lydia (Winona Ryder), still haunted by Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), is forced into another afterlife odyssey when her teenage daughter (Jenna Ortega) discovers a portal. In her review, AP’s Jocelyn Noveck called it “a joyously rendered sequel that sometimes makes sense, and sometimes doesn’t, but just keeps rollicking.”

— A lowkey reunion of “Love Actually” writer-director Richard Curtis and one of that film’s stars, Bill Nighy, is part of the new Netflix animated movie “That Christmas” (streaming Wednesday). The film was co-written by Curtis (it’s based on his series of Christmas books) and features Nighy as the voice of Lighthouse Bill, one of the Wellington-on-Sea townspeople grappling with a winter blizzard. The storm poses challenges even for Santa, voiced by Brian Cox.

— Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum star in the space race rom-com “Fly Me to the Moon,” about a NASA launch director (Tatum) and a Madison Avenue marketing executive tasked with selling the mission to the moon. The film, which debuted in theaters in July, hits Apple TV+ on Wednesday. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr praised it as “lighthearted and breezy with a pleasing screwball energy, giving Johansson the opportunity to use the full wattage of her movie star power.”

— AP Film Writer Jake Coyle

— Does espresso go with eggnog? Find out when Sabrina Carpenter hosts a holiday variety music special that streams on Netflix starting Friday, Dec. 6. “It’s an hour of literal nonsense,” Sabrina told Time magazine about the special. “If people are expecting boring, me singing by a tree, it’s not that. It’s so fun, so chaotic. There are so many guests that I’m excited about.” Those guests include Chappell Roan, Tyla, Shania Twain, Kali Uchis, Quinta Brunson, Cara Delevingne, Kyle Mooney, Nico Hiraga, Megan Stalter, Sean Astin, Owen Thiele and Jillian Bell.

— Lauren Mayberry, vocalist and percussionist from the Scottish pop band Chvrches, makes her solo debut with “Vicious Creature.” The 12 tracks veer from the coffee-house folk of “Anywhere But Dancing” to the punky “Punch Drunk,” the dance-pop of “Change Shapes” and stuttering glam of “Sorry, Etc.” “It’s a mission statement of all things that you like,” she tells us in an interview.

— Mayberry isn’t the only woman setting out alone — BLACKPINK’s Rosé has her first solo full-length album, titled “rosie,” scheduled for release on Friday, Dec. 6. She kicked it off with “APT.,” her collaborative with pop star Bruno Mars. The catchy pop-punk track, inspired by a popular Korean drinking game, known as the “apartment game.” It has spent weeks atop the Billboard Global 200 chart. On Instagram, she previewed the album by saying “I have poured my blood and tears into this album. I cannot wait for you to listen to this little journal of mine.”

— AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy

— In their new Netflix series “Black Doves,” Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw play old friends who also happen to be a spy and an assassin, that team up to solve a murder (and get revenge) at Christmas. Knightley joked to The Associated Press that the show falls in the “Die Hard” category of holiday entertainment. “It’s like, I’ve spent too much time with my family. I hate them all. I need to watch something blow up!” “Black Doves” debuts Thursday on the streamer.

— Margo Martindale stars in the new Prime Video series “The Sticky,” as a down-on-her-luck woman on the brink of financial ruin who finds herself in a crime ring stealing, of all things, millions of dollars’ worth of maple syrup. It’s inspired by a true story. The dark comedy also stars a delightful Chris Diamantopoulos and Guillaume Cyr. Jamie Lee Curtis is an executive producer and also makes an appearance. It premieres Friday, Dec. 6.

— Alicia Rancilio

— Multiplayer free-for-alls like Overwatch and Apex Legends remain popular online, but it’s been years since a new release has made an impact. Chinese-owned NetEase Games is hoping to shake up the genre by adding superheroes and villains to the formula with Marvel Rivals. The core competition is a battle between two teams of six heroes each. The initial lineup includes marquee names like Spider-Man, Black Panther and Captain America as well as a few cult favorites like Luna Snow and Jeff the Land Shark. Some characters — say Thor, Loki and Hela — can join forces to unleash all sorts of havoc. It’s all free-to-play, and the mayhem begins Friday, Dec. 6, on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.

— Lou Kesten

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December 2, 2024