Sharpen your pencil—it’s time for New Parent Math!

New Parent + Baby = Stress

Stress + Sugar = Less Stress

I can’t think of a time when I needed sweets more than during my son’s infancy. I mean, c’mon, there’s actual science that shows eating sugar can reduce stress. But then consider this equation...

Crunchy on the outside, chewy in the middle, a good coconut macaroon is an irresistible thing. It's also a particular favorite for people observing Passover and those who avoid gluten. As long as you have some shredded coconut stashed away in your cupboard and a few eggs that you don't mind cracking, a batch of sweet macaroons can be yours in less than a half an hour.

Looking for more feel-good recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth? Check out Healthy Desserts, the newest iPad and iPhone app from the food blog Green Kitchen Stories, which is full of gorgeous photos and recipes for an assortment of sweets, many of which are grain-free, vegan, or raw — and totally tempting.

This week in Gatherings from The Kitchn, we're sharing the details of an Italian Polenta Supper featuring lots of toppings, like hearty braised beef, on a bed of creamy cornmeal polenta. For a lighter, vegan-friendly accompaniment to polenta, let me suggest this spring vegetable ragout. Like the braised beef, it's rustic and uncomplicated yet completely dinner-party worthy. Make it now if you're already basking in the glow of peas and asparagus, or save this recipe so you can celebrate the moment spring arrives. More

Lately I've been looking to add more healthy seafood to my diet without breaking the bank, and while canned fish will never have the allure of a fresh filet, today's good-quality canned salmon is not the fishy, bone-studded mush you may be picturing. The boneless and skinless fish — once flaked and mixed with brown rice, cilantro, shallots and lime juice — cooks up into crisp-edged cakes that make an easy and satisfying weeknight meal, especially when topped with a dollop of Sriracha-spiked mayonnaise.

Q: How do you organize dinners with a wide variety of eaters? (As in, vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free, etc.) Do you have a decent method to plan the food?

Sent by Peter

For individuals and families with food allergies, going out to eat or ordering takeout is not always an option, even if the cook is busy or tired. Cybele Pascal's Allergy-Free and Easy Cooking offers a solution with recipes for homey comfort foods and restaurant favorites that can be on the table in 30 minutes or less. More

Here in Southern California, winter is on its way out and I have never felt more ready to give kale salads a rest. Right now I am craving all that is crunchy, fresh and pale green -- like this salad, which mixes a dill-flecked dressing with sweet sugar snap peas, crisp celery, chopped romaine and pretty, pink-edged radish slices that remind me of spring's first blossoms winking to life.

Even if I didn't eat a primarily vegan diet, I'm pretty sure I'd prefer tofu egg-less salad to the real thing. I love the texture of roughly crumbled tofu, the way you can flavor it any way you want, and the absence of heavy mayo (plus it keeps a lot better). Lately, my favorite tofu "egg" salad is one that incorporates bold curry powder, plump golden raisins, and roasted pumpkin seeds. Served as a sandwich or on a bed of greens, it makes an easy and healthy lunch. More

Most energy bars, whether store-bought or homemade, include nuts as a primary ingredient. That's why I was thrilled to discover The Good Bean's Fruit & No-Nut Bar, a wholesome snack for the nut allergic or those looking for something different. More