February 1991

TASTE TESTING: IT'S A DIRTY JOB, BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO DO IT

Goodness knows that being editor of Better Homes and Gardens isn't always a bed of roses. There are deadlines, budget problems, personnel pressures, and even the monthly rush to complete this letter to you by the skin of my teeth before the magazine is sent off to the printer.

ENCHANTING ENTRY GARDENS

Looking for a simple way to make a grand entrance? Use this collection of savvy streetside situations for ideas when you're planning a front yard make-over. Within a single growing season, your home will be the crown jewel of the neighborhood.

OUT OF WORK

A family triumphs with love and perseverance

WHY KIDS NEED HOBBIES

Between the time spent watching television and playing video games, many of today's children have never experienced the rewards of a hobby. Think back to your own childhood and it's easy to recall why they should.

KIDS AND COMPUTERS

The best software programs that both teach and entertain

SEVEN WAYS TO SAVE ON DRUGS

Many of us are spending more for medicine lately. According to Todd Dankmyer, vice president of the National Association of Retail Druggists, prescription prices are rising more than twice as fast as consumer prices in general. ...

SPACE AGE DENTISTRY

Sink your teeth into this scenario: You enter the dentist's office and 15 minutes later your teeth are straightened and whitened all at once. Well, not exactly. It happened on your dentist's computer, which gives you a sneak preview of what your teeth will look like after treatment.

WHERE'S THE FLUORIDE?

So, you don't trust the water that flows from your faucet? Many agree, and are switching to commercially bottled water or installing pure water systems. But this in creased use of bottled water in homes, schools, and the workplace has some dental scientists worried.

HOW TO CHOOSE A DENTIST

Moving to a new city? Don't wait for a killer toothache before tracking down a den tist. Get started with your search soon, and be picky. Selecting any new health-care professional is an important, but difficult, task. Rather than choosing haphazardly, or by the size of the phone book ad, why not heed the following advice from experts:

TOOLS FOR YOUR TEETH

In the war against tooth decay and gum disease, choosing the right weapons often means the difference between a mouth relatively free of disease and one that's a battlefield of dental casualties. Most stores offer a wide choice of products for wiping out plaque, the invisible film that develops on your teeth, causing most tooth and gum problems.

AN APPLE A DAY

ANTIPLAQUE MOUTHWASH

BLEACHED BEAUTIES

Several new consumer products are suggesting an easy way to whiter teeth, and implying that the dream of a Hollywood smile can be a reality-- for less than $50. But use caution and consult with your dentist before taking the bite. Although these home bleaching kits may eventually do what they claim-- whiten teeth-- it's probably safer and more predictable to let your dentist do the job.

BABY BOTTLE BLUES

You've just discovered that putting the baby to bed with a bottle has the little rascal sound asleep in no time. It may be a big relief at 2 a.m., but you could be asking for trouble. One day you'll notice that those new front teeth that made you so proud are crumbling, or even decaying at the gum line.

ALWAYS TIRED?

Depression is too often overlooked as a cause of chronic tiredness. A new study reveals a close link. Deborah Gold, M.D., of the University of Washington School of Medicine compared 26 chronic fatigue patients with 18 healthy, randomly chosen volunteers.

WHAT HAPPENED?

MAYBE JOHNNY CAN READ

BORON ISN'T BORING

MESSAGE TO MIGRAINE SUFFERERS

ALLERGIC TO EXERCISE?

TV, KIDS, AND HEART DISEASE

VIDEO GAMES GET THE BLAME

INFERTILITY UPDATE

Infertile men can sometimes solve their own problem without drugs or surgery. A few changes in their lifestyle may be all that's needed to reverse the problem in about one in five men, says Wolfram Nolten, M.D., of the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics.

STRESS FOR TWO

HOW NOT TO FIGHT A COLD

A HAZARDOUS SHELL GAME

WHAT TO SNACK ON WHEN THE MUNCHIES STRIKE

Sometimes a snack calls for something more satisfying than carrot sticks or rice cakes. Choosing a snack low in fat and calories will benefit both your health and your waistline. When confronted with choices at snack time, this little test may help you be more selective.

COLD-WEATHER RUNNING

How can you run outside when the weather literally leaves you cold? "The trick is knowing what to wear," explains Susan Kalish of the American Running and Fitness Association. ...

PLAYING MIND GAMES

PARENTS WHO PUSH

Many children find that sports competition can be really hot, says a University of Lowell study, but it's nothing compared with the heat they feel from their hopeful parents.

ASPIRIN FOR ACHES?

SAVE THAT TOOTH

LIGHT EXERCISE SCORES BIG

THREE FOR THE SNOW

GETTING BACK ON THE TRACK TO FITNESS

Are you a fitness dropout? Don't feel bad: Only one in five Americans today gets regular, vigorous exercise. Half of those who start a fitness program quit within six weeks.

GIVING FOOT PROBLEMS THE BOOT

Let's start with a footnote: Every day you put several tons of pressure on your feet, pounding them against hard floors and pavement about 10,000 times. And that's just by walking around. If you exercise regularly, your feet take an even greater beating.

MIXED MARRIAGE

The best decorating schemes, like the most lasting relationships, take time to build. The problem is, your tastes might evolve as your rooms do.

NORTHWEST CLASSIC

Ranch homes and the American Northwest they were made for each other. The ranch's rambling floor plans and rustic informality suit the region's casual lifestyles and look right at home with its far-flung horizons. They also draw upon architectural traditions of the Far East, which have influenced northwestern home design since the first immigrants from the Orient arrived in the Pacific Northwest more than a century ago.

YOU-CAN-DO-IT STORAGE

Watch clutter take a powder when you boost your home's storage quotient with handy organizers like these. No need to round up a master carpenter or an arsenal of tech-y tools; the key to quick-response, eye-pleasing storage is clever design, not fancy joinery.

Windows TO SEW IN A WEEKEND

Yes, we DO windows. Order our easy-does-it curtain patterns and stitch together a stylish new outlook for your rooms-- before the alarm clock rings on Monday morning.

DREAM KITCHEN FOR THE '90S

The '90s are shaping up as a decade of excitement for kitchen living. Better Homes and Gardens® has teamed up with the Jenn-Air Company and an expert architectural and design duo to deliver a kitchen that revs up your precious shared family time with contemporary form, function, and fun. Take a look at our remarkable blend of organization (for two or more cooks), touches of tradition, and timesaving and leisure gadgets.

GOOD FOOD/GOOD HEALTH

From chocolate desserts to heart-shaped candies, sugary treats do tempt our sweet tooths on occasion. Should we be worried about sugar? This simple carbohydrate has been blamed for excitability in kids, obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

THE NEW DISHWASHERS

In a very quiet and unassuming way, dishwashers have become one of the most efficient, high-tech, and user-friendly appliances in the kitchen. Here's a rundown of some of the technological improvements you can ask about on your next dishwasher hunt.

How to Save on CRUISES

Cruises offer an all-in-one vacation value. Our insider tips show you how to save hundreds of dollars, plus help you get the most for your money on both long and short cruises.

PET CARE

Many dogs wolf down as much chocolate as they can find. That's why the sweet treat poses such a threat to them. Eating even a little chocolate can create a severe reaction in a small dog. Dogs are more likely than cats to become poisoned by eating chocolate, because felines are generally more discriminating eaters.

CAR TROUBLE

When your engine vibrates and your brakes fade

Shopping editor's choice

Discover the ease and pleasure of shopping by mail. Order from the convenience of your own home with complete confidence.

THE MAN NEXT DOOR

Lee Bayless never can remember whether major snowstorms are caused by cold fronts, by warm fronts, or just by explicit plans for the weekend.