You Brush Your Teeth After a Glass of Wine Do   you rush to the bathroom at parties to scrub away red wine stains? You could   actually be raising your risk for permanent staining. Wine's acidity (red or   white) can dissolve tooth enamel, and brushing right away can contribute to   erosion. Instead, neutralize the acid by rinsing with a glass of water—and avoid   staining in the first place by sipping and immediately swallowing your wine,   rather than swishing it in your mouth.

You 'Eyeball' the Meat to Tell When It’s Done Some   people think that it's possible to judge whether meat is cooked through by checking   its color or the juices dripping out of it. Old cookbooks say to ‘cook until   there's no pink meat remaining, or until the juices run clear. But there's been   quite a bit of research done on both poultry and meat that shows that these   are not good indicators of whether they have reached a temperature that's considered   safe. Instead, to reduce your risk of foodborne illnesses that can linger on   uncooked food, you should use a meat thermometer and make sure you're cooking   poultry to 165, and red meat to 160.

You Wash Bagged Lettuce... Again You need a salad   first course for your holiday feast, so you pick up a ready-to-serve bag of   greens at the market. The package says they're twice washed—but it can't hurt   to give them one more wash, right? Actually it can. . A national microbiological   safety panel looked at those bags and they concluded that even if you wash them   again, you're unlikely to remove any type of pathogens that are still hanging   on. By touching the lettuce with your hands and tossing it in a colander, however,   you do run the risk of introducing new pathogens.

You Don't Eat Before a Party If you know there's   going to food and drinks at the office party tonight, you may think it's best   to skip your healthy afternoon snack beforehand. It makes sense to arrive at   a party a little hungry, but to come starving means a glass of wine and appetizers   will lead to one big caloric nightmare. Besides, parties never start when they're   supposed to, and you know there"s going to be some gooey, crunchy appetizer   that will be your undoing. Solution: Taper your appetite by popping a handful   of raw almonds before you leave your desk.

You Plan Your Post-Holiday Cleanse Advertisements   for New Year's cleanses and detox diets will promise to rid you of your holiday   weight gain. The problem is, severe calorie restrictions and juice-only plans   can keep you from getting the vitamins and nutrients your body needs, and, because   they cause the body to burn large amounts of fat, they even have the potential   to create new toxins. If you're looking forward to a fresh and clean start in   the new year, consider a diet full of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains instead.