Massachusetts is full of health!
It's never been more expensive to keep our children healthy. Even with insurance, the average family contributes over $6,800 a year toward coverage. But as it turns out, where you live might be just as important as what you pay.

A new report from WalletHub recently ranked all 50 states using 33 different "wellness" markers, from the number of available pediatricians to how much soda kids are drinking. The winners? Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut swept the top three spots. These states boast the lowest uninsured rates and some of the best access to preventative medical care in the country.

States near the bottom? Mississippi, Arizona, Alaska, Montana, and Kentucky.

Of course, this doesn't mean you can't raise a healthy family in these states. Experts say the "secret sauce" for healthy kids remains the same regardless of your zip code: regular checkups, staying up-to-date on vaccinations, and maintaining access to fresh, healthy food.

And just because a state ranks highly in one category, doesn't mean they're good for everything. For example, while Massachusetts ranks number one overall, they're near the bottom of the rankings when it comes to oral healthcare.

Curious to see where your home state landed? See here.

🛒 Milk, eggs and some pasta? That'll be one arm, and one leg, please!
A new survey shows that half of Americans are struggling to afford groceries. Even more surprising: 57% of households earning over $100k say they’re worried about grocery costs. From skipping name brands to cutbacks on "splurge" items, 90% of Americans have changed how they shop. Trying to save? Here's some tips and tricks from real people.

🧼 The two most dangerous cleaning products to have around kids
Did you know a child is treated in the ER for a cleaning product injury every 35 minutes? Yeah, we didn't either. Despite child-safe packaging, these injuries are actually on the rise. According to the research, bleach and detergent pods are the top culprits. Most incidents involve 1- and 2-year-olds who either swallow the products or get them in their eyes. Experts suggest that while we’ve stepped up our disinfecting since COVID-19, it’s time to double-check that those colorful "pods" and bleach bottles are stored completely out of reach. Oh, also... watch out for those spray bottles.

😤 Here's why it's a good thing if your kid says, "I hate you!"
While it might not be nice to hear, your kid telling you that they hate you might actually be a sign of good parenting. According to psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy, when kids melt down over boundaries or vent their big feelings at you, it means they feel safe enough to be their truest, most frustrated selves. Check out the other "bad" behaviors that might actually be good. 

👋 Is spanking trying to make a comeback?
A new study revealed about 20% of Millennial and Gen Z parents still use physical discipline on their children. Researchers found that parents who were spanked are far more likely to repeat the practice with their own kids, but experts don't expect the numbers to go up. In fact, over 72% of parents now reject the idea that spanking is necessary for raising a child. With less people being spanked now than ever before, the cycle might break completely in 20 to 30 years. Looking for alternatives to physical discipline? Here are 10 suggestions.

🗣️ Parents claim "Jessica" stops toddler tantrums
But who the heck is she?

Beautiful Pasta
I know you might have kids who reject anything green - being the color associated with broccoli has its downsides! - but this pasta is simple and, IMHO, simply beautiful.

(Recipe developed by Andy Baraghani, for NYT Cooking)

Ingredients
Salt and pepper 
1 pound short-cut pasta (such as rigatoni, campanelle or fusilli) 
3 cups/8 ounces sugar snap peas
1 cup frozen English peas 
3 packed cups/3½ ounces baby spinach 
2 packed cups/1½ ounces basil leaves, plus more for serving 
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons white miso 
1 garlic clove, crushed 
Zest and juice from 1 lemon
4 ounces Parmesan (or other firm salty cheese, such as feta or aged Gouda), thinly sliced

Step 1
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then throw in a handful of salt. Add the pasta, give it a stir and cook until al dente. Just before draining, add the snap peas and English peas to the boiling water to barely soften, 20 to 30 seconds. Drain the pasta and peas, and rinse lightly with cold water; set aside.

Step 2
While the pasta water comes to a boil, place the spinach, basil, oil, miso, garlic, and lemon zest and juice in a blender. Blend to a bright green purée. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and a few grinds of pepper, then blend again.

Step 3
Transfer the purée to a large bowl that is big enough to toss all the pasta. Add the pasta and peas, and toss until coated. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the Parmesan and more basil leaves. Toss once more before serving.

Last week, we asked you which "hidden" parenting hurdles were most on your radar, and just over 50% of you said, "Everywhere chemicals in plastic," while "Pesticide residues on fruits and veggies" came in second with around 30% of the vote.