Growing up in Nara, Japan, I always loved eating “wagashi,” or traditional Japanese sweets. My favorite was pudding and cakes made with “anko,” which is sweet red bean paste.

But when I moved to the U.S. and became a nutritionist, I couldn’t believe the dessert selections at the grocery stores. They were too rich and sugary for me. So I started making recipes inspired by my childhood.

Now when people ask me how they can get rid of their sweet tooth, I tell them they don’t need to. By being more mindful and making small adjustments, sweet treats can actually be a healthy and even medicinal part of your diet.

Here are some my go-to desserts when I need a sweet fix:

There are two types of Japanese sweet potatoes that I like: “satsumaimo,” which has a purple skin and a pale yellow flesh, and “murasaki imo,” which has purple skin and flesh. You can typically find both at American supermarkets.

Japanese people are crazy about baked sweet potatoes, called “yaki imo.” I bake a medium-sized sweet potato in the oven for about 60 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

You can adjust the cooking time depending on the size. These sweet potatoes are so concentrated in flavor that they don’t need much else to be delicious.

I also make sweet potato wagashi from steamed or baked sweet potatoes, dried fruits, chestnuts, cinnamon, matcha and a bit of sea salt. These ingredients are packed with nutrients!

I’m a huge fan of adzuki paste, or “anko.” You can find it at Asian supermarkets or online. Typically, anko is made with a lot of sugar, so when I make my own, I use alternative natural sweeteners like dates, goji berries, cinnamon or persimmons.

To prepare anko, I soak red beans overnight, drain them, then combine all my ingredients — beans, a 2-inch piece of konbu seaweed, dried fruits, chestnuts, cinnamon and sea salt — in a rice cooker and set it on the brown rice setting.

It can be used in a variety of desserts, including “an-pan,” a soft bread with anko filling, “ohagi,” a rice cake covered with anko, “zenzai,” a sweet adzuki bean soup, and “dorayaki,” an anko-filled pancake.

Adzuki beans are also frequently used medicinally and ritually in Japan. We like adding them in recipes meant to promote health, peace and wealth. They are high in fiber, protein, magnesium, potassium and vitamin B.

The dried fruit aids digestion and overall gut health, and the cinnamon can help boost metabolic and immune function. When it comes to beans as surprising desserts, I’m also a big fan of edamame paste, called “zunda.” It pairs perfectly with tofu mochi, which is made with tofu and rice flour.

Dates are naturally sweet and high in vitamins, nutrients, fiber and magnesium. Dark chocolate provides us with antioxidants that are great for heart health and fighting inflammation. 

The way I prepare it is simple: Just cut down the middle of a dry Medjool date and stuff it with a small piece of dark chocolate and a walnut. That’s it! You can try different combinations of fruits and nuts, too.

Berries are filled with polyphenols, which are antioxidants found in plants that can help defend against inflammation and boost cell health.

I don’t add any sugar to my jam. Depending on the season, I use a handful of frozen or fresh organic berries (usually a combination of raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and blueberries) mixed with apple sauce, a slice of organic orange with the peel still on, a little bit of dried goji berries, flaxseed and cinnamon powder. Sometimes I will add a dash of rum for a little kick.

I start with medium heat. After the mixture starts to boil, I immediately reduce it to low heat, then let it simmer for about 40 minutes with the lid on. I’ll occasionally stir it to keep it from burning. Then I turn off the heat and let it sit for about an hour with the lid on.

You can keep it in the fridge for about a week or two. I like serving it with dark chocolate, vegan matcha cake or chia seed pudding. This jam tastes heavenly when spread on a slice of whole wheat bread, too.

I call this my “Que Sera, Sera” pudding. Just like the song, “whatever will be, will be,” so add whatever you want to personalize it. I enjoy this dessert because it is packed with protein, fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.

My go-to recipe:

• 3 tablespoons of chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds 
• 2 cups unsweetened soy milk (or any non-dairy milk)
• 2 ripe bananas
• 1/4 cup choice of dried fruit — goji, mango, date, apricot or any of your favorites
• 1/2 tablespoon of cinnamon, matcha or unsweetened cacao powder
• A handful of frozen or fresh berries or roasted walnuts (as optional toppings)

Put these ingredients in a mason jar, combine well, and place into the refrigerator overnight.

Michiko Tomioka, MBA, RDN is a certified nutritionist and longevity expert. Born and raised Nara, Japan, her approach focuses on a plant-based diet. She has worked in nutritional roles at substance recovery centers, charter schools and food banks. Follow her on Instagram @michian_rd.

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Like countless others, Bill Phelps wanted to get rich when he was younger. Now, the 69-year-old CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken and former CEO and co-founder of Wetzel’s Pretzels says he gets fulfillment out of helping others find financial success.

In the last two weeks, 19 Dave’s employees became millionaires after private equity firm Roark Capital acquired a majority stake of the Pasadena, California-based chicken finger chain in deal worth “close to” $1 billion, Phelps said on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on June 2.

Creating that many millionaires was intentional, Phelps tells CNBC Make It.

“I had some investors who were like, ‘you’re giving away too much money, this isn’t right,’” he says. “They were absolutely right as investors to stand up for other investors. They have a fiduciary duty, but I have a duty to the people that created this business and I was true to taking care of all of those stakeholders in this deal.”

As part of the deal, every Dave’s corporate employee, store manager and assistant manager received a bonus roughly equivalent to their yearly salary, president and COO of Dave’s Jim Bitticks told Nation’s Restaurant News.

Dave’s Hot Chicken got its start in 2017 when three childhood friends pooled $900 in savings to open a chicken finger stand in a Los Angeles parking lot.

Phelps, a franchise business veteran who founded Wetzel’s Pretzels in 1994 and sat on Blaze Pizza’s board of directors until 2020, became CEO of Dave’s in 2019 after an investor group Phelps was a member of acquired a stake in the company with plans to franchise the brand, the company told NRN in 2019.

In 2024, Dave’s co-founder Arman Oganesyan told the “How I Built This with Guy Raz” podcast that the friends were courted by many investors looking for a stake in the company in the early days of the business, but Phelps and his co-investors stood out because they were willing to give Oganesyan and his fellow founders credit for their work.

“A lot of people came in with this energy of, ‘you guys got really lucky and you don’t know what you’re going to do with this,’” Oganesyan said. Phelps and his co-investors seemed to understand that it wasn’t all luck, he said.

Nearly six years later, giving credit where credit’s due continues to be a driving factor in Phelps’ leadership style, Phelps says. As leader of Dave’s corporate operations, he doesn’t micromanage because he trusts his employees to do their jobs well, he says.

For the same reason, he also pays them “generously.”

“I was told by one of my investors that I had no concept of what management compensation should look like,” Phelps says with a chuckle. “And he’s right, because I don’t look at them as management. I look at them as my partners in this journey, and I compensate them as partners in the journey.”

Phelps isn’t the first CEO to turn his employees into millionaires through the acquisition of a company.

Billionaire investor Mark Cuban makes it a habit to give employees bonuses with every company he sells, he said on social media platform X last year. When he sold Broadcast.com to Yahoo for $5.7 billion in stock in 1999, 300 of the company’s 330 employees became millionaires, he said.

When Jay Chaudhry, billionaire founder and CEO of cloud cybersecurity firm Zscaler, sold his first company, SecureIT, to VeriSign in an all-stock deal in 1998, at least 70 of his employees became millionaires after VeriSign’s stock price surged two years later, he told CNBC Make It last year.

“People were going crazy in the company, because they had never thought of so much money,” he said. “A lot of them were buying new houses. They were buying new cars. They could do what they wanted to do.”

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Even the happiest couples encounter conflict. But what they fight about reveals a lot about what’s missing in the relationship.

As a psychologist who studies couples, I’ve found that there are a few similar topics that come up again and again. And the first step to resolving the conflicts is to know what those topics are.

According to a YouGov poll of 1,000 American adults, and based on my research, here are the most common reasons couples fight — and the psychology behind each one.

A sour tone or attitude — a slightly raised voice, a sarcastic comment, an eye-roll mid-conversation — is by far the most common reason couples fight. To the person exhibiting it, it might not seem like a big deal. But to the partner on the receiving end, it hits a direct nerve because it signals contempt.

In marital research, contempt is one of the most reliable predictors of divorce. Unlike overt criticism or stonewalling (shutting down emotionally), contempt disguises itself with non-verbal gestures and body language.

How to move past it: Resist the impulse to strike back. Fighting fire with fire never works, so try naming the effect instead: “That felt condescending. Can we try again?” This gives your partner the chance to course-correct, and it doesn’t instantly escalate things.

If you’re the one delivering the tone, check in with yourself before saying anything more. Are you feeling unheard? Frustrated? Overwhelmed? Pinpointing what’s fueling the contempt is the first step to expressing yourself without hurting the relationship.

Arguments about family relations often reflect fundamental misalignments and unmet needs.

One partner might feel unsupported or sidelined, especially if their spouse seems to default to defending their side of the family. In situations involving children, arguments usually boil down to value clashes — where each partner feels like their core parenting beliefs are being dismissed.

Neither partner is “right” or “wrong” in these scenarios. In fact, they’re more than likely seeking the exact same thing: someone who’s on their side.

How to move past it: A good place to start is to reassure one another. For example: “I love my family, but you’re still my partner. How can we find a solution that meets both of our needs and values?”

Then talk about your limits as a team: what to do when a line is crossed, or how to show solidarity in front of others (even when you disagree privately).

People often assume that arguments about chores are about the chores themselves — the dishes left in the sink, the laundry piling up, the trash that never gets taken out. But if that were true, these issues would be quickly fixed with a simple chore chart.

Rather, the real problem is the uneven distribution of labor. According to research, one partner in a relationship usually shoulders the bulk of domestic work. But they aren’t just folding the clothes and cooking the meals, they’re also managing appointments, coordinating the bills and keeping mental tabs on everyone’s well-being but their own.

This “invisible load” goes largely unacknowledged, and that lack of recognition is usually where the fighting begins.

How to move past it: This dynamic can often be changed if the load is named out loud. Even just saying, “I didn’t realize how much you were holding, thank you,” gives your partner the acknowledgement they’ve been needing to hear. 

From there, work together to redistribute tasks in a way that feels sustainable. Fairness won’t look like a 50/50 split every day, but it should feel like something you both have a hand in.

This is one of the trickiest arguments to navigate. In many cases, by the time couples are arguing about how they talk to each other, the original issue has already been lost in translation.

For example, one partner is upset about an unfair distribution of chores, or they’re frustrated with how their in-laws treat them. But when these concerns are brought up, research shows they can quickly go off the rails when the other engages with them ineffectively — or with hostility. 

If the conversation is met with defensiveness, criticism or stonewalling, the fight will shift its focus from the initial issue. Instead, it becomes a matter of how poorly the conversation is going.

How to move past it: One simple strategy successful couples use is the “five second rule”: They have a designated word or phrase that signals: “We’re spiraling, let’s take a time-out.” This gives a much-needed pause, without the negative effects of storming out.

When you return to the conversation, try to see eye-to-eye before continuing to air out your grievances: “I want to understand why you’re upset, and I want you to understand the same for me. You share your side, then I’ll share mine.”

Mark Travers, PhD, is a psychologist who specializes in relationships. He holds degrees from Cornell University and the University of Colorado Boulder. He is the lead psychologist at Awake Therapy, a telehealth company that provides online psychotherapy, counseling and coaching. He is also the curator of the popular mental health and wellness website, Therapytips.org.

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You’ve decided to take your home search from casually scrolling Zillow to touring properties in-person. Now what?

As a real estate agent with over a decade of experience working with first-time homebuyers, I’ve seen one major mistake again and again: confusing a flimsy flip for a high-quality renovation.

In real estate, we often refer to homes that have undergone quick, cheap cosmetic updates as “lipstick on a pig” or, my personal favorite, “glitter on a rat’s ass.” 

A fresh coat of paint, new appliances and some light staging can go a long way in making a home look great. And to the untrained eye, it’s easy to fall for the shiny stuff. But if a home seems amazing at first glance, it’s worth digging deeper. 

One of the most important questions homebuyers need to ask is: Did the seller invest in real improvements, or did they just make the house pretty for a fast sale?

Pay close attention to kitchens and bathrooms. These rooms tend to expose the truth. Look for signs of DIY work — sloppy paint jobs, misaligned tiles, uneven cabinet installation, missing GFCI outlets, or my pet peeve: poorly done caulking.

Pro tip: Always check for permits. If spaces like kitchens, bathrooms, or basements were updated, you’ll want to verify that the work was permitted. 

Unpermitted work can cause problems down the road, especially during resale or when filing an insurance claim. This can be a pretty big deal. For instance, if a kitchen was overhauled without proper electrical and plumbing permits, a building inspector could have you rip out parts of your kitchen and have the work redone. 

When a homeowner adds square footage — like finishing out a basement — but didn’t go through proper approvals, this can be especially challenging. The town may not recognize it as livable space and it could need to get ripped out if it’s not brought into compliance. Not to mention, this can mess up the assessed value, and how much the new owner owes in real estate taxes each year.

While my clients are admiring quartz countertops and light fixtures, I’m often in the background doing the less glamorous job of critically assessing the property. I’m looking at five key things to ascertain what problems could come up for my clients, well before they sign on the dotted line. 

1. The home’s exterior. Make note of the condition of the siding, windows, roof, chimney, hardscaping, and landscaping. While some of these features are not as sexy as a new primary suite, these are high ticket items that can cost a fortune to repair. A crumbling retaining wall might not be visible in the listing photos, but trust me, it’s just as important as that designer tile.
2. Age of key infrastructure items. Learn about the HVAC, electrical, plumbing and septic tank. What’s new? What’s on borrowed time? These items are not only costly, but invasive to fix. A surprise boiler malfunction is not the kind of housewarming gift you want.
3. Walk the property line. Get a feel for the land boundaries. Are there any visible encroachments or structures straddling the property’s perimeter? Ask about recorded easements. It’s better to learn about shared driveways or buried utility lines before you close.
4. The “extra” spaces. You can tell a lot by examining the home’s extra spaces (like the basement, garages and sheds). These areas are usually an afterthought, so if you see a spotless basement, that’s a good indicator that the current owner has had pride in ownership of the entire home.
5. Signs of water intrusion or poor drainage. Keep an eye out for water stains on ceilings and walls, a musty odor, or signs of past flooding in the basement or crawl space. Outside, observe the grading. Does the ground slope away from the foundation? Poor drainage can lead to major issues, including rot, and foundation damage. Look for sump pumps or French drains, and ask if they’ve been needed or recently installed.

Making a solid home purchase isn’t about getting the trendiest, most Instagrammable house. It’s about buying a quality home, one that’s been cared for and built to last. 

Some of my favorite properties are homes that may not have all the latest updates but have been lovingly maintained by their previous owners. That’s the sweet spot: a home with good bones that gives you the opportunity to make it your own.

Dana Bull is a real estate agent, investor, and partner at Strobeck Antonell Bull & Co. at Compass, an award-winning team proudly serving the Greater Boston area. She is an Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR) and Certified Real Estate Negotiation Expert (RENE). She is a mom of four, and a passionate collector of old and antique homes, drawn to properties with character, quirks and stories to tell.

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As a leadership consultant who studies workplace psychology, I’ve spent 30 years working with high performers across all industries. Again and again, one truth keeps proving itself: Being artistic in some way can transform you.

Even Steve Jobs agreed when he was interviewed for the PBS documentary “Triumph of the Nerds” in 1995: “I think part of what made the Macintosh great was that the people working on it were musicians and poets and artists and zoologists and historians, who also happened to be the best computer scientists in the world.”

Of all the artistic fields, I’ve found that mastering a musical instrument is the most powerful for rewiring the brain for greatness. Playing an instrument — whether it’s the piano, trumpet or guitar — activates nearly every part of your brain: motor control, pattern recognition, emotional regulation, creativity and stamina.

That’s why I believe parents should encourage their kids to learn an instrument as early as possible. Studies have consistently found that children who learn music are more likely to have increased IQ scores and better language development.

Plus, it encourages their brain to operate at full capacity, building the neural foundation for mastery in pretty much everything. Here’s why:

1. You make visualizing success second nature

Musicians don’t just practice, they fantasize. They see the stage, hear the notes and feel the outcome long before it happens. Hence, musicians build skill while just visualizing playing. That ability to rehearse and mentally simulate outcomes is a superpower: You learn not just react to reality, but to create it.

2. You develop a sacred relationship with time

When you practice an instrument, time stops being abstract. You feel in real-time the cost of distraction and the miracle of being fully focused.

Over time, you become fiercely time-conscious — not in a stressed way, but in a sacred one. You don’t want to rush, you want to make it count. This discipline shapes everything, from how you run meetings to how you build relationships.

3. You stop running from discomfort

Every musician has to face the parts of the music they hate and struggle with. There’s no shortcut. You can’t outsource it, nor avoid it. You have to lean in until the failure becomes fluency.

While most people avoid uncomfortable moments in life, playing an instrument teaches you to seek those moments. You no longer panic at pain; you see it as a sign of growth.

4. You learn that emotions are designable

Music isn’t just output. It’s a way of regulating your inner world by changing your emotional state with sound, breath, rhythm and in how you prepare.

It becomes an invaluable skill you carry into everything, like before a stressful conversation or during a conflict. You don’t just express emotions anymore — you direct them.

5. You realize boredom is just feedback

Musicians don’t just play scales mindlessly. They know what they’re aiming to improve: precision, control, phrasing. Without that goal, their attention drifts, and practice becomes boring.

We often think stuff we do is boring, but boredom is feedback. It’s your brain telling you: “Show me what this is building toward.” The insight that boredom is the absence of a goal changes everything. Instead of labeling tasks as boring or dull, you ask, “What’s my goal here?”

This makes you sharper, more engaged and harder to distract in any setting.

6. You turn being stuck into invention

Sometimes you can’t play it right. Your hand won’t stretch. Your fingers trip. So, you try it a different way. You improvise, rearrange, compose. Suddenly, the failure becomes fuel. This teaches you a profound lesson: When you can’t follow the map, draw a new one. Innovation isn’t a gift; it’s a response to friction.

7. Your standards rise and stay high

Once you’ve heard the difference between “okay” and “exceptional,” you can’t unhear it. Once you’ve experienced how moments of excellence feels, mediocrity becomes unbearable. Music teaches you to expect more from yourself and others, not out of perfectionism but out of respect for what’s possible.

8. You learn to create for others, not just yourself

When you’re playing an instrument, you can’t help imagining an audience, maybe to impress but mostly to move someone, to say something without words. That habit reshapes how you approach everything.

Your work becomes an expression of your standards, your values, your imagination. It forces you to ask: Is this good enough to matter to someone else? Will this make them think, feel, grow?

Your brain’s plasticity and ability to learn allows you to pick up a new instrument at almost any age, so it’s never too late if you didn’t learn to play music as a kid.

1. Pick the one that sparks emotion. You don’t need logic here. What’s an instrument that moves you? That makes you feel something? Piano, guitar, trumpet — follow the spark.

2. Practice for at least 20 minutes a day. Studies show that 20 to 30 minutes of focused practice can induce measurable brain changes, particularly in areas tied to motor skills and attention.

3. Celebrate improvement, not performance. Don’t worry about being good. Track what you can do today that you couldn’t do yesterday. Mastery is just small progress, compounded with love.

Stefan Falk is an internationally-recognized executive coach, workplace psychology expert, and author of “Intrinsic Motivation: Learn to Love Your Work and Succeed as Never Before.” A McKinsey & Company alumnus, he has trained over 4,000 leaders across more than 60 organizations and helped drive transformations valued in excess of $2 billion. Follow him on LinkedIn.

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