Melissa Willets
Location
St. Augustine, FL
School
Bucknell University
Expertise
Vegan, Gluten-free Diet, Yoga, Pop Culture, Parenting, And Politics
- Melissa has interviewed a range of celebrities from Renee Zellweger to Kristen Bell.
- Her essays on parenting have gone viral, and been picked up by The New York Times and The Washington Post.
- She has been a vegetarian for 30 years.
Experience
Melissa has worked as a professional writer for 15 years. She has written for Parents, PS (previously PopSugar), and BabyCenter. Her work has been featured on Today, Good Morning America, BBC radio, HLN, and on HuffPost Live. With five kids, and a commitment to a healthy lifestyle, she can sometimes find time to enjoy her other favorite pastime, which is drinking coffee.
Education
Melissa's father gave her the best advice on her education: "Study what you love." And so she did and continues to live by this mantra. She earned a B.A. from Bucknell University.
Mashed’s industry-leading coverage is created by qualified and experienced writers, and is reviewed and fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure everything is accurate and timely. Outside experts are also consulted to help deliver factual, up-to-date information.
Our mission is to inform and engage our readers, telling them things they need to know, things they want to know, and things they didn't know they wanted to know about food. We strive to always provide a well-rounded reading experience, whether that’s the news of the day or a new original recipe you can try making at home. In an effort to provide the most comprehensive, current, and accurate content, our editorial team constantly reviews and updates articles as necessary. Additional information on our editorial process available here.
Stories By Melissa Willets
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But would you believe there is another level of membership entirely that costs more than ten times as much as the Gold Star Executive membership? In fact, you'd spend nearly $18,000 for the so-called Wheels Up Core Private Aviation membership (via Delish). So what do you get for this exorbitant fee?
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Most people know Al Roker as the weatherman for the Today show. But think back to 2004 — do you recall the New York native hosting a Food Network show?
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The runner-up of the fifth season of The Great British Baking Show Luis Troyano has passed away (via Fox News). The 48-year-old's death was announced by his agent Anne Kibel, who tweeted early Tuesday morning, "Sadly, my lovely client lost his brave fight against Oesophageal cancer last week."
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It's a struggle we all know well — you are up early, bleary eyed, and just want a cup of coffee. The good news? The beans have been ground, and your coffee maker just poured enough hot, delicious brew into the carafe for you to steal your first cup. All that's left to do is open the coffee creamer.
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What's easier than preparing a quick dinner from Trader Joe's, like the battered halibut? It's ready to pop in the oven and with a fast side or two, a meal is on the table. If you are a fan of the battered halibut and are prone to toss it in your cart, be sure you know about this important recall.
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Ree Drummond, best known as the Pioneer Woman, has published six of her own cookbooks, ranging from The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The New Frontier, to The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! But the Food Network host has revealed her favorite cookbooks.
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Halloween-themed fare at a fast food joint seems like a no-brainer. While Burger King's Halloween Whopper hotly anticipated, the excitement wouldn't last long.
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Fans were horrified to learn that the Cake Boss himself, Buddy Valastro, suffered a gruesome hand injury three weeks ago. On his Instagram, the New Jersey native shared a photo of himself in the hospital, with his right hand bandaged up. "I was involved in a terrible accident a few days ago."
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First it was the always-popular PSL. Then came — wait for it — pumpkin flavored mac and cheese. Trader Joe's doubled down on its pumpkin offerings this season and so it seems, we cannot get enough of this autumnal favorite. Schneider's Dairy has you covered with its limited-time pumpkin pie milk.
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The pandemic forced fast food restaurants to put the pedal to the metal when it comes to forward-thinking. Rather than focusing on the in-restaurant dining experience, quick-serve chains like Burger King, which has about 7,000 locations, are putting dollars toward efficient service.
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After candidly struggling to conceive, Food Network star Katie Lee has welcomed a baby girl with her husband, Ryan Biegel (via Today). In a sweet Instagram post taken shortly after her daughter's birth, Lee announced the little one's name: "Welcome, baby Iris Marion Biegel," she shared.
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Most of us love Panera's diverse menu of salads, sandwiches, and soups. Whether for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the offerings seem fresh and stand out among a sea of other fast food choices. A former Panera employee took to TikTok to shed light on menu items people should never eat.
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Wilford Brimley was the face behind one of American's favorite breakfasts: oatmeal. The 85-year-old has passed away, confirms People. His manager Lynda Bensky told CNN the actor died in the hospital in Utah while receiving treatment for unspecified medical issues, and undergoing dialysis.
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Now, Walmart is selling a rosé water enhancer, that, to be clear, is completely non-alcoholic (via Popsugar). No need for a bottle opener. This rosé simply requires that you add water and suddenly, your life just got a little happier. The Great Value product is labeled as a cocktail mixer.
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Shoppers' picks for the top retailers in terms of their response to the coronavirus pandemic may not be what you'd expect. Despite commonly hearing gripes about the online shipping giant Amazon, it turns out that a new survey found that shoppers rate the Amazon experience best.
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The newest drink the internet is obsessed with is the Cap'n Crunch Frappuccino. Yes, we'll allow you a moment of silence to rejoice. Because everyone loves the taste of this iconic cereal, and everyone loves Starbucks. This particular iteration of a Frap actually features a taste of Crunch Berries.
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One Alaskan grocer is doing perhaps more than his part, by making the ultimate Costco run to keep his small town flush with essentials (via CNN). Toshua Parker owns Icy Strait Wholesale in Gustavus, which is a remote coastal community accessible by boat or plane. The closest Costco is 50 miles away.
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Of course, one has to wonder how Aldi workers are handling the COVID-19 crisis. Are they happy to have a job? Concerned about getting infected? Both?
