In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Unless your heart is set on vanilla, go with a chocolate icing. Starting with a brown-colored icing means you have to use less dye to achieve a black hue.  You can still start with a white icing, but you will probably have to add flavoring later to cover the bitterness of the dye. You can dye most icing--including buttercream, cream cheese, or royal icing--black by following these instructions. Because royal icing is white, you may need to add flavoring or cocoa powder to hide the bitter flavor. You may be limited to what they carry at your local grocery store, but if you have a choice between liquid or gel coloring, choose the gel. You will use less of the gel than you would the liquid coloring. If you cannot find black dye, mix equal parts red, blue, and green food coloring. You won't get the "true" black like you would from the store-bought black, but you can achieve a very dark gray that can pass for black. Adding the dye (especially liquid) may thin out your icing, which can lead to bleeding. Store-bought icing will probably be a fine consistency, as it is usually nice and thick.  To thicken, thoroughly mix in some sifted powdered (aka confectioner's) sugar.  If you don't want your icing any sweeter but it's not thick enough, add some meringue powder instead.  If you are using royal icing, drag a butter knife through the surface. Count how long it takes the icing to smooth back over. If it's between 5-10 seconds, your icing is thick enough. Any faster and you need to mix it longer or add a little sifted powdered sugar or meringue powder. The black dye may stain plastic. You may also want to wear an apron so you don't get any dye on your clothes. You will probably end up using a lot of dye--sometimes up to 1 oz or a teaspoon of coloring per cup--but it's better to add it gradually so you don't accidentally overdo it and end up with runny or splotchy icing.  Black icing can make your icing bitter and unpalatable. If this happens to your icing, look at section two (Addressing Common Problems) to learn how to cover the bitterness. If you are close to black but can't seem to get past a dark gray, give your icing a few hours to develop. The color will deepen over time, and in as little as one hour your dark gray icing can turn a rich, complex black.  The color will continue to deepen even once you've piped it onto a cookie or cake, so if you are super short on time you can go ahead and decorate immediately. Just be aware you won't have the opportunity to troubleshoot if the icing doesn't develop into the black you want.  Keep the icing out of direct light as it develops, as this can cause the black to fade.
Summary: Buy or make your icing. Choose a black food coloring. Thicken your icing if necessary. Transfer your frosting to a large glass or stainless steel bowl. Add black dye to your icing a little bit at a time until you reach the desired shade. Mix dye thoroughly so there are no lumps or streaks in your icing. Taste the icing. Cover your icing and let it sit. Decorate your masterpiece!

Problem: Article: How much of your eating do you do because you are actually hungry?  Often, people eat when they’re bored, stressed, or feel pressured or obligated to do so.  Reducing calorie intake is critical to weight loss, and eating only when your body needs sustenance is a good step in that direction.  Look for other outlets to alleviate your stress or boredom.  When weight loss is your goal, exercise is great option — jogging, for instance, can clear your head and keep you away from the junk food cupboard. When you do eat, focus on your food and eat slowly.  Turn off the TV and eat only at a table, not standing or sitting on the couch.  Think about what you are eating.  Savor each bite.  Stop when you are full. Giving yourself challenges can also make eating more interactive and limit mindless consumption.  For instance, try eating with chopsticks if you aren’t already handy with them. Few people can succeed by going “cold turkey,” switching from an unhealthy to a healthy diet overnight.  For most, an incremental transition is the best means to long-term weight-loss success.  Remember, you need time to re-train your mind, body, habits, and taste buds.  Be patient. Start with small changes.  For instance, start by getting the smaller version of your favorite fast-food meal, and get small soda instead.  Your ultimate goal will be to largely eliminate these items, but incremental reductions in portion size and calorie intake can help you onto that path. Water is good for everyone, but it can be the dieter’s best friend.  It is nourishing, refreshing, and can even be filling, without adding a single calorie to your intake.   Unless you have a specific need for the nutrients in sports drinks (if you are very physically active for a long period of time, for instance), sticking to water is the simplest and lowest calorie (as in zero calorie) way to hydrate effectively.  Always drink a glass of water before you eat something.  Often, when people think they are hungry, they are actually just thirsty.  Water, and perhaps just a small, healthy snack, can be enough to see you through to your next meal.  Water can also limit the amount you actually eat at that meal. Generally speaking, if you’re looking to lose weight before school starts, that means it’s summertime.  Thankfully, summer is the ideal season to seek out fresh fruits and vegetables, which need to be at the heart of your healthy diet.  Don’t think of summer as a time to indulge in junk, but rather as the time to take advantage of nature’s bounty. Depending on your climate, you can go from emphasizing fresh berries and peas, to peaches and tomatoes, to apples and corn, all the while helping your local farmers and the environment (by cutting out long-haul shipping). Whether you can source them locally or not, also add more whole grains, lean proteins (summer is a good time for fishing, for instance), and more fiber-rich foods. With their growing bodies, teens in particular can have the urge to eat almost constantly.  Choosing the right snacks to carry you through to the next meal can make a huge difference in the success of your weight-loss plan.  Make snacks like chips and candy a rare treat.  Focus instead on healthy, easy-to-prepare/carry/eat fruits, vegetables, and foods with whole grains, lean protein, and fiber. For instance, consider pre-packaging any of the following in small sandwich bags: apple slices with peanut butter and raisins; grapes and string cheese; trail mix; edamame; or hummus spread inside a whole-wheat pita.  The options are nearly endless, and by packaging them yourself, you'll reduce your inclination to head for the vending machine or candy drawer when hungry between meals. Diets that feel like punishment are doomed to fail.  The goal is to retrain yourself to see treat foods (double-fudge brownies or double cheeseburgers, for example) as just that — occasional treats and not signs of failure.   Don’t make any of your favorite foods completely “off-limits.”  You’ll only obsess about them more and feel even worse if you do slip up.  Focus on practicing portion and frequency control with unhealthy food options.  When you do choose to indulge, savor every bite of that pecan turtle sundae.  Eat slowly and deliberately, making every bite count.  Make it last so you won’t need to repeat the process again too soon.
Summary:
Eat with a purpose. Make step-by-step adjustments. Drink water. Eat seasonally and smartly. Snack wisely. Indulge occasionally.