Social media’s favorite grandma opens up about Alzheimer’s awareness, her wellness secrets, and the joy of keeping life clutter-free.
“Brunch with Babs” on Brain Health, Family Milestones, and How to Pamper Moms
Published on May 09, 2025
Barbara Costello, affectionately known to millions as “Brunch with Babs,” quickly became the go-to guru for everything from foolproof pasta dishes to perfectly fluffed pillows. Behind her comforting kitchen tips and cheerful presence on social media, however, lies a deeper mission inspired by personal experience: advocating for brain health awareness.
Having witnessed firsthand the subtle yet profound signs of Alzheimer’s disease with her own mother, Babs teamed up with the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly & Co. to help older adults better understand when those moments of forgetfulness might be more than just normal aging.
Fresh off landing her debut cookbook on the New York Times bestseller list—at the remarkable age of 76—the TikTok star spoke with The Healthy by Reader’s Digest about proactive wellness strategies, recognizing early indicators of cognitive decline, and the mental clarity that comes from keeping a tidy home. And, of course, she shared exactly how she’s celebrating Mother’s Day—spoiler alert: it involves a significant family event and perhaps a comforting bowl of pasta.
The Healthy by Reader’s Digest: Babs, you’ve seen firsthand how Alzheimer’s impacted your mother’s life. Can you describe the role she played in your life and what that was like?
Barbara “Babs” Costello: My mother was really a take-charge woman. She worked before it was in vogue for women to work. She came from a first-generation Italian family, and did not have a lot of money. My mother was bound and determined to realize the American dream. She worked at Sears when I was really young, and when she was in her 40s, she went to beauty school, and she got her hairdresser license and opened up a beauty shop when she was in her 60s. She started a catering business because she was such a good cook and everybody loved her food. When she was in her late 60s, early 70s, my mother, my aunt, my sister, and I bought a fast-food restaurant with Italian beef and hot dogs in Chicago. She was a very vibrant gal, I have to say.
The Healthy: Can you tell us about that experience with Alzheimer’s and how it shaped the way you approach your own brain health and wellness today?
Barbara “Babs” Costello: I noticed my mom slipping a bit with repeating stories on the phone. I talked to her maybe every other day, and every time we had a conversation she reverted back to these stories, to the point where now my sister and I are consulting. “Have you noticed Mom seems to be repeating more? What are you noticing?” She kind of got lost from the grocery store. But to tell you the truth, when you’re going through it, you are dreading that diagnosis. You don’t want to admit that these things are happening. And so I think we wasted valuable time with having my mom diagnosed.
The Healthy: And this inspired you to partner with Eli Lilly?
Barbara “Babs” Costello: I’m partnering with Eli Lilly in memory of my mom so hopefully other people will not experience a lot of second guessing. Once you bring them to the doctor, that’s a huge step. We did not have a resource like MoreThanNormalAging.com to go to. There was no site that we could go to and have our questions answered. I have to say thank goodness for that [site] and I wish it were available before my mom died in 2013. My mom was a great baker, and my sister went over and she tasted her Christmas cookies and she gagged. She’s like, “Oh my gosh.” My mother couldn’t follow directions, and that was the clincher. My sister said, “You know what, we need to have Mom evaluated.”
The Healthy: Tell us how the partnership came about. Also, what are you doing preventatively for your own brain health and wellness?
Barbara “Babs” Costello: I’m actually around the age that my mother was when I think she first started. It takes years to notice it. It’s kind of a slow-developing disease. And so I think about that. My granddaughter said, “Grammy, you should get a walking pad.” I live in a place where it’s going to rain for the next five days, so now I’m trying to do a little bit more exercise. I was doing 40 minutes a day on that walking pad until my book tour. It doesn’t take much to disturb your routine—I wasn’t home for 10 days! There was no walking pad, but I did 20 minutes yesterday.
The Healthy: That’s great!
Barbara “Babs” Costello: I’m trying to shut off the phone and the TV at night and do a bit more reading and also trying to go to bed. People don’t realize it, but sleep is super important for your cognitive and mental health. And so I try to go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning to set my circadian rhythm.
The Healthy: You have a big, beautiful family. How are you planning to celebrate Mother’s Day this year with your children and grandchildren?
Barbara “Babs” Costello: This year I will be at University of Connecticut’s graduation. My first grandchild, Mary, will be graduating, on Mother’s Day of all days. I think she’s on her way to law school in the fall. So it’ll be a big event. This is a historical moment. This is the first of my grandchildren to graduate from college!
The Healthy: That’s huge! For Mother’s Day, you’ve advocated for giving moms a break from decision making. What are some simple yet meaningful ways families can pamper their mothers on Mother’s Day, and what are some recommendations you have?
Barbara “Babs” Costello: Well, it depends upon the ages of your children. If you’ve got little ones, maybe just have them make a picnic lunch, go to a park, and spread a blanket down. Have the kids play and Mom relax with a glass of wine. Don’t wait until the day before. Maybe early in the week ask Mom, what would be your perfect Mother’s Day? And then respect that maybe she said, “You know what? I just want to lay on the sofa all day and read a magazine.”
The Healthy: You’ve talked about how a tidy space impacts mental health and daily routines. Tell me a little bit about the benefits of a clean kitchen and the ties to mental health.
Barbara “Babs” Costello: I think your home is your respite. It’s your castle. It’s your safe space. And if you get into clutter, you walk into a kitchen that has dirty dishes in the sink or a bunch of stuff on the countertops—I think peace means clutter free. You go into a room and there’s almost a spirit, a spirit of joy, and this peacefulness. I love clean counters. If you’re going to have something on a counter, have a vase full of flowers, or have a really cool decorative piece maybe that you love, but not your toaster, your air fryer, or your slow cooker. You don’t need all that.
The Healthy: What is a self-care habit that you refuse to skip?
Barbara “Babs” Costello: A nice hot bath at the end of the day. I love that with lavender bath salts. I think that it’s relaxing and it’s pampering.
The Healthy: What’s your favorite comfort food that makes you feel good and feel happy?
Barbara “Babs” Costello: Well, I’m Italian. I’m going to say pasta. Now, I don’t have it every day because you don’t have pasta every day. But being Italian, if you give me a bowl [of] pasta, I’m going to hug heaven.
The Healthy: Lastly, your cookbook just came out which is wonderful. What else are you looking forward to?
Barbara “Babs” Costello: The cookbook Every Day with Babs, which I worked on for over two and a half years. The release was April 8. And we’re doing pretty well. We ended up No. 3 on the New York Times bestseller list, which if anybody told me this old grandma would be a New York Times bestselling author, I would’ve said, “I don’t think you’re thinking clearly.” So that was a huge surprise. I am so excited. And then also the Basket House, which we’re really at the tail end of doing the big reveal of this beautiful place [a house she’s renovating], that we’re going to call our home away from home.
For more wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy by Reader’s Digest newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram. Keep reading:
- The Women’s Health Topic Hoda Kotb Is Keeping “Front and Center”
- Brooklyn Peltz Beckham Shares His Love of Family…and Cooking
- Eric Stonestreet Is Ready to Talk About His Diabetes Diagnosis
- Katie Couric on the Necessity of Scientific Research
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
