Diet and Nutrition

Taco Bell Runs “Truth” Ads Against Fake-Beef Lawsuit

In response to the lawsuit filed by a Montgomery law firm claiming that their seasoned beef contains less than 35 percent actual meat, Taco Bell is firing back with full-page “Truth” ads. The full-page print ads ran in newspapers around the country, with the provocative headline “Thank you for suing us.” The ads claim to tell the real truth about the beef used in Taco Bell’s tacos, burritos and other items, insisting that their seasoned beef contains 88 percent beef and 12 percent “Secret Recipe.”

The secret recipe isn’t so secret (as the ad also points out), and the ingredients in that 12 percent are also printed in the ad. Taco Bell says these extra ingredients add flavor, and “enhance” the product. We’re still leery of the number of additives in the beef alone, not to mention the taco shell and toppings.

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Posted on January 31, 2024 by Health Buzz

2024 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Finally Released, Not Much Has Changed

Well, they came a month late, but the much anticipated 2024 Dietary Guidelines for Americans have finally been released. The USDA and Department of Health and Human Services work together every five years to update the Dietary Guidelines to reflect changing and new research. The new guidelines aren’t drastically different than years before, but do reflect an urgency to address the growing obesity epidemic.

A few highlights from the new guidelines include a push to reduce daily sodium intake, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and cut added sugars, especially those in sugary drinks.

Learn more in this video recapping the new guidelines:

The average American consumes around 3,400 mg of sodium per day. The new Guidelines recommend reducing that number to 1,500 mg, or 1 teaspoon, of sodium, especially for those who are 51 and older, African American, or have hypertension, diabetes, and/or chronic kidney disease. Many believe that focusing on slashing salt in our diets will in turn also cut our saturated fat intake.

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Posted on January 31, 2024 by Kelly

How to Have a Healthier Super Bowl Party

The Super Bowl is scheduled to be played this year on Feb 6 and this culmination of the football season will be played out by the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers. Getting together with a group of friends to watch the game is a tradition, but if you are trying to lose weight, it can be a rough evening. Why not host a healthy Super Bowl party? Sounds like an impossible task, but take heart, as it is not as difficult as it sounds. With just a few key switch ups, your party guests will never realize that you’ve made changes to the menu that won’t leave them in need of a “day after” exercise binge.

Chili is a main stay of every football party, and for good reason. It’s a rich, hearty dish that is filling and delicious. Instead of using ground beef in your preparations, switch it up and use ground turkey, chicken or soy crumbles. Meatless chili or black bean versions are also very popular.

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Posted on January 31, 2024 by Carmen

Americans Still Waiting for Missing 2024 Dietary Guidelines’ Release

Mary Hartley, RD, MPH, is the director of nutrition for Calorie Count, providing domain expertise on issues related to nutrition, weight loss and health. She creates original content for weekly blogs and newsletters, for the Calorie Count library, and for her popular daily Question-and-Answer section, Ask Mary. Ms. Hartley also furnishes direction for the site features and for product development.

UPDATE 1/31/2024: The 2024 Dietary Guidelines for Americans were released this morning. A full rundown on the changes can be found here.

The nutrition community has been expectantly waiting for the 2024 Dietary Guidelines, which at this point, are a month late in their release. The Guidelines contain the authoritative information about the best diet to prevent disease. Since 1980, they have been published every five years by law.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are jointly published by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). They are revised to reflect scientific advances in the knowledge of what constitutes an ideal diet. They are the basis of Federal nutrition education programs, including My Pyramid and the Nutrition Facts labels, and they guide the foods that are offered by School Lunch, WIC and other Federal nutrition programs.

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Posted on January 31, 2024 by GuestBlogger

Easy Super Bowl Beef and Bean Chili Over Wagon Wheels

When a lot of us think of chili, we think of indulgent bowls of cornbread topped with juicy beef, beans and tomatoes. We think of mounds of cheddar cheese, sour cream topped with crushed tortilla chips.

If you’re feeding the family on Super Bowl Sunday and you want to keep your menu on the healthier side, opt for a lighter chili loaded with blood pressure-lowering fiber and no-salt-added beans and tomatoes.

Instead of serving with bread or chips, serve chili over whimsical wagon wheels for a fun, lighter spin on a hearty winter favorite.

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Posted on January 31, 2024 by Maris

Weight Loss Wonders and Jorge Cruise on Rachael Ray

Update: This episode will air again on June 6, 2024.

Tune-in today, January 31st, to Rachael Ray for their biggest weight loss episode yet. Five contestants reveal their secrets to losing over 700 pounds combined. The secret isn’t surgery! Knowing Rachel Ray, we bet their success may have something to do with healthy, yet delicious eating. Plus, get a healthy fish recipe that you can make for dinner tonight.

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Posted on January 31, 2024 by Margaret

Chobani Champions is Greek Yogurt for Kids That’s Healthy

Anytime we see a packaged food made especially for children, we’re a little leery. The flashy colors, cartoon characters and cute names are often masking higher sugar, calorie and fat content, not to mention ingredients those little bodies don’t need.

So when we heard about the new Chobani Champions, the first Greek yogurt made just for kids, we were cautious. However, we were also pleasantly surprised to learn that it’s just as good-for-you as its grown-up counterpart. Like the original Chobani, that we love!, the Chobani Champions yogurt is 100% natural, made with real fruit, loaded with protein, vitamins and calcium, is low in calories, and has deliciously fresh flavors. (more…)

Posted on January 31, 2024 by Natalie K

Buying Organic Doesn’t Have to Break the Bank

Teri Gault, CEO and founder of TheGroceryGame.com, wife and mother of two, began The Grocery Game as a home-based business in February 2000. As an avid saver and coupon-clipper, Teri decided to use her skills to create a list to help identify when to use coupons, based on categorical sales trends, to achieve maximum savings at her local supermarket. Since 2000 The Grocery Game has expanded to over 50 states and continues to expand globally. Today the average family of four saves up to 67% a month in groceries, totaling about over $500 a month in savings, by playing The Grocery Game and following Teri’s Tips to shopping.

You WILL pay more for organic than conventionally produced food, BUT you DON’T have to pay full price! Plus there’s some money saving alternatives you may want to consider.

First of all, “organic” or “natural”? In the US, to bear the name “organic”, it must be USDA certified organic, which is costly to food producers. But, more and more “natural” food manufacturers are doing almost the same things as considerable alternatives. The catch is that there are no government standards for what “natural” may mean. Your best bet is to visit the manufacturer’s website and read what “natural” means to them. You just might find, for instance, a chicken grower who pledges to use no hormones and no antibiotics. If that takes care of your main concerns, you just cut your poultry bill by about 75%!

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Posted on January 30, 2024 by GuestBlogger

The Other White Meat: Cider-Glazed Pork Chops with Barley and Mushrooms

Home cooks often stick to chicken breasts when they are looking for a quick, healthy meal option, but pork today compares favorably for fat, calories and cholesterol. In fact, many cuts of pork are just as lean – if not leaner – than chicken. Pork tenderloin, like skinless chicken breast, meets the government guidelines for “extra lean.” According to The Pork Checkoff, six pork cuts meet the USDA guidelines for “lean,” with less than 10 grams fat, 4.5 grams saturated fat and 95 milligrams of cholesterol per serving.

If you’re looking for a perfect partner for pork chops, whole grain barley makes a great teammate for any cut of “the other white meat.” Barley is low in fat, high in fiber and extremely versatile for any meal. A cereal grain with a rich, nutty flavor, it has an appealing chewy, consistency that tastes like a blend of rice and pasta.

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Posted on January 28, 2024 by Maris

Le Whaf Lets You Inhale Even More Kinds of Food

The creator of Le Whif, a lipstick-sized inhaler, has come out with a new product, one that can vaporize almost any food imaginable. The bigger machine, called “Le Whaf,” looks like a giant fishbowl and can easily transform any beverage into a low-calorie vapor, which one breathes in. Special packages of “essences” can be purchased for other foods, like lemon tart or tomato soup.

The machine was created by David Edwards, who is an aerosol scientist and professor at Harvard University. “It’s great fun,” says Edwards. “It’s an amuse bouche, a conversation starter. It’s a way of savoring the flavor of alcoholic drinks without getting drunk. Most of all, it’s a way for foodies to savor flavors.”

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Posted on January 28, 2024 by Health Buzz

January 28 is National Blueberry Pancake Day

Pancakes might be delicious, but they aren’t usually billed as one of the most nutritious foods. You can up the health value of your favorite flapjacks by using wheat flour instead of white flour and today, National Blueberry Pancake Day, add some berries for an extra nutrient boost.

While most of us love to eat pancakes, many of us aren’t quite sure how to cook them with prowess.

The first step is choosing the right equipment. The key to a perfect pancake? The pan. Choose a pan that has an advanced nonstick surface that is durable and metal utensil safe, so foods that are prone to sticking, like pancakes, easily slide off, even when little or no butter or oil is used.

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Posted on January 28, 2024 by Maris

Diet and Nutrition

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