Diet and Nutrition

Spice Up Your Meals With Chef Aaron McCargo

Since he won season 4 of the Next Food Network Star, Chef Aaron McCargo Jr. has been known for his preference for bold spices and robust flavors. On his cooking show, Big Daddy’s House,  Aaron shares his passion for big, bold flavors and family-style cooking.

Now, he has partnered with the American Spice Company on his first line of spices, McCargo’s, that will add Big Daddy-style flavor to all of your favorite meals without additional calories or fat. I’ve sampled four varieties: Signature Blend, Signature Rub, Smoked Salt and Seasoning Salt and they were just as I expected – fresh, flavorful and potent – a little will go a long way and make these a staple in your kitchen cabinet. (more…)

Posted on November 4, 2023 by Maris

Stay Healthy with These Flu-Fighting Foods


Pamela Ofstein is the Director of Nutrition Services at eDiets.com, a leading provider of weight loss services, information and products.

I wish I could say there is a flawless remedy for the common cold or flu, but really there isn’t one to date. Avoiding getting sick is the first line of attack. First, keep washing those hands; second, incorporate a healthy lifestyle (eating, exercising, sleeping, etc.); and lastly, avoid all those friends and family you know who are sick!

Here are a few things to eat to help you stay healthy, fight off infections, and boost your immune system (notice the abundance of antioxidants):

  • Fruits and veggies (dark green, red, orange, and yellow fruits and vegetables)
  • Foods with B-6 (lean meats, fish, nuts, seeds)
  • Vitamin E-rich foods (nuts, mango, blueberries, papaya, pumpkin)
  • Omega-3 fatty acids (salmon)
  • Garlic (go for the raw garlic)
  • Yogurt (I know it’s usually recommended to avoid dairy, but studies show that it can help reduce susceptibility to colds) (more…)
Posted on November 4, 2023 by GuestBlogger

No More Happy Meals in San Francisco, California

Do your children love hitting McDonald’s for their weekly Happy Meal, adding to their collection of toys and collectibles? If you live in San Francisco, this popular activity is no longer an option. After weeks of debating the topic, the San Francisco board of directors has taken steps to ban the sale of toys with fast food kids’ meals.

From the Chicago Tribune:

“Under the ordinance, scheduled to take effect in December 2024, restaurants may include a toy with a meal if the food and drink combined contain fewer than 600 calories, and if less than 35 percent of the calories come from fat….

The ordinance also would require restaurants to provide fruits and vegetables with all meals for children that come with toys.” (more…)

Posted on November 3, 2023 by Carmen

Beans are More than Just Good for Your Heart

We’ve heard the jingle, but few of us know what makes beans such a healthy food. Beans are packed with fiber and protein to help keep you strong and prevent disease. While a lot of people eat their legumes in the form of calorie-laden Mexican refried beans or barbecue baked beans, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy the nutritional powerhouse.

Black Beans: Like most beans, black beans are a good source of fiber, which lower cholesterol. When combined with whole grains, like brown rice or whole-wheat pasta, black beans are filling and delicious. They’ve also been said to be as rich in antioxidants as grapes and cranberries, two foods that have been touted as “super fruits.” Try them in a fish with black bean salad with a figure-friendly white fish like tilapia. (more…)

Posted on November 3, 2023 by Maris

Top 5 Cancer Fighting Foods

Two years ago, I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Melanoma. I have had several areas removed from my body and I’ve been rewarded with clean borders and no need for chemotherapy. I am vigilant in my use of sunscreen as well as going for my periodic skin care check ups, but I also try to eat a healthy diet.

Recently, I spotted this list of five cancer fighting foods on the Today Show. I eat most of them, but not all. It’s recommended that we eat about 1/2 cup of each every day. How many of them do you eat? (more…)

Posted on November 3, 2023 by Carmen

Eat Food, Not Stuff Simple Rules of Clean Eating

Emily Fonnesbeck is the Registered Dietitian for the Biggest Loser Resort.

You have probably heard the term “clean eating” a lot lately. It is definitely a new buzz word, or term, that is getting a lot of attention. The actual definition is unclear, and up to interpretation. My definition of clean eating would be – “Eating Real
Food.”

In my lectures, I stress the importance of eating “food” rather than “stuff”. When people watch their calorie intake, often they only monitor the quantity of the calories taking no thought for the quality of the calories. This may lead to using artificial no-calorie sweeteners, fat-free salad dressings, or having a Snickers bar for lunch. With clean eating, or focusing on real foods, you would instead use less of an unprocessed sugar, a high quality vinaigrette, and eat a well balanced lunch of
veggies, whole grains and lean proteins. (more…)

Posted on November 3, 2023 by GuestBlogger

The Rich Spending More at Fast Food Restaurants

When discussing the demographics of the fast food customer, the discussion is usually centered around the problem being in poor neighborhoods, and that restaurants are largely patronized by middle or working class people. However, a recent study conducted by American Express Business Insights found that “ultra-affluent consumers” have increased their spending at fast food establishments by 24 percent in the second quarter of 2024, as compared to the same quarter in 2024.

The definition that American Express uses as “ultra affluent” is definitely unmistakably rich: people who charge over $7,000 a month on their cards. (more…)

Posted on November 3, 2023 by Jason

Controversial Kimkins Diet Founder Starts New Diet Site

On the heels of a guilty verdict against the controversial Kimkins Diet founder Heidi Diaz, it’s come to our attention that being investigated for fraud apparently doesn’t get in the way of one’s entrepreneurial spirit.

It appears that the website www.mealperfect.com has been registered by a “Heidi Diaz” and that the site is being hosted on the kimkins.com server. It doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes or Bob Woodward to surmise that, hey, Ms. Diaz is not shying away from what got her in trouble.

What exactly is mealperfect.com? According to Who.is, the website was created in December, 2024. So, in “Internet years,” it’s still a baby- and it shows. Content is fairly thin, particularly in the Success Stories department, where there are a grand total of zero examples of success. This is of particular interest to those of us who have watched the Kimkins drama unfold, since that website was found guilty of falsifying diet success stories. (more…)

Posted on November 2, 2023 by Jason

Portia de Rossi Opens Up About Her Eating Disorder

Portia de Rossi on OprahPortia de Rossi discussed her eating disorder on Oprah yesterday, admitting that she once restricted herself to as little as 300 calories per day. The interview comes in hand with the release of de Rossi’s new book about her struggles with anorexia and bulimia, Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain.

“It wasn’t that I was proud of it, but it was certainly a recognition of my self-control,” the actress told Oprah. “I definitely had some amazing will-power to get down to 82 pounds.”

(more…)

Posted on November 2, 2023 by Health Buzz

Your Thanksgiving Day Survival Guide

We all like to think of the holidays as everyone’s favorite time of year, where families get together over delicious food to share stories and make memories. In actuality, while the holidays are a great time, if everyone is being honest, the holidays are full of chaos, stress, over-eating and the occasional screaming match between over-involved loved ones.

Yes, we all do enjoy the holidays, and Thanksgiving is the kick-off holiday function for the months of more holidays to come. One of the biggest stressors of the holiday season? Food and weight gain. The solution? The best offense is a good defense- a plan to keep those creepy calories at bay. Thanksgiving is, in a sense, an entire holiday based around one gigantic meal, but with a well-laid plan in place, you’ll be able to make it through Turkey Day without your elastic pants. (more…)

Posted on November 2, 2023 by Kelly

Chef Rocco’s Serving Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes in Now Eat This

With the calendar page flipped to November we can finally start thinking about the holidays. First up, Thanksgiving. For many this marks the start of a turbulent time of year when thinking about weight and calories overshadows the meaning of the season. To get a head start on thinking about making this a healthier time of year, Chef Rocco Dispirito, the author of several cookbooks including this year’s Now Eat This, shares with us some of his insights into surviving and thriving during Thanksgiving.

He’s also sharing a few recipes from Now Eat This that you can prepare for your Thanksgiving spread, as a healthier alternative or addition.

First, Rocco answered a few of our questions.

Since your weight loss, and publishing Now Eat This, how has Thanksgiving changed for your family?
My family insists on a traditional Thanksgiving. Any time I’ve tried to make a change it’s met with a glare! So no big changes lately. I think you have to give yourself a break every once in a while and Thanksgiving is the perfect day to do that. (more…)

Posted on November 2, 2023 by Natalie K