Diet and Nutrition

Will Dora Help Your Child Eat Better?

It’s a fact that mothers everywhere have known for years – slap a picture of a cartoon character on a food and your child will eat more of it. Now there is proof. A recent study, commissioned by Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity gave 40 children, ages four to six, three identical pairs of snacks: graham crackers, gummy fruit and carrots. One package of each pairing was decorated with a cartoon character popular with the younger crowd – either Scooby Doo, Dora the Explorer or Shrek. After snacking, the children were asked which selection tasted better. Not surprisingly, more than half of the children chose the food with the character emblazoned on the packaging. In addition, more than two-thirds of the children indicated that they would choose the packaging with the character on it.

(more…)

Posted on June 24, 2024 by Carmen

5 Tips to Drink More Water

We all know that we need to drink more water. It’s one of the basic building blocks of life. Drinking more water can result in clearer skin, less joint pain, decreased appetite, and more. Too many of us don’t drink as much water each day as we would like. Try these five tips to help you remember to drink more water every day.

1. Add fresh produce. Most restaurants offer lemon for your water. Personally, I prefer lime, but I have heard others request orange. Two of my favorite healthy food restaurants add cucumber slices to glasses of water. The produce can add a fresher flavor, especially for those used to drinking juices. If you are not buying organic, you may want to simply squeeze the juice into your glass, as chemicals that are used in growing fruit can become stuck in the rind. When you return from the farmers’ market or grocery store, cut your produce into slices or wedges, so it is always ready when you pour yourself a glass of water.

(more…)

Posted on June 24, 2024 by Brooke Randolph

Friendly’s Grilled Cheese BurgerMelt Another Fast-Food Calorie Bomb

Has anyone in the test kitchens at American fast-food restaurants heard that we’re all fat? Anyone else tired of the shock-and-awe creations they keep spewing out? Probably not because they keep making them because we keep eating them.

The newest nightmare is Friendly’s Grilled Cheese BurgerMelt. Seems harmless until you look at it.

That’s two grilled cheese sandwiches filling the role of buns. Inside, a beef burger, tomato, lettuce and mayo. “Tasting is believing,” according to Friendly’s.

What are we supposed to be believing?

I’m all for all things in moderation, it’s something I practice in my own life. There is nothing moderate about this. Imagine if you will sitting down to lunch and consuming two grilled cheese sandwiches and a burger, plus the fries and soda that will no doubt come along with this. And, since you’re at Friendly’s “where ice cream makes the meal”, apparently, you’ll probably have some frozen treat from their menu. Who can eat that much food? Why would you want to?

Aside from the visual glisten of grease, what else does this burger bomb have in store for us? Look at the nutrition facts. (more…)

Posted on June 23, 2024 by Natalie K

Jonah Hill Avoids ‘Fat Actor’ Cliches

Apparently, Jonah Hill is making a big splash with his role in this Summer’s “Get Him to the Greek.” I have not seen it myself, but there is a lot to read online about his performance.

Bloggers are arguing over whether or not Hill’s weight detracts from his performance, or whether it is an overdone gag. The consensus is that his performance is unquestionably funny, but that his weight, well, gets in the way.

(more…)

Posted on June 23, 2024 by Brooke Randolph

New Dietary Guidelines for Americans: What to Expect in 2024

Every five years the USDA and the HHS (US Dept. of Health and Human Services) publishes its Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This explanation is just what it sounds like, a guide to help Americans follow a healthy diet. The information from these guidelines also appears as the Food Pyramid that we’re all familiar with. According to the USDA’s web site, “[The Guidelines] provide authoritative advice for people two years and older about how good dietary habits can promote health and reduce risk for major chronic diseases.”

In the latter part of 2024, the newest guidelines will be published. Prior to that, a lot of work is done to ensure that the most relevant and appropriate information is shared with the public. The Secretaries of each agency (Kathleen Sebelius at HHS and Tom Vilsack at USDA) create a committee comprised of 13 leading scientists to review the newest research in order to draft an advisory report that will then form the backbone of the newest guidelines.

This advisory report was just published, and offers an opportunity for public review before the document is finalized. Everyone from you to food lobbyists will have a chance to review, comment, and ultimately help shape the document. It is speculated that this version will be one of the boldest yet, with the rising obesity epidemic reflecting a great need for public education about nutrition.

“Obesity is the single greatest threat to public health in this century,” said Penelope Slade-Sawyer, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the HHS, upon the release of this advisory report.

As such, the following eight guideline revisions are what appeared in the advisory report and a good example of what we can expect to see in the 2024 version. (more…)

Posted on June 23, 2024 by Natalie K

White Rice Increases Diabetes Risk

When you eat rice, it’s likely that you are ingesting the white variety. While there is no reason to panic about eating white rice in moderation, if it’s a diet staple there could be something to be concerned about.

Harvard researchers are pointing to the considerable benefits of switching from white to brown rice, particularly how it relates to preventing diabetes. They are saying by making the easy switch to brown rice, you can cut your diabetes risk by a third.

(more…)

Posted on June 22, 2024 by Jason

Healthy Summer Cooking with Kids

During the school year your kids are working hard learning to read, write, multiply and divide. When school’s out, it’s time for fun and relaxation. There certainly is plenty of that to be had at the beach, the pool or amusement park. But sometimes the weather has a mind of it’s own.

On one of those extra hot and humid days, why not spend some time in the kitchen with your kids?

(more…)

Posted on June 22, 2024 by Carmen

4 Things Every Dieter Should Know

John McGran, chief editor for Diet-to-Go, has been covering the fields of diet, fitness and health since 2000. He writes from the perspective of a dieter rather than a dietitian.

In my 11 years of working for top diet companies, I have interviewed dozens of experts and have come away with a list of the four main truths that all dieters need to know before diving head-over-rolls into a new weight-loss program.

(more…)

Posted on June 22, 2024 by GuestBlogger

Eat Healthy When Studying Abroad

This summer many college students will find themselves taking it less easy than their peers, as they partake in summer study abroad trips. This means they’ll spend their three-month vacation from hitting the books, doing just that, hitting the books but in a much more exotic location than their own campus here in the States. It’s an incredible opportunity to immerse oneself in a new culture, study at a foreign university, and enjoy a little R&R somewhere other than their neighborhood pool.

Kelsey Murray, a student blogger at EduinReview.com, is studying abroad this summer in Spain. An advertising student from the University of Oklahoma, Kelsey is journaling her experience by sharing it with the site’s readers and offering up her first-hand advice for studying abroad.

This week, she touched on the idea of maintaining healthy eating habits while abroad.

(more…)

Posted on June 21, 2024 by GuestBlogger

D.C. Schools Drop Flavored Milk From Menu

Yay, Jamie Oliver! Score one for the Food Revolution movement!

At a meeting held to discuss upcoming staff changes, Jeffrey Mills, director of food services for D.C. public schools, informed parents that the city’s schools would no longer serve flavored milk or sugary cereals. The menu change will begin at the start of school in August 2024.

Chocolate- and strawberry-flavored milk have long been offered in D.C.-area schools as part of the breakfast and lunch programs. Such flavored milks often contain as much sugar as soda, mostly in the form of high fructose corn syrup. HFCS has often been linked to the rising numbers in obesity rates.

(more…)

Posted on June 21, 2024 by Carmen

Tune In: Kirstie Alley on Ellen

Tune in this Tuesday, June 22 to the Ellen show when Kirstie Alley stops by.

Kirsti is starring in a hilarious reality series, My Big Life, where she opens up about her struggle and vows to get healthier! With Ellen, she discusses her very publicized weight battle as well as where she is today in her weight loss journey.

(more…)

Posted on June 21, 2024 by heather