Crisp, juicy onions; firm, smooth garlic cloves; long, fibrous leeks: great for flavor, bad for your breath, likely good for your heart. What makes the onion family (onions, garlic, leeks, chives, scallions) so flavorful and so healthful is their allyl sulfides, one type of phytonutrient. According to today’s research, these aromatic com-pounds may help to
Did you know that eventually every woman is at risk for breast cancer, just by getting older? A family history of breast cancer increases the risk. In any case, if you’re a female, consider nutrition-focused strategies to lower your risk. Keep a healthy weight. Gaining extra weight during adulthood, especially during pregnancy, seems to increase
Brown or the multigrain bread is not necessarily whole-grain. The rich brown color may come from caramel coloring, not from whole-grain flour. For the record, if it’s labeled “whole wheat,” bread must be made from 100 percent whole-wheat flour. However, “wheat bread” may contain some reined white flour. Proportions vary. Oat, corn, and rye flours
Is pizza good for you? Sure, especially if you eat just what you need (likely a couple of slices). One slice (Vs of a 12-inch pizza) may supply about 185 calories and 5 to 7 fat grams; half of the same pizza, about 750 calories and 20 to 30 fat grams. Remember, cheese has bone-building
Dining alone? Rather than simply “forage” when you’re hungry, bored, or lonely, redesign your meal approach to eat smart, boost your appetite, and avoid emotional overeating or undereating. You’re worth it! Make solo meals worth the work. Plan small, but smart. Shop ahead for easy-to-fix, healthful meals. Perhaps buy meal or salad kits, partly prepared
Standing and waiting, sitting and waiting—so much unproductive time in sedentary activity. Why not use all that waiting time effectively? Multitask by moving rather than just waiting. Skip the drive-thru. Park instead, and walk inside to order food, cash a check, or pick up a prescription. Climb the stairs when it’s just a few lights.
Trying to cook with less fat? Try these techniques: Braise or stew over low heat in liquid with a tight-fitting lid. Broil or grill with direct heat, often over hot coals. Microwave with no fat added. Roast uncovered in the oven, with dry heat. Simmer or poach slowly in liquid, just below boiling. Steam over
Help your child get a lunchtime A for nourishment to learn. For a packed lunch, have kids help plan and pack their lunch (in a cool-looking carry container). They’ll more likely eat it. Pack variety (and a frozen chill-pack to keep perishable foods safe): a sandwich, leftover chicken legs, even cold pizza; fruit (kiwi, starfruit
There’s truth in the time-honored adage that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Enjoy a crunchy, medium-size apple with its peel on, and get the benefits of about 4 grams of dietary fiber in just 80 calories. That’s about 15 percent of the amount advised daily for adults. An apple’s mostly soluble fiber
If you’re a pasta fan, you’ll enjoy these factoids this National Pasta Month: Americans eat pasta for dinner forty times yearly. About 600 pasta shapes exist worldwide. The Chinese ate pasta 5,000 years ago; Italians, more than 1,500 years before Marco Polo’s time. Now more facts and tips: To cook pasta, use 1 quart of