Do you take a snack break with each commercial break in the nightly news? Do you need a sweet before bedtime? If you eat dinner early, maybe you really are hungry. A small snack to curb hunger is okay. Contrary to urban myths, late-evening calories are no more likely to promote weight gain and won’t
Giving a gift for Mother’s Day, a birthday, or no special occasion? Take a moment today to recognize a friend or family member, someone who stuck to a New Year’s exercise resolution, met a work goal, or simply needs to know you care. From your kitchen to theirs: Share a pick-your-own outing. Pack a decorative
Want a quick, inexpensive dinner? Try eggs—they’re a protein bargain! A single egg counts as one of the 5 to 7 ounces of meat or meat alternate recommended daily. Whole eggs offer more than protein: vitamins A and D, B vitamins, and phosphorus as well as some iron. (Eaten with vitamin C-rich fruit such as
Based on what you’ve heard or read, should you avoid some foods entirely? Almost 60 percent of consumers have that misconception, according to a recent survey. Some say, “We hear more about what we can’t eat than what we can.” Confused? Sorting through the never-ending low of nutrition information and misinformation isn’t easy, especially when
Need to tone your muscles? Improve your balance, flexibility, or posture? Relieve stress? Try Tai Chi. You don’t need special shoes, clothes, or equipment—just a good instructor. No matter what your age, the controlled dancelike movements of this centuries-old Chinese martial art can give you a good workout. In fact, its slow motion and gentle
Tired of the same old garden salad for dinner? National Salad Month is the perfect time for a salad makeover. A variety of vegetables and fruits add different nutrients, health-promoting phytonutrients, flavor, and appeal to your meals. Salad making has no rules except: Use high-quality ingredients, clean fresh ingredients, and toss (if it’s a garden
Remember the Boy Scout motto? Be prepared! That’s good advice for your pantry—in case a storm or an accident shuts off power. If your power does go out, keep your refrigerator and freezer closed. Your refrigerator will stay cold for at least four to six hours; your freezer, about two days if it’s full. Before
What makes women’s nutrition needs unique? Perhaps less food energy (calories) to support a smaller body frame than men have and certainly the physiology of childbearing. Women: That said, keep this nutrition advice in mind: During your childbearing years, consume enough folate (400 micrograms daily) to protect against birth defects, enough calcium (1,000 milligrams daily)
What comes to mind when you think of whole grains? Fiber? A single whole-grain food provides a whole array of health benefits. Today’s research is exploring how whole grains, eaten regularly in higher amounts, may offer these benefits: (1) reduce the chances of type 2 diabetes or at least help manage it by improving insulin’s
Have a challenge getting your family to eat vegetables? Is your family well intentioned, but poor at meal planning? Do they simply resist or dislike veggies? Then maybe you need to get sneaky. Your family deserves the chance to experience new flavors, get the health benefits, and ultimately learn to enjoy vegetables in new ways.