Why We Shouldn’t Skip Breakfast

A healthy breakfast with blueberries and whole-wheat bread

Many of us have grown up hearing that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. However, as we grow older and our lives become more rushed, breakfast might have lost its importance in our lives. Instead of having eggs, toast, or hot cereal at the kitchen table, we might simply … Read more

Is Granola a Healthy Choice?

Granola is a popular snack or cereal for many of us. It’s a major ingredient in trail mixes, which is a staple for our road trips and other travels. Some may also prefer it to sugary cereal or plain cornflakes for their breakfast. Others mix it into yogurt or add several more … Read more

Starbucks’ New Stuff Roundup

Starbucks’ New Stuff Roundup

“It’s time to start thinking of Starbucks for great food”. Or so says the promo material for the new La Boulange line of “artisanal pastries” being offered at the ubiquitous coffee shop. La Boulange Bakery is a San Francisco institution that has been serving up “fantastic brunches and healthful lunches” in the … Read more

How to Eat Like Gold Medal Olympic Athletes

healthy muesli breakfast having a variety of healthy foods

It takes years for the Olympic athletes to adjust and perfect their diet. To compete professionally, we can learn about the nutrition tips from the world-class athletes that inspired them to the gold medal. Athletes approximately consumed a combined total of 330 tons of fruits and vegetables and 19 tons of eggs … Read more

National Oatmeal Day – Different Ways to Prepare It

oats in a clear glass pitcher

Oatmeal is one of America’s favorite breakfast foods, and National Oatmeal Day is celebrated on October 29, each year. It is a themed celebration and, to a moderate extent, under the radar. Oats are fiber-rich whole grains and an excellent source of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Oatmeal is made of ground … Read more

Pelletized Fiber: Coming to Your Cereal Soon

Pelletized Fiber: Coming to Your Cereal Soon

General Mills announced recently that it has filed a patent on a technique to pelletize fiber and calcium for use in ready-to-eat (RTE) breakfast cereals. The process will use a gelatinized starch to coalesce calcium and fiber for the purpose of supplementing processed cereals. Mmmm… Is this a big deal? Well…General Mills … Read more

Is Juicing Good or Bad For Health?

Fresh Orange juice

Fruits and vegetables are beneficial to your health. These are a source of vitamins and essential nutrients required by your body to grow and fight potentially harmful substances. Important compounds such as fiber, proteins, carbohydrates, iron, calcium, and magnesium are some important needs that should be provided to the body on a … Read more

The 10:1 Ratio for Choosing Whole Grains

The 10:1 Ratio for Choosing Whole Grains

Even whole-grain gurus have a tough time deciphering front of package whole-grain claims. With 34,000 new whole grain products introduced in 2012 (compared to just 264 in 2001), it has become increasingly difficult to determine just how different “made with whole grain” really is from “100% whole grain”. Now, from the Harvard … Read more

The Return of Pressure Cookers in the Household

A basic pressure cooker with a simple regulator and an oval lid

While pressure cookers are thoroughly loved in the cooking industry, there are a few reservations for their use in household purposes. Incidents of explosions and mishandling have put a question mark on the reliability of this cooking ware. But how this danger slogan got attached to the perfectly fine cooking device and … Read more

Ezekiel Bread: The Wheat Belly Antidote

Ezekiel Bread: The Wheat Belly Antidote

If you have a gut – it is trendy to be referring to it not as a gut, but rather as a “Wheat Belly”. The Wheat Belly craze – based on the eponymous diet book – claims (erroneously) that wheat-containing and processed foods made with wheat act like opiate drugs, promoting addictive … Read more

Cracklin’ Crack Down

Cracklin’ Crack Down

An inquisitive reader wrote to ask about one of her favorite cereals, Kellogg’s Cracklin’ Oat Bran: “I’m concerned about my fiber intake and I have been eating Kellogg’s Cracklin’ Oat Bran…is this a good source of fiber?” – Jamie from San Diego Great question Jamie! So, what about this Cracklin’ Oat Bran? … Read more

This is the Real Facon

This is the Real Facon

Bill Joel sang about “Gettin’ put on the back in the discount rack…” like it was a bad thing. The grocery store discount rack is a virtual treasure trove of stuff most people would not otherwise buy, were it not for the enticingly marked down prices. Check out this find from my … Read more

Produce Pump-Ups

Produce Pump Ups

The Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics offers the following ideas to get you packing your plate with nutrient-dense, lower calorie fruit and vegetable options: Begin with Breakfast Wake up to fruit; make a habit of adding fruit to your morning oatmeal, ready-to-eat cereal, yogurt or toaster waffle Mix up a breakfast smoothie … Read more

Everything about Nopal

a mature edible nopal pad

Nopal cactus is indigenous to some Southwestern regions of the US and Mexico. It also goes by the name prickly pear cactus. This plant is mostly consumed when it is young, as it gets very hard when it matures. It is among the common ingredients in Mexican foods. This succulent plant is … Read more

Fiber: Not Your Strong Point

High Fiber Foods.

In a recent study of general knowledge about dietary fiber, the Kellogg Company found that Americans are not-so-surprisingly, not-so-knowledgeable about the roles and sources of dietary fiber. Kellog’s research In a study of 1,006 adults conducted in November 2010, Kellogg’s found that of those surveyed: 20% mistakenly believed that meats and seafood … Read more

Can Iron-Rich Foods Make You Smarter?

Assorted foods on a table, including lobster, beef, lamb liver, oysters, nuts, and seeds

Iron deficiency has been a major health problem for many people of all ages in many countries. Around the world, about 2.5 billion people are afflicted with iron deficiency. It affects a large number of women and children, even in developing countries. Effects of Iron Deficiency to the Brain Everybody knows that … Read more