Better For Your Foods

According to the November 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, "Better for Your" Foods, which includes low calorie edibles, will be a hot trend over the next decade. Consumer Reports staffers rated low fat snacks and gave the thumbs up to Jell-O Fat Free chocolate pudding, The Skinny Cow Low Fat Vanilla Chocolate Combo Ice Cream Sandwiches as well as Triscuit Reduced Fat crackers, and Cracker Barrel Natural Reduced Fat Vermont Sharp White Cheddar 2% Milk cheese.

Just back from the American Dietetic Association's (ADA) annual Food & Nutrition Expo, here are some other fabulous, trendy, "Better For You" foods to look for:

Brothers-All-Natural Crisps Real Sliced Fruit:
These no-added sugar delights are 100% fruit that are freeze-dried. They are crispy and naturally sweet for less than 50 calories a serving! Perfect for school lunches, at the office, and when traveling.

The Laughing Cow Light Garlic & Herb cheese spread:
For only 35 calories per serving, this flavorful and portable cheese wedge is an ideal afternoon snack. Spread it on whole grain crackers or apple slices.

SoyJoy All Natural Fruit & Soy Bars:
For those looking for a filling, portable bar, these baked bars are a joy. Each bar contains whole soybeans and dried fruit for a healthy snack for less than 150 calories. Look for berry, apple walnut, raisin almond, and strawberry. A blueberry flavor will be released in the spring.

Quakers Vanilla Creme Brulee Rice Snacks:
These a dessert lover's dream come true. For only 60 calories per serving, these crunchy rice cake delights are a healthy way to enjoy a fat free sweet treat. Look for this new flavor over the next few months.

An Apple a Day Keeps the Cardiologist at Bay

Full of heart-healthy fiber, potassium, and natural sweetness, go hog wild with this season's bounty of crisp fall apples. Take heart in knowing that a healthy diet rich in fruits, such as apples, and veggies can help reduce your risk of heart disease, the number one killer of Americans.

Pack a couple of apples daily as snacks, add them sliced as part of your dinner salad, and bake them for a sweet treat.

Click here to learn more about the best varieties to pick for snacking, baking, and cooking.

Halt the Salt!

A recent study in the American Journal of Heath Promotion estimates that 1.5 million cases of high blood pressure could be eliminated and over $2 billion in health care costs could be save annually if Americans would reduce their daily intake by a mere 400 milligrams (mg) of sodium. Americans are consumng over 3,000 mg of sodium daily, way above the upper level recommended at 2,300 mg.

While sodium comes from the salt (sodium chloride) that you use to season your foods, the majority of the sodium in your diet is from processed foods.

Use this chart to help you reduce your daily sodium consumption and your blood pressure!

Healthy Comfort Foods

Who doesn't love Grandma's favorite creamy noodle casserole and mom's meaty meatloaf? While these comfort foods may bring delightful memories of your childhood dinners, their high fat content may not be delightful for your heart and waist.

The good news is that these family favorites can be made over to be healthier for you without compromising your tasteful memories.

Click here to read more.

Is Managing Your Weight All In Your Genes?

While genes play a role in determining your body weight, it's just one piece of the weight management puzzle. The incidences of obesity among Americans have more than doubled since the 1980s, and it can't be due to a change in genetic makeup during this short time period. Rather, it's more likely due to the changes in the other pieces of the weight management puzzle: our eating habits and inadequate daily physical activity.

Watch this for more on your DNA and your weight.

Eating On The Run

Your busy schedule may be wrecking havoc with your health. Not surprisingly, a study of young adults in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association observed that "eating on-the-run" was associated with a higher consumption of soft drinks, fast food, fat, and saturated fat, and less healthy foods such as whole grains, fruits, and veggies.

If you have to grab a meal on-the-fly, take this fun quiz to learn what to order with your health in mind.

Source: Larson, N., et. al. 2009. Making time for meals: meal structure and associations with dietary intake in young adults. JADA, 109:72-78