As we become a more food-savvy society, consumers are looking beyond the supermarket shelf and exploring how their food is produced. Where does all this food come from? Consider that, for example, livestock production – which includes meat, milk and eggs – contributes 40 percent of global agricultural gross domestic product, and uses one-third of […] Continue reading
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The new focus on sustainability: The Dietary Guidelines for Americans and for our planet
What are the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and who creates them? The Dietary Guidelines for Americans were first released in 1980, providing science-based advice to encourage individuals to eat a healthful diet and for the formation of federal food and nutrition and nutrition education programs that help Americans achieve and maintain a healthy weight, promote […] Continue reading
Talking sustainability with Dr. Gary Adamkiewicz (Part 2)
In Part 1 of our interview with Dr. Gary Adamkiewicz, Assistant Professor of Environmental Health and Exposure Disparities in the Department of Environmental Health at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, he answers the question “What exactly does “sustainability” mean? In Part 2 he offers further insights on the relationship between food, the environment, […] Continue reading
Talking sustainability with Dr. Gary Adamkiewicz (Part 1)
Food decisions used to stop at the shelf. We saw something we liked, bought it, consumed it, and didn’t think much about it beyond satisfying our hunger. Now, however, we’re peeking past the shelves to trace where our food came from and how it was grown. In 2015, our food’s “story” is as important as […] Continue reading
The Healthy Eating Plate now available in other languages!
The Healthy Eating Plate — a simple, visual meal-planning guide that addresses important deficiencies in the U.S. government’s MyPlate icon—is now available in 15 languages, giving it the potential to reach over half the world’s population. Continue reading
Ask the Expert: Concerns about canola oil
The expert: Dr. Guy Crosby I’m confused about whether canola oil is healthy. I know that it’s a polyunsaturated fat, which I’m told is good, but then I also hear that I should stay away from it. Continue reading
3 Strategies to prevent overeating
Overeating – commonplace during the holidays – is something people encounter all year long. There are two “types” of overeating: Initiating an eating episode when there is no physiological need Eating too much during an eating episode Continue reading
Dietary linoleic acid and risk of coronary heart disease
Swapping saturated fat and carbohydrates for linoleic acid – the main polyunsaturated fat found in vegetable oil, nuts, and seeds – lowers risk of coronary heart disease, according to a new study by Harvard School of Public Health researchers. We talked to lead author Maryam Farvid, a visiting scientist and Takemi fellow in the Department […] Continue reading
Thinfluence: Thin-flu-ence (noun) the powerful and surprising effect friends, family, work, and environment have on weight
Thinfluence, by Walter Willett is a research-based examination of the external forces that influence diet and weight. Willett argues that personal relationships, workplace environment and the media contribute to an individual’s ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Continue reading
How to choose healthy fats
1. Use liquid vegetable oils for cooking and baking. Olive, canola, and other plant-based oils are rich in heart-healthy unsaturated fats. Try dressing up a salad or roasted vegetables with an olive oil-based vinaigrette. 2. Avoid trans fat. Read labels to find foods without trans fats. You should also scan the ingredient list to make […] Continue reading