Not many foods play the role of both a prized cooking ingredient and household cleaner. The word vinegar derives from the French “vin aigre,” or sour wine. It has been traced back to 5000 B.C.E. in Babylon, not just for cooking but as a medicine, a preservative, and a drink to boost strength and promote […] Continue reading
Search for: apple
Meta-analyses in nutrition research: sources of insight or confusion?
Nutrition is a complex field regularly cursed with provocative media headlines that often preface an oversimplified summary. If you’re a savvy consumer of nutrition news, you may have become wise to look past the catchy headlines to assess the quality of the study being reported—sizing-up the latest finding in context of existing evidence on the […] Continue reading
Common Questions About Fruits and Vegetables
You’ve heard the nutrition prescriptions: “Aim for 5-A-Day” and “Eat a Rainbow.” Few would argue that fruits and vegetables offer health benefits, including reducing the risk of some chronic diseases. But maybe you’ve hesitated to fill your grocery cart with colorful produce because of concerns that pop up in online articles and discussions. Here’s a […] Continue reading
Tackling Food Waste at Home
Do you ever double a recipe but never finish leftovers that get pushed to the back of the refrigerator? Take advantage of a buy-one-get-one-free special on produce, even though you know it’s more than you typically use? Forget about an unopened package of salad greens that have begun to turn slimy? Unfortunately, common situations like […] Continue reading
Why School Meals Matter
School foods in the U.S. have come a long way. In 2010 they received a complete makeover when The First Lady Michelle Obama spearheaded a school meals initiative, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA), which was signed into law in December of that year. The act targeted childhood obesity by funding child nutrition programs and […] Continue reading
Body Fat
Role of Body Fat We may not appreciate body fat, especially when it accumulates in specific areas like our bellies or thighs. But fat is an important source of stored energy when we can’t get to food for an extended time. Within the matrix of body fat, also called adipose tissue, there is not only […] Continue reading
Carbohydrates and Blood Sugar
When people eat a food containing carbohydrates, the digestive system breaks down the digestible ones into sugar, which enters the blood. Carbohydrate metabolism is important in the development of type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the body can’t make enough insulin or can’t properly use the insulin it makes. Glycemic Index In the past, carbohydrates […] Continue reading
Added Sugar
Your body doesn’t need to get any carbohydrate from added sugar. That’s why the Healthy Eating Pyramid says sugary drinks and sweets should be used sparingly, if at all, and the Healthy Eating Plate does not include foods with added sugars. The average American adult, teenager, and child consumes about 17 teaspoons of added sugar […] Continue reading
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
Yield: 100 servings Ingredients 1 cup olive oil 25 pounds butternut squash, peeled, halved and deseeded 2 pounds leeks, white part only, chopped 1 cup ginger root, peeled and minced 4 ounces salted butter 12 Granny Smith apples, peeled and chopped 1 cup brown sugar 2 tablespoons vanilla 5 gallons vegetable stock 3 46-ounce cans […] Continue reading
Is Wine Fine, or Beer Better?
Almost 200 years ago, an Irish doctor noted that chest pain (angina) was far less common in France than in Ireland. He attributed the difference to “the French habits and mode of living.” [1] The comparatively low rate of heart disease in France despite a diet that includes plenty of butter and cheese has come […] Continue reading