Nutrients in Food Colors Activities for Kids Color it nutritious! Teach your children that a colorful plate means lots of “grow foods” (See Tips for Grocery Shopping With Your Child). What a beautiful array of colorful fruits and vegetables! You can use this eyeful of color to your advantage by teaching your child to choose naturally […]
History of the Food Guide Pyramid In 1992 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) replaced the popular concept of four food groups with the Food Guide Pyramid. The new pyramid gave greater prominence to plant foods, stressing that grains, fruits, and vegetables are the basis of a healthy diet. Meat and dairy products were placed […]
Fruit Juices vs. Fruit Beverages Kids love the taste of pure fruit juice, and parents love it because it’s a healthy source of nutrients. When choosing healthy pure juice for your children, it’s important to note what kind of juice you are serving and how much you are offering. Here’s what families should know about fruit juice versus […]
Healthy Meat: Yes or No? What’s the beef with red meat? This question can be answered in two nutritional words: fat and cholesterol. Recent nutritional guidelines have recommended eating 18 ounces or less of red meat per week. Listed are the top health concerns about red meat, tips on choosing healthier meat options, and getting […]
Facts About Pasta Pasta is one of the greatest things that ever happened to grains. Pasta may have its origins in Asia and the Mediterranean, but its growing popularity has made it truly an American health food. Here are the most common questions asked about this favorite family food. What is pasta? “Pasta” is the […]
FAQs About Pesticides in Food Do organic foods contain lower levels of pesticides? Yes. In 1997, Consumer Reports did a study on 100 pounds of produce, some with organic labels and some not, and selected randomly from supermarkets across the country. Twenty-five percent of the organic samples had traces of pesticides compared with 77 percent […]
Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) History The Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) was originally set up by the National Academy of Sciences during World War II as general guidelines for feeding the country’s soldiers. These recommendations have grown to be guidelines for the general public and were last revised in 1997 and given a new name. RDAs […]
What’s in the Standard American Diet If you were to list the factors that increase the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, intestinal disorders – just about any illness – the standard American diet has them all: • High in animal fats • High in unhealthy fats: saturated, hydrogenated • Low in fiber • High […]
The 12 Top Family Foods Admittedly, any “top family food” list will have a bit of bias based on personal preferences, but we have tried to honor certain criteria in selecting our 12 top family foods. We believe that the key to healthy eating is to fill your plate with foods that provide high quality […]
Ending Postpartum Constipation Experiencing postpartum constipation is a normal thing to experience as your body recovers from pregnancy and childbirth. Try these 4 tips to relieve constipation after giving birth: Walk. Moving your body is likely to move your bowels. Drink plenty of fluids. Eat and drink natural laxatives: nectar (prune, pear, apricot), fresh fruits, […]
24 Ways to Ease Morning Sickness The term “morning sickness” is misleading, as this queasiness can occur in the morning, afternoon, evening or middle of the night. Although it is inevitable and unavoidable, here are 24 ways to ease morning sickness. 1. Avoid Morning Sickness Nausea Triggers The most common offenders you should eliminate to […]
4 Ways to Constipation Relief During Pregnancy Most women are prone to constipation throughout their pregnancy. Early in pregnancy you can again blame pregnancy hormones, which slow the movement of food through your intestines. In physiologic jargon, this change is called decreased gastrointestinal motility. The slower passage of food and fluid allows more fluid to […]
