Can television teach kids how to eat healthy? Maybe, suggests new research. Watching cooking shows that featured healthy recipes seemed to encourage healthy eating in children, the study showed. “The findings from this study indicate cooking programs can be a promising tool for promoting positive changes in children’s food-related preferences, attitudes and behaviors,” said lead author Frans Folkvord, from Tilburg University in the Netherlands. The researchers recruited 125 children, aged 10 to 12, who watched 10 minutes of a Dutch public television cooking program designed for children. All were offered a snack as a reward for taking part in the study. Some of the children watched an episode featuring healthy food, while others watched an episode featuring unhealthy food. Those who watched the healthy episode were 2.7 times more likely to choose a healthy snack (an apple or a few pieces of cucumber) than an unhealthy snack (a handful of chips or salted mini-pretzels). The study was published Jan. 8 in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. Previous research has found children are more likely to eat healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables if they help prepare meals. However, the growing reliance on ready-prepared foods and fewer parents preparing fresh foods have led to a drop in cooking skills among children, the researchers said. They noted that the study was conducted at the…  read on >

Rushed for lunch? Yes, that nearby fast-food chain is convenient, but by tweaking your choices you can cut unwanted salt, fat and calories. When the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) updates its food guidelines, it doesn’t exactly break down how you’re supposed to fit all the healthy parts of the food pyramid into your lunch. To make it easier to make healthy choices, the Choose My Plate initiative crafted a campaign that suggests small changes that take little effort, but ones that will rev up the nutrition quotient for your midday meal. These can be as simple as switching out one item for another. Think vinaigrette instead of creamy salad dressings, and grilled proteins instead of those fried chicken tenders. If two slices of pizza with pepperoni are your favorite go-to option, replace one slice with a side salad and have the other topped with vegetables. You can apply these same principles when you pack a brown-bag lunch. Modifying perennial lunchtime favorites just a speck can make a real difference in nutrients without sacrificing taste. For instance, instead of peanut butter and jelly with a small bag of chips, switch to peanut butter and banana and add baby carrots for some crunch. You’ll cut calories by about 45% and slice saturated fat in half. Love chicken salad? Next time it’s on your menu, cut the…  read on >

Looking to ring in the New Year with cocktails that are lower in calories? Here are three delicious options worthy of a special celebration any time of the year with a little fruit tossed in for good measure. For an elegant pink champagne cocktail, to each glass add 4 ounces of dry champagne or Spanish cava and 1 ounce of a raspberry- or rhubarb-flavored liquor like Aperol, a milder and less alcoholic aperitif compared to Campari. Top it off with a few fresh raspberries. For a pear-flavored Cosmopolitan, place 2 pear slices (you can leave on the skin), 1 tablespoon of lime juice and 1 ounce of cranberry juice in a shaker. Add 1-1/2 ounces of a citrus-flavored vodka and 1/2 ounce of triple sec, followed by ice. Shake well, then strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a pinch of cinnamon or ground cardamom. Want a festive recipe for a large gathering? Try a zesty gin fizz made with the luscious citrus of the season, blood oranges. Blood Orange Gin Fizz 3 blood oranges 1-1/2 cups gin 2 tablespoons sweetener of your choice 1/2 teaspoon bitters 2 bottles chilled champagne Cut one orange into 12 segments to use for garnishing and set aside. Remove the peel and pith from the other two oranges. Chop the segments and then mash them in a bowl. Add…  read on >

New Year’s Day is typically when you vow to start a new diet to take off any weight you put on over the holidays or have been carrying. This year, make your resolutions attainable — slight changes that improve health without making impossible-to-meet demands on yourself. If you enjoyed yourself last night, New Year’s Day morning is a time to relax, not stress out in the kitchen. For a great breakfast, consider a baked egg casserole. It can be prepped the day before and finished while everyone enjoys a morning beverage. Whole eggs are an unsung superfood loaded with nutrition. They contain all eight essential amino acids. They’re high in protein plus an important brain nutrient called choline, which is also essential for metabolism. If possible, shop for pasture-raised or organic eggs for their higher omega-3 fatty acid content. New Year’s Egg and Herb Casserole Olive oil cooking spray 6 eggs 2 cups skim milk 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon your choice of chopped herbs, such as rosemary or thyme 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 cups diced lean ham Preheat oven to 350 degrees if cooking the casserole right away. Spray a 7-by-11-inch casserole dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, Parmesan, herbs, baking powder and black pepper until well combined. Fold in…  read on >

Elaborate feasts are a centerpiece of the holidays, but all that food can make people with restricted diets feel left out, a new study suggests. People whose allergies or health, religious or cultural norms keep them from sharing the meals with others can leave them lonely, researchers say. “Despite being physically present with others, having a food restriction leaves people feeling left out because they are not able to take part in bonding over the meal,” said researcher Kaitlin Woolley, an assistant professor of marketing at Cornell University. A review of seven previously published studies found that restricted diets predicted loneliness among both children and adults. In one experiment, for instance, when people without food restrictions were given restrictions, they felt lonely. This suggests that these feelings aren’t the result of other issues or just picky eating, Woolley said. More evidence came from people who attended a Passover Seder. When they were reminded that they couldn’t eat leavened foods, participants felt lonelier. But within their restricted group, they felt a stronger bond. In earlier research, Woolley found that strangers felt more connected and trusting when they shared the same food. Also, sharing food from the same plate increased cooperation between strangers. But restricted sharing makes people suffer “food worries,” she said. They’re concerned about what they can eat and if others will judge them for…  read on >

You suddenly break out in a rash or your throat gets scratchy. You assume you’re allergic to something … maybe pollen or a detergent. But could you be allergic to something in your food or medicine, and how could you tell? The medical community disagrees as to whether additives in food or even medications — such as dyes, preservatives or emulsifiers — cause true allergic reactions. And many are convinced that if reactions do occur, they are rare rather than widespread. The traditional thinking has been that the molecules from chemicals in food are too small to cause major reactions. But one small study, published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, found that patients who had skin disorders improved when they switched to medications without the dyes FD&C Blue No. 1 (bright blue) and Blue No. 2 (indigo carmine). The researchers stated that reactions to agents that color medications and foods may be more common than once appreciated. Common Food Additives Vitamins Minerals Flavorings Colorings Preservatives In recent years, the move towards all things “natural” has caused many food manufacturers to switch from synthetic additives to natural ones derived from plant, animal or even insect byproducts. Ironically, some experts say that our bodies may react more to natural than synthetic dyes and preservatives because our immune system is trained to recognize them as invading…  read on >

Finger foods are delicious, but they can pack on the calories even when you just nibble. Here are two appetizer makeovers with plenty of flavor and a lot less fat. Jalapeno poppers are a favorite thanks to their creamy filling and crunchy coating. By baking instead of deep frying them, you’ll cut back on hundreds of calories yet keep the crunch. Another crowd pleaser is taco dip. Ingredients with a lower fat content make all the difference in this recipe. Baked Jalapeno Poppers 12 fresh jalapeno peppers, halved lengthwise, stems, seeds and membranes removed 8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese 1 cup grated part-skim mozzarella 1 teaspoon cumin or fennel seeds, slightly crushed 1 teaspoon mild ground chili powder 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 egg 2 egg whites 1/2 cup whole wheat flour 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs 1/2 teaspoon salt Note: Wear disposable gloves to prepare the jalapenos to minimize the capsaicin that gets on your fingers. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a large baking sheet with nonstick spray and set aside. In a large bowl, mash together cream cheese, mozzarella, cumin or fennel seeds, chili powder and black pepper. In a shallow dish, whisk the egg and egg whites. Spread out the flour on a sheet of wax paper. Spread breadcrumbs on another sheet of wax paper. Fill each pepper half…  read on >

Federal health officials have unveiled plans to allow prescription drug imports from Canada and other foreign nations. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is proposing a rule under which states could import some prescription drugs from Canada, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced Tuesday. The agency also plans to make it easier for drug manufacturers to import their own FDA-approved drugs that are manufactured abroad and intended for sale in other countries. “This would potentially allow for the sale of these drugs at lower prices than currently offered to American consumers, giving drug makers new flexibility to reduce list prices,” Azar told reporters. Azar touted the proposals as “historic.” All imported drugs would have to be FDA-approved, tested to ensure quality, and relabeled to meet U.S. labeling requirements, added Admiral Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary for health. State programs created to import medications would be limited to pills that patients would typically get from a pharmacy, Azar said. Injectable products, controlled substances, biologic products and intravenous drugs would not be allowed. States would create these programs, possibly in conjunction with wholesalers or pharmacies, and then submit them to FDA for approval, Giroir said. However, drug manufacturers would be able to import any of their own products from other foreign countries, Azar said. That would include products such as insulin, which has recently…  read on >