Too Much Sugar, Not Enough Sugar: Good News for Goldilocks!

Coca-Cola will begin testing mid-calorie versions of Sprite and Fanta, just 70 calories, in limited test runs around the nation beginning mid-June 2012. On the heels of Pepsi’s mid-calorie Pepsi Next release last month, Coca-Coca announced its lower-calorie sodas will begin a trial stage in limited markets. Both Pepsi and Coca-Cola have tried mid-calorie sodas in the past but the products were taken off the market because of low sales.

Healthy Cocktail Recipe

Here's a creative way to make a cute cocktail and keep it healthy!  Andrea Metcalf shows us an easy cocktail recipe using blueberries and even honey; two food ingredients that are good for us in different ways.  For those of us health nuts, blueberries have the highest amount of antioxidants of all fruit.  In addition, eating them regularly reduces belly fat, boosts our immune system, keeps our eyes healthy and has been shown to have natural anti-depressant properties.  Honey is a natural energy booster and keeps our digestive systems in check, in addition to providing antioxidant power. Honey also boosts the immune system and is a great natural sugar alternative.

Alcohol and Dieting

We all have those times when we go out and have a good time with friends.  Many times this includes drinking alcoholic beverages.  But those of us on diets run the risk of adding un-needed calories and foiling our weight loss plans.  As Andrea Metcalf tells us, there are ways to keep our diets in check by educating ourselves on caloric intake and the best alcohol to drink on a diet. Alcohol has no nutritional value and is an empty calorie drink. Most cocktails contain scant vitamins and minerals and a few sugars, but contribute nothing valuable to our diet.  The best alcohol on a diet is outlined below.

Chicken or Pork: Which is Best?

What is better, chicken or pork?  Andrea Metcalf discusses choosing chicken versus pork and ways to maximize nutrition with either, including calorie content.  As a mother of four, I strive to offer nutritious, healthy foods and at times get confused about how and what best to serve.  Both are lean pieces of meat and offer excellent sources of protein.  As mothers, we know it is oftentimes easy to fall into a "recipe rut."  Metcalf gives pointers on how to cook both and suggests a recipe that I know I have not made yet, called Pork Marsala.  This dish only requires seven ingredients! 

Healthier Cake Substitutes

Who doesn't love cake?  But we all know that it is high in calories and a nutritional nightmare if we eat too much!  As Andrea Metcalf tells us, we can "still have our cake and eat it too!"  There are several ways to make cake nutritionally sound and calorie-smart by using these simple steps, changes and additions.  And making these changes doesn't mean we compromise taste!

Help Your Kids Eat Brussel Sprouts

We've all heard horror stories about brussel sprouts and how bad they taste.  As I recall my childhood years, my mother never served them, so I figured those stories were true.  However, there are ways to make them delectable and feed them to our kiddies.  Andrea Metcalf shows us how to do just that as she gives helpful tips, including nutritional benefits of brussel sprouts and two smart, easy ways to prepare them.  Brussel sprouts are a fantastic calcium and fiber source, in addition to the cancer fighting compounds.  For optimal health eat brussel sprouts regularly. At a minimum, use them and other green vegetables as part of your diet several times per week, and make the serving size just under two cups. 

Easy and Yummy Fruit Salad

Introducing our children to fruit recipes can be challenging but not insurmountable.  The key is making the fruit dishes delicious!  Jodi Luber shows us just how to do that with ingredients we wouldn't expect.  In this fruit salad recipe she uses watermelon, pink grapefruit, oranges, cucumbers and fresh basil.  The watermelon alone that she uses is extremely good for our family's health.  And watermelon is not only delicious, as most kids will eat it, but more healthy than we think!  Most melons are packed full of vitamins, which aids in heart and vascular health.  Melons also keep our bones healthy and keep urinary tract infections at bay.

As a mom on a budget, it is always nice to be able to make something you enjoy eating at a restaurant, at home.  Save money and enjoy good, restaurant-quality food with these easy directions from Jodi Luber.  Did you know that caprese salad was first made in Italy in a small area called Campania?  Made of buffalo mozzarella, basil, tomatoes, the salad is seasoned with olive oil and salt.  In Italy, unlike most salads, it is usually served as an appetizer, not a side dish.  However, you may choose to eat it any way you wish!

Easy Breakfast Sandwich Saves Calories

Those of us that like breakfast sandwiches also know they can be high in calories.  Jodi Luber shows us practical tips in how to cut calories but still make a delicious breakfast choice.  The recipe includes a bagel, egg whites, low fat cheese and is easy to make.  A typical breakfast sandwich with these ingredients runs about 340 calories.  But small changes to this quick and easy breakfast sandwich reduce the calories, and also reduce the guilt.

Study Says Popcorn Provides Antioxidants

Who would have thought that guilty pleasure we indulge in at the movie theaters could actually rival, if not beat out fruits and vegetables as more healthy? A new study says as much.  Popcorn has been found to be loaded with polyphenol, a type of antioxidant found in fruits, vegetables and grains. Even better is that the antioxidants are more concentrated in popcorn than fruits and vegetables because of their water composition. In other words, the antioxidants in popcorn are more diluted in the fruits and vegetables because they contain more water (90 percent). Here is some more information you can chew on.