Using common sense in restaurants (from Jill)

I think that it is really great that so many restaurants are trying to cater to consumers' health concerns by trying to provide "healthy" menu items, but, we still need to be savvy consumers and make sure that what they are advertising is what we are getting. Why? An independent research firm recently analyzed various "healthy" dishes from large chain sit-down restaurants that have "guiltless" and "skinny" meals and found that the calories and fat can be almost double what the menu says the content should be! Now, I am not saying that this is being done on purpose to mislead us and most likely is a variation based on the way it is prepared in the individual restaurant so, what do we do? Of course, these menu items are often a much better "jumping off" point when trying to decipher a menu BUT, you still need to be aware as a consumer, what the portion size should be and what the toppings should be (as described on the menu) and not just blindly eat whatever is served because it may be much more than you were expecting. You are making such a good effort to order "healthy" meals in restaurants so please make sure that you are getting what you asked for :-) Jill

Keep drinking that water (from Jill)

In the last week or so, there were several news stories talking about reports that maybe we really don't need as much water each day as previously recommended. While more research may still be needed to decide one way or the other, let's not forget all of the health benefits we get from keeping ourselves adequately hydrated. First of all, our bodies are 70% water and it plays a role in many vital body functions. Second, when we get dehydrated, our body gives off the same signals as hunger so staying well -hydrated can help us make sure we aren't eating for the wrong reasons and, therefore, help control weight. A third important function of water is to help energize our muscles. We know working out is important but if our muscles are fatigued from dehydration, we are not going to have the energy to get the most out of the time we spend in the gym. The last 3 reasons that water is important - it keeps our skin looking good, helps our kidneys function and keeps our bowels regular. So... no matter what the most recent news stories say, remember that getting enough fluids is important for many different reasons.

safe grilling (from Jill)

I haven't been feeling well these last 24 hours or so and I think I may have eaten some undercooked shellfish and so, while this post isn't exactly related to that, it just made me think to remind everyone to use safe grilling techniques as this season kicks into high gear. Remember not to put cooked meats back on the same plate that the raw meats came out on and remember to use a different set of tongs for transferring raw versus cooked meats. Also, do not pour marinades that you were using for the raw meat, back over the cooked meat when it is done. Cutting into the meat can release the tasty juices so, purchase a meat thermometer to make sure that your meats are cooked thoroughly (chicken breast - 165 degrees, pork chops - 145 degrees, strip steak or flank steak about 1 inch thick - 140 degrees for medium, hamburgers - 155 degrees) and, of course, make sure to wash your hand thoroughly after you handle raw food. Happy (and safe) grilling!

My "soap box" for this week (Jill)

Hi, Everyone,
I saw something in the last week or so on TV that really made me mad and I thought I'd share. It was a brief piece on a particular morning talk show that had an author (not a dietitian or a doctor) telling people the various salt content in some restaurant selections. Now, of course, I 100% agree that it is important to know the salt content of foods and try to minimize as much as possible. But, this person was using very poor comparisons and examples that, while may be lower in salt, certainly wouldn't be considered "healthy" food choices. For example, he showed one chain restaurant meal (something like a grilled chicken salad that we would assume is healthy) and showed how it had as much salt a 11 orders of fast-food onion rings. Shocking - yes! Does that mean you should choose onion rings instead - no! But that isn't the impression you'd get if you didn't know alot about nutrition or if you didn't read the other info (fat and calories). So... I am just saying this to bring attention to the fact that media stories about nutrition, while sometimes full of great and useful info, can also be misleading (unintentionally or not) so do take that info with a grain of salt (pun intended) and consult a nutrition professional if you are unsure about the quality of your food intake.