Cravings -- those intense desires to eat a particular food, strong enough that you may go out of your way to get it -- are complex urges that most people frequently experience. Researchers know we have cravings, but they still don't know exactly why. A craving can mean...

Parents who ignore their overweight kids' problems are as irresponsible as the physicians who misleadingly tell parents to wait for their obese kids to "grow into their weight." Once upon a time, kids developed baby fat before their growth spurts and then leaned out. That's not what happens anymore[1]. That...

Childhood obesity is a national epidemic, and while the vast majority of people in this country agree that steps should be taken to curb this growing problem, there are differing opinions about how to do that. Potential solutions have garnered criticism from opposing sides and many parents have become unwitting...

Researchers studying the impact of age on food preferences have demonstrated patterns of change that start in the womb and continue through adulthood. For example, if breastfeeding mothers consume a diet that regularly includes fruits and vegetables, their infants will be more interested to eat the same healthful foods --...

The surest way to succeed in keeping your health goals is by making small changes. Think in terms of manageable baby steps, like swapping the half-and-half in your morning coffee for fat-free or low-fat milk. There are lots of little changes you can make -- in your food plan and...

It's unrealistic to think that the average person, who's faced with fast food and processed food on a regular basis, can start following a completely rigid diet of 100 percent "clean," fresh or local foods. While it may work for some people, it's not reasonable for the masses as issues...

Journalists, bloggers and comedians have had a field day with the headlines over a Congressional bill that would count the tomato paste used on pizza as a school lunch vegetable. However, the news was really about a much larger issue: the U.S. Department of Agriculture's efforts to improve...

One of the most difficult times of the year for those trying to lose weight is the holiday season. While the holidays are a time to get together with family and friends, every party and gathering is also an excuse to take a holiday from your healthy heating habits. A...

It's hard to find a child who doesn't love sugary foods, and chances are that the processed or packaged food your child eats has some amount of added sugar. New research suggests that this trend has spiraled out of control and is causing serious health consequences for families.

Foods that...

I'm often asked by my patients what they should eat when they are at parties -- especially with the seemingly inexhaustible supply of calorie-laden goodies at the cocktail hour and sit-down dinners.

Moderation is the key word to remember in these situations. Knowing that no food is off-limits will allow...

School lunches generally receive poor grades when it comes to their nutrition content and are typically short on fresh fruits and vegetables and heavy on processed, breaded, and fried entrees.

Take, for example, the study of sixth graders recently published in the American Heart Journal that found...

In today's fast-paced world, many of us struggle with an overly packed schedule and little time to actually sit down to eat. As a result, busy people gulp and go, while others -- not necessarily under a time crunch -- have the habit of eating too fast. The result? They...

The U.S. National Library of Medicine estimates that at least one out of five children in the U.S. is overweight. There are several reasons why parents need be concerned over an overweight or obese child. Obese children and adolescents have shown an alarming increase in the incidence of Type 2...

The fall is my favorite time of year. I love taking in the scenery on a fall foliage bike ride-and getting some outdoor exercise before winter rolls around. I also especially love the fall for its seasonal produce! However, when it comes to picky eaters, love for seasonal fruits and...

While cartoon characters on a cereal box can be a blinding spell that leads kids to believe a particular food actually tastes better, parents are not impervious to the food industry's marketing tactics when it comes to particular health claims -- some of which are on children's cereal...

During Hot Dog Season, Memorial Day to Labor Day, Americans typically consume 7 billion hot dogs! Depending on the brand, many hot dogs can contain between 10 and 15 grams of fat. Then, many of us make the already fatty dog worse by placing it in a nutritionally-stripped...

Despite fewer super-sized meals, American's waistlines continue to expand, according to a recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health. According to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers who conducted the study and examined surveys of daily eating habits over a 30-year period, the number...

Increasing food prices have more and more shoppers looking for ways to save money at the grocery store without sacrificing nutrition. For those of you who fall into this category, you'll be happy to know that eating healthier foods can actually save you money. Savings can come from reducing portion...

Pop Quiz: Do your meal options rotate between fast food, ramen noodles or dining hall pizza?

If you're a college student and this sounds all too familiar to you it's because most college students are pressed for time, under a lot of stress and find themselves eating on the...

According to the American Dietetic Association position paper on vegetarian diets, people who eat a vegetarian diet have a lower risk of developing heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. They also tend to have lower LDL cholesterol levels, body mass index (BMI) readings and overall cancer rates...