Features
Surprising secrets of sea salt
(ARA) - Does the word "sea" invoke romantic images of voyages to distant, foreign lands? If so, it's probably no surprise that Americans' renewed fascination with the glamour of exotic cuisine has vastly expanded the market for sea salt.
Beat the 'winter bulge' by making smart nutritional decisions
(ARA) - The winter temptations of hot chocolate, mashed potatoes, warm pumpkin pie and other enticing treats can launch you into a comfort zone. But they can also make your New Year's getting-in-shape resolutions harder to achieve. This year, get ahead of the "winter bulge" by making smart, healthy and nutritional decisions.
The lean protein that can help you fulfill forgotten resolutions to eat better
(ARA) - The new year is well under way - do you remember your resolution to live a balanced lifestyle in 2010? Are you making progress toward that goal? Or has the resolution drifted away as the calendar pages turned? It's not too late to get a fresh start at keeping that promise to yourself.
Convenient comfort foods warm the winter months
(ARA) - When old man winter just won't seem to go away soon enough, one of the best ways to fight off the chill is with savory, hearty meals that can warm the body and soul. Known as classic comfort foods, these homemade favorites can satisfy even the heartiest of appetites.
Let your 5 senses be inspired by the best of Baton Rouge
(ARA) - If you're planning a trip to the capital of Louisiana, you know there's plenty to see and do. Baton Rouge is the heart of the Deep South and offers something to inspire each and every one of your senses.
Simply sensational homemade soups
(ARA) - No matter what the season, people frequently turn to a comforting bowl of soup for lunch or dinner. What surprises many is how easy it can be to make sensational homemade soups. Whether serving soup as part of an entertaining menu or an easy weeknight meal, making soup from scratch does not have to require hours in the kitchen.
A slice of nutrition advice on wheat
(ARA) - "White or wheat?" Restaurant patrons are often presented with this familiar, yet inaccurate, question when ordering toast or a sandwich. Given the confusion between whole and enriched grain products, it's not surprising that this phrase is universally accepted among the general public. The truth is, whole (wheat) and enriched (white) wheat bread are both wheat-based products and part of a healthy diet.
High quality food doesn't necessarily come with a high price tag
(ARA) - In the current economic climate, budgets are tight and families are trying to make every penny count. A recent survey by the Midwest Dairy Council revealed that "more than half of consumers say price, not nutrition, is the most important factor when grocery shopping in this economic climate."
Salt central to a healthy Mediterranean diet
(ARA) - In the diet craze that has captured our attention over the last four decades, the one plan that stands out from the rest is the Mediterranean Diet. Since the Mediterranean embraces more than 20 countries, each with its own cuisine, the diet is really a fusion of the many foods consumed by the nations bordering the sea.
Discover fabulous new recipes this spring
(ARA) - Rain showers and blooming flowers aren't the only things that will be kind to your sense of smell this spring. It's also the time of year when you start to bake up homemade breads, cookies, and moist crumbly muffins.
Planning a bridal shower? Relax and enjoy it with these food shortcuts
(ARA) - Your dear friend or sister announces she's engaged. She wants you to be her maid of honor. It goes without saying, you're thrilled for her. But - does this mean you'll have to plan at least one bridal shower? Not to mention, wear a dress not of your own choosing and find the perfect gift?
Healthy foods that taste great
(ARA) - When you determine that you want to get good nutrition and eat healthier foods, you don't want to sacrifice taste. But there are many new foods and beverages available that are great for you, and surprisingly delicious.
Easy ways to center your diet on foods that help keep you healthy
(ARA) - Americans could learn a lot about healthy eating habits from the ordinary people of the Mediterranean nations. Eating healthy foods is a mindset, and while it may take some practice to change your habits, it's not difficult.
Gardening - Why chefs and the first family are growing their own food
(ARA) - Everyone knows that some of the best ingredients to cook with can come from as close as your own backyard.
Buying from bulk bins saves cents, makes sense
(ARA) - When you hear the term "bulk," do you envision cases and 5 gallon containers, and say to yourself, "I just don't need that much of anything?" You probably don't. But "bulk" means something completely different in food stores -- it refers to how the store offers the product, not how much you have to buy. Actually, one of the advantages of buying in bulk is that you can get as little or as much of a product as you want - literally a pinch or a pound.
Tips from a pro: Home baking for professional results
(ARA) - It's pretty easy to fall into a baking rut. There's the classic chocolate chip cookie, or maybe your kids have a home-baked favorite that you've made a thousand times. Once you get a recipe down, it sometimes feels easier to just go with what you know. But many bakers find that getting creative in the kitchen can be rewarding - literally.
Favorite foods without the extra calories
(ARA) - During the colder season, our hunger instincts can emerge causing us to seek out the cozy foods we knew and loved as children. These days those same foods impact our waistlines, rack up thousands of calories and are high in fat. You can still nestle up with your favorite foods this winter without sacrificing flavor and compromising diet by making a few easy modifications.
Rediscovering the joys of shared meals
(ARA) - Having a family meal isn't easily accomplished these days. Busy schedules, long work hours and even technology make it feel easier to simply grab a meal and go, rather than take the time to sit everyone down together around the table.
Break through the top weight loss myths of 2010
(ARA) - It's not too late to resolve to live a healthier lifestyle in 2010. The road to sustainable weight loss can begin when you get rid of weight loss myths that might be standing in your way.
Mood-boosting foods: Tips to jump-start your body and your brain
(ARA) - If you're determined to eat right to lose weight or improve your health, the foods you choose could also make you happier. We've all heard the old adage "You are what you eat," and the importance of eating for physical health. But did you know that at the same time you could also be eating to improve your mental sharpness, energy and inner peace?
Have a heart and serve quick-to-fix healthy treats
(ARA) - Your loved ones will feel the love when you serve up dazzling dishes that delight the taste buds and promote happy healthy hearts that make both you and the doctor happy.
Be party smart - simple rules to avoid calories
(ARA) - With the abundance of parties this time of year - from the holidays to Mardi Gras - it can be easy to over-indulge and see the result in your waistline. Even so, it's possible to enjoy party favorites with the right approach.
Food safety: Protect your family's health this year
(ARA) - Exercising and dieting are excellent goals Americans set to stay healthy. But the best tip to keep the entire family healthy is by focusing on food safety in the kitchen.
All about broth
(ARA) - Cooler weather and warm coats - it's the season when heartier, warmth-building fare arrives on American dinner tables. And heartier fare cries out for the rich flavorful versatility of broth!
Quick and easy meals that will have your family asking for more
(ARA) - Most families are busy these days juggling school and work schedules, chores and social events. But that doesn't mean your meals have to suffer. There are plenty of recipes you can make that are quick and easy, and will have all family members asking for more.
Reduced sodium doesn't have to mean reduced flavor
(ARA) - Sodium intake is increasingly being watched by consumers, regulators and health groups as public service organizations are referring to high sodium diets as the single greatest problem in the American diet. What most at-home cooks don't know is that it is possible to reduce the sodium in recipes without losing out on flavor. Whether it's a traditional turkey sandwich or a pasta primavera, favorite foods can still be enjoyed when trying to reduce sodium.
Cooking with root vegetables
(ARA) - Cooking with vegetables is deeply rooted in the culinary arts. Eating foods that live and breathe beneath the earth's surface is just about as close as a person comes to being one with Mother Nature. Although beets, kohlrabi and carrots are wonderful in raw form, there are a variety of ways to cook root veggies to add fresh, new flavors to any meal. Take this opportunity to expand your cooking repertoire - here are four ways to cook and prepare root vegetables, and absorb their all-natural health benefits:
Got kids bored by winter? Get them cooking
(ARA) - It's that time of year. The holidays are over, new toys have lost their glamour and cold-weather days are still ahead of us. This requires parents to be a little more creative when it comes to staving off the dreaded statement "I'm bored."
Get back to healthy nutrition basics
(ARA) - Even the healthiest eaters have their weaknesses - those foods that make them "splurge," ignoring calorie counts and fat grams. It's an easy trap to fall into; we're surrounded every day by foods that taste good and inspire cravings.
Liven up cocktails with coffee
(ARA) - Getting good friends together for some good food, good times and laughter is a lot of fun during the winter months.
