“ Whole fruit!” says Jamba Juice, where you can “power up with clean energy” and “start drinking” your greens.
“Smoothies with a purpose,” says Smoothie King, where you can choose from Fitness Blends, Slim Blends, and Wellness Blends, among others.
Smoothies have a huge health halo. Do they deserve it? Even the best smoothie doesn’t hold a candle to a peach, a plum, carrots, or kale. Liquid calories don’t curb your appetite as well as fruits or vegetables that you chew.
But some smoothies are 800-to-1,000-calorie sugar drinks, while others can rival a homemade blend of your favorite fruit and plain yogurt. Here’s how to see through the marketing schemes and scams.
Want bright green, tender-crisp broccoli or snow peas? Steam, blanch, or stir-fry them quickly. Don’t worry. They’ll finish cooking on the way to the plate.
Think all lentils are brown? Wait until you meet these dazzlers.
“Dubbed the caviar of lentils, these mild-flavored beauties glisten when cooked,” reads the bag of black lentils. (We got Whole Foods’ store brand, but any well-stocked market should have them.)
“A show-stopper breakfast sandwich with 2 eggs, 6 slices of hickory-smoked bacon, white Cheddar & sweet maple glaze, sandwiched between signature Belgian Waffle triangles infused with savory Cheddar.”
IHOP’s Ultimate Waffle Stack is one of the new “IHOP Creations” that “capture the fun, creativity and inspiration one might find at local brunch spots,” the chain’s culinary vice president told the Los Angeles Daily News in March.
In one study, researchers identified roughly 280 people who chose “alternative”—that is, unproven—treatments for several non-metastatic cancers. After five years, patients who chose alternative treatments were six times more likely to die of breast cancer, five times more likely to die of colorectal cancer, two times more likely to die of lung cancer, and no more likely to die of prostate cancer (which progresses slowly) than similar patients who chose conventional treatment.
“There’s a potential for contamination any time water reaches the surface,” says Glenn Morris, professor of infectious diseases at the University of Florida College of Medicine. “Gorgeous mountain springs or babbling brooks are at risk of carrying disease-causing parasites like Giardia or Cryptosporidium.”
Turkey or tuna sandwich? Tacos or fajitas? Latte or mocha? Calorie labeling—now on menus at chain restaurants with 20 or more locations—lets you cut hundreds of calories with a split-second decision. You’ll now also see calories at chain movie theaters, convenience stores, and supermarkets (which sell prepared foods and bakery items). Yesss!
It’s about time. The Center for Science in the Public Interest, Nutrition Action’s publisher, has campaigned for menu labeling for over 15 years. These excerpts from menus show you what to look for (in yellow) and OUR TAKE on what it means.