Perhaps best known for its pungent aroma and flavor, blue cheese gets its distinct, streaked appearance from the mold used to produce it. You can serve blue cheese on its own, add it to salads or even use it as a base for dips and salad dressings.
Read more →
Native to Europe, mint -- a family of plants whose prominent members include spearmint and peppermint -- is grown throughout the United States. Like other herbs, mint leaves offer a healthful way to flavor your meals, without having to resort to fatty or sodium-laden seasonings, which can pose risks to your health.
Read more →
If you've been avoiding nuts due to their high calorie and fat content, reconsider adding them to your diet. Though a single ounce of raw cashews contains 155 calories, a diet rich in nuts may actually aid in weight control, explains the Linus Pauling Institute.
Read more →
Drying brings out the natural sweetness in tomatoes, and sun-dried tomatoes lend robust flavor to a variety of dishes. You can find them in many grocery stores, or you can make them at home, either by drying them in the sun under a cheesecloth or by baking them at low heat in the oven.
Read more →
Chia seeds have been popular in health food circles for years, for good reason -- they're relatively affordable, highly nutritious and have a mild flavor that works in many dishes.
Read more →
If you're looking for lean, toned thighs and hips, making some modifications to your diet and exercise routine can help. And while spot reduction -- losing fat from one part of your body, like your thighs or hips -- is a myth, reducing your overall body fat percentage will help you look slimmer.
Read more →
Chicken is a staple in many diets -- the average American eats 90 pounds annually, according to the University of South Florida -- and chicken legs' juicy dark meat works well in a variety of dishes. Chicken legs make healthy additions to your diet, too, providing minerals and vitamins your cells require to function.
Read more →
Prickly pears, sometimes called cactus fruits, have a pleasantly sweet taste with a hint of tartness. The fruit, which can range in color from pale green to vibrant red, is commonly consumed in Mexico and also grows in the United States.
Read more →
A staple in Mediterranean cuisine, olives offer essential nutrients and provide a healthful source of fat in a balanced diet. Canned olives have a long shelf life, which reduces spoilage and offers an economical way to incorporate more olives into your diet.
Read more →
A staple in farmers markets during the warmer months, tomatoes have been cultivated in the United States since the early 1800s. Tomato soup offers one way to enjoy tomatoes' rich flavor and makes regular appearances in many Americans' diets.
Read more →
While you might not think of poppy seeds as more than decoration for your bagel or salad dressing, the tiny black seeds prove that good things sometimes come in small packages. Poppy seeds not only have a mild flavor that makes them a welcome addition to a variety of dishes, but they also come packed with nutrients.
Read more →
While losing weight is simple -- take in fewer calories than you eat -- that doesn't mean it's easy, and it's tempting to look for the "magic bullet" for weight loss. Bee pollen can fit into a weight-loss diet, but you'll still need to eat healthy and get active to see real results.
Read more →
While fad diets might promise double-digit weight loss in days -- without any exercise -- a simple low-sugar and low-sodium diet puts you on track for longer-lasting weight-loss success.
Read more →
Eating fish not only adds variety to your diet, but also significantly boosts your nutrient intake. Farm-raised catfish offers an impressive nutritional profile, including vitamins, protein and minerals that help promote healthy tissue function, which makes it a smart addition to a balanced diet.
Read more →
Soup has a well-deserved place in a balanced diet. If you are weight conscious, starting a meal with a bowl of soup can help fill you so you consume less calories overall.
Read more →
Whether you seek alternate sources of protein to avoid the pitfalls of red meat or you just want more variety in your meal plan, lobster makes a welcome addition to your health-conscious diet. Its mild, sweet flavor works in a variety of dishes, and it also contributes toward your daily nutrient intake.
Read more →
With its rich flavor and juicy mouthfeel, duck meat provides an indulgent way to reach your recommended protein foods -- a food group that includes meat, eggs, beans and nuts. Each 3.
Read more →
Weight loss is about burning more calories than you eat, so simply eating pickles won't melt away the pounds. But pickles are low in calories -- so they can fit into a weight loss, calorie-controlled diet -- and have some properties that might help with fat loss.
Read more →
Loaded with sugar and calories and devoid of essential nutrients, soft drinks represent a quintessential "junk" food. Unfortunately, they're also a staple in the average American diet, with roughly one-half of the U.S.
Read more →
Few foods capture the nostalgia-tinged joy of summer like fresh, sweet corn on the cob. And while corn has developed a bit of a bad health reputation, mostly due to its ubiquitous presence in processed foods, it can fit into a healthy diet.
Read more →