Welcome to Healthy Eating!

There is so much information out there about healthy eating and particularly, about what we should NOT be eating. It can come from almost any source--from scientists, from the food industry, from the government, from journalists, from doctors, from diet gurus, and the list goes on and on. Some of these sources have a vested (monetary) interest in what we eat--some are simply trying to be informative and helpful.

Every week there is a new “study” that reveals some new aspect of eating healthy. If you find yourself confused by this barrage of information, you are not alone. Even a person trained in the field of nutrition, can be flummoxed by the often conflicting reports. Low-fat. Low-carb. Low-glycemic. High-protein. High-fiber. Trans-fat. Saturated fat. Raw food. Vegetarian. Vegan. Miracle foods.

Sorting fact from fiction

The purpose of this website is to help you sort out all of the information and misinformation you are bombarded with on a daily basis, and help you discover what healthy eating really is for you.

I studied nutrition (dietetics) formally in college thirty years ago, and so much has changed since then, both in the mainstream nutrition world, and in the alternative approach to the subject of healthy eating. We no longer have the “four basic food groups” but instead find ourselves teetering atop the “food pyramid.”

A number of Hollywood stars have popularized the idea of the vegan life-style, and this has filtered, to some extent, into the general population. “Organic” foods have become so popular that even old standbys in the food industry have developed “organic” versions of their products. Along with that trend, has come the burgeoning food supplement industry and the advent of “miracle foods” and “super foods”.

The food supply has also changed drastically in my lifetime. When I was a child, sensible eating was mostly based on home cooking, with an occasional foray into restaurant cuisine or even “fast food,” usually for a special occasion. Processed food was starting to become a mainstay in the American diet, but it was often too expensive for the average family to afford on a regular basis.

This situation has now been reversed. Restaurant eating and fast food are the norm, and home cooking is often reserved for special occasions. Processed foods have become the less-expensive choice, while whole, unprocessed foods have become harder to find and are often costly.

Everyone is an expert

Part of the problem with a discussion of eating healthy, is that everyone is an expert on eating, because we all do it! In addition, when it comes to eating healthy, we tend to believe what we want to believe. Nearly everyone has a story about an aged relative who swears by his/her daily regimen. "Every day for lunch, my grandpa ate a chocolate bar washed down with a pint of beer, and he lived to be 100!" Since we like beer and candy bars, we believe that they are the secret to longevity!

MY TWO CENTS

As I talk to people, I realize that there is a great deal of confusion about basic healthy eating concepts. In addition, there is lots of good information about healthy eating that is simply not known by the average person (or the above-average person!). Recently, our local paper carried a news article on the front page about healthy eating, and it was obvious to me that the author did not know the difference between protein and carbohydrates. (Apparently, neither did the editor, since the article passed muster and made it to the front page.)

Let's be Healthy!

As a way to help you explore what good nutrition is, I would like to share with you what I have learned, what my experience has been and to help you find the information you need to reap the huge benefits that you can derive from healthy eating. If, as they say, “you are what you eat,” then let’s be healthy, shall we?

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How to Use This Site

BOOKMARK this site or add it to your Favorites.

Become an informed eater by clicking on the NUTRITION button and reading the general information there.

Check back whenever you have a question about your diet, meal planning, nutrition, specific foods or any healthy eating issues. Use the SITE SEARCH function to track down your particular concern.

Try some of the free recipes available on the site by clicking on the RECIPES button.

E-mail me if you can’t find what you are looking for, if you feel that any of the information on the site is not accurate, or just to say hello!