Food and nutrition news on sister site

For the first part of 2008, I'll be posting nutrition news on my blog http://eatingforonecookingfortwo.blogspot.com, along with recipes and healthy eating ideas. Come check it out.

Top tens

Today the Nielsen Company released its research on the most popular trends among Americans during 2007. What do you think: any surprises?

Top 10 consumer packaged goods
(Percent of US homes who purchased each category in 2007)

Fresh bread 97%
Refrigerated milk 95%
Toilet tissue 93%
Fresh eggs 93%
Cookies 93%
Ready-to-eat cereal 92%
Canned soup 91%
Chocolate candy 91%
Potato chips 88%
Batteries 86%

Source: Homescan(R) Consumer Facts, a service of The Nielsen Company
Note: The percentage of U.S. households who purchased at least once
during 52-weeks ending June 30, 2007. Prepackaged, UPC items only.

Top 10 consumer package goods sold in U.S. Retail Stores
(Dollars sold)

Carbonated soft drinks $17.6 bn
Refrigerated milk $12.8 bn
Cigarettes $7.8 bn
Ready-to-eat cereal $7.7 bn
Fresh bread $7.7 bn
Prerecorded video products $6.6 bn
Still bottled water $6.0 bn
Toilet tissue $5.3 bn
Light beer $5.1 bn
Cookies $4.9 bn

Source: Nielsen Strategic Planner(TM) and Nielsen Wal-Mart Channel, services of The Nielsen Company
Note: Total U.S. Food/Drug/Mass Merchandiser Stores (Including Wal-Mart). Prepackaged, UPC items only. Sales are for 52 Weeks ending November 3, 2007.

The importance of eating breakfast

There are several reasons why eating breakfast is a smart move. After a night of sleep, our bodies need fuel to get moving in the morning. Without sustained energy, the body either crashes or the person must eat even more later to make up for the drop in blood sugar. Dieting New Yorkers passing out on the subway (aka “sick passengers”) are one of the most common reasons for travel delays.

A recent nutrition study has shown that kids need breakfast to perform well at school. Some schools in the US are taking the initiative to make it available to kids in the morning.

Explains Pennsylvania Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak: "A good breakfast has benefits beyond nutrition. Research proves that a healthy, balanced breakfast at the start of the school day improves a child's classroom performance and reduces the likelihood of behavioural problems. A healthy breakfast helps create a healthy student who is able to bring a focused mind and positive attitude into the classroom each morning. A child distracted by hunger cannot be expected to fully concentrate on learning.

"School breakfasts have the added benefit of teaching children good nutritional habits that can help them avoid the many health-related problems associated with obesity and poor nutrition. This not only puts them on a path to a longer, stronger life, it also reduces medical costs.”

Everyone needs good, fast breakfast to get them on his or her way: there’s poached egg on toast, fruit and yogurt, porridge/oatmeal, Shredded Wheat and others. The “full English” breakfast is perhaps not the best option.

Flu foods

Sub-zero temperatures setting in are long hours at the office in preparation for Christmas are just two of the reasons it seems like everyone is suffering from a cold or the flu.

Luckily, it’s possible to eat yourself healthy. Just recently a new report emerged that honey is better for children’s coughs than store-bought syrups.

There are plenty of other items at the grocery store that can help us through the sick season, says pharmacist and registered nutritionist Scott Berliner, president of Life Science Pharmacy.

Yogurt

This dairy product has been touted as a gastrointestinal gift for years. “Yogurt is excellent for creating good bacteria to prevent total body immunity,” says Berliner. He suggests taking a few spoonfuls (about 50 g) as a preventative medicine, but warns us away from sugary and inactive versions.

Citrus fruits

As well as being a known source of vitamin C (which, despite what many think, won’t help you once you’re sick), help the body to maintain a Ph balance. "Surprising as it sounds, some citrus fruits, despite being acidic, encourage the body to be more alkaline and healthy," says Berliner. He recommends drinking hot lemon juice, though fruits and vegetables in the diet also promote alkalinity.

Water

Eight cups a day of water is the advice in the US, but it’s important to remember not to drink distilled water, which Berliner says leaches minerals from the body: “When you hydrate, you also need minerals to hold onto the water.”

Tea and salt

For a sore throat and inflamed tonsils, Berliner recommends gargling a brew of black tea with
½ teaspoon of salt: “The tannins in the tea are astringent and effective for shrinking the swelling
and reducing irritation. The salt enhances the anti-inflammatory effect.”

Elderberry

A popular cordial in the UK, the extract or syrup of the fruit has also been said to help treat
viral infections. It is now available in the US.

Eating in at the holidays

According to a new survey, 76% of Americans said that their favourite meal was either prepared at their home or someone else’s home. (In the case of the later, it was likely because they didn’t have to do the washing up.)

And when it comes to the holidays, home-cooked meals keep even more Americans happy: 93% of those surveyed said that sharing one with friend and family was a “very” or “extremely” important part of the holidays.

But as the Crock-Pot survey rightly suggests, the reason that these idyllic dinners don’t often come to fruition is time.

During the year, long hours at work often make cooking a chore (for some, for some). And at the holidays, the thought of being stuck in the kitchen whilst everyone else enjoys themselves is not appealing. (Though this gap can be bridged, especially in an open plan environment.)

This writer is quite obviously a fan of in-house eating: click here for everyday ideas for nutritious and filling home-cooked meals.

But there are other ways, if cooking isn’t your personal passion, to sidestep complicated, time-consuming recipes. Using a slow cooker is an excellent way to multitask; there are worse things than coming home to a fragrant and waiting casserole after a day in the office.

Making extra portions of soups, chilis and sauces – and freezing the leftovers – is also an easy way through the holidays.

Many magazines advertise “make ahead” menus to get you through the holidays too. To enliven the rest of the mesh, just add easy-to-assemble starters such as smoked salmon, cream cheese and chives on oatcakes.

Have yourself a cranberry little Christmas

They’re seasonal, brightly-coloured, and, when cooked correctly, taste wonderful. Cranberry juice, with its signature tartness, has uses as a mixer, both in and out of the holiday season.

With that in mind, the US Cranberry Marketing Committee wants to play Santa a bit early, bringing several recipes for the world to try, such as oatmeal cranberry white chocolate cookies (courtesy of Ocean Spray – a cranberry retailer), acorn squash with cranberry stuffing and hot cranberry punch. Read on for the recipes:

Hot cranberry punch

2 quarts apple cider
2 quarts cranberry juice cocktail\
1/3 cup brown sugar
4 cinnamon sticks
1/2 lemon, sliced

In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients and simmer over low heat for 15-20 minutes. Remove lemon slices and serve warm.

Acorn squash with cranberry stuffing

1 medium-sized acorn squash, halved, seeds removed
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup celery
1/2 cup onion
1 apple, peeled and chopped
3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries
3/4 cup cooked rice
1/2 orange, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon lemon juice

In microwavable dish, place squash cut side down and add 3 tablespoons water. Cover and cook on high heat for 5-7 minutes or until fork tender. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and saute celery and onion until tender crisp. Add remaining ingredients and warm through. Spoon mixture into squash halves and serve immediately.

Oatmeal, cranberry and white chocolate chunk cookies
(makes approximately 30 cookies)

2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (6-ounce) package sweetened dried cranberries
2/3 cup white chocolate chunks or chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Using an electric mixer, beat butter or margarine and sugar together in a medium mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mixing well. Combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Add to butter mixture in several additions, mixing well after each addition. Stir in sweetened dried cranberries and white chocolate chunks.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. Makes approximately 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

(recipe courtesy of Ocean Spray)

Takeaway troubles

Burgers and kebabs are the most popular choices for late-night food, according to an unsurprising new report.

According to the statistics, 75% of 18-24 year olds head for a takeaway after a night out.

The statistics come from Keep Britain Tidy, which also report that 25% of UK streets are littered with these Styrofoam boxes once the greasy food has been consumed.

The lack of cleanliness appears to be the second or third link in the chain. If young people were not to buy the sub-par food from takeaway chains at the end of the night, there would be less litter. But often, this food is bought after a night of binge drinking – and any food is likely better than none at all.