Archive for August 2014

If you live in the American Southwest, you’ve very likely seen these bright-green “beaver tail” cactus paddles stacked at your local farmers’ market or in your grocery store. Nopales (plural for nopal, the type of cactus from which they are derived) and their succulent counterpart—the prickly pear fruit—are both abundant and healthful.

Popular in predominantly Mexican and Central American cooking cultures (but also found around the world), and eaten fresh or preserved for centuries, nopales boast many medicinal and nutritional benefits.

Lourdes Castro, MS, RD, is an adjunct professor at New York University’s department of nutrition, food studies and public health; she earned her master’s degree in nutrition from Columbia University. She is the author of three cookbooks: Simply Mexican; Eat, Drink, Think in Spanish; and Latin Grilling. She is also the director of the Biltmore Culinary Academy in Miami. Visit her website at www.slicethin.com. Send your questions for Lourdes to swebster@ideafit.com.

Do you eat alone? Do you prefer it?

According to June Jo Lee, Hartman Group food ethnographer and vice president of strategic insights, 47% of all eating occasions today happen when we are alone. A recent report by Lee describes how this solo-dining trend underscores how profoundly our eating culture has changed. Many say they prefer this alone time to catch up on email, social media or a good book. Many watch television. Do you prefer to eat alone or with others? If you eat alone, how often do you do so? Pros? Cons?

If you’ve been feeling health-smug about sipping your moderate daily glass of red wine and letting that luxurious 85% dark chocolate melt on your tongue, this may be unwelcome reading.

In one of those scientific twists that leave us wondering what to believe about nutrition, a new study published in the May 12 online edition of JAMA Internal Medicine (doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.1582) showed that the antioxidant resveratrol—found in grapes, chocolate and red wine—was not associated with longevity or the incidence of cardiovascular disease, cancer and inflammation.

Food deserts in St. Johns County, Florida, were recently transformed by an innovative mobile oasis that delivers fresh produce where it’s needed most. The Farm to Family truck is made possible by county farmers who grow produce and stock the truck, which reaches 5,900 families in seven identified food deserts in the county. Offerings are seasonal and change each week; shoppers can go online to see what to expect. The organization’s website also provides recipes and resources.

Are you one of the many American consumers who helped sales of organic products in the U.S. increase by 11.5% last year?

According to a recent survey conducted by the Organic Trade Association, organics leapt from $31.5 billion in 2012 to $35.1 billion in 2013, marking the sector’s fastest growth rate in 5 years. With no tapering in sight, the OTA predicts that comparable or even greater expansion will occur over the next 2 years.