August 15, 2011, Los Angeles Times, Jeannune Stein
Just how many calories in that eggplant parmigiana? In 2012, when restaurant labeling becomes the law of the land as part of healthcare reform legislation, diners will be in for some surprises. The law requires restaurants and retail food businesses with 20 or more locations to list calorie content for standard items on menus and menu boards. Drive-throughs are included, but movie theaters are exempt. Beyond calories, more detailed nutritional information — such as sodium, saturated fat or cholesterol content — must be …

August 11, 2011, NBC, Scott Beaulieu
Finding healthy food for you kids can be hard enough, especially when they’re reaching for their favorite sugar-filled snacks.  But a new study from Yale researchers says the packaging on some foods isn’t making things any easier.
The university’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity found that parents often misinterpret health claims on children’s cereals, assuming they are more nutritious than they actually are.  For example, many products use words like “whole grain,” “organic,” “supports your child’s immunity.”
In their study, the Yale researchers surveyed parents …

August 9, 2011, Reuters, Amy Norton
Children are seeing fewer sugary, fatty foods advertised on TV, but unhealthy fare still makes up the bulk of food commercials they see, a new study suggests.
What’s more, researchers found, children were actually seeing more fast-food commercials in 2009 compared with six years earlier.
The study, reported in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, was aimed at gauging the effects of a voluntary food industry program called the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI).
The initiative began in 2006, in response to calls from the …

August 8, 2011, Huffington Post, Christina Pirello
Progress is progress, and while I will congratulate any company on its efforts to make healthier food options available to mainstream consumers, I think we need to hold onto our party hats before celebrating the Happy Meal makeover.
As reported on CNN.com the Happy Meal will now include apple slices, a reduced portion of fries, a choice of fat-free chocolate milk, 1 percent low fat white milk, fruit juice or water along with the usual choice of hamburger, cheeseburger or chicken nuggets (oy).
A corporate statement …

August 6, Patch, Michelle Fiscus
Most of us have heard enough about nutrition to pick healthy foods from the long lineup of options at the grocery store. Buzz words such as “more fiber,” “reduced fat” and “low sodium” are brightly displayed on box tops. We feel good making those purchases, assuming we are doing the best for our family and ourselves.
But just because a food contains the nutrient or vitamin of the week doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good for you. Food companies are capitalizing on every health craze by fortifying their …

August 2, 2011, HarrisonPatch, Jaclyn Bruntfield
Last week, McDonald’s USA said the company was taking steps to make its menu options healthier, particularly for kids.
On its face, this seems to be good news in many ways. Parents, policy groups and even the federal government are pressuring companies to re-assess their tactics when it comes to marketing to children. And the companies seem to be responding.
McDonald’s got the most press after the announcement for its planned addition of apples to Happy Meals while also decreasing portion sizes for french fries.
According to nutritional …

July 28, 2011, Reuters
Americans downed nearly a quarter less added sugar in 2008 than they did nine years earlier, a new report concludes.
The drop is largely due to a decrease in the amount of sugar-sweetened soda that people drank.
“We were surprised to see that there was a substantial reduction over the years,” said Dr. Jean Welsh, a researcher at Emory University in Atlanta and the lead author of the report.
Although the reasons for the dip are still murky, she said a big push by the government and private organizations to …

July 28, 2011, Chicago Tribune, Monica Eng
America undoubtedly has a big obesity problem.
With two-thirds of all U.S. adults classified as obese or overweight, public health officials warn that much of the population is at dangerously high risk of diabetes, heart disease and other chronic and costly illnesses.
But who should be responsible for slimming down the nation?
Several recently released obesity action plans — including one for Illinois — suggest the government can do it through public policy measures ranging from soda taxes, healthier school lunches and mandatory school gym to calorie …

July 23, 2011, The New York Times, Mark Bittman OPINION
WHAT will it take to get Americans to change our eating habits? The need is indisputable, since heart disease, diabetes and cancer are all in large part caused by the Standard American Diet. (Yes, it’s SAD.)
Though experts increasingly recommend a diet high in plants and low in animal products and processed foods, ours is quite the opposite, and there’s little disagreement that changing it could improve our health and save tens of millions of lives.
And — not inconsequential during the current …

July 22, 2011, Los Angeles Times, By Daniela Hernandez
Nothing’s ever as simple as we’d like it to be. A case in point: Policies that simply increase access to supermarkets may not get people to choose an apple over ice cream, a recent study reported.
Changing people’s eating habits is difficult, in other words. One reason is money. Healthful foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and dairy, can often be pricey. For the cost of a couple of peaches, a person can get a …