Category Nutrition Science

Deciphering Eco Food Certifications

Lots of us are taking more care to think about the planet when making food purchasing decisions. That can include things like choosing seafood that isn’t being overfished, avoiding food products that are overly packaged, and buying more local foods that don’t have to travel as far to get to you plate (thereby saving on fuel and contributing less to pollution as well as benefiting local farmers, producers and purveyors). Paying attention to eco labeling is another way to learn about and judge the environmental impact of your food purchases.

Did you notice eggs are now earning stars?

I just picked up a couple dozen eggs because it’s almost time for some egg coloring (and yes, I still take part—the kids don’t get all the fun)! In case you haven’t noticed, eggs are now getting stars—something I’m particularly happy about since we consume lots of eggs in my household. Here’s what this change is all about.

What Is “Eating According to Macros” All About?

Have you heard of “macro counting” or eating to “fit your macros”? This style of eating plan has been in fashion among fitness-minded folks, bodybuilders and the Cross-Fit set for a while now, but it has filtered down to the general public more recently. It’s used primarily as a weight control/weight loss plan, though technically it could also be used for “leaning out” (dropping body fat but not body muscle) or even gaining weight. Here are the basics…

High Blood Pressure and The Power of Potassium

February is American Heart Month, and in the past I’ve written about sodium and how decreasing one’s salt and sodium intake can bring heart-y benefits for many people, including lower blood pressure. High blood pressure is a risk factor for stroke and heart disease, so doing what we can to keep our blood pressure in a healthy range is a smart strategy for heart-healthy living. There’s more to dietary management of blood pressure than keeping a lid on sodium intake, however. Getting enough potassium is equally important. So, it’s time for some potassium love…

Top Slow Cooker Tips for the Big Game

There’s no doubt that watching sports on t.v. and noshing go together. There’s also no doubt that nobody wants to be slaving in the kitchen while everyone else is enjoying the game. That’s where the slow-cooker comes in. Let it help you with some of the cooking on game day, and you’ll have more time to catch the on-screen action. As the author of a couple of slow-cooker cookbooks, I’ve got a few tips that can make your slow-cooker food prep smooth and easy…

How Not To Be A Victim of Holiday Stress Eating

It seems like most people either fall into one of two camps when it comes to stress: it either prompts you to eat more than you usually would (science shows that’s about 40% of the population), or it completely takes away your appetite (another 40% fall here; the other 20% don’t change their food intake at all in the face of stress). Add in all the holiday “joy” that’s around right now and it’s not difficult to see that lots of us use food and alcohol to assuage our seasonal stress. And yet, there are ways around it, thank goodness. For the sake of your health and sanity, you owe it to yourself to try and manage your stress in non-food ways.

10 Food and Nutrition Trends We’ve Navigated Through Over The Last 10 Years

We believe that milestone birthdays and anniversaries, like our 10th year, warrant extra reflection. As one of the first (and leading) supermarket shopping guidance systems, we’ve seen a lot of food and nutrition trends come and go since 2006—and have persevered through them all! Guiding Stars was even awarded two patents for our database system during our first decade! Won’t you join us as we review some of the most impactful nutrition trends to hit the aisles in the last ten years?

A Closer Look at One-Star Foods

If you use Guiding Stars to help you select healthful food items for yourself or your family, you’re no doubt familiar with the concept of choosing more of the two- and three-star items. (Maybe you even make a game of it—seeing how close you can get to having all the items in your cart be either two- or three-star items!) It’s true, the double and triple-starred items have more of the healthy attributes most of us are looking for (fiber, vitamins and minerals) and less of the things that health authorities recommend we limit (added sugars or trans fats, for example). Making it a habit to aim your food choices at two- and three-star items is a smart shopping strategy for a healthful diet.