That's Fit

It gives me a little thrill every time I hear my preschooler turn down a treat, saying, "No thank you, I've had enough sugar today." She really seems to be developing a good sense of "every day" foods and "sometimes" foods, without us having to remind her.

Kids can be taught good nutrition, and they can learn the basic principles behind it fairly early. Though you don't need to buy a special tool to teach kids about healthy eating, visuals can make things more fun. That's where charting systems like Supernoots come in. Supernoots is a magnet set geared toward children to help them keep track of their healthy eating habits. Whenever they have a serving of grains, fruits, or veggies, for instance, they move their magnet to the appropriate spot on the chart.

Some kids really respond to these kinds of systems, and if yours does, Supernoots could be an effective tool in teaching them lifelong healthy eating habits.

Seniors recently got their very own food pyramid from the USDA, one that focuses specifically on the nutritional needs of the over-70 set. Focusing on foods that are low in fat, high in fiber, and rich in nutrients the eating plan also includes food suggestions that are easy for seniors to find and prepare. In addition, icons along the bottom suggest healthy ways to get in moderate activity.

Because many seniors don't have access to computers, the pyramid is also available in print form. You can read more about the new pyramid and see a graphic here, or visit My Pyramid to see your own USDA recommended eating plan.

There are about a billion different weight-loss programs out there, so how do you narrow it down and pick the one that works for you? The experts over at Yahoo health have made it easier for you -- they've compiled this list of diets you should avoid at all costs. What made the list? well ....

1. Diets that promise rapid weight-loss in a short amount of time -- if it works out to more than two pounds a week, you might be putting your health at risk
2. Diets that use pills, supplements, creams, etc. and promise results without exercise or diet changes -- Repeat after me. There. is. no. magic. pill. It takes hard work and anyone who tells you differently is lying.
   
3. Diets that are really different from how you eat now -- You'll have trouble sticking to it if it's too far from your comfort zone
   
4. Diets that have you eating less than 1,000 calories a day -- You'll be weak, tired and cranky. It's not worth it.
5. Diets that claim to be easy and effortless -- see #2
6. Diets that cut out whole food groups -- you won't stick to it, especially long-term.

What do you think -- did they miss anything?