That's Fit

Last year, my son had a classmate with a peanut allergy. In consideration for this child, parents were asked not to send in treats for the class that contained peanuts. But there was no school-wide ban on peanuts or peanut butter. Kids were still welcome to bring the old PB&J standby in their lunch boxes. Many schools, however, are choosing to make school-wide peanut bans to protect kids with allergies.

I'm not allergic to peanuts, but I am allergic to tree nuts. As an adult, it's difficult to know exactly what foods contain nuts that I may be allergic to. So, as a safety measure, I just don't eat anything that I'm not sure of. I can imagine that this type of self-monitoring is even harder for school-age children. And seeing how kids trade things in their lunch boxes so frequently, I can see where a peanut ban could be wise. (Imagine a kid bringing in a chocolate chip cookie that has some peanut butter in the batter. If that was given to a kid who has allergies, the child may not guess that there are peanuts in there, and then have an allergic reaction.)

So I wouldn't mind if there were a ban on peanut-based products altogether at my son's school. But some parents disagree and feel that the needs of a few shouldn't dictate what the majority does.

Peanut butter is a great source of healthy fats, not to mention that it contains a little bit of protein, too. When eaten with carbohydrate-rich foods, the peanut butter will work to slow digestion, helping you feel fuller longer. But, when it comes to nut butters, there are others worth trying. My personal suggestion? Almond butter.

On average, almonds are around 20 percent protein. Plus, almonds are also rich in vitamin E and calcium. Same goes for almond butter. Using this healthy spread, which can be found in most grocery stores, can help reduce bad (LDL) cholesterol because of its high concentration of monounsaturated fats. What's more, almonds have been shown in some studies to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.

However, if almonds just aren't your thing, you can always try cashew or macadamia butter. Both also offer a good amount of healthy, monounsaturated fat and, when spread across a slice of whole wheat bread, can make for a great snack.

I don't think there's a person out there who doesn't want flatter abs, and if you don't, that's probably because you already have washboard abs, and you should know that we are all insanely jealous of you. But seriously. Getting flat abs is hard, but there are a few steps that can help you get closer to your goal.

The first step? Eating well. According to AOL Body, you should add these items to your diet to shrink your belly:

• Almonds
• Avocado
• Chocolate -- the dark or semi-sweet kind
• Flax seed oil
• Macadamia nuts
• Natural peanut butter
• Olive oil
• Pistachios
• Sunflower seeds
• Walnuts

Things to avoid? Think white -- mainly anything with refined sugar or refined flour. And go easy on the carbs, mmmmkay?

Many people are making more of a push to go natural with their food these days. Organic brands are starting to fill up shopping carts in grocery stores around the country, but not everyone is sold on the idea just yet. For some, eating the way they do it's just a matter of choice, which, of course, is their prerogative. For others, they may want to make the switch to natural foods, but are unsure where to even start.

To help that lot along, this month's issue of Women's Health magazine offers some helpful tips, starting with knowing the truth behind some common foods.

Milk. A 2005 USDA study found pesticides in 27 percent of conventional milk samples.

Potatoes. The same 2005 USDA study found that 81 percent of non-organic spuds contain pesticides -- even after washing and peeling.

Peanut Butter. Non-organic brands use fungicides to combat peanut mold. The same fungicides have been shown to decrease fertility in mice.

Ketchup. Organic brands have 57 percent more lycopene than non-organic brands. This healthy antioxidant is a known fighter of cancer and heart disease.

Apples. Non-organics use pesticides that have been linked to developmental problems in children and altered hormone levels in adults.

How and what you choose to eat is entirely up to you and, quite frankly, is not deserving of judgment. But, it's still worth knowing the facts, isn't it?

Jacki recently wrote about the nutritional value of peanut butter. Many people shy away from this creamy treat because of its fat content, but in reality, most of that fat is the good kind. Not only that, but studies have shown that eating peanuts is linked to lower cholesterol. Peanut butter is also satisfying, which means that when you eat it, you stay full longer.

There are a handful of other foods that have earned a bad reputation over the years, including eggs, coffee, avocado, and mushrooms. These foods were either deemed unhealthy or just not nutritionally sound, but new research is putting them back in the spotlight. Click on the gallery below to find out why health experts believe these bad boy foods might actually be good for you.

Protein is an important part your diet, but protein can also be the most unhealthy part of your diet, particularly if your main protein sources include bacon double cheeseburgers. Mark's Daily Apple has put together this list of bad and good protein choices:

• Instead of hamburger meat, choose grass-fed beef
• Instead of frozen chicken, choose organic chicken
• Instead of farmed salmon, choose wild salmon
• Instead of fish sticks, choose tuna
• Instead of regular eggs, choose organic DHA-enhanced eggs
• Instead of regular yogurt, choose organic or Greek yogurt
• Instead of tofu, choose Tempeh
• Instead of regular beans, choose high-protein legumes and quinoa
  
• Instead of peanuts and peanut butter, choose almonds and almond butter

What do you think about these choices? I agree with most of them, but I still think that tofu, beans and natural peanut butter can be a good addition to your diet.

Sometimes I think I could live on a diet of nothing but carbs. I love them that much. I've never been much of a meat/nut/tofu eater, so forcing myself to eat protein is sometimes a struggle, unless it involves sprinkling cheese on my pasta.

Fitbuff's come up with this list of the best sources of protein, which is good inspiration for someone like me who has trouble finding protein to eat:

• Chicken breast
• Turkey
• Tuna
• Salmon
• Eggs
• Milk
• Cottage cheese
• Nuts -- Almonds, cashews, peanuts
• Peanut butter
• Yogurt

I like this list -- it seems doable for someone like me who doesn't eat a lot of red meat. What do you think?

Summer is a great time to enjoy a picnic with family and friends. But picnics can be a bit of a nightmare if you're trying to diet. But have no fear -- here are some picnic suggestions with the low-carb dieter in mind:

• Skip the soda--opt for something calorie-free and more refreshing like ice-cold water or unsweetened Ice tea.
• Instead of bringing the usual pre-made sandwiches, separate all the ingredients--whole wheat bread, veggies, lean meats, low-cal spreads, etc.--into separate containers or baggies, allowing for delicious custom-made sandwiches or even a salad made on the spot!
• If Peanut Butter sandwiches are your thing, why not try an alternative, like almond butter?
• Forgo high-calorie desserts and instead bring some fresh fruit
  

What picnic tips do you have?

The recent salmonella outbreak from ConAgra's peanut butter products looks to have a cause: leaky plants and moisture contamination.

Looks like a faulty sprinkler helped along with a leaky roof was responsible for making salmonella bacteria grow and contaminate peanut butter, according to ConAgra. Nice plants you have there -- faulty sprinkler heads is understandable (I guess, in a plant where food is processed). But a leaky roof?

At least ConAgra responded pretty quickly to the peanut butter recall by finding out the cause of the problem (even if it is embarrassing). Peter Pan and "Best Choice (Wal-mart's private label brand) should be returning to store shelves by July

One of my favorite personal bloggers just asked the question of her readers: "So what do you feed your kids?" I'm always curious to hear the answer to that question, because I'm always looking for more nutritious meal and snack ideas to feed my own children.

Here's an article that claims to list the ten best foods for kids, and if you're looking to improve your children's nutrition it's a good place to start. There are some excellent sources of protein listed, including peanut butter (for non-allergic kids, of course) and eggs, and top notch produce like cantaloupe and broccoli. Dr. Bob Sears recommends putting out a "nibbling tray" of cut up fruits and veggies for young kids to graze on throughout the day, kind of like a fruit bowl for older children. You might be surprised to see orange juice on the list, since juice has gotten such a bad rap in recent years. Orange juice is loaded with vitamins and even counts as a serving of fruit, so go ahead and serve it up (as long as it doesn't replace milk and water).

What did they leave out? Let's hear it! What nutritious foods are your kids eating?

When it comes to dieting and losing weight, we so often talk about what not to eat. So let's talk about what you can eat. Here's an article on five foods that are no longer taboo.

I have to say, I was so happy to see peanut butter on this list. I'd like to say I never gave it up because I knew it was a good source of protein and omega-3s (it is). But in reality I never gave it up because I love it. An apple and a tablespoon of peanut butter keep me full until dinner on those long afternoons when I can't seem to stop snacking. Peanut butter is good for you, but it's high in calories so keep your portions low. It also helps to choose an all-natural brand, which will eliminate any added trans fats that some brands add in.

Also on the list is dark meat chicken, which is fattier than white meat but safe as long as you remove the skin, and eggs, which are an excellent source of protein and can be made friendly for those with high cholesterol by removing the yolk. Margarine was also on the list and that may surprise some of you. The butter vs. margarine debate has been going on for some time, but it seems that the new trans-fat free margarines are coming out on top.

So enjoy these formerly forbidden foods and let a little flavor back into your diet!

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were born in the U.S.A. Food historians guess that the GIs in WWII combined their military rations of peanut butter and jelly to make the peanut butter more palatable, and when they returned from the war they brought the PB&J sandwich idea with them.

We've been eating them as snacks and stuffing them into our kids' lunch boxes ever since. These sandwiches have a healthy reputation, because peanut butter has protein... and that jelly sort of counts as a fruit, right?

But how many calories are in a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?

A) 300
B) 450
C) 510
D) 625