Bad news for your intellectual types: Thinking hard makes you hungry and often leads to overconsumption of calories, according to this post on Diet Blog.

In a recent study, researchers asked participants to engage in one of three activities -- sitting still, reading and writing, and performing a series of tests. Afterwards, they were treated to an all-you-can-eat buffet and how much they ate was measured. The study found that compared to those who sat still, participants who spent the time reading and writing ate 23.6% more and those who performed the tests ate 29% more.

To be honest, I expected opposite results, because it seems like those who sat still would be hungrier merely out of boredom. What about you?

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I've mentioned before that I'm a pescetarian (I know it sounds pretentious -- it just means that I eat fish, but not any other form of meat). I have a number of reasons for my personal food choices, and I try not to force my choices on anyone else.

In fact, my husband is a big meat eater (though he's become less of one since marrying me), and until now, I've never tried to persuade him not to have steak -- he's in great health and he enjoys it.

However, this post at Green Daily made me realize that perhaps I should be just a little more outspoken about eating vegetarian meals. From the post: "... driving your car aimlessly for three hours consumes less energy and is responsible for fewer greenhouse gas emissions than producing 2.2 pounds of beef."

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It's often been said that minor alcohol consumption is actually good for human health, and especially heart health. Well, I only trust the antioxidants in wine in terms of wrapping my head around those statements, but in a new review of drinking and health, more than a little daily drinking is bad for health.

Hmm, really? This should come as no surprise. More than one drink per day for women and a few drinks a day for men are harmful, according to University of Missouri cardiologist James H. O'Keefe, MD.

The benefits of alcohol actually come from the alcohol itself, according to O'Keefe. But, are alcohol consumers really drawing specific lines in the sand between a very exact amount of consumption every day and a little overindulgence? Maybe just a few drinkers, perhaps.

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There are lots of debates out there on the pros and cons of alcohol consumption. Drinking definitely doesn't help with weight loss as it's full of calories, but there is also evidence that a glass or two of beer or wine can be beneficial to your health. I'm of the opinion that, while too much boozing can increase your risk or getting a number of diseases, it's likely fine, if not beneficial, in moderation.

I will also admit that I am guilty of not always sticking to a moderate amount when I socialize with friends. Sometimes it's tough to know how much is really too much. If you're concerned that maybe you go overboard too often, take this quick quiz to find out. While I think that the quiz is pretty over-simplified with its point system and lack of detailed questions, I do think that if you've answered one or more of the questions with the three-or four-point responses, it may be time to reevaluate how much you drink and how often.

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I just finished making pancakes for my children, and as they sit merrily at the table they have no idea they're chomping away on bananas too. Normally, I'm not so sneaky and my one and four year olds are well aware that we eat foods that are 'healthy for their body'. They're kids though, and yesterday they refused the idea of adding my yummy yellow ingredient.

So today I just did it. They don't seem to be noticing, and I don't feel even a smidge bad about being moderately deceptive. My job is to provide them with terrific nutrition and that's what I'm doing. Even if it is on the sly. Sometimes I cook up some extra peas and corn and throw it in their chicken noodle soup too. Whoooo what a rebel I am!

Even the healthiest kids can be a little leery to trying new things. My son for instance, won't come near bananas. So today, I smashed some up and hid them in his breakfast. Nice shot of secret potassium. As you cook and create see if you can sneak in some extra good stuff too. They'll argue less, and you'll feel better about their consumption at the end of the day.