If you're expecting, not only should you not count calories, you should be wary of pesticides too, according to recent reports. In studying childhood obesity, researchers discovered a strong link between chemical contamination in the womb and cases of obesity in children. Just why this link exists is not yet clear, but it's thought that these findings could forever change the way foods are processed worldwide.

Chemicals that showed a link to obesity (called Obesogens) include organotins, bisphenol A (BPA), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and phthalates. Unfortunately, it's believed the nearly everyone in the world has traces of these chemicals in their bodies.

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When I head to the grocery store, I can't help it. I'm drawn to those pre-washed bags of salad that offer so much convenience for just little bit more money. You see, most of the time, I'm cooking for one and it seems like more trouble than it's worth to wash the lettuce and spin it dry. OK, go ahead and do your judging but don't try and tell me you haven't been taken in by their charms.

Yes, pre-washed salads are a dieter's best friend. But are they worth the extra cost? Probably not, since experts in the UK are speaking out about them, calling them unsafe and blaming them for a potential rise in food poisoning cases, particularly instances of salmonella and E. coli contamination.

So save your money and do what I do now: wash all your lettuce as soon as you get home from the grocery story, and put it in your fridge. That way, fresh lettuce is readily available, and you can ensure that it's been properly washed.

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Protect yourself in the outdoors, says The American Cancer Society (ACS) -- read all about it here -- and protect your picnic food too, say the cancer experts who are sending me an electronic monthly newsletter all about healthy living.

Warm weather poses a big threat of food-borne illness, according to the ACS. So: Keep bacteria away at your next outdoor feast with these five easy steps.

• Wash your hands before cooking and again after cooking, especially after touching raw meat. If you aren't near a faucet, grab a wet napkin or hand sanitizer -- they'll reduce the number of germs on your hands.

• Keep hot food hot. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken should be kept at 140 degrees F or warmer.

• Keep cold foods cold. Even if you've got your food packed in a cooler, tuck it in a shady area. Keep at 41 degrees F or cooler.

• Wash melons before cutting them. This way, less bacteria will slip into the flesh from the rind when you slice them.

• Bring extra plates to cut down on cross-contamination. Use some to handle raw foods and others to handle cooked foods.

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