Sometimes, it's not just what you eat, it's how you prepare it. If you want a french fry, a baked version is undeniably healthier than a deep-fried version.

The queen of all things domestic, Martha Stewart, has recipes for every healthy cooking method:

• Baking. When you bake foods rather than fry or other fat-adding cooking methods, you can reduce your overall calorie intake. (Now if only cakes and cookies could be considered healthful just because they're baked.) Some of the healthy baking recipes on Martha Stewart Living include Walnut Crusted Chicken Breasts and Parmesan Coated Sweet Potato Fries.
• Steaming. When vegetables are just lightly steamed, you can retain many of the nutrients. Some recipes to try are Steamed Broccoli With Miso-Sesame Sauce and Green Beans With Golden Raisins.
• Stir-Frying. Stir-fries are such a quick and easy go-to meal. And you have complete control over how much fat you add to the dish. Try out Brown Rice Stir Fry.
• Sauteing. When you use healthy fats like olive oil, sauteing can be a light and healthy way to cook. Give Cinnamon-Spiced Moroccan Chicken and Saute-Steamed Swiss Chard a try.

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With today's economy, most people are feeling a budget crunch. Even though the cost of gas has come down, grocery costs stay as high as ever. But high prices at the check-out counter don't mean you have to eat low-cost, low-nutrition foods. Divine Caroline has a list of 20 healthful foods for under one dollar.

• Oats. High in heart-healthy soluble fiber, oats are a quick and tasty meal. A dollar will get you more than a week's worth of breakfasts.
  
• Eggs. About a dollar for a half dozen, eggs -- once given a bad rap for high cholesterol -- are now back in the good nutrition fold.
  
• Kale. Roughly a dollar a bunch, kale and other dark leafy greens are packed with nutrition.
  
• Potatoes. As long as you don't fry them or slather them in fatty condiments, potatoes can be a part of a nutritious diet. Sweet potatoes have the added benefit of beta carotene.
  
• Apples. Most varieties are very inexpensive and can satisfy a sweet tooth with their crunchy goodness.
  
• Nuts. A great source of healthy fats, nuts might seem expensive, but since their portion size is small, many varieties (such as peanuts, walnuts and almonds) land well under a dollar per serving.
  
• Bananas. High in potassium and fiber, bananas are a nutritious and inexpensive food.
  
• Garbanzo Beans. Beans, in general, are a healthful and ridiculously-cheap food. Plus, they're a great protein-rich replacement for high-cost meat. Garbanzos are a versatile and healthful choice.
  
• Broccoli. Delicious raw or cooked into a wide variety of meals, broccoli is well under a dollar per serving.
  

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My son likes many healthful snacks. Cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, carrots, celery, almost any variety of fruit, cheese sticks and sunflower seeds are his favorites. But if given the choice between any of his favorite healthful snacks and his least favorite type of junk food, he'll pick the junk food every time.

I adopted my son when he was 10 years old, so many of his eating habits were already formed. With time and determination, he's learned to enjoy home-cooked meals (he only liked frozen foods when he first moved in) and understands a lot more about nutrition. But the junk food addiction has remained a problem.

I've tried instituting other rules, such as having healthful "anytime foods" that he can snack on whenever he likes and in any quantity he desires. The treat foods were left for desserts and small treats each day. It's a good idea in theory, but it led to my son trying to sneak those foods up to his room. When they became hands-off foods, they were more desirable than ever.

I'm not going to lie -- if I'm attending a party, it's pretty likely I'm bringing a bottle of wine. I like wine, I know wine and I like to think I'm pretty good at picking out something the host or hostess will enjoy.

However, some folks don't drink, and it's easy to pick out something they like, too ... although some of the first things that come to mind are gourmet goodies like chocolate, nuts or cheese.

If the hostess in question is watching her weight, though, or if she just follows a really healthy lifestyle, I'm not about to sabotage her choices with a bad move on my part. However, I want to make sure I'm still showing the same amount of thought and care. Fortunately, there are plenty of fat-free, healthful options -- check out my top picks in the gallery below!

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For quite a while, my son refused to eat chicken. I didn't push him on it -- before I adopted him he lived on a ranch where one of his chores was to take care of the chickens. I can totally respect his not wanting to eat chicken because of ethical reasons (though I don't think he realized that's what he was doing).

So you can imagine my surprise when, all of a sudden, my son started expressing an interest in eating chicken again. Now it's one of his favorite meals. It makes things easier for me as many of my easy and healthful recipes revolve around chicken.

So, while I was relieved to be able to cook it again, I'm already starting to feel like I'm in a rut. I needed to add some new recipes to my chicken repertoire. Here comes Cooking Light to the rescue -- they have 20 tasty and healthful chicken recipes to try. Next up on my family's dinner plate? Peanut-Crusted Chicken with Pineapple Salsa.

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If you've been eating (or feeding your kids) oatmeal for breakfast with the understanding that it's one of the healthiest choices you can make, you need to rethink your strategy.

While oatmeal can provide good nutrients, a recent study showed that kids who only ate instant oatmeal for breakfast experienced increased appetites and calorie consumption throughout the day. In fact, when compared to having a vegetable omelet and fruit, oatmeal increased appetite and calorie consumption by more than 80%. Steel-cut oats didn't have as drastic an effect as instant oatmeal, however.

The researchers attributed their findings to fluctuations in blood sugar resulting from a meal of processed grain products. Adding some protein at breakfast is essential in keeping blood sugar (and appetites) from fluctuating wildly throughout the day.

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Buying organic foods at your local grocery store can get pretty pricey, because I know you're filling up a third of your cart with veggies. Right?

Noshtopia has seven ways to cut costs on your organic purchases, which could help your budget, your waistline, and your overall help. Below are the three I found most helpful, but feel free to check out all seven of their suggestions here!

• Hit the local farmers' market. You're buying direct, so it's generally cheaper.
  
• Check store brands in places like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. These businesses often offer a store brand and organic version for similar prices to conventional brand names.
  
• Shop near closing time. Because of the lack of preservatives used in organics, they are often more prone to spoiling. Therefore, grocers might mark those items down near the end of the day to move them off the shelf.

Got a suggestion that's worked for you? Please share in the comments!

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Kids should consume no more than 100 milligrams of caffeine per day. Really. Limiting caffeine will minimize jitteriness and sleep problems and will contribute to the overall health of your pint-sized pals.

While energy drinks have become ultra popular among teens and tweens, just one serving can contain 200 milligrams of caffeine and gobs of sugar -- as many as five teaspoons of sugar are often crammed into a thin little energy-drink can. That's simply too much for these youngsters. Do your kids a favor and help them transition to more healthful beverages, like water, low-fat milk, unsweetened tea, 100 percent fruit juice, and sports drinks low in caffeine and sugar.

For more on why energy drinks aren't really good for anyone, adults included, check out this enlightening article.

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