This morning, my kids asked for cinnamon toast. So I made it for them. I used whole wheat bread, light butter with Canola oil, and a few sprinkles of McCormick's cinnamon sugar. My kids gobbled it down, which makes me happy for whole wheat purposes. My husband tends to think the rest of the equation -- the butter and cinnamon sugar -- is crap. I argued with him a bit, not trying to convince him butter and cinnamon sugar are good for our kids, just to let him know that our kids eat pretty darn healthy most days and there are far worse foods they could have ingested, with far more crap packed into them. Then I questioned myself. Then I did some research.

Hungry Girl says in one of her Chew the Right Thing posts that cinnamon sugar is something we ought to fight, not bite. Now she's speaking mostly to us grown-up calorie-counting folks and not to the kids of the world, but here's what she says: "McCormick's Cinnamon Sugar has only 15 calories per teaspoon. So why are we telling you to 'fight it!'? Well, we just don't see why anyone should waste any calories at all on this sweet spice when there is a just-as-good no-cal version available. After all, when you're watching your weight, every single calorie counts. Fifteen calories here, 30 there, another 40 here ... it can all add up." HG doesn't mention sugar in her opinion but clearly, there's sugar in cinnamon sugar.

So what does the Hungry Girl suggest? San Sucre Cinnamon Sugar. It uses Splenda and makes a great sugarless cinnamon sugar blend, she says. No calories in this goodie either. HG's final piece of advice: "Cinnamon helps keep blood sugar levels low, so sprinkle away!"

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Bethany announced on May 22 that Google has launched its own health information service. Called Google Health, this internet-based system allows individuals to store and manage their personal health details in one convenient location. Privacy issues aside -- who knows how many crafty folks will tap into your confidential matters -- Google Health might just work for you. And here is exactly how it works.

Log In -- If you already have a Google account, you won't need to sign up for anything. Just log in. If you don't have an account, you'll need to create one. Then you can begin building your profile.

Add Information -- This is the hard part. Gather your paper records, prescription receipts, lab test results, and other important documents and start creating your profile. Be sure to include all conditions, procedures, and allergies here.

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The Internet is big. It can feel even bigger when you're scouring search engines for valuable medical information. Spam, sites trying to sell you stuff, and bad directions plague every corner of the information super highway. That's why there are articles like this one giving a handful of tips on how to navigate the wild wild west of the world wide web.

For starters, try using search engines that won't give you garbage as search results. Google is great, but as we all know sometimes it can be misleading. Sites like MedlinePlus are made specifically for health and medical purposes. If you're looking for trusted info, start there.

Tutorials are also helpful. Why? Because they can teach you how to decipher the jargon behind so many of the research and medical articles you see online. This literature can be helpful, so it would be to your advantage to know what they're saying if you want a complete picture. Of course, if you ever come across a website that you aren't sure about, do a background check. Many sites (especially the ones you can trust) have an "About Us" page which you can use to learn more about them. These are just a few examples, so check out the full article here!

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Ah, the food label. There it is, smack dab on your food packages, containers, boxes, and bags, calling your name, begging for your attention, eager for you to read it over and make an informed decision about the nutritional contents that lie within. Seems easy enough. Yet in reality, reading food labels can be quite confusing.

WebMD makes food-label reading a bit more manageable. In this article, experts offer tips on interpreting serving sizes and making sense of these commonly-used label words: calories, calories from fat, nutrients, ingredients, and % daily value. A neat little chart also helps explain label claims. If a label claims a product is fat-free or sugar-free, for example, this means it contains less than 0.5 grams of fat or sugar.

For your own personal lesson in label reading, take a stroll over here.

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My husband always tells me to take my cell phone when I go outside to exercise. I know his urging makes sense -- what if something happens and I need help? Surely, it would be convenient to make a quick call for assistance, if I'm able to mutter any words, that is. But I rarely take my phone with me. I limit my gear to clothing, shoes, and a MP3 player strapped to my arm. I don't need anything else in the way as I cover ground in my next-door neighborhood. I suppose I should take my hubby's advice, though, and take my phone along for the ride. A Road ID would be even better.

If you're a runner, cyclist, triathlete, or someone prone to bursts of activity, the Road ID may be just the item for you. This athletic accessory not only looks good -- it saves lives. In the event of an accident, if you can't speak for yourself, your Road ID will do all necessary communicating by making your vital information available to first responders via telephone or internet.

The Road ID, priced at $19.99, was created by a father/son team who saw a need -- read their story here -- and are now chasing their dream: To see the day where wearing ID is as common among athletes as wearing a seatbelt is among motorists.

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Becoming aware of how to live a healthy life is one thing. Following through on what we know is another thing entirely.

A recent 2007 Food & Health Survey of 1,000 Americans, led by the International Food Information Council, revealed a serious disconnect between what we know about diet and what we actually do about it.

Ninety percent of those surveyed agreed that breakfast is an important part of a healthful diet. But only 49 percent said they actually eat breakfast every day. Eighty-four percent reported being physically active for health reasons at least one time per week, but 44 percent said they don't balance physical activity and diet to manage their weight. Sixty percent of survey participants who said they were trying to lose weight reported making an effort to cut calories. Yet only 11 percent knew the number of calories they should consume each day.

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Are you the kind of person who always wears a full face of make-up everyday without fail because you'd feel naked without it? Or are you somone who just applies a little here or there to enhance certain features and cover little spots and shadows? Maybe you're one of the lucky ones who has fantastic skin and only ever applies lip balm with an occasional bit of mascara and blush for special occasion?

Whatever your particular make-up style is, it's important to have an idea of what it is you're putting on your face. But for those not in the know, it may be tough to tell what all of the big, technical words mean, or which stories you hear about make-up are fact and which are fiction.

If you've ever wondered what exactly it means for a product to be perfume-free or been puzzled about the difference between cosmetic and cosmeceutical, take a look at this piece which offers information from dermatologists on some basic cosmetic-related queries.

For example, did you know that natural and non-allergenic are not the same thing? According to the article, products that contain all natural ingredients may still irritate your skin. Watch out for anything containing chamomile, lavender, rosemary and tea-tree oil as these may trigger a reaction. If you're unsure, it's a good idea to do a spot test on a small patch of skin before applying a new product all over your face. For even more info -- as well as the answers to the perfume-free and cosmetic vs cosmeceutical questions, take a look at the full piece here.

Has anyone else ever heard the rumor about the woman who died after rubbing too many perfume samples onto her skin? Turns out it is, unsurprisingly, just one of those persistent Internet hoaxes. Apparently there are a number of other cosmetic-related rumors going around, and this article sets out to debunk, or at least explain them.

To be honest, I haven't actually heard of many of the other myths listed but I can imagine they'd all be pretty troubling for those who were unsure if they were true. For instance, according to the piece, there is a rumor going around that sunscreen can cause blindness in children. I know if I were about to apply a new sunscreen to my kid's face I'd probably think twice before getting it anywhere near their eyes without getting more information first. The piece explains that, while there is no truth to this rumor, it is important to use caution when applying sunscreen to your child's face. As far as sprays or foams are concerned, it's best to put them to your hands first so you can better control how they are applied.

The piece also discusses whether there is really lead in lipstick and if there's any evidence that hair dye causes Alzheimer's, plus it offers a number of make-up tips and tricks to ensure that the products you're using aren't going to cause you any harm. Make-up can definitely be a great way to enhance your look or give you a confidence boost, but it's also important to know what to use, when to throw products out, how to keep things bacteria-free and more.

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Eating out can be a dangerous proposition for those trying to maintain healthy eating habits. It's just so hard to tell how restaurant chefs prepare their menu items. Ordering a piece of fish may seem like a safe choice but what if it's been doused in butter, cooked in oil, and sprinkled with salt? Not so healthy anymore, right? Right.

Before heading out for your next out-to-eat experience, find out just what's in store by giving this tool at try. I just gave it whirl by typing in my city, state, and zip code and a desired price range. Up popped three dining locations with links to nutritional information for various dishes. Not everything I found met my healthy criteria, but that's the point -- to determine what's good and what's not so good for us.

This online option -- healthydiningfinder.com -- does operate according to some nutritional criteria. Everything you find when you visit must fit these guidelines:

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Does it surprise you that people who eat fast food several times per week weigh significantly more than those who don't eat fast food very often? It's no shock to me that a study released on Monday reveals what every one of us should already know: Fast food makes us fat.

Each additional fast-food meal packs on the pounds, according to a Temple University obesity study that reveals these specific facts:

• The weight of people who consumed three to six fast-food meals a week was significantly higher than those who consumed no fast food or ate one to two such meals per week.

• Every additional fast-food meal during the week was associated with a 1 1/2-pound increase in body weight. There may be factors other than fast-food here -- like a sedentary lifestyle of people who tend to eat fast food, for example.

• About 50 percent of respondents -- there were 4,600 in all -- said they'd be more likely to eat healthy options if offered as part of a value meal, and 41 percent would like to have nutritional information on menus. This data offers clues about what might help people make healthier choices.

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All of the conflicting information about food that is circulating out there -- what you should eat, what you shouldn't, what's going to make you fat, what's going to give you cancer -- can be a bit maddening. How is anyone ever supposed to know which of the information to believe?

Perhaps this article on nutritional myths may help. Written by a nutritionist who explains that many client's were getting grilled about the foods they'd been recommended, the author tries to set the records straight on a few common misconceptions about what you should and shouldn't be eating.

Five food rules that you should break are discussed in the piece, so if you're interested in reading the nutritionist's information about whether red meat causes cancer, if salt consumption really leads to high blood pressure, whether too much protein will damage kidneys, and why butter isn't so terrible after all, take a look at the full article here.

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I know you know this. I know it too. Still, sometimes I end up fooled by the spin some companies put on their nutritional information. I don't mean to imply they mess with the numbers at all. I just mean they communicate them in a way that can mislead consumers.

I just saw a magazine advertisement for Kellogg's Rice Krispies® treats. Did you know this ooey-gooey snack, wrapped in an individually-wrapped package, contains only 90 calories? Yep, that's what the ad tells me. But with it's accompanying fat, carbohydrates, and sugar, is it really that great a deal? For those only concerned with calories and those who are satisfied with this mini dose of food, maybe. For those wishing for a wholesome, nutritional bite to eat, I think not.

I write this post to remind you -- and myself too -- to remember that when some food item is touted as low in one category, it may be high in another. If it's low in fat, take a peek at the sugar and sodium and other ingredients used to bind your indulgence together. Sugar-free? Look at everything else that went into creating your favorite guiltless goodies. Some things are just too good to be true. Really, the are.

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Since October is breast cancer month, I recently wrote a post on some of the best websites about the topic and asked readers to contribute their own favorite sites. One response I received directed everyone toward the Survivor Celebration site.

Part of what I like about the site is that it gives information on the 2007 Survivor Celebration Tour, a 23-day cross-country adventure that began in New York on September 23rd and reaches its final destination in Los Angeles on October 15th, after stops in a range of cities including Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, Phoenix and Las Vegas.

A team of doctors and experts traveling in a pink Survivor Celebration bus are making the trek to raise awareness about breast cancer. If you'd like more information on the tour, visit the website, which also offers survivor stories, personal blogs and photos, information on local support groups and much more.

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Normally I don't think that marketing products to children is very honest or ethical. However, I don't have a problem with Dove's latest ad, which is aimed squarely at young girls. The commercial, which you can see at ParentDish in this post by Jonathon Morgan, is the second by the company to bring attention to the sort of (mis)information we are fed by the beauty industry.

The first ad was the one that began with a regular young woman and then fast-forwarded to the same girl transformed into a beauty queen with the many steps necessary to change her look shown in between. The new commercial, titled Onslaught, begins with a young girl and then displays a barrage of fashion and beauty images that promote a thinner, prettier and more perfect ideal. The video ends with a message urging parents to talk to their young daughters before the beauty industry does.

As this piece mentions, the videos are part of Dove's campaign to raise awareness about the industry and more importantly, to raise women's self-esteem. I've seen the ad and I think it's great. What do you think about the video and the campaign?

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October is breast cancer month so before you pin on your pink ribbon and head out to enjoy a lovely fall day, take a look at a few facts and sites, and learn a bit more about the disease. Risk factors include lifestyle habits like drinking alcohol and smoking, and heredity also influences whether or not you'll get the disease. The good news is you can work to prevent breast cancer by eating a healthy diet, limiting alcohol intake and not smoking.

If you're interested in learning a lot more about breast cancer, take a look at some of the sites listed in this piece. As it's a Canadian article, many of the websites are Canadian but the information listed applies to women everywhere. Two sites mentioned in the article that I found interesting were the Breast Cancer Support Services Inc and the Breast Self-Exam website.

The first offers a range of frequently asked questions (with answers) about the disease as well as help on how to deal once you've been diagnosed. The latter gives step-by-step instructions, along with illustrations, on how to examine your own breasts in order to find any suspicious lumps.

Do you know of any helpful sites that you can share?

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I started changing my diet at the end of April. I started slow, with just a few modifications -- no soda, no sweets -- and then tweaked things here and there until I'd ditched all crap from my cupboards and kept only the healthy goods. It took a while before I'd identified all my wrong-doings. In the beginning, for example, I'd liberated myself from sugar and was eating loads of fruits and veggies but hadn't quite caught on to the whole low-fat thing. It hit me one day after eating a Pizza Hut personal pan cheese pizza. Sitting like a lump in my stomach, that mini-pizza told me I'd made a wrong turn when I pulled into that Pizza Hut parking lot. So I rushed home, sat in front of my computer, and began hunting for nutritional information on the gut buster I'd just consumed. I found it. It wasn't good.

My little pizza cost me 620 calories and 26 grams of fat. It came with 69 carbohydrates and seven grams of sugar. So I didn't bomb on the sugar thing but holy cow did I go way wrong on everything else. Ever since that day, I've been investigating all sorts of food items before I eat them. Before my husband I went to Red Lobster with a gift card, I took a peek at the stats on those yummy cheesy biscuits. Yikes -- 160 calories and 9 grams of fat fill one Cheddar Bay Biscuit.

I've since checked up on fresh fruit -- seems one cup of most fruits come with about 100 calories, some natural sugar, and no fat -- and kiddie snacks, and anything that makes me wonder. If you'd like to do the same, check out calorie-count. You can also visit restaurant sites directly. Try these Web sites for the lowdown on McDonald's, Subway, and Taco Bell.

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