That's Fit

I'm not a big fan of "superfoods." I think there are a lot of foods that are super, and I think that most of them are easily accessible to the vast majority of people. Focusing on one funny-sounding food as a nutritional miracle does a disservice to the more common fruits and veggies we eat every day.

So I'm thrilled that the NYT Well Blog made a list of 11 healthy (but not uncommon) foods that we aren't eating, and that, for the most part, everyone will recognize the foods on the list.

Not only will you recognize them, but you'll probably even be able to get them at your local grocer. The idea behind lists like this is that we all should be eating a wide variety of foods, to ensure that we're getting the proper vitamins and minerals. So every time you add a new food to your palate, you're also adding a new source of good nutrition.

So here's the list:

• beets
• cabbage
• Swiss chard
• cinnamon
• pomegranate juice
• prunes
• pumpkin seeds
• sardines
• turmeric
• frozen blueberries
• canned pumpkin
  
  

What about you? Is there a healthy food you aren't eating? Check out the gallery below for 25 you ought to embrace.

Ch-ch-ch-Chia! When you hear that catchy jingle, you might think of little planters that grow "hair" on pottery shaped like anything from pets to Shrek to human heads. But interest is growing in chia seeds lately, and not for any of the usual as-seen-on-TV reasons. Some people think that chia seeds might be the newest superfood.

According to the folks over at Diet-Blog, chia seeds are high in protein and fiber, as well as omega-3 fatty acids. Salba, a variant of chia, is also rich in calcium and iron. But beyond knowing what's in a handful of chia seeds, no one is really sure yet if they deserve "superfood" status.

I'm always a little wary when a food gets picked out of the crowd as a superfood. I think there are a lot of foods out there that are super, and as long as we are eating a wide variety of them, there isn't any need to stock up on that one unique food. Of course, in this case, if chia doesn't work out for you, you can always wrap it up and give it away at your next white elephant gift exchange.

Soy products are a great way to incorporate lean protein into your diet, and you don't have to be vegetarian to appreciate the benefits. However, while many people are familiar with tofu, I get a lot of puzzled looks when I mention tempeh. While both are made from soybeans, they're as different as salmon and steak.

This chart breaks down the differences between tempeh and tofu, and basically it makes the conclusion that tempeh is less processed than tofu, contains more protein and fiber, and therefore is somewhat better for you. And, to be honest, I actually prefer the taste and texture of tempeh to tofu. However, if you're used to cooking with tofu, you can't just substitute tempeh instead.

Click through the gallery for some recipes including tempeh. If you have a favorite recipe of your own, be sure to leave a comment!

While recently picking up some protein powder at my local Vitamin Shoppe retail store, I happened upon a promotional table for a so-called "Super Food" vegetable drink mix.

"Hey, man. Do you wanna' try some greens?," an upbeat, Toni Robbins-esque voice said in a way that sounded more like a command than a question.

"Um, no. Actually, what the heck do you mean?," was my best attempt at fending off the retail assault.

"Check it out. I know you're going to like this," he said, knowing that I was already at his mercy for the next few minutes.

And so it went, for far more than a few minutes I listened to Mr. Positive talk to me about a vegetable-based product that his company was selling in Vitamin Shoppe retail stores nationwide. He handed me some literature on their product lines and let me try samples of their drink mixes, each containing 72 "Super Foods."

Although a lot has been written on how healthy antioxidant-containing foods and supplements are for human health, the scientific studies that back up those claims are lacking in number, a recent report stated.

Does this mean anti-oxidants are not as healthy for the human body as previously thought? Not at all. Keep eating those fresh tomatoes, blueberries, pomegranates and taking in that daily green tea.

Although "medical studies" are the general defense of those who don't fully support the disease-fighting abilities of antioxidant-containing foods, that should not stop your enthusiasm for locating and eating them every day.

Many of us have heard of a cancer diet. That is, a diet that protects the body from cancer if it exists or if it may potentially exist in the future.

Items like blueberries, green tea, and other fruits and vegetables are responsible for reducing your overall risk of cancer, according to new research. While this sounds like "old wives tales" to many of us, it's because current society has been told that the only help for cancer is radiation treatment and surgery. It's pretty easy to see that's a reactive approach, not a proactive one.

Although the research stated that there was not really an "anti-cancer" diet, there are many who disagree with that statement. How about you?

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.

When we hear about the new "it" superfood, more often than not it's hard to pronounce, difficult to find in local groceries, and most likely grown on a far away continent. Sometimes, the delicious and nutritious foods that are right in front of our faces are overshadowed by these exotic superstars. WebMD recently posted a list of 10 everyday superfoods, and though not all of them are local, they should be easy to find:

• plain yogurt, low-fat or fat free
• eggs
• nuts
• kiwis
• quinoa
• beans
• salmon
• broccoli
• sweet potatoes
• berries

What's your favorite "everyday" nutritional powerhouse?

Almost nobody I know prepares for a large meeting or presentation by thinking about nutrition preparation. Most are honing PowerPoint slides and talking to themselves in a mirror.

But, if you want to remain sharp and focused in that meeting, how about seeking out foods to eat beforehand that will give you the mental edge as that competing salesperson drones on about quota smashing?

Try some mango salsa on whole-wheat bread along with a fresh dash of blueberries on the side. Also, an entree of chicken may help cognitive performance, seeing as poultry proteins help get some needed neurotransmitters firing as good as they can be.

I love to sit down to a colorful meal. Bright green beans, brilliant orange sweet potatoes, a salad mixed with yellow peppers, edemame, and bright red tomatoes -- a colorful plate glows with good nutrition. By eating a variety of colors -- yellow, green, orange, red, purple, and white -- you'll not only ensure that you're getting enough antioxidants, but that you're getting a good variety of nutrients as well.

Prevention has a handful of colorful recipes for your next meal, and if you're interested in what each color of fruit or vegetable can do for you, check out the gallery below.

In what could be considered to be a watershed moment in the world of mass-produced foods, Swiss junk food giant Nestle has announced that it will become the world's leading producer of "extreme nutrition" and will focus efforts in that area as it tries to become a major player in the lives of millions who are finally recognizing that nutrition is the key to health.

In a way, this is good news for many of us who default to junk and processed foods in a hurried lifestyle, then wonder why we develop diseases and other maladies which are probably connected to what we eat. Remember -- garbage in, garbage out.

Can Nestle really turn on the resources to become one of the world's largest players in good nutrition that actually helps the body instead of just satisfying taste buds with salt, fat and sugar? That's anyone's guess, but I for one will be watching closely.

Just like that unleaded we put in our cars, food is the fuel for the human body. Eat junk foods and sugar water all the time, and the body begins to prematurely break down. Put in good stuff like superfoods, and your body will go 100,000 miles between tune-ups, so to speak.

When it comes to food, the better the quality the better the performance. Unfortunately, the convenience lifestyle many of us live and the hunt for cheap prices has forced an era of unhealthy food on the country. There's a reason why obesity rates are higher than they have ever been.

But what does it take to keep that body's performance in tip-top shape? Knowledge is the first tool, then intelligent food selection is the next. Research the term "superfoods" and see what you find, but for starters, here is a short list:

• Beans
• Berries
• Vegetables
• Nuts
• Whole grains

When it comes to superfoods, blueberries are generally considered as good as it gets as they're full of cancer-fighting antioxidants. But according to a study done in Australia, the super berry has noting on many of the fruits that the country's Aboriginal peoples have been consuming for thousands of years.

Known as 'bush tucker', fruits like Kakadu plums and Brudekin plums have got nearly five times more antioxidants than blueberries, according to scientists, as do other foods like the Tasmanian pepper, red and yellow finger limes, brush cherries and Molucca raspberries. Many of these also contain massive amounts of vitamin C.

Unfortunately, it has taken some time for non-Aboriginal Australians to embrace the food so it is not widely available in that country or any others. So for now, if you really want to try out these superfruits, you'll have to seek them out Down Under.

It's a well-known fact that a lot of kids don't like to eat stuff that's good for them. Why ask for fruits and veggies as a snack when chips are available? And what reasonable 10-year-old would opt for a healthy meal of salmon and salad when they can get their hands on McDonald's? While these foods are fine as treats once in a while, it's sad fact that fast food and junk food is the biggest part of many kids' diets, making these unhealthy foods at least partly responsible for the growing youth obesity epidemic.

It's a shame though, because there are so many superfoods out there that children should be eating, and which when prepared right, can be really tasty. If you're struggling to find ways to get your kids to eat stuff that's good for them, take a look at these 10 superfoods, which can be substituted fairly easily for less healthy stuff. For example, at breakfast give them whole-wheat toast with natural nut butter instead of white-bread toast with peanut-butter that has extra sugar added.

Or try one of the suggested recipes, which include Creamy Noodles with Organic Chicken and Broccoli for dinner, followed by Blueberry Crisp for dessert. For kids, eating healthy doesn't necessarily mean eating foods that are boring and don't taste good. For more ideas on superfoods for kids check this out.

Each week, we'll be offering original recipes and unique ways to use those Super Foods that pack nutritional power. After all, you are what you eat -- make it count!

Do you want to get a major dose of antioxidants, vitamin C and cancer-fighting compounds? Eat some strawberries.

This week, we are adding strawberries to our growing list of Super Foods. They are in season, dripping with nutritious juices and the sweet-tartness that lends itself to a variety of dishes.

Want to know how to add more strawberries to your diet? Then read on, berry-lovers, and embrace the recipes that will show you how to add strawberries to each meal of the day.