Eat

Pork earned the nickname as the "other white meat" because producers learned to create pork products that are as low in fat as some cuts of chicken. Lean cuts of pork are a good source of protein and essential nutrients. Just as you would do with beef, the key is to go lean and pay attention to portion sizes. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture MyPlate Guidelines, for daily protein intake, most adults should eat about 5 to 6.5 ounces of protein each day. The serving size of protein for an adult should average about 3.5 ounces, which is about the size of a deck of cards. The bottom line is to keep it lean, and eat small portions. Select fruit sauces as toppings and vegetable dishes for sides.

Almonds have been around for a long time. They are mentioned in the Bible, and were a prized ingredient in breads served to Egyptian pharaohs. It is believed that almonds originated China and Central Asia. Early explorers traveling the Silk Road between Asia and the Mediterranean snacked on almonds. Before long, almond trees flourished in the Mediterranean, especially in Spain and Italy.

In the mid-1700's, the almond tree arrived in California from Spain, compliments of the Franciscan Friars. Today, California is the only place in North America where almonds are grown commercially.

Right now, farmers market corn is as sweet as it gets. Soaked in the husk for a few hours and then thrown onto the grill to steam until tender, the corn is salted and a bit of heaven is revealed. It's summer, and fresh corn on the cob is what everyone wants to eat. But don't stop there. The in-season bounty demands experimentation. Fresh sweet corn is crunchy, sweet, light and versatile. Cut fresh from the cob, corn brightens up salads, stews... even ice cream.

The potato often gets a bad rap because they are commonly fried or loaded with fat and calories from butter and sour cream. It turns out, potatoes are fat-free and cholesterol-free, a good source of fiber and Vitamin C, plus they contain less than 10% of your daily value of carbohydrates. That’s a pretty healthy food!

Baked potatoes can be the foundation for a great family dinner by creating a baked potato bar!  Similar to a taco bar, a baked potato bar offers every family member a chance to make their own meal. Instead of copying the Mexican Taco bar flavors, we decided to change up the flavor and go with Mediterranean-inspired flavors.

Whole grains are exactly what their name implies. The grain is left in its whole, originally harvested state. It is not cracked, crushed, rolled or cooked down; otherwise known as processed or refined. A whole grain is more nutritious than a processed grain because the processing removes some of the nutrients. Research shows that people who regularly choose whole grains over processed grains are less prone to obesity, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. Whole grains are a good source for fiber, magnesium, Vitamin B and Vitamin E. Making the small change from processed white bread to whole grain bread is an easy way to improve your diet.

July Fourth begs for a magnificent grill party. It's summer, it's a great celebration of the nation's birth and everyone is outdoors and in party mode. Why hold back on July Fourth? Why not grill everything? With a couple of days' planning, you can really do something amazingly and deliciously different.

Here are four great ideas for the barbecue. There's no reason why you can't do all of these dishes, although it does require that planning. You will have to consider how many people you're cooking for, think about how large your grill is and make plans for placing all the dishes on the grill.

As the calendar starts to reach the other side of July, we are well into grilling season, enjoying the smoke and fire of the grill on longer relaxed evenings. Vegetables, red meat and seafood all work well with the sensuous kiss of fire, but when it comes to grilling, chicken is my personal workhorse.

I find chicken a way to showcase many flavors. A good, healthy marinade is all it needs to make it the star of the season. Add to it your favorite assortment of market veggies and you are in business.

To keep your chicken dishes interesting, you'll need some serious flavor options up your sleeve. Keep in mind, though, that you do not necessarily need to restrict your options to chicken breasts. You can also try drumsticks, wings or even boneless, skinless chicken thighs.