Ah, youth. Millennials are less concerned about calories and fat in the foods they eat than the population at large and are more inclined to use technology as a health and wellness tool, according to the International Food Information Council’s 2015 Food and Health Survey. The survey also found that millennials (born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s) are more likely to believe higher-protein foods may have unhealthy attributes, are more apt to use diet-related apps and online support groups, rely more heavily on the support of family and friends in their efforts to maintain a healthy diet, and tend to trust health and nutrition bloggers and to feel more optimistic about the healthful potential of food innovations and new inventions. “Millennials are a unique generation, and their approach to health and fitness is no exception,” Sarah Romotsky, R.D., director of health and wellness for the IFIC Foundation, told Food Business News.
Happier Hens
Taco Bell is going cage-free. The fast-food chain’s parent company, Yum Brands, has announced that it will switch to using only cage-free eggs in all 6,000 U.S. Taco Bell locations by the end of 2016. The Mexican food mecca’s move to use eggs from hens not confined to small cages follows those of many other large restaurant chains, including McDonald’s and Burger King, but its transition is slated to happen far more quickly. McDonald’s has said it will complete its move to cage-free eggs over the next decade, whereas Burger King announced several years ago that it would complete its transition by 2017.
Go Green, Sure, but Not for Weight Loss
Perhaps you’ve heard that drinking green tea boosts your metabolism. In its ongoing in-depth tea series Tea Tuesday, NPR’s The Salt surveys the research and concludes that, despite its reputation as a weight-loss and weight-maintenance aid, green tea, if it raises your metabolic rate at all, probably does so only a teeny bit. “The caffeine in green tea could raise your metabolic rate ever so slightly, but it wouldn’t have a different effect than coffee,” Mayo Clinic endocrinologist Michael Jensen told The Salt. The studies indicate that green tea can have some health effects – helping to regulate blood pressure, for instance. But “unless you’ve gained or lost a lot of weight,” Jensen said, “your metabolism stays pretty stable over time.” Oh, well.
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from Healthy Eats – Food Network Healthy Living Blog http://ift.tt/1LrbIYo
How do you make sure the vegetarian at your Thanksgiving feast goes home feeling pleasantly sated just like everyone else? Well, for starters, you’ll need to pick really fantastic sides — ones that are so good they’ll make the turkey seem secondary. Most of us will agree that the sides are the best part, anyway. But with an abundance of pie in everyone’s future, it’s probably wise to offer the meatless eaters a few options beyond starchy mashed potatoes and carb-loaded stuffing. While roasted or sauteed vegetables are great to fill up on when you’re trying to “save room,” you’ll also want something that feels special, or celebratory, for the holiday. Here are a few vegetarian side dishes that, when served together, make up a perfectly satisfying Thanksgiving menu.
Is there anything more necessary than a generous scoop of mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving? A slice of hot buttered cornbread is nice, too. Some would even say it’s the green bean casserole that really makes the meal special. Personal preferences aside, we can all agree that the sides are the best part of Thanksgiving — next to the smorgasbord of pie, of course. And since we only get to enjoy this celebratory feast one day each year, why not dig in to the indulgent dishes that are so representative of the holiday? Then again, if you plan on having a lot of leftovers, you could be enjoying these dishes for a few days (or an entire week) after Thanksgiving has passed. That’s incentive to throw some healthier options into the mix. Here are the classic, comforting sides we all long for, with a few minor alterations to make each one less of a splurge. As it turns out, your healthiest Thanksgiving could be your most-traditional yet. Who knew?
Sweet Potato Casserole
Mashed Potatoes
Stuffing
Mac and Cheese
Cranberry Sauce
Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce
When it comes to Thanksgiving, there’s one kind of dessert that’s bound to star in your spread: pie. And we mean lots of it. Even if you’re committed to staying on track on the biggest food holiday of the year, you can still savor all the goodness of this American favorite thanks to these healthy pie recipes.
The words “double” and “chocolate” don’t typically follow the word “healthy,” but Ellie Krieger’s wholesome recipe is here to change that. Her classic, creamy 
Fall is all about pumpkin, and this creamy 
Not only is Ree Drummond’s 
On arguably the most-caloric day of the year, it’s a wonder how Ellie’s 
This turkey day favorite can rack up the calories quickly, but you can’t have a traditional feast without it! So what’s a stuffing lover to do?
