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Breakfast fixes, fake sweeteners, fruit faux pas, and more

Is eating fruit with other foods a no-no?

This week’s off-site posts didn’t have a theme (that I could see) but offered a little something for everyone.The Nutrition Diva podcast reveals how most “healthy” breakfasts fall short. On the Quick and Dirty Blog, I tackle the urban legend that fruit should always be eaten by itself , explain what can happen if your diet is too LOW in salt, and also reveal why so many diet drinks contain phenyalanine.  On the What’s Cooking blog on Recipe.com, I offered some tips on how to cut your grocery bill by reducing food waste.  And finally, I did a fun myth-busting segment on Fox NEWS.

Are Industrial Chemicals Causing Obesity?

Quick and Dirty Nutrition Tips from Monica ReinagelSome  researchers believe that environmental pollutants and industrial chemicals are to blame for the obesity epidemic. This, of course, bucks the conventional wisdom that our increasing girth is simply the result of eating too much and exercising too little. What’s the evidence to support the idea that chemicals are the true cause of our ever-expanding waistlines? Find out in this week’s Nutrition Diva podcast.

Is Farm-Raised Fish Safe?

Safety of farm-raised fish
Is farm-raised fish safe?

Q. I have seen a lot of conflicting information about the safety of farmed-raised fish. I stopped buying farm-raised salmon years ago because of the concern. How does farm-raised trout stack up to other fish in terms of nutrition and safety? Where does most of the supply come from in USA?

A. Unfortunately, this issue is a moving target.  Exponential growth in aquaculture and the pressure to control costs means that procedures are constantly evolving.  If watchdog groups make enough noise about a safety or nutrition concern, the industry often changes practices in response.  So, something that was a concern a few years ago may no longer be a problem. (See, for example: Farmed salmon gets an anti-inflammatory makeover.)   However, newer concerns may have cropped up in the meantime.

The best resource I’ve found to keep up with these issues is Seafood Watch. These guys are working hard to stay on top of all of these issues and to provide up-to-date resources for consumers trying to make safe and responsible choices. They have a number of tools for consumers, including a mobile app for your smart phone or a low-tech wallet card, as well as in-depth reports on  individual fish.  According to the fact-sheet on farmed trout, most of the farm-raised trout in the U.S. is produced in Idaho, with a minimum of negative environmental impacts. They consider it an excellent choice.