NUTRITION

College cramming packs on the pounds

You don't have to gain weight in college. Here's how to fight that bulge.

CHEW ON THIS

What's up with energy drinks?

Are you feeling a bit sluggish? Beverage manufacturers must think so -- based on the recent Americas Food and Beverage show in Miami Beach.

NUTRITION QUIZ

The ins and outs of highs and lows

You often see ''high in . . .'' or ''low in . . .'' on packages. But do you know how high is high or how low is low? There are government requirements that manufacturers must meet before they can use these descriptions. Here's a quiz to find out if you can figure out the code. Answer each statement true or false.

SUPERMARKET SLEUTH

Non-beef burgers good -- and good for you

Only two months left in hurricane season, which means it's just about autumn and time for grilling in South Florida, unless we lose power before then and have to cook outside. (In this climate, who wants to stand outside preparing food over a flame on July 4 -- or even Labor Day?)

DIABETES

Test your food IQ

People with diabetes should work with a dietitian or doctor to devise a food plan that is specific to them. Often diabetics have other health concerns such as high blood pressure or cholesterol. Sometimes they need to lose weight.

CHEW ON THIS

Healthier comfort food

Given last week's economic quakes and storm-related news, comfort food is definitely called for. While we eat for hunger and nourishment, stress and comfort are big drivers as well. We're drawn to familiar foods when anticipating a hurricane, feeling lonely or overwhelmed.

Beauty foods: Try the supermarket to look good

The best way to look healthy and attractive may not be inside a $100 jar of cream or under a surgeon's knife. Rather, what you put on your plate may be just as important as what you put on your skin.

SKIN DEEP

A jolt for your complexion

Q: I've always considered my coffee-drinking habit a vice, but I've recently heard that caffeine might be good for skin. Is my morning java helping or hurting my complexion?

NUTRITION QUIZ

What do you know about white foods?

There's a popular belief that white foods have no nutritional value and just add calories to your diet. Do you believe that? Here's a quiz based on the truth about white foods.

NUTRITION

Starbucks, Dunkin' revise breakfast menus

Just in time for busy days spent in traffic and school carpool lines, popular on-the-go coffee shops are adding new healthier items to their morning menus.

SUPERMARKET SLEUTH

Get the skinny on fat content in mac and cheese

Today's column is a Happy Birthday shout out to the Sleuth's oldest daughter, who turns 21 today. Perhaps she'll celebrate by dining on that childhood favorite, macaroni and cheese from a box.

NUTRITION QUIZ

Basic food safety for preparing meals

While it's not truly a nutrition topic, knowing basic food safety is important when it comes to preparing meals. Dr. Christine Bruhn, director of the center for food safety research at the University of California, Davis, created a video on food safety for www.monkeysee.com. Here's a quiz based on Bruhn's video. Answer the following statements true or false. 1223416013

SUPERMARKET SLEUTH

Store brand beats out fancier imports

The Sleuth's mother, like Heloise of helpful household hints fame, has long been a believer in the manifold powers and uses of vinegar (use it as a weed killer and a meat tenderizer!) An Italian study also suggests that balsamic vinegars might, like red wines, have some antioxidant properties.

CHEW ON THIS

Steering a healthy course

Is there anyone who does not know that pastelitos are fattening or a double cheeseburger with bacon is not artery friendly? I doubt it. Yet we devour them.

NUTRITION

Are organic products really better?

Food costs are rising, and consumers are starting to question if paying 40 percent to 150 percent more for organic food is worth it. There is a widespread belief that organic foods are more healthful than conventionally grown foods with more nutrients and lower risk of food-borne illnesses, and that they may provide protection from or even cure cancer.

Junk food ads target blacks

Researchers have identified a new culprit -- food marketers -- to help explain why overweight and obesity rates are higher among blacks (68.9 percent) than among whites (59.5 percent), according to statistics reported by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

FOOD LABELS

Confused by allergy warnings?

It's one of the biggest frustrations of life with food allergies: That hodgepodge of warnings that a food might accidentally contain the wrong ingredient.

HEALTH COMMENTARY

Come along to diet detox

The idea came to me over a plate of Buffalo wings, although the roots of it stretched back further. Oprah had just finished a 21-day diet detox, my husband mentioned casually, and I felt the kind of quick stab of jealousy you get when someone else does something you had long been considering.

NUTRITION

Cinnamon and diabetes

Q: Does cinnamon help people with diabetes? A: Some studies have shown that cinnamon may help lower blood glucose levels and may improve blood cholesterol levels. Other studies are not so sure. At any rate, cinnamon tastes good, is safe to use and provides great flavor to food, with no added calories or carbohydrates to raise blood sugar levels.

HEALTHY READS

Find out 'Why the Chinese Don't Count Calories'

Why the Chinese Don't Count Calories: 15 Secrets from a 3,000-year-old Food Culture (Skyhorse, $12.95) by Lorraine Clissold is hardly revolutionary. Eat until you are full, and then stop. Avoid processed foods. Think of vegetables as a primary dish, not a side dish. Dietitians and nutritionists have been doling out this advice for years, yet waistlines continue to expand in America.

Nutrition Quiz

Eating healthfully can improve your overall heart health, says the American Medical Association. Do your dietary choices reflect good habits? Here's a quiz from the AMA to find out.

QUICK STUDY

Sweet drinks and diabetes in black women

THE QUESTION Sweet drinks appear to pose diabetes risks for black women. People looking for an alternative sometimes choose a fruit drink instead. Is that a wise choice?

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Hey, what's the big hurry?

Slow down, you move too fast. You got to make the morning last. Next time you're wolfing down your food, think of Simon and Garfunkel.

SUPERMARKET SLEUTH

Better-for-you chips, cookies add zip to brown bag

For this second installment of the best choices in brown-bag lunches, we look at better-for-you chips and cookies. All kids appreciate something with crunch and something sweet every now and then, and these products make the honor roll for taste and nutrition.

NUTRITION

Headaches, fatigue can be a (food) sensitive issue

Food sensitivities can be just as damaging as allergies, but they're harder to decipher.

SUPERMARKET SLEUTH

Healthy snacks make brown-bagging easy

In about a week, the Sleuth's nest will be empty, and the Sleuth fledglings will have flown off with years of brown-bagging experience under their wings. So, for this special back-to-school edition, we present the best-tasting and best-for-you choices in school lunches. All of these products make the honor roll for taste and nutrition.

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Tilapia's good -- but not that good

Mild-tasting tilapia has been caught in a net of controversy. In 2001 tilapia was barely on the chart of commonly eaten fish, but by 2006 it was No. 5 in popularity.

SUPERMARKET SLEUTH

Improved frozen pannini as good as sandwich shop

The last time the Sleuth checked out heat-and-eat frozen pannini, the results were disappointing. Now, boxed, deli-style sandwiches are appearing in the refrigerated cases. The hook: They have a special tray that helps keep the rolls from getting rubbery in the microwave.

NUTRITION

Children's menus loaded with calories

Those chain restaurants offer plenty of choices -- unless you're looking for something healthy, according to a national study.