In 2004, I attended the Iowa State Fair (believe it or not, it was for business). At that time, I was not in the diet, health, and lifestyle business. However, I was amazed by this "food" booth. I snapped these two pictures.

I did try the deep-fried Oreos...wasted calories. They weren't even good.

It's an incredibly healthy snack and it's delicious. Just put a plate of frozen banana slices in the freezer. When you are ready to eat them, spread a little peanut butter on each slice. 

No kidding, it tastes better than ice cream. And, of course, there's no added sugar!

I recommend organic peanut butter. You can also use almond butter.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has a table that presents estimated calorie intake.

You've probably heard about the report from the Center for Science in the Public Interest. It's about some of the worst foods that are available at restaurants across America...P.F. Changs, Cheesecake Factory, California Pizza Kitchen, Outback and others.

Here's the scoop. The report is meaningless. Not because the foods it mentions are not horrific, they are. 

The reason: Most of the food at those restaurants, fast-food restaurants, national chains, and many local restaurants are high in calories, salt, fat, and sugar. 

So, to pick out a few dishes that are "over-the-top" is a diversion.

For a pictorial of what we eat, take a look.

Almonds are a good source for fiber and protein. However, they are high in calories. For a snack, eat about 15. That will be approximately 100 calories.

Here's an interesting article about almonds. They might not have as many calories as once thought. Go figure.

In the report, this is the one statement that shocked me: Only a few hundred of the more than 80,000 chemicals in use in the United States have been tested for safety.

And . . .

With nearly 80,000 chemicals on the market in the United States, many of which are used by millions of Americans in their daily lives and are un- or understudied and largely unregulated, exposure to potential environmental carcinogens is widespread. 

The CDC estimates that 66% of the U.S. population is overweight or obese. I think that percentage is low. My eyes tell me that it is closer to 90%.

CNBC investigates a nationwide epidemic and why in a society obsessed with being thin, it has never been easier to be fat.

Be sure to watch One Nation Overweight.

Check it out: http://overweightnation.cnbc.com

Upcoming show times (be sure to record it):
Saturday, May 22nd  7p ET
Sunday, May 23rd  10p ET
Monday, May 24th  8p ET
Sunday, May 31st  1a | 8p ET
Sunday, June 6th  9p ET
Friday, June 11th  8p ET

Early in the interview, this amazing statistic is introduced:  In 1960, women between the ages of 20 and 29 averaged about 127 pounds by 2000 that average had climbed to 157 pounds. 

This fascinating interview explains our national dilemma.

To learn how that happened, you can watch this video.

The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest her or his patients in the care of the human frame, in a proper diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease. - Thomas Edison

Here's a listing of 25 Super Foods. I don't eat all of them (string cheese), but most of them I agree with.

Here's what Dr. Barnard states...for every additional 14 grams of fiber that you consume, you will reduce calorie intake by 10%. He recommends 40 grams of fiber per day. The graphic below is from Dr. Neal Barnard's presentation on PBS.

This is one of the things that you will learn in Feed Your Head. Dr. Barnard goes on to talk about how easy it is to lose weight. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, who catches on to the concept, says the same  thing. I certainly do.

Sampling of high-fiber foods. 

Source: The Full Plate Diet 

Cancer - Did you know that poor diets and sedentary lifestyles are the most significant contributors to cancer risk?

Source: The American Cancer Society

Heart Disease - This trio begins with a quartet of smoking, a junk diet, physical inactivity and obesity. Those are all things we can do something about.

Source: Heart Disease Trifecta

It's much easier to do prevention than treatment. - Dr. Michael Roizen

Yes, and that's the problem...or at least, one of many.

• New Alarm Bells About Chemicals and Cancer - It (a new report) calls on America to rethink the way we confront cancer, including much more rigorous regulation of chemicals.
• The Heart Disease Trifecta - Nearly half of all adult Americans have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes, all conditions that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, researchers from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday.

To me, the most amazing thing in this report: "Only a few hundred of the more than 80,000 chemicals in use in the United States have been tested for safety."

It's time to eat with the seasons. And, it doesn't get much better than this. Go to your local fruit and veggie stand and get some tangelos, grapefruits, pears, cantaloupes, tomatoes, and asparagus. 

Of course, there are a lot of other fruits and veggies that are delicious. Try 'em all!

Yes, there is a website for everything. Backed by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, here's what this one is all about:

Going meatless once a week may reduce your risk of chronic preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. It can also help reduce your carbon footprint and save precious resources like fresh water and fossil fuel.

LIMIT CANCER RISK: Hundreds of studies suggest that diets high in fruits and vegetables may reduce cancer risk. Both red and processed meat consumption are associated with colon cancer.

REDUCE HEART DISEASE: Recent data from a Harvard University study found that replacing saturated fat-rich foods (for example, meat and full fat dairy) with foods that are rich in polyunsaturated fat (for example, vegetable oils, nuts and seeds) reduces the risk of heart disease by 19%

FIGHT DIABETES: Research suggests that higher consumption of red and processed meat increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

CURB OBESITY: People on low-meat or vegetarian diets have significantly lower body weights and body mass indices. A plant-based diet is a great source of fiber (absent in animal products). This makes you feel full with fewer calories, ie. lower calorie intake and less overeating. Research has found that eating more plant foods and less animal products may help individuals control their weight.

LIVE LONGER: Red and processed meat consumption is associated with modest increases in total mortality, cancer mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality.

IMPROVE YOUR DIET. Consuming beans or peas results in higher intakes of fiber, protein, folate, zinc, iron and magnesium with lower intakes of saturated fat and total fat.

Healthy, refreshing, and low in calories - what could be better than that? If you have a veggie garden, the basil and tomatoes come right from your garden! Incredible.

I drink a lot of water. So, to me, it's important to know if I should drink bottled or tap water. And away we go . . .