With so much conflicting information out there on “good” and “bad” foods, it’s hard to know exactly what you’re supposed to be eating to stay healthy and keep your weight under control.  Are carbohydrates good or bad?  Is fat the enemy, or is sugar the real problem?  And what the heck is a “superfood?”

Luckily, there is hope.  Fads come and go, but real nutrition is still primarily a matter of common sense.  If you eat a wide variety of foods, concentrating on whole foods closer to their natural form (an orange) as opposed to processed foods (an orange-flavored snack), there’s no need to beat yourself up over the occasional slice of pizza or bowl of ice cream.  There’s actually a place for everything in a balanced diet, provided you focus on the word “balance.”

According to the most recent U.S. Government standards, a healthy diet starts with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy products that are either reduced in fat or fat free.  For protein, it includes beans and nuts – a great choice for vegetarians -- as well as lean meat, poultry, fish and eggs.  In other words, it includes a variety of foods to suit just about every taste. 

When it comes to foods you should consume in lower quantities, the list is a lot shorter.  It basically consists of saturated fats and trans fats, cholesterol, salt and added sugars.  These nutritional no-no’s tend to be found most frequently in processed foods like chips, snack foods and frozen or fast-food dinners.  And beware – those “light” and “fat free” options typically pack a lot of sodium and/or sugar, so avoiding so-called convenience foods in favor of cooking your own meals – or at least eating simpler foods – is usually much healthier. 

A little awareness is key.  Read labels, think about what you’re eating, plan your meals in advance.  That way, when you get the occasional craving for a fast-food cheeseburger, you can indulge without worrying. 

At least some of the time.

Father’s Day is this Sunday...and we hope you’ve found a way to honor the dear old Dad in your life.

The interesting fact is that, even though this is a long established holiday in America, it almost didn’t make it onto the national calendar.  Why?  Frankly…no offense, guys…people thought it was a joke!

Mother’s Day had already become an established event when attempts to promote Father’s Day faltered left and right in the 1910’s and 20’s.  Newspaper editorials made fun of the proposed day for Dad and public proposals for it were greeted with outright laughter.

Why?  Many saw it as the first step to a slew of other artificial and commercialized calendar events, such as Maiden Aunty’s Day and Household Pet Day (which, in light of such other modern observances as Grandparent’s Day and Secretary’s Day, held a ring of truth).  

There was also, in the media of the time, a tradition of portraying pop as an irresponsible loafer.  One popular song was entitled “Everybody Works But Father.” 

And finally, there was the problem of dispensing the sentimentality common to Mother’s Day to…a guy.  Heaping loving presents and flowery sappiness to big, burly Dad seemed comical to most.  And also a practical problem; “Mannish-looking cards are hard to design,” said one greeting card manufacturer of the time.

Even though the first bill to make Father’s Day a national holiday was introduced in 1913, it took until 1972 for it to become the law of the land when President Nixon signed a proclamation finally making it official. 

Mother’s Day, in contrast, became legal in 1914. 

Dads, like the late Rodney Dangerfield, get no respect.