Reading List: Foods of the Future, Breast Milk Cheese & Raw Food Safety

In this week’s nutrition news: Soda taxes help shed pounds, how to choose the right nutrition expert and cheese made from breast milk -- would you eat it?

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In this week’s nutrition news: Soda taxes help shed pounds, how to choose the right nutrition expert and cheese made from breast milk -- would you eat it?
Foods of the Future

Want to know what foods you’ll be seeing more of next year? The Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association (CRFA) surveyed 400 chefs and asked them to identify the hottest new food trends. Although researchers asked our neighbors to the north, the foods topping the list are similar to ones I’ve spotted at recent New York food shows. What are they? Ancient grains (kamut, spelt and quinoa), gluten-free beer and Middle Eastern cuisine. I’m very excited for that third trend to hit!

Study Finds Soda Taxes Help Shed Pounds

We told you about the big debate on taxing sodas before; now a new study published in The Archives of Internal Medicine shows that taxing soda may be better for our health. Researchers at the University of North Carolina looked at the eating habits of more than 5,000 young adults over the span of 20 years and found that when food costs more, people tend eat fewer calories. Their conclusion: If we paid 18% more for regular soda and other sweetened beverages, we’d consume 56 fewer calories each day and lose around five pounds a year! (Speaking of soda, check out the debate our users struck up in this week's "Diet Soda: Good or Bad?" post.)

Cheese Made from Breast Milk
Yum, right?! I always assumed breast milk was for feeding a newborn. Well, not anymore. Chef Daniel Angerer decided to make cheese from his wife’s breast milk (don't worry, he made sure the baby had enough). It took him a little extra effort to make the cheese since human milk doesn’t curdle as well as cows (who knew?)...would any of you try it?
Raw Food Safety

Many folks enjoy following a raw food diet these days. I even got to experience a vegan raw food dinner in New York City a few months ago. But going raw also comes with a few food safety issues. Registered dietitian Keri Gans has some smart tips to make sure the raw food experience is delicious and safe. Some major advice: wash your produce correctly! That is, under cold, running water with a scrub brush; be sure to wash and then toss the outer layer of fruits such as mango and melon. This gets rid of any lingering bacteria that you might normally kill off while cooking food. But remember to only wash fruits just before eating them (storing produce after washing promotes mold growth).

Choosing Your Nutrition Expert

Many of our readers ask us for personalized diet advice and we usually suggest that they see a registered dietitian (like Dana and myself) for one-on-one consultation. When seeking out nutrition experts, you may have heard many titles floating around -- nutritionist, health coach or nutrition specialist -- and wondered what the heck is the difference? This informative article explains it well. Still confused? Ask us!

Next Up

Shopping for Low-Sodium Foods

About one in three adults have high blood pressure. One step to improve or prevent high blood pressure is to lower your salt intake -- especially from the biggest source, processed foods. These days many manufacturer's offer "low-sodium" or "no salt-added" foods, but labels can be confusing. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

What Is American Cheese?

And is it really cheese?

The Secret Ingredient Your Holiday Cheese Board Needs

This tip from a Parisian cheese shop may change how you build your boards.

What Are Cheese Curds?

How they're made, what they taste like and why they squeak.

Does Eating Cheese Before Bed Cause Nightmares?

We asked experts about the rumors surrounding dairy and a good night's sleep.

Can You Freeze Cheese?

There are a few caveats when it comes to stashing cheese in the freezer.

What Is Mascarpone?

Everything you need to know about this creamy, versatile Italian cheese.

Favorite Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Satisfy your cravings for this all-American favorite.

7 Recipes That Prove You Should Be Grilling Cheese

And we're not talking about sandwiches.