We’re always reminding you that a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to break the bank. How about some expert tips to back that up? We polled nutrition experts across the country for their best tips for eating smart and exercising on a budget.

Brown Bag It
Our September Brown Bag Challenge was a huge success. If you missed it, it’s never too late to start bringing your lunch to work or school. Annette Schottenfeld, MBA, RD, CDN, President of Nett Nutrition, Inc. says:

“Packing your own lunch not only saves money, but also guarantees much needed nutrition to get you through the day. Select lean meats and veggies on whole grain bread with a side of seasonal fruit for a delicious and satisfying lunch. Additional savings can also be had by making your own single-serve snack bags.”

Packing up single servings goes for dinner leftovers too. Karen Ansel, MS, RD, CDN tells us:

“Wrap leftovers into single-serve portions immediately after dinner. Not only will you save money because you’re not throwing out perfectly good food, you’ll have a single serve, healthy homemade meal in the freezer waiting for you next time you have no time to cook.”

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Is it really healthy to skip the yolk?

Many health-conscious folks opt for egg whites only. Little do they know they’re wasting a huge dose of protein and other precious nutrients when they toss out those golden yolks.

Q: When looking to take in healthy protein from eggs, should you go for the whole thing or just eat the egg white?

A: When you look at the nutrients it’s hard to dispute. Eggs have a lot of nutrition going on and most of it’s found in the egg yolk.

Marcia Greenblum, MS, RD, senior director of nutrition education for the Egg Nutrition Center brought us up to speed on all the goodies that eggs have to offer. The white of a large egg provides 3.6 grams of protein, but you’ll also find an additional 2.7 grams hanging out in the yolk. The yolk is also home to all the heart-healthy fats and hefty doses of vitamins like riboflavin, D and B12; nutrients like choline and selenium are also in abundance.

Yes, yolks are also where all the not-so-healthy fat and cholesterol are hiding. If you do have high cholesterol, you may have to limit your intake, but with only 1.6 grams of saturated fat per serving, eggs can certainly be worked in to a heart-healthy diet. To cut down on some of the fat and cholesterol, use a combination of whole eggs plus a few extra egg whites in egg dishes like omelets, frittatas and quiche.

Tell Us: Do you keep or toss the yolks?

Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition. See Dana’s full bio »

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The hustle and bustle of getting the kiddies back to school can make your head spin. We’re not just talking about the youngsters either. People of all ages are getting ready to start their studies – and let’s not forget about mom and her hectic schedule too! We asked nutrition experts from around the country to share their top back-to-school tips to help ease the stress of this busy time of year.

Start Off Right
Our experts agree, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Healthy Eats contributor Katie Cavuto Boyle says “it’s tough to learn when you’re hungry so remember to eat breakfast; it fuels your mind and body so your school day is productive and enjoyable.” But if you’re like most families, mornings are hectic. Registered dietitian Sherri Hoyt suggests some advance planning. Kids (and parents!) may be tempted to skip breakfast or grab a sugar-laden pastry or fatty breakfast sandwich on the run.  Instead, “take time to make time”. . . in other words, plan for tomorrow’s breakfast the night before.

In need of a few quick breakfast ideas? Check out our Top-5 Quick Breakfast Ideas.

Read more »

An all-around healthy diet is best for any exercise routine, but cardiovascular exercise requires a balance of special nutrients. If you get cardiovascular exercise regularly (and we all should) – here’s how to fuel up.

The best foods to fuel your workout »

Local farms across the country are gearing up for another harvest season, and we can’t wait! You can get your own little piece of a local farm by signing up for a community-supported agriculture program. So, is it the right choice for you? We’re breaking down some frequently-asked CSA questions to help you decide.

Read more »

Food labels don't always tell the whole story -- Bonnie Taub-Dix tells you how to read between the lines.

Want the inside scoop on label reading? We spoke to registered dietitian Bonnie Taub-Dix, author of the new label-decoding book Read It Before You Eat It. Check out her responses to Healthy Eats’ reader questions, and find out the biggest mistakes shoppers make.

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As a registered dietitian, I share many of the same tips with clients over and over again. For instance, I always tell my clients to give up saying they don’t have enough time to eat better and exercise, and remind them:  Health should be a priority!

We asked nutrition experts from across the country to share their most valuable tips. We filled you in on the top dos, now for the don’ts: The things we urge clients to STOP doing in order to get healthy.  How many are you guilty of?

Get experts’ top don’ts »

One common piece of advice? Start your day with a good breakfast!

Sometimes we registered dietitians feel like broken records, giving clients the same get-healthy tips over and over again. But we do it for a reason — these simple changes work!  We polled nutrition experts around the country for their most-offered dos and don’ts.  This week, we’re starting with the dos.  How many do you follow?

Dietitian’s top dos »

Mee Goreng - Photo Courtesy Midori/Wikimedia Commons

Mee Goreng is a Malaysian noodle dish made with cabbage, tomato, egg, sugar, ketchup and soy sauce. The first time I made it for my husband, he looked at me like I was crazy. Then he tasted it – it’s incredibly delicious! What seems like a weird ingredient combination can come together to create a symphony of flavors and textures. See 10 more off-the-wall combinations from food experts, then tell us your favorites!

10 crazy-good food combinations »

Photo courtesy NuVal LLC

Dr. David Katz is back! This time he’s filling us in on the new food scoring system turning up in grocery stores: the NuVal system. You may have seen these scores cropping up your grocery store — here’s how (and why) to use them.

Learn more about how NuVal scores can help you eat better »