Kasia the Expert

      Do you like to bring your own snacks while traveling for work or pleasure? Do you have a snack drawer at your desk? I do, and it's filled with Smart Pop! 94% fat free popcorn which happens to be a perfect 100% whole grain snack.  

By now, you've heard you should be eating more whole grains.  However, research shows that most Americans currently consume less than a single serving of whole grains per day while 2005 Dietary Guidelines recommend three servings a day. Interestingly, whole grains don't just contain a fiber benefit. They are a bundle of nutrients, explains Joanne Slavin, a professor of nutrition at the University of Minnesota: "In addition to providing fiber, whole grains provide vitamins, minerals, literally hundreds of phytonutrients.  The individual components of whole grains have an additive and synergistic effect.  It's the combination and interaction between components that we believe provides the protection against disease."  

What's your favorite whole grain snack?

     Planning on touring the world this summer?  If your family is like mine and prefers the "staycation," don't forget you've got the world at your finger tips--starting right inside your kitchen.  Start with simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry, like PAM, Wesson Oil, LaChoy sauces, Hunt's tomatoes and Ranch-Style Black Beans and turn them into ethnic dishes from around the world.  Take Hunt's tomatoes, for example.  One obvious direction for tomatoes is Italian or Mediterranean.  Bring even more variety to your dinner table with Asian and South of the Border dishes.  Finally, for the ultimate worldly dish, combine Asian ingredients with a touch of Italy!

     All recipes contain less than 300 calories per serving and can be made in 30 minutes or less.  Now, that might make your tour of the world via your kitchen even more enjoyable!  Salute!

     Are you reaching for B vitamins to boost your energy?  Although B vitamins are necessary for physical energy production, most of us are looking for a boost in mental energy, or alertness, which turns out, may have nothing to do with vitamins.  While everyone seems to have different ways of managing their mental energy levels, common reasons for energy loss include lack of sleep, high stress and not exercising regularly.  Most of my friends swear by caffeine, while others feel it makes them feel worse.  We also know that a high carbohydrate meal can make one feel sleepy.  So, where to turn?  Personally, my cup of morning coffee, along with breakfast, regular exercise and getting enough sleep help me stay alert and meet the demands of my busy schedule.

     What gives you an energy boost?