Peanut butter is a longtime staple and favorite for children and adults. The good news is peanuts, it turns out, can be really good for us. Peanuts pack a load of nutrition in a small package. They are a good source of protein, with 7 grams in a 1-ounce serving. There are also 2 grams of fiber and almost one quarter of the recommended daily allowance for vitamin E in each ounce, not to mention magnesium, potassium, copper, folic acid and many other vitamins and minerals. A healthy handful Fear of fat keeps many people from making peanuts part of their diet. But many studies are showing that the monounsaturated fat in peanuts is a healthy choice — especially since it comes with so much that is good for you. The newest and latest flat-belly diet insists on nuts. Heart health — Several studies have shown that eating peanuts can help reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering both cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Lower-income Neighborhoods Associated With Higher Obesity Rates

ScienceDaily (Feb. 10, 2008) — Obesity prevalence has increased significantly among adults and children in the U.S. over the last two decades. A new study appearing in the journal Nutrition Reviews reveals that characteristics of neighborhoods, including the area’s income level, the built environment, and access to healthy food, contribute to the continuing obesity epidemic.

Diet helps keep children seizure-free

LAFAYETTE, Calif. Without hesitation, Cathy Holt can tell you how long it has been since Noah's latest seizure.The Lafayette, Calif., mother keeps a running total. Her blond, blue-eyed 4-year-old has been seizure-free for 40 weeks.That is a life-altering change for Noah, who had been averaging a seizure a week since he was 6 months old. The longest one lasted three hours. Many ended in a hospital emergency room.Noah tried state-of-the-art medications to control his epilepsy, without success.A low-tech approach transformed the boy's life a strict high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that defies all good-nutrition recommendations.Known as the ketogenic diet, it has been around since biblical times and has gone in and out of favor.Instead of fruits and vegetables, Noah's meals often include heavy cream, bacon and butter laced with cinnamon.Why and how the diet works remains a mystery.But Children's Hospital Oakland, Kaiser Permanente, the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford and other institutions have put scores of epileptic children on the diet, with varying degrees of success.Experts stress that the diet can have side effects and should be attempted only under strict medical supervision.

Nutrition Moves Up on Mom's Purchasing Agenda

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Nutrition has moved up on mom's shopping list, as three in four moms (74 percent) consider the nutritional content of foods they purchase for their children more now than they did two to three years ago, says a new survey from Ronzoni(R) Smart Taste(TM). Furthermore, two-thirds (65 percent) of moms are more concerned now compared to two to three years ago about their children's nutrition.

However, the battle between nutrition and taste rages on as parents are actively seeking healthier foods they can be sure their kids will like. According to the survey of approximately 1,000 moms with children ages 5-17, nutritional content is the number one factor considered when buying grocery products for their children (27 percent), but mom's desire for nutrition is followed closely by her child's preference (22 percent).

The Dannon Company Announces 2008 Dannon Next Generation Nutrition(TM ...

(CSRwire) WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - January 31, 2008 — The Dannon Company, Inc. announced today that applications for its Dannon Next Generation NutritionTM Grants are now available at www.dannon.com. Four individual grants of $30,000 will support childhood nutrition education programs and will be awarded to one program nurturing healthy eating habits among children in each of the four communities where a Dannon facility is located – Salt Lake County, UT; Tarrant County, TX; Westchester County, NY and Shelby, Mercer, Darke and Auglaize counties in Ohio. Applications are due by March 31, 2008. The Dannon Company established the Dannon Next Generation NutritionTM Grants in 2006 to promote childhood nutrition education in communities where Dannon facilities are located. Each organization receiving a Dannon grant develops a program that nurtures healthy eating habits among children in the community and encourages children to develop life-long habits for good nutrition and exercise.