Category Archives: Diet And Food

DEAR HARRIETTE: My boyfriend and I live together. He doesnt like to party or go out, but I do. I like to be with my girlfriends and have fun.

All of my girlfriends are in relationships, too. Anytime I tell him that my girls want to go away on a trip, he tells me to go enjoy myself.

When the day gets closer, he starts to tell me he doesnt want me to go because he doesnt know what my friends and I will be doing and hes not comfortable with it. I know if I still go, he will just constantly call and text me and I wont enjoy myself.

At times, I feel trapped. I dont want to spend my life knowing there will never be an overnight trip I can take without him. I want him to be able to trust me, but he makes me feel like he doesnt. Is this a trust issue or something deeper?

Dont Want To Get Trapped

DEAR DONT WANT TO GET TRAPPED: Since all of your girlfriends are in relationships as well, could you plan a couples trip? Perhaps if your boyfriend experiences being with the whole group, he may relax when you are just with the girls. Thats worth a try.

Outside of that, you may want to reconsider if this is the partner for you. If you and your girlfriends are truly just enjoying spending girl time together and he cannot accept that, he may be too controlling for your taste. Now is the time to figure out how compatible you two are that includes your values and practices. You need to have shared values in order to enjoy a long-term committed relationship.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I think my girlfriend is taking dieting too far. She has tried multiple different diets. Her whole goal is to lose weight and get in shape. But her drastic diets have caused her to lose sleep and become dehydrated, making her tired and unable to focus. Meanwhile, she does not work out, and she hasnt lost a single pound.

I can see she is straining her health, but there is no reward. She really thinks she feels a difference in her body and that its for the best, but its not. Ive done research to help her realize she needs to eat healthy and exercise. I need help to guide her in the right direction and convince her to change her mindset. What resources can help her diet safely?

Concerned Friend

DEAR CONCERNED FRIEND: Suggest that your girlfriend schedule an appointment with her doctor to get a complete assessment of her health. Her physician can refer her to a dietitian, who can design an eating plan that is healthy and low in calories.

Be your girlfriends advocate and go with her if she allows you to. Encourage her to get professional, medically sound advice on how to move forward. With proper diet and exercise, she should be able to get her weight and health under control, but it is not easy. Do your best not to be judgmental as you encourage her to seek medical help. Be a cheerleader.

Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

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Harriette Cole: Im just out with my girls. Why doesnt he trust me? - The Mercury News

Although there is no silver bullet to solve the crisis of global malnutrition, food fortification can significantly improve nutrition across populations and generations.

In addition to the threat posed by COVID-19, the world faces multiple famines of biblical proportions that could result in 300,000 deaths per day a hunger pandemic, World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director David Beasley warned earlier this year.

An often forgotten dimension of this threat is a deepening malnutrition crisis also known as hidden hunger, as the pandemic and its socioeconomic effect make nutritious foods increasingly unaffordable and inaccessible to the worlds most vulnerable communities.

The COVID-19 crisis is creating multiple shocks disrupting livelihoods, food and health systems, social protection all of which undermine nutrition. Many of the worlds most vulnerable families have had to increase their reliance on staples like rice, wheat and maize that are energy rich but nutrient poor. Even before the pandemic, more than one-quarter of the worlds population could not afford a healthy diet that is rich in the nutrients needed to survive, thrive, and fight off infectious diseases. The pandemic threatens to deepen hidden hunger, negatively impacting child growth and development and human potential that will far outlast the COVID-19 crisis.

Take rice for example. Today, rice is the staple food for half of the worlds population. The minute but mighty grain is a rich source of energy. In developing countries it supplies up to 70 percent of the calories people consume every day. However, like other staples such as wheat and maize, it lacks vitamins and minerals that are essential to health and wellbeing. Fortifying the foods that people are already eating with the vitamins and minerals that they need to stay healthy is an efficient, cost-effective way to improve nutrition, especially during a pandemic.

Staple food fortification reaches vulnerable families where they are, strengthening the nutritional value of commodities like rice, maize, wheat flour, salt and cooking oil by adding vitamins and minerals during processing.

Although there is no silver bullet to solve the crisis of global malnutrition, food fortification can significantly improve nutrition across populations and generations, from unborn babies to the elderly. Food fortification has been utilised successfully around the world for over a century.

Salt iodisation is practiced in 160 countries improving cognitive ability in infants and young children and reducing goitre, an indicator of iodine deficiency which causes significant swelling of the thyroid gland, by 74 percent. Fortifying staple foods with folic acid can prevent devastating birth defects even before an expectant mother knows that she is pregnant. Foods fortified with vitamin A fight against preventable blindness in children. Foods fortified with iron lower maternal mortality rates and ward off anaemia a micronutrient deficiency that afflicts close to half the female population in many low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Fortification with zinc strengthens immune systems, decreases childhood diarrhoea and pneumonia and helps prevent childhood stunting.

By addressing malnutrition, food fortification supports healthy diets that improve the daily lives and futures of vulnerable populations, making children more alert and ready to learn and improving the health, energy, and productivity of their parents.

But the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on supply chains and economies around the world has put national fortification programmes at risk in LMICs. Increased shipping costs and breakdowns in supply chains have made it difficult for producers of fortified staple foods to access raw materials and to get their products to consumers. The deprioritisation of nutrition by governments and donors in the face of the acute health and economic crises brought on by COVID-19, risks undermining staple food fortification programmes that took years to establish.

But every crisis contains seeds of hope, signs of our collective ability to fight and overcome the impacts of the pandemic. Despite the challenges that COVID-19 places on government priorities and budgets, many countries are determined to protect and even expand their fortification programmes. The Government of Madagascar has approved a pilot to introduce fortified rice in its school feeding programme, the Government of Egypt recently confirmed the restoration of its national wheat flour fortification programme after nearly 10 years, and the Government of Bangladesh has been undeterred in its effort to improve access to vitamin A fortified cooking oil for its people by the end of 2020.

Following their example, governments, donors, the private sector, and civil society can ensure that the production, distribution, and consumption of fortified foods continues, during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Steps that can and should be taken include the following:

Food fortification remains one of the most cost-effective nutrition interventions to support healthy diets and to help shield people from increased malnutrition due to COVID-19-related food system and economic challenges. We must not allow national fortification programmes to be derailed by the impact of COVID-19. Failing to protect these programmes now will mean loss of life, health and productivity that far outlast the current global pandemic.

To gain better insight, you can watch the related webinar that took place on October 7.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.

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Preventing hidden hunger in the time of pandemic - Al Jazeera English

Across the state, 1,893,077 Arizonans have been tested for COVID-19 with 227,635 positive results and 5,772 deaths, according to a Yavapai County Community Health Services (YCCHS) news release Wednesday, Oct. 14.

Yavapai County has tested 46,588 residents with 2,738 positive cases, 1,459 recovered, and 86 deaths.

YRMC West is caring for eight COVID-19 patients with two persons under investigation (PUI), the East campus has three COVID-19 patients and four PUI. Verde Valley Medical Center in Cottonwood reports two COVID-19 hospitalizations and one PUI. The Prescott VA reports no COVID-19 patients.

12 BEST PREVENTION STRATEGIES

As of Tuesday, Oct. 13, 36 states had seen their COVID-19 cases rise by more than 10% in the past week versus the week prior.

"As we leave a chaotic spring and summer behind and head into fall, now is a good time to review the standardand most recentadvice on how to stay safe," YCCHS said in their release. The agency offers these 12 best COVID-19 prevention strategies to stay healthy this fall and winter:

1-Wear your mask. Wearing a mask covering your mouth and nose can prevent those who have COVID from spreading the virus to others and recent evidence suggests masks may even benefit the wearer, offering a level of protection against infections.

2-Stay socially distant.COVID spreads mainly among people who are within 6 feet of one another for a prolonged period (at least 15 minutes).

3-Keep washing your hands.Washing your hands and well remains a key step to preventing COVID infection.

4-Keep holiday gatherings small. Fall and winter also bring holidays, when many families get together. This year may be a year to get creative and rethink how to celebrate together.

5-Dine out carefully.Although many restaurants offer outdoor dining, which experts say is a safer option, cooler weather will lead to more indoor dining with more probability of spreading infection.

6-Travel safely.Before you leave to travel, check to see if the virus is spreading at your destination. Dont forget to check the regulations for quarantining or testing at your destination or for when you return home.

7-Get your flu shot.The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months and older. Talk to your doctor about finding a vaccine near you.

8-Know how to differentiate between flu, colds and COVID-19 and seek medical care, if necessary. COVID and the flu can cause fever, shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle pain, or body aches, as well as vomiting and diarrhea (though these last two are more common in children). Meanwhile, colds may be milder than the flu and are more likely to involve a runny or stuffy nose. One difference, however, is that COVID-19 is associated with a loss of taste and smell.

9-Seek routine medical care. You should continue to seek any routine or emergency medical care or treatments you need. Many health centers and doctors are offering telehealth appointments (via video or phone) and most have protocols to minimize risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

10-Be mindful of your mental health.Experts advise limiting exposure to news if the events of the world are too much right now, practicing mindfulness (even just breathing exercises), eating healthy, and remaining physically active. Talking with your kids about what they know and how they are doing.

11-Watch your weight. Focus on eating a healthy diet, incorporating regular exercise, getting good sleep, and finding healthy ways to manage stress.

12-Keep up the good work.COVID-19 will be with us for a while and with good efforts to continue to follow the public health measures to protect each other, and, hopefully, a successful vaccine in the future, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

INFORMATION

Spectrum Healthcare is now offering COVID-19 Rapid Tests with results in 15 minutes. Call 928-778-0330.

Schedule of flu clinics: http://www.yavapai.us/chs, click on the flu shot banner.

To schedule an appointment in YCCHS clinics, call 928-771-3122.

County COVID-19 Data, Testing Sites, School & Business Guidelines & Resources: http://www.yavapai.us/chs;

Yavapai Emergency Phone Bank: 928-442-5103 Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

#YavapaiStrongerTogether https://justicementalhealth.com/resources-support/#covid19.

COVID-19 information en espaol: https://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/infectious-disease-epidemiology/es/covid-19/

Information provided by the Yavapai County Community Health Services.

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Oct. 14 COVID-19 update: 12 best strategies to stay healthy this fall and winter - Prescott Daily Courier

NEW YORK Food is seen as a basic human right, yet the coronavirus pandemic has caused an unprecedented spike in hunger, affecting families right here in New York as well as others living in the far corners of the world.

In 2019, almost 690 million people around the world went hungry, an increase of 10 million people from 2018, according to the United Nations' global State of Food Security and Nutrition report. Of the 2019 total, 35 million were in the United States.

The coronavirus pandemic has only exacerbated hunger.

The level of hunger in U.S. households almost tripled between 2019 and August of this year, according to an analysis of data from the Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

While it's too soon to assess the full impact of coronavirus lockdowns and other containment measures, the United Nations report estimates that at minimum, another 83 million people and possibly as many as 132 million may go hungry in 2020.

To spur collective action among its 150 member countries and draw attention to the sheer number of people suffering from chronic hunger, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations created World Food Day. First celebrated in 1979, the day is observed annually on Oct. 16.

In honor of World Food Day, here are some key things to know about the day, food insecurity in New York, and how you can help.

1) The coronavirus is profoundly affecting hunger in New York.

In New York, about 11.1 percent of residents were considered food insecure in 2018, according to data compiled by Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger-relief organization.

Due to the pandemic, that number is expected to climb to 16 percent by the end of 2020.

2) World Food Day adopts a different theme each year to highlight where work needs to be done.

Each year, World Food Day selects a theme, which often focuses on agriculture and the important role it plays in the food system. In previous years, themes have focused on climate change, family farming and food prices, among others.

This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the entire global food system and laid bare its fragility. Border closures, trade restrictions and confinement measures have disrupted domestic and international food supply chains, according to the FAO website, ultimately reducing access to healthy and safe diets.

This year's theme is "Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together." The theme is a "call for global solidarity" to help those affected recover from the coronavirus crisis. It also calls for using the pandemic as an opportunity to build a more resilient and robust food system.

3) If our food systems are not transformed, undernourishment and malnutrition will greatly increase by 2050.

Malnutrition in all its forms undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, as well as overweight and obesity takes an estimated $3.5 trillion toll on the global economy each year.

Additionally, a combination of poor diets and sedentary lifestyles has led to soaring obesity rates, not only in developed countries but also low-income countries, where hunger and obesity often coexist. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just over 42 percent of Americans are considered obese.

The FAO estimates undernourishment and malnutrition will only accelerate if income inequality, employment or access to basic services continue to deteriorate.

4) Events are planned each year to commemorate World Food Day.

A large number of annual events are organized in United Nations member countries to recognize World Food Day. Events range from marathons, hunger marches and exhibitions to cultural performances, contests and concerts.

This year, however, many events have moved online due the pandemic.

See a full map of World Food Day events here.

If no events are happening nearby, join the #WorldFoodDay conversation on social media by sharing any of the free material available on the World Food Day website. You can also express appreciation to #FoodHeroes online those who, throughout the crisis, have made sure that food makes its way to local tables.

5) There are several ways you can help fight hunger.

Here are some tips and suggestions on how you can fight hunger and help support World Food Day's mission, according to the event website:

FIND FOODFind your local food bank

DONATEMake a donation to Feeding America*

READ"The Impact of Coronavirus On Food Insecurity"

ACTTake action against hunger

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.

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5 Things To Know On World Food Day 2020 In New York - Yorktown, NY Patch

Tamera Mowry-Housley has been a household name for more than 25 yearsand during that time, the way we think about exercise, eating, and mental health has evolved drastically. The mother, actress, and host has changed, too, learning how to live her best life despite a challenging schedule.

Eating well, taking care of yourself mentally and physically, is actually loving yourself, Mowry-Housley tells Prevention.com. We put so much focus, especially as moms and women, on taking care of other people, which I think we do innately. But at the same time, you can't forget about yourself.

Wondering how the Sister, Sister star gets it all done? We did, too, so we asked herand we managed to discover her favorite exercise (dancing, of course), healthy breakfast (it involves bacon and eggs), and self-care strategy (a classic bubble bath). Here are the diet, fitness, and mental health methods that Mowry-Housley swears by to look and feel her best.

The mom of two thinks of food as medicinal, something that'll help her perform both at home and on set. As a working mom, I need energy, she says. I know that if I eat mostly junk food and processed sugar, that's not going to give me the energy I need throughout the day.

Finding the right diet hasn't been about addition or subtraction, thoughit's about making room for everything she likes. I'm the type of person who, if someone tells me not to eat [something], I will just go crazy, and I will fight it, and I'll be like, Oh my God, I've got to have that! Mowry-Housley jokes. I had to change my perception. Instead of saying, I can't have that, or that foods are bad, I tell myself, OK, let's think of balance.

Mowry-Housley doesn't follow a set diet; instead, she eats just to keep herself feeling good. I feel better when I'm not eating dairy on the regular, and when I'm eating gluten-free, she explains. When you eat clean, I think your body works a little bit better. You have more clarity.

She's not afraid to treat herself every so often, though. Once a week, usually on a Friday, she allows herself a cheat meal (not a cheat day) to avoid completely cutting out those delicious, not-super-healthy foods that she craves. I eat whatever the heck I want, she explains, all dairy and gluten restrictions cast aside. And it feels good because I tame those urges.

One of her absolute favorite meals is a genuinely healthy take on a bacon and egg breakfast sandwich. She spreads Vegenaise on a gluten-free English muffin, then tops it with turkey bacon and a fried egg and serves it alongside an apple. It's heaven, she promises. You can cook your comfort foods in a healthier way.

Between homemade meals, Mowry-Housley loves to keep whole foods on hand. Her go-to snack is a homemade trail mix that's surprisingly quick and easy to make. I put popcorn, a little olive oil, salt, pepper, cashews, and some dark chocolate chips in therebam! That's a great snack, and it fuels you.

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As I got older and had kids, working out felt more like a chore at first, whereas now its turned into self-care, Mowry-Housley says. I trythe keyword is tryto move my body six days a week, because it does help me mentally.

Pre-COVID, the actress practiced high-intensity interval training (HIIT) at the gym. These days, since she doesn't have a home gym, she's turned to a variety of DIY and virtual options, including pilates, yoga, and walking.

Walking is amazing, says Mowry-Housley, who loves it for its physical and mental benefits. We were quarantined for so long that going outside is a pleasure. You don't realize how much going outdoors is actually healing to the body.

Mowry-Housley is also a big fan of Zumba, which she used to lose weight before her wedding in 2011. I like to have fun when I work out, and thats what drew me to Zumba in the first place, she says. You have to be crazy not to move when you hear those beats.

Amazon

TheraBand Resistance Band Set

Her must-haves for a home workout are pretty simple: I always need a yoga mat, TheraBands, free weights, and an open space, Mowry-Housley says. If I want to do Zumba, I have room. If I want to do a stretch with some weights to get my heartbeat up a bit, I can. And with the TheraBands, I can do pilates or yoga moves with some resistance.

Just like everyone else, she had some trouble finding home fitness gear when lockdown beganbut now that she has the essentials, she can work out pretty much anywhere (including on the set of her new Hallmark movie). With quarantine, people were forced out of our comfort zones, and we got a little bit more creative, she says.

Being a working mother is tough, especially with young kids, so Mowry-Housley and her husband, journalist Adam Housley, split parenting duties evenly. I thank God I have a husband who is very hands-on with our children, she says. He understands when I need a break, just like I understand when he needs a break.

She swears by a simple routine that any mom can replicate: setting aside a bit of time for bubble baths, meditation, good books, TV meant for adults, or any combination of those pleasures, even if she only has 15 minutes to spare. Mowry-Housley even schedules me-time in advance when she's particularly busy, making it much easier to remember to relax.

Self-care is importantI'm actually a better wife, I'm a better friend, I'm a better mother, Mowry-Housley explains. I had to learn that.

The COVID-19 pandemic and 2020's social unrest haven't been easy on anyone's mental health, and the actress has gained a new appreciation for her network of family and friends this year. I got to spend a little extra time with my husband and my children, and our bond was even stronger when I didn't know it could be, she says. But you miss your family away from home. I [just] saw my brother, Tahj, for the first time in six or seven months. We hugged each other, and we were so close to crying. We couldn't let go. Don't take family, friends, and life for granted.

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Tamera Mowry-Housley, 42, Uses Dance and a Weekly Cheat Meal to Feel Better Than Ever - Prevention.com

Jason Wang dreams of roast duck. Illustration: Lindsay Mound

When Jason Wangs father, David Shi, opened the first XiAn Famous Foods in 2005, it was an anonymous stall in the shabby, labyrinthine basement of Flushings now-closed Golden Shopping Mall. In the 15 years since, Wang has taken over the business as CEO and, working with his father, helped turn it into one of this citys great success stories and an iconic New York business, loved for its food and tingly, spicy trademark sauce. This week, Wang published the XiAn Famous Foods cookbook, with recipes for signature dishes like liangpi. While Wang misses the excitement and discovery of the early days, he doesnt mind that XiAn is no longer the new kid on the block. Ive said this to other folks, one of my biggest goals is to just make this into a century old business. So when Im not around the next generation is able to take it on, he says. This week, Wang went on TV for a virtual noodle lesson to promote the book, and stir-fried scrambled eggs with tomatoes for breakfast in his new apartment.

Wednesday, October 7I am not a morning person. I know a lot of successful people who can get up early and have so much energy. Im just not. But I had to get up at 4:30 a.m., and the reason was to share the magic of pulling noodles on Good Morning America! Luckily, I stayed over at my fathers house the hardworking crew got up even earlier to make their way over. There was equipment setup for an hour or two, while my father and I prepared the foods to showcase and I went to a corner to go over the question and answers.

After pulling noodles virtually over Zoom with Amy Robach and Michael Strahan live, it was a wrap. I was pretty drained. I dont know how people do this every day this early. Shout-out to the editing that made me look good!

As the filming wrapped, I took a couple of bites of a big bowl of Spicy & Tingly beef noodles that I had made for the segment. My stomach was still asleep, so I didnt eat much, though it looked and tasted great!

After moving some furniture back into place and cleaning up the kitchen, I made my way back to my apartment in Long Island City. The emails were starting to pile up, so I answered as many as I could. Then, I set a timer for five hours, and went to bed.

Woke up in the late afternoon, answered some more emails, and ordered a Diavola pizza from Luzzo nearby. I usually like to sprinkle a shit ton of chili flakes on my pizza, but the chili flakes I have dont taste spicy on the tongue, so I settled for some sriracha. Its thin crust and pretty traditional. Im not a very picky eater, but I do enjoy good food.

I scarfed down a few slices before wiping myself off, and ran over to Raines Law Room to have a few drinks and catch up with an old friend, Yami, who was visiting from Miami. We met back in the South Beach Wine and Food Festival years ago. She was a student at Florida International University and was assisting me. We chatted over the culinary journeys weve been on over some old-fashioneds and some bees knees. She promised me a can of her newest cold brew, while I promised to share my supplier pricing.

I like Raines. They make good drinks. Its a good ambiance, and it was close to my office, which is why it was my choice to go. Its good for happy hour and, later, night chats with friends. For me, NYC is full of great bars, and why there? Its just a little bit more convenient. Its not super-high traffic like some of the East Village places that you cant get into unless you wait for an hour or two. I try to bypass that. The same with food. I love great food; I love great drinks; I just cant deal with waiting because I have too much to do. I dont have time. I wish I did.

Thursday, October 8I got up and went straight into a call into Department of Health to contest a violation we received a while back before the pandemic that we didnt seem to have gotten a notice for. We missed the hearing and received a default judgement.

We realized this when collection calls started and requested to contest it. But since its COVID era, the hearings are all virtual. So, basically, we would have to call in on a specific day and wait for a judge to hear our case. We were accused of not having posted the required nutritional information at our Brooklyn store (we do and did) because we were a chain (technically we arent, because we have fewer than 15 locations).

This was the second violation of this kind that I have contested recently not sure why the inspectors dont notice our signage in our stores Anyways, I waited two hours on the line, couldnt go anywhere, and was worried about hanging up and trying again, because the instructions explicitly said not to do that. But, after holding off as long as I could, I had to head out to the office. So I asked my staff to take care of it shouldnt be a hard case to present (For the record, after three hours, they were eventually able to get through to someone before their workday was over).

I really wanted McDs spicy chicken nuggets. The sauce is where its at. But no time! I had to head over to the city to show a couple of apartments in the building above our newly opened Chelsea location (we own the building) to prospective tenants.

I went through phases with American food. When I first got to the U.S., I was like, I cant stand this food. Theres no good food anywhere. I really need some home-cooked meals. Back when I was a kid in China, there was only KFC. But I never had KFC in XiAn, I dont know why; it was too fancy. After I moved to Michigan, I remember the allure of McDonalds was really the happy meal. The food was just eh. But eventually I tried some of the fries, and McDonalds does have good fries. I started eating those, and I started getting used to the weird onion taste on the cheeseburger. Same with pizza. We had Godfathers pizza in Michigan, and whenever Id walk into one of those places after we moved, I was about to throw up because of that sauce smell. I was not used to it. Now its delicious.

More and more, I think I have nostalgia even for things I didnt like. For example: pickles. I hated pickles. I was like, What is this dill taste? When I was a kid in Michigan playing with friends, one of the parents would come out with a big jar of pickles, and everyone went crazy while I was like, Why? Now every time I see a pickle I think of those fun summer days, and I started appreciating it. I like pickles now. I have an international stomach if that makes sense.

After the showings, I realized once again that I hadnt eat for the whole day. But by this time, Id already starved myself long enough to the point where I didnt feel that hungry anymore (but I knew my body was hungry). In these circumstances, I typically like something a bit lighter. So I went to Sobaya in the East Village. It was a bit chilly so I got a hot, soupy curry soba with extra noodles. That warmed me right up and was not too heavy.

As I was finishing my meal, I saw my good friend Sakura Yagi of TIC Group, which owns pretty much every Japanese establishment on 9th Street. We quickly caught up about family and, of course, discussed a bit about our outlooks on indoor dining and the challenges that await the restaurant industry in the coming days. Shes one of the few people I actually connect with even after all these years about the industry.

Sobaya is also near our St. Marks Place location, which is the one I feel most connected to because I have spent so much time there. (Im not as tied to the East Village one, for example.) I used to work there every day day till night.

During the time I was working at the St. Marks Place location, I was figuring out, in a personal way, how to be a contributing person in this business as opposed to just standing around and doing odd jobs. Blood has literally been spilled at that location. It was a crazy time. There were drunk people fighting. That was a common occurrence. A guy once took a piss on the front of the store. I was protective of it, so I was telling him to leave. There were three of them, and they started a fight with me, so I just punched one of them in the head. We were starting to fight on the ground when the next door neighbor came out and broke it up. I appreciated that guys help because it was three guys and just me. I probably would not have done very well.

Later that day, I got back home and remembered that Gold House (promoting gold opens for Asian American films like Crazy Rich Asians) had sent a courtesy pass to an online screening of Yellow Rose, so I thought I would finish the night with that. The film is about an undocumented Filipina teen in Texas. After losing her mother to ICE, she finds a sense of belonging through country music. I have to say, I really enjoy country music. I also enjoy films that show the good in people. After watching the movie, I realized I was hungry again, so I had some Samyang spicy chicken instant ramen. Not healthy, but I enjoy the burn!

Friday, October 9After running errands during the day, I went to Elmhurst to get pho at Pho Bac. Pho is something I have once a week. I think this has been a habit since 2014 or 2015, when I first moved to LIC.

The soup has to be piping hot and the MSG has to be there. I get the huo che tou which is basically the works (rare beef, tripe, tendons, etc.). I always keep a small container of the chili garlic sauce (for the tart chili garlic taste) mixed with sriracha (for added spiciness and fragrance). The trick is not to put the sauce into the soup! Itll be too spicy! Use the soup spoon to get some noodles and meat, then use the chopsticks to scoop a little bit of chili sauce. Mix it in, and eat that bite. Similarly, you shouldnt mix wasabi into the soy sauce for sashimi. You just take a little bit of wasabi and rub it onto the meat. Then, dip the meat into the soy sauce. Same idea really.

Did I mention I was moving? Yes. After shooting on Wednesday, I was able to start packing to move to Manhattan. I have never lived in Manhattan before, so its very exciting for me! I borrowed a van from XFF to start moving stuff over. Saying goodbye to an elevator building in LIC and moving to a walk-up is going to take some getting used to.

I got home close to midnight and needed some dinner. I blanched some choy sum and dripped on some oyster sauce. I also had some roast duck I picked up from Five Loaves and Two Fishes. It reminds of these places that were popping up 20 years ago in Flushing the kinds of places that just served four dishes with one soup over rice. Cheap, boxed-lunch places. That was the fad. There arent many left, except in pockets of Chinatown. You can get a quick meal and roast duck, another favorite food of mine.

The spices rubbed onto the inside of the duck are so flavorful, and I always ask for extra of the dark stew sauce. I just wish the duck was less fatty, so much fat to throw out every time (usually toward the tail end), but I remind myself, Thats how ducks stay afloat. They are fatty. They cant help it.

I didnt grow up eating roast duck in China. I only had it after moving to Flushing when I was a teenager. Because my father worked in restaurants, hed get exposed to different cuisines pretty often. Duck is the sort of food hed pick up on his way home from working out of state, because he wouldnt have time to cook. Hed just grab some roast duck and give it to me or hed leave some in the fridge. It lasts for days.

Saturday, October 10For breakfast I had this Post Honey Maid cereal with mini smores. I know its not healthy, but I have a bit of a sweet tooth in the morning. Its simple and fast. I used to eat like a slice of Fay Da chocolate cake with soy milk every morning before going to the store. Cereal is something that came into my life when I was growing up in Michigan. Back then, it was cereal every morning. Sometimes I just need something in my stomach so I dont pass out. The problem with me is that, for instance, when I see a bunch of emails, I dont try to deal with them one by one. I try to do them all at once. I do them for hours.

After packing as much as I could into boxes, I Postmated a couple of Shake Shack single burgers with spicy fries. I like it with some extra ketchup and Tabasco habanero!

After I moved everything into the new place, all the restaurants were pretty much already closed, so I went to my fail-safe: Papa Johns pizza with buffalo wings. I watched some episodes of Blacklist on Netflix.

Sunday, October 11I finally got to cook. Just some quick tomatoes and eggs with some leftover rice for breakfast. Its one of the simpler bachelor dishes there is. Its just scrambled eggs with some scallions, tomatoes, soy sauce, salt, and sugar. Usually I eat it for dinner or lunch, not breakfast.

I ate that on the stepladder while watching Blacklist. I am thinking theres some plot twist coming about the demise of a certain character this season we will see.

Another day of moving. A lot of back and forth. I didnt think I had that much stuff! By the end of the day, my fingers were giving out. I cooked some hong shao braised pork spare ribs, the same recipe that is in my cookbook. But this time I added a little twist: I put in some sichuan pixian bean sauce and some dry chilis. This gave it a bit of a kick and a more reddish color. I ate that with some rice and baby spinach sauted with garlic.

I had to be ready to meet with my dad on Monday. I cant get away from him. In pre-COVID times, wed usually get dim sum on Saturday mornings, like a working lunch. I like to go to Asian Jewels a lot because its pretty big and pretty convenient. My father has other favorites, but I always drag him over there. We used to have a store across the street, so its a little nostalgic for me because its where we used to meet to take a break.

Whenever theres a lot of stuff going on, were always meeting. He likes to meet in person because we get in arguments on the phone. We both have pretty loud and aggressive voices, so we always feel like we are screaming at each other. In person, its a little more benign though we still have screaming matches sometimes. Were discussing our Financial District location, which, unfortunately, were likely going to vacate at the end of the month. The Financial District is just a ghost town, and we cannot stay there anymore. Well also talk about important stuff: meal kits, delivering liang pi around the city.

Sometimes he puts me in an awkward position. He just wants things to be better, but that can throw people off. We recently improved our recipes for our spinach dumplings, so the filling is more tasty. The skin is supposed to be thinner; its not as doughy anymore. Its supposed to be a kind of hearty bite. He made some adjustments to make it a little better, and I didnt know he did that. So he just told the team that makes the dumplings, and then I get emails from people like, Hey what happened with the dumplings? How come theyre so different? People are creatures of habit. I asked him, What happened? What did you do? And he told me, and I was like, Cant you just give me a heads up, so I know sometimes? And he said, What? I just made it better. I didnt think thatd be a problem. Its not as crazy as him launching new menus without telling me. He waits for me to travel internationally to do that so I dont have any control.

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Jason Wang Craves Spicy Nuggets and Roast Duck - Grub Street

Coca-Cola's first diet soda, TaB, debuted in 1963. USA TODAY

It's the end of an era.

Tab, the diet soda of choice for a generation of calorie counters, will disappear by the end of the year, one of several drinks Coca-Cola is dropping to focus on beverages with more popularity or potential.

ZICO coconut water and Coca-Cola's Odwalla line of products will also be making an exit in the U.S.

"The objective is to drive impact and growth,'' Cath Coetzer, the Coca-Cola company's global head of innovation and marketing operations, said in a statement. It's about "deciding which of our brands are most deserving of our investments and resources, and also taking the tough but important steps to identify those products that are losing relevance and therefore should exit the portfolio.''

A Diet drink for a generation

Tab debuted in 1963 as Coca-Cola's first diet soda. Sweetened with saccharine, and promising zero calories, it was initially targeted to women. Though it was eventually surpassed by Diet Coke, it held onto a loyal band of fans for nearly six decades.

If not for Tab, we wouldnt have Diet Coke or Coke Zero Sugar. Tabdid its job," Kerri Kopp, group director for Diet Coke, Coca-Cola North America, said in the statement.

Coca-Cola and other beverage companies are constantly creating and canceling products to accommodate consumers' shifting tastes, and in recent years they've been introducing more water products and sports drinks asconsumers demand healthier options and soda sales slip.

A 1979 advertisement for Tab.(Photo: The Coca-Cola Company)

The coronavirus pandemic, which has hobbled supply chains, has accelerated Coca-Cola's efforts to cull its beverage offerings.

Fire and wine: Wine supply and prices could be affected by wildfire smoke

The sales go on: Amazon continues 'Black Friday-worthy deals' with Holiday Dash sales event after record Prime Day

We believe it will set us up with more momentum behind stronger brands as we come out of this crisis,Chairman and CEO James Quincey said in the statement.

Coca-Cola says the coronavirus has disrupted its supply chain and artificial sweeteners from China could be in shorter supply. Wochit

Last year,Coca-Cola debuted its own brand of sparkling water, AHA, to compete with popular brands like LaCroix. And the company says that ending Odwalla beverages allows it to focus on AHA and other brands like Minute Maid and Topo Chico Hard Seltzer.

Coca-Cola is also in cost-cutting mode. In August, the company said it plans to offer buyouts to roughly 4,000 employees, or 37% of its workforce in North America, as part of a larger effort to make the organization more nimble.

Follow Charisse Jones on Twitter @charissejones

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'If not for Tab, we wouldn't have Diet Coke': Tab, the iconic diet soda, will be gone by end of the year - USA TODAY

Photo: Yulia Furman (Shutterstock)

U.S. News has once again ranked all the diets, with the groundbreaking result that...they are all different ways to eat food. Amazing. Their website does provide a nice comparison of the various diets pros and cons, but the whole concept of declaring one diet better than another is broken to begin with.

As weve seen with the Dirty Dozen produce rankings, a ranking assumes that each thing is competing against the others, and that those at the top of the list are better than those at the bottom. With vegetables as with diets, there are a whole bunch that are just fine, and you dont need to pit them against each other any more than you need to choose which of your children is your favorite.

Then theres the question of what a diet really is, anyway; as a word of the English language, diet can mean many different things. If somebody is going on a diet, we understand that they are trying to create a calorie deficit to lose weight. If instead we read that the diet of wild lemurs varies among species, we understand the word to mean a description of the totality of things a lemur typically eats.

The 51 diets in the U.S. News database form a bizarre mix. Some are vague approaches to eating, like volumetrics; some are commercial products intended to help people lose weight, like Noom or Weight Watchers; still others are science-unsupported crash diets. Putting these disparate items into a lineup is not really helping anyone. U.S. News seemed to understand this on some level, since they only ranked the best 35, leaving a pool of particularly bad optionslike the Master Cleanse, which Im not sure fits any definition of a diet, to be honestoff the main list.

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I could puzzle over the rankings themselves for days. For example, Atkins and keto are listed as two separate things (theyre arguably not), and both rank below a raw food diet that the list describes as all but impossible to follow. Like the papers wildly popular college rankings, the diet rankings seem to exist to give us something new to worry and argue about, rather than to help people eat healthier or lose weight.

First, if youre looking to lose weight, recognize that all weight-loss diets work the same goddamn way: they give you a framework to eat fewer calories than you burn. The best diet to do that is whichever one you find easiest to stick with.

Some people feel great on a keto diet; some find intermittent fasting convenient; some would rather eat low-fat and vegan. It doesnt really matter, so long as the calorie deficit isnt too extreme and youre not depriving yourself of important nutrients like fiber, vitamins, or protein.

Whether youre trying to change your body weight or not, the basics of a healthy diet are pretty straightforward: lots of fruits and vegetables, enough protein, not too much sugar. If you have specific health concerns that youve discussed with a doctor, make sure to account for those. (For example, the DASH dietis a list of guidelines you can follow if you need to lower your blood pressure. It involves eating less sodium and more potassium, among other things.) If youre willing to pay for help, youre better off consulting a dietitian than buying into the latest expensive weight-loss product.

So are you looking to eat more healthy, lose weight, or both? Find an approach to eating that meets your goals and that you can stick with. If you want some structure, its fine to buy a book that gives you recipes and a fancy name for the diet. The top-ranked diet, the Mediterranean diet, is fine. But the #29-ranked paleo diet, despite its silly premise (that cavemen made lots of fake pizzas from almond flour and coconut oil, if I understand correctly), might do the job just as well.

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There Is No 'Best' Diet - Lifehacker

The word "vegan" may conjure up images of celebrities downing $10 green juice after their Sunday morning yoga class. But the eating plan is much more than another buzzy diet trend. Lizzo is one of the most recent celebs to subscribe to the eating philosophy, not to lose weight or make a political statement, but because she said, "health is what happens on the inside."

And she's right. A vegan diet can be a smart choice for many people; one that can improve your health, prevent or help control a variety of health conditions and yes, it can help you lose weight if that's your goal.

What is a vegan diet exactly? Put simply, it is one where youre not eating animals or foods that come from animals (like eggs, milk, cheese or honey). And while it is restrictive in some ways (especially for those who rely heavily on animal products), it also opens up a world of possibilities when it comes to getting creative with nutrient-dense, plant-based foods.

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegan eating can be a healthy diet for people of all ages (including children), pregnant and lactating women, and athletes.

The diet may help you:

Research found that compared to eating a low-fat diet, people eating a vegan diet lost more than three times as much weight after two years. Research also suggests that for people with type 2 diabetes, eating vegan may help them better manage their condition, as well as help boost mood and weight loss and lower cholesterol. And since you'll be cutting out foods that are linked to poor health when eaten in excess, like meat, butter and cheese, a vegan diet will promote your health overall.

Data also suggests people who eat vegan, on average, tend to have lower BMIs and be less likely to develop hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome compared to non-vegetarians and other types of vegetarians.

But to see those benefits, you need to eat foods that are minimally processed, since they tend to be the most nutrient-dense for the calories, said Gabrielle Turner-McGrievy, PhD, RD, associate professor in the department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior in the Arnold School of Public Health at University of South Carolina (who studies the health benefits of vegan eating). You can do an unhealthy version of really any diet.

Done correctly, its beneficial for anyone, explained Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, CDN, founder and director of Real Nutrition in New York City. Eating vegan (if youre doing it the healthy way) can benefit people who have heart disease and/or high cholesterol and are looking to reduce the amount of saturated fats in their diets, Shapiro says. It can also help people control diabetes and lose weight, so its a good option for those looking to slim down.

Eating vegan (along with other types of plant-based diets) is also good for the planet. Farming animals for food is known to be one of the big contributors to greenhouse gas emissions that are contributing to climate change. And it can be friendly on your wallet, too, according to another study from Turner-McGrievy and her colleagues. Dried beans and rice are a lot less expensive than beef, she said.

If your plate is currently filled with meat, fish and eggs, start by eating vegan a few times a week. This can make the transition easier, by giving you time to experiment with vegan recipes and slowly shift your mindset to building a meal around plant-based foods.

As long as youre not eating animals or animal products, youre following a vegan diet. But just because a food is vegan doesnt mean its necessarily part of a healthy diet.

Candy, French fries and potato chips can all be vegan, but they also tend to be high in fat and low in fiber, which means they wont fill you up and youre more likely to eat more than a healthy portion, explained Shapiro. A lot of clients come to me who put on weight after going vegan because the quick and easy-to-grab foods arent always so healthy.

Focus on plants and whole foods, the less processed the better, Shapiro said. Get protein from nuts, seeds, beans and other legumes. Eat healthy fats, like avocado, olive oil, nuts and seeds. When it comes to carbohydrates, choose nutrient-dense ones, like whole grains, potatoes, legumes and fresh fruits. Try non-dairy milks and yogurts. And definitely do eat lots of vegetables.

For packaged foods: check the label for ingredients you recognize and can pronounce, Shapiro said.

What a day on a vegan diet may look like:

Wondering what your plate may look like when following a vegan diet? Shapiro broke it down:

Breakfast: Oatmeal with chia seeds, blueberries and cinnamon

Lunch: Large salad of mixed greens, olives, a variety of vegetables, edamame and hemp seeds

Snack: 1/2 cup coconut yogurt mixed with cashews and goji berries

Dinner: Lentil based pasta, tossed with vegan pesto, spinach, broccoli and peas

Dessert: Small scoop vegan ice cream like those made by Daily Harvest or Van Lehwen

The only vitamin youre really missing out on is vitamin B12, which is only found in animals, Shapiro explained. Do consider a supplement, she said.

Other vitamins that you might not be getting enough are iron (plants have iron, but our bodies dont absorb it as well as the type found in animal sources) and zinc (which is found in some, but not all vegetables). Dairy products (which are not vegan) tend to be good sources of calcium and vitamin D, but many dairy alternatives (like nut milks and coconut yogurts) are fortified with these nutrients.

Done right focusing on whole and minimally processed, nutrient-dense foods a vegan diet offers a lot of health benefits for people of all ages and lifestyles. Educate yourself, however, before you start. Consider talking to a dietitian, reading books, stocking your pantry, taking a vegan cooking class or watching some Youtube videos. And as always, start with your doctor, who will be able to recommend the best eating plan for you.

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Is a vegan diet right for you? Heres everything you need to know - TODAY

Vegetarianism is an integral part of our Indian culture. Back in time and even now, there is a huge population of people who rely on plant-based and dairy foods. While there are a big number of people who eat meat-based foods, many now feel the need to turn vegetarian due to health issues, parental preferences or out of our concern for animals and their rights.

While plant-based diet can help reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and even some types of cancer, it is important to note that if you don't make the switch the right way, you can become deficient in some nutrients like protein, iron and Vitamin D.

Here are some healthy foods that are a powerhouse of nutrients and must be included in your vegetarian diet so that you don't lack any nutrients.

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3 foods that you must include in your diet if you are planning to turn vegetarian - Times of India