Did You Know...

The simple sugar fructose can be found in corn and is one of the most highly processed sugars.
If corn has been used as the sweetening source of a food product it will be listed under the ingredients section of the food label as High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). HFCS began as kernels of corn and then went through a processing plant to become chemically altered to produce this artificial sweetener. One bushel of corn will sweeten more than 400 cans of soda. Farmers can grow corn on every continent except Antarctica.

HFCS is used to sweeten sodas, cakes, cookies and many candy products.

Did You Know...

image source: google.com

The first microwave ovens went on sale in 1947. They cost almost $3,000 each and were the size of a small refrigerator.

Did You Know...



What is the difference between a fruit and a vegetable?

A fruit is basically a sweet pulp that surrounds its seed(s). Examples: oranges, apples, mangoes, bananas, pears 

A vegetable is more of a leaf-like plant. Examples: cabbage, beans, ptatoes, carrots

Did You Know... Save the Milk!


Don't let milk sit out! Within 2 hours of standing in daylight, milk loses between half to two-thirds of its vitamin B content.

Did You Know...


The popular soft drink Dr. Pepper was actually invented in Waco, Texas in 1885.

To Gummy or Not to Gummy


I really enjoy listening to other dietitians experiences in the field of nutrition. I recently asked an intern to tell a recent experience she had that has really stuck out... I love, love listening to people's "ah-ha" moments. Thank you Cara for being such a good sport! ~ Natalie, RD

And so goes the tale of To Gummy or Not to Gummy...

I was observing a nutrition counseling session at WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) and the dietitian was explaining what to look for in pre-natal vitamins. “The bottle will say ‘pre-natal vitamins’, make sure it has folic acid, and is complete. If you have any questions, just ask the pharmacist. And, whatever you do, do NOT buy gummy vitamins!” I think that the client and I both shouted, “what?!” at the same time. 
I have taken a vitamin supplement throughout my entire life (thanks, mom).  I can remember how devastated I was when I had to give up my Flinstones fruity chewable vitamins. Suddenly, I was choking down pills that seemed to be as big as my thumb going down my throat.  Then, one day, it was as if my vitamin prayers had been answered: adult fruity chewable vitamins.  I grabbed the biggest bottle of Vitafusion gummy MultiVites and watched dust collect on my old bottle of multivitamins. I wasn’t the only one who was over-enthusiastic about this either. A friend of mine used to walk in my house and head straight for the gummy vitamins whenever she would come visit. On one of these occasions, a different friend picked up the bottle and suspiciously looked at the label. “So, gummy vitamins for adults. Are these any good?” Good? These vitamins are great! I told her to try them and I left the room. When I returned, I found her quickly shoveling a handful of gummies in her mouth. I screamed, “THOSE ARE NOT FRUIT SNACKS!” To which, through a mouth full of gummies she replied, “…I’m, uh, very deficient.” 
Naturally, when I heard the dietitian say that these adult chewable vitamins were not a good supplement choice, I needed some answers. They don’t have iron for starters. As a woman, having adequate stores of iron is essential because of the losses each month. The RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) for women ages 19-50 is 18 milligrams per day, compared to our male counterparts who only need 8 milligrams per day. In food perspectives, three ounces of beef has 3.1 milligrams of iron. The gummy vitamins have zero iron. Other vitamins missing from the gummies are vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, and manganese. Whew, that’s a lot! 
I spent a solid half hour at Walmart the other day grabbing multivitamins off the shelf, comparing labels, comparing prices, and getting some strange looks from other shoppers. This is the conclusion I have come to: if you want a good, complete, multivitamin, don’t be quick to reach for the “fun” vitamins. Granted, if you cannot bear the thought of swallowing a pill whole, and all you can do is chewable, then that is appropriate for you. However, as far as having adequate vitamins goes, the gummies, the chocolates, the gumballs, etc., are simply not the best. Also, you don’t need to buy a fancy expensive brand of vitamins that you see advertised. I ended up leaving with the store brand because comparing vitamin levels on the bottle, the store brand, in some cases, beat out the name brands (and, I’m on a budget).
My last point I want to make goes back to my iron example. Don’t go out and grab a bottle of vitamins with the thought that it is a replacement for nutritious foods. There are a lot of foods that contain iron: spinach, fortified oatmeal, and beans to name a few. On the vitamins bottle it displays the word “supplement” in a tiny font. That’s the key though. Multivitamins are supplements. They supplement the foods that you eat. Multivitamins are not replacements. 
In summary, if you are in the market for a new multivitamin or to begin taking a multivitamin, read the labels. And, like the dietitian at WIC said: ask the pharmacist if you have questions.  But always eat a balanced diet to get a variety of vitamins and minerals from your food. 

~Cara Gabris

Did You Know...

Fast food restaurants use the colors red, orange and yellow because they stimulate hunger.




Did You Know...

source: ultragross
The most expensive coffee bean in the world, Kopi Leuwack, comes from civet poop.

Did You Know...

Worcestershire sauce is made from anchovies dissolved in vinegar, the sauce contains bones and all.

Did You Know...

Coconut water can be used as a replacement for blood plasma in extreme emergency situations.


source: Tree of Life

Did You Know...

image source: google
The FDA allows an average of 30+ insect fragments or rodent hairs per 100 grams of peanut butter.

Did You Know...




An individual banana is called a "finger" but a bunch (group) of bananas is called a "hand".

Did You Know...

Although very perishable, raspberries are now imported from as far away as Chile and New Zealand thanks to air travel and climate-controlled packaging.

Did You Know...

The grapefruit is actually a berry and is thought to be a cross between an orange and a pummelo which was brought to Barbados from Indonesia in the seventeenth century.


Grapefruit is a rich source of vitamin C, potassium & calcium. One-half of a grapefruit contains more than 150 phytonutrients, believed to help the body fight against aging, allergies, infection, cancer, ulcers and heart disease.

Did You Know...

The most popular variety of apple in the United States is the Red Delicious.

Did You Know...

It is believed that people discovered raisins when they happened upon grapes dying on a vine.

image source: cdc.gov

Did You Know...

Busy as a Bee
Bees travel an average of 55,000 miles and need to tap over two million flowers just to bring you one pound of honey.

So haw many bees does it take?
image source: google
Each bee contributes 1/12 teaspoon of honey (there are 96 teaspoons in one pound), so it takes about 1,152 bees to contribute their 1/12 to yeild one pound of raw honey.

Did You Know...

As its name implies, cauliflower is actually a flower. The part of the plant that we eat is the flower or "head" with the stem and leaves found underneath the base of this giant bud. By the time the odd flower reaches the grocery store, the leaves have been trimmed off and so is most of the stem.

Did You Know...

image source: google
The average child in America will consume 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches by the time they graduate high school.

Did You Know...

According to folklore, pretzels were given to children who knew their prayers. The pretzel shape was supposed to symbolize arms folded across the chest in prayer.

Did You Know...

As bell peppers mature, their color changes from green to red and they become sweeter.

Did You Know...


The well-known "Pound Cake" got its name from the pound of butter it contained.

Did You Know...

As a young boy, Dwight D. Eisenhower sold hot tamales on the streets of Abilene, Kansas to contribute to his family's income.
ClipArt Source: whitehouse.gov

Apples to Apples

Source: recipetips.com

Have you ever wondered just how many different types of apples there are out there? Here is a great post that lists all the different breeds of apples and important facts about each one.

Did You Know...





One of the main ingredients in the famous Nutella spread are hazelnuts. Each 13 ounce jar contains more than 50 hazelnuts. (nutellausa.com)

Did You Know...


Cranberries are sorted for ripeness by bouncing them; a fully ripened cranberry can be dribbled like a basketball.

Did You Know...


Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth.

Did You Know...


Bananas are a rich source of potassium,vitamin C, manganese, B-6 and fiber. They are a natural antacid and can soothe heartburn and indigestion. Due to their high potassium content, bananas are a great post-workout snack as they will help to relieve muscle cramps.

Did You Know...


Pineapples (ananas comosus) are classified as berries. They are a good source of vitamin C, vitamin B-6, manganese and copper. They also contain a digestive enzyme, bromelain, that has anti-inflammatory properties.

Most research involving pineapples focuses on the digestive enzyme bromelain. Bromelain's properties include:
  1. Enhanced absorption of medications (namely amoxicillin)
  2. Anti-inflammatory action
  3. Inhibits/interfers with the growth of malignant cells and tumors
  4. Inhibits platelet aggregation (clumping/clotting of platelets)

Did You Know...

Original PEZ
Source: google.com

PEZ candy was developed over 70 years ago in Vienna as a peppermint candy and marketed as a cigarette substitute.

Presently, there are thousands of PEZ dispensers and a very healthy market for a few considered highly collectable.


Source: pezcollecting.org


Did You Know...


   The custom of throwing rice at weddings goes back to the time when people thought rice, a symbol of health and prosperity, would appease evil spirits so they would not bother the wedding couple.

   Currently, it is discouraged to throw rice at weddings because it poorly digests in birds (who commonly eat the thrown rice) and in many cases has caused bird death.

Did You Know...


   The average person can live about a month without eating any food, but can only live about a week without water.

Did You Know...


It takes about three hours for food to be broken down in the stomach.