157. Try “melted” berries. Fresh or frozen whole strawberries or blueberries make a delicious
pancake topping (replacing syrup and butter) if you “melt” them: put them in a saucepan with a
little sugar, mash slightly, add a small amount of water if necessary and heat just until the sugar
dissolves in the juice.
158. Use a meat thermometer not only for turkeys and roasts, but also for casseroles, egg
dishes, ground meats, even leftovers. This is an especially good idea if you’re in frail health. Nearly onethird of all cases of food poisoning at home are caused by inadequate cooking,
according to the USDA. There are easy touse models that give an instant reading when inserted
in food.
159. If you’re a woman capable of becoming pregnant, you should consume 400
micrograms of folic acid from a supplement or fortified breakfast cereal. This B vitamin is
known to reduce the risk of certain birth defects by at least 50% when consumed before
conception and during early pregnancy.
160. Here are some shopping tips for crackers. Choose whole grains: whole wheat or whole
rye should be the only flour, or at least first on the ingredients list. (Don’t be fooled by “hearty
wheat,” “stoned wheat,” or “multigrain” crackers, which are usually made from refined wheat
flour.) Look for at least 3 grams of fiber, less than 4 grams of fat per ounce, and little or no
arteryclogging trans fat.
161. Don’t believe the claims made for sea salt, a favorite at healthfood stores and gourmet
shops. It has no nutritional advantages over regular salt. It is coarser, so it may be a little less
salty per teaspoon—but if you season by taste, you’ll just use more of it. By the time sea salt is
cleaned and processed for the table, it’s virtually identical to regular salt, though much more
expensive.
162. To make caffè latte quickly and easily, use a “frother,” a stovetop or microwave pot
with a plungerlike top that aerates warmed milk (even nonfat milk) into a thick froth. This is a
good way to increase your milk intake.
163. Choose bright and darkcolored fruits and vegetables. The color is generally a sign of
extra nutrients. For instance, buy red grapes instead of green, romaine or watercress rather than
iceberg lettuce, red cabbage instead of green, and dark orange carrots over pale ones.
164. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist whether medicine should be taken with food or
on an empty stomach. This can affect the drug’s absorption. Some drugs (prescription or over-
thecounter) interfere with nutrient absorption, so if you take vitamin/mineral supplements, ask if
it’s okay to take them at the same time as your medicine.
165. Lead can leach out of lead crystal, especially if acidic beverages sit in it for a long period.
So don’t store wine or spirits in a lead crystal decanter. Use the decanter only for serving—
pour the beverage into it shortly before you plan to use it, and then return it to its original bottle.
Similarly, don’t store vinegar based dressings in lead crystal cruets. D
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