(ARA) – While the days of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches may be a distant childhood memory, the “brown bag” lunch is once again becoming a popular fixture on the office desk.  With recent economic factors influencing food purchases, America is looking to the brown bag to save a few bucks. According to a new study from the market research firm NPD Group, weekday packed lunches among adults reached a new high in 2007, and this trend is expected to continue.
But “bagging it” doesn’t have to mean a boring turkey …

(ARA) – Whether you’re skipping breakfast to save on calories or running out the door in a rush with only a cup of coffee in hand, you’re not doing yourself or your health any favors. Numerous studies have shown that eating breakfast can help people lose weight while promoting heart health, cognitive performance and increased energy.
According to a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, women who ate breakfast regularly tended to eat fewer calories overall during the day. A healthy breakfast fuels the body and replenishes …

(ARA) – With the holiday food-fest soon over, you may be looking for ways to get back on track with your weight. You might be tempted to skip breakfast as a way to save calories, but this plan usually backfires. Bypass breakfast and you’ll end up being ravenous and unable to make smart eating decisions at lunch.
“Skipping breakfast only delays hunger, and often leads to overeating later in the day,” explains Bob Greene, an exercise physiologist, personal trainer to Oprah Winfrey and author of ‘The Best Life Diet Cookbook.” “But …

Rice Helps the Heart, and the Wallet
(ARA) – With the rising cost of groceries, families are trying to make their hard-earned dollars go farther. Buying staples — as opposed to manufactured mixes — and using them in several different recipes is one way to reduce costs and yet provide a healthy meal for the entire family.
Of all the products on supermarket shelves, one of the most versatile is rice, a complex carbohydrate that is free of sodium, cholesterol and trans fat. It is also gluten-free, non-allergenic and easy to digest. …

As recession takes hold, look for comfort foods, less complicated cooking and a few sprightly innovations
So what are some foods, flavors and culinary trends we’ll see in 2009? Here are several, gleaned from a variety of trend reports:
• Breakfast: If you like eggs at any hour, you’re in luck. Look for more restaurants with all-day breakfast items. Fried or poached eggs on top of dishes (the classic French frisée salad, for example) also will be more popular.
• Asian noodles and soups: With raw-fish prices increasing, noodle bars are becoming the …