Fruit juice may be part of your morning breakfast routine, but some argue that even the natural sugar found in 100 percent juice, is partially responsible for the obesity epidemic and the debilitating diseases that may follow. But does the fruits' healthy vitamins and antioxidants trump any...

There's just something about eating food on a stick that brings out your inner child-being. Popsicles, corndogs, and cotton candy were kid-favorites, but now that you're an adult, you may have a bit more refined tastes. Kebabs (or kebobs) can satisfy your fun-loving nature and grown-up taste buds....

Being a "foodie," I have many kitchen tools that I love dearly, and I sometimes wonder how I ever lived without them. The rasp grater is one of those tools that went from being a "nice-to-have" to a "gotta-have-it." A rasp grater wasn't something ever found in home kitchens until the 1990's when...

Have you ever wondered what the sweetest fruit in the world is? If you go by sugar content, you may be surprised to learn that it is the date. Dates have over 60% sugar content. However, in terms of taste, the Guinness Book of World Records lists the Philippine mango called Caraboa, as the sweetest...

Memorial Day weekend is well-known for delicious cookouts. And while many families will be grilling up the usual hotdogs and burgers, others may be looking for something a little different. Throw a foil pack on the grill this year, and marvel at the no-mess meal you just created! Simply put, a...

Mangoes are a sweet and juicy tropical fruit grown in many parts of the world. While you may not see many of them grown here in the States, we can still get a taste of them thanks to countries like Mexico, Brazil, Haiti, and Ecuador, which harvest mango crops year round. When buying mangoes, look...

This week's blog post is written by University of Illinois student intern, Brett Loman. Sometimes it's just easier to have your kids play in the other room while you throw dinner together, but are you making the right choice? Recent research suggests that kids who are involved in meal...

If you were haunted by childhood memories of having to force down a bite of Brussels sprouts before getting dessert, it's time to give those little green balls another chance. Modern cooking techniques have turned what was once a mushy, bitter miniature cabbage into a complex sweet and nutty...

Artificial sweeteners have endured a lot of controversy over the years. We've been told they cause cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity, digestive problems, and more. Yet, credible organizations, such as the National Cancer Institute, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and American Heart Association...

This week's blog post is written by Illinois State University student, Jade Umberger. We made it! Finally, winter is coming to an end, and we are getting our first warm days of spring. March 20th was the official first day of spring, and that can only mean one thing: more warm weather...