A couple of weeks ago, I wrote on the FDA's assessment of cloning and the beef recall. Well, it got some folks talking (just read the comments). So, to follow up, I thought there might be some interest in checking out what the USDA and the FDA are up to since... Just to clarify, the FDA regulates food labeling of prepared foods i.e. breads, cereals, canned and frozen foods, snacks, desserts, drinks. Frankly, their position on cloning, doesn’t interest me as much as the position the USDA might take on cloning. Ranching and meat regulation is, after all, the area…

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My Montana roots are likely responsible for my love of a good, grilled burger. In a state where there are more cattle than people it's hard to deny the craving. Recent actions however have me rethinking my propensity to eat beef. The largest beef recall in US history coupled with the FDA’s approval of food from cloned cattle has me reeling. The meat was recalled because the meat packer slaughtered potentially sick cows. Regulations prohibit the slaughtering of sick cows to protect our food supply. This meat packer violated these rules. Scary! To add to this, after a 15 year…

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Lights, camera, action! Ok—ten claps of the slate board and we had filmed the nutrition segment of Anna Getty's Pre & Post Natal Yoga Workout video. On the way to the studio we drove by Warner Bros. and Paramount. I was a tad disappointed to find that Hollywood is both quiet and unassuming with not much more than dry cleaners and warehouses spread about—not the glitz and glam I expected. Nonetheless, a fun, new experience in a Hollywood studio. Perfect timing too, because when we filmed, I was pregnant with my son, Eric. Today he can watch mommy talking about…

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I love a good scone in the morning with a cup of coffee. I loathe low-fat scones because they taste like "pseudo-scone." I hate that a scone delivers a whopping amount of fat and calories and takes me 3 days to eat the whole thing, by which time it's completely dried out. What do I do to remedy the scone quandary? I break off the portion of that delicious scone that I want and as I walk by the compost bin, I throw the rest away. Yes, I said I compost it.. GASPs from the crowd!! That would be my…

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Science and food companies alike are always in search of the next "superfruit." The interesting thing is that all fruits are superfruits in their own right—containing vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that work together with thousands of other compounds found in that given fruit or veggie. We are at the "tip of the orchard" when it comes learning about all the nutrients fruits have to offer and how they work in harmony together. Apples are the latest fruit to receive attention. Several recent studies (Cornell, Appalachian State) have isolated and discovered benefits of quercetin, a compound (flavonoid), found in apples…

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Kit, co-owner of Clif Bar with her husband Gary, recently emailed the company thanking us for bringing our whole self to work. This is one of the things that makes working here truly unique. We're encouraged to come to work and really be ourselves—sharing our talents, stories, thoughts. Having this comfort at the office makes us better employees; we bring what we learn in our personal lives and apply it to work and visa-versa. We don't have to be two people—work and home. We come to work in the midst of our lives, tired mothers, trained athletes, enlightened students, commuting daddies,…

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The American Dietetic Association (ADA) released their position on biotechnology this year. Like a defense lawyer with the plaintiff on the stand, they brought the hammer down. By the power vested in the ADA, they hear by declared biotechnology safe, and asked that dietitians everywhere follow the dictatorship doctrine and spread the news like wild fire. Yikes! Hold up! Safe? Genetic engineering has only been tested on rats. Fewer pesticides sprayed? Hardly, since sales of one of the most toxic pesticides out there have increased for soy bean application. Potential to lessen nutrient deficiencies? How, when it destroys nutrient diversity,…

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This morning I was preparing for an interview with a reporter at the San Diego Union. In doing my research, I took a look at some of our competitors. As I perused various ingredient lists, it became clear to me that maltitol syrup & sucralose are popular ways to artificially sweeten many products out there—not something you're gonna find in CLIF or LUNA. Why do they add artificial sweetener you ask? Well, to lower the sugar grams in the bar and appear more nutritionally sound than, say, a LUNA Bar, which contains a mere 8-11 gram of real, all-natural sugar. Did…

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I'm a member of an elite carpooling team. Together, Nicole, Chris, Bentley, Grady, Amy and I conquer road rage, the carpool lane, gas prices, bridge tolls, and our overall sanity to and from the CLIF BAR Mainframe. Our drives are a slurry of conversation and no topic is off limits. The learnings that come from pooling are beyond your imagination, especially when driving home after company social events like parties, ski trips or happy hours. While I try to avoid giving unsolicited dietary advice in the "pool," I feel it's my moral and ethical obligation to speak up when a…

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Glycemic index (GI) seems to be all the rage again! Will it be the next Atkins? Maybe the next big diet phenom? Doubtful. GI's been around for years and it just keeps coming back. People who are gung-ho about following the glycemic index eating plan believe that all their foods must fall in the low category. But really, there's a time and a place for low, medium and high glycemic foods—a bit of a confusing concept. The good news is that when people glom onto GI, they begin eating all sorts of nutritious foods associated with a GI-based eating plan—a…

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Glycemic index (GI) seems to be all the rage again! Will it be the next Atkins? Maybe the next big diet phenom? Doubtful. GI's been around for years and it just keeps coming back. People who are gung-ho about following the glycemic index eating plan believe that all their foods must fall in the low category. But really, there's a time and a place for low, medium and high glycemic foods—a bit of a confusing concept. The good news is that when people glom onto GI, they begin eating all sorts of nutritious foods associated with a GI-based eating plan-a…

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Once again, soy is in the headlines and at the top of our minds. A few years ago, the soy wave spread like a game of telephone. By the time health-related soy news reached the masses, it was the end-all-be-all answer to every ill you could think of with its number one benefit being a cholesterol demolisher. Since then, we've watched the soybean be broken down to its simplest form and added to many foods.  Soy rocketed to super-food status seemingly overnight. Why do we do this with foods—make them super, thinking that a single food is the super-duper answer?…

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I came across an article by Nancy Clark, a sports dietitian whom I really respect. In "The Athlete's Kitchen: Energy Bars-Costly but Convenient," (from runningnetwork.com), Nancy takes an all-to-familiar negative perspective. Though some of what she says is true, in the world of bars, CLIF BAR stands out among other brands—you just can't compare the organic, all-natural, nutritiously fortified bar with those other brands she discusses. It's like comparing apples and oranges! Nancy has long been a whole food advocate, i.e. eating a banana and bagel instead of "energy" bars. I, too, am an advocate of whole foods. Have you…

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Recently one of the largest, well-designed health studies for women revealed some astonishing news: "Eating a low-fat diet does not appear to reduce the risk of getting breast cancer, colorectal cancer, or cardiovascular disease." The news story headlines such as “Low Fat Diet – Big Fat Farce” may leave you feeling as though this is your free pass to a daily fat food frenzy! Think again. This study started in the 1990’s before we knew about other important considerations: • Type of fat • Amount of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and omega-s fatty acids in the diet • Amount of…

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Well, it's been three weeks back at the office after fourteen fun-, family-, friends-, food- filled days. What is that I do here again? One of the greatest perks Clif Bar & Co. offers is time off over the holidays. When I first interviewed for my job, Beth told me "CLIF closes between Christmas & New Year's; we get the week off as a holiday." That was practically all I needed to know to want the job. All you CEO and company owners out there should follow this great example! It truly pays off for everyone! So here I sit…

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I read a ton of nutrition news and research summaries each day. Here are a few of some of the headlines this week: • Iron and calcium are linked to a higher risk of lung cancer in new research from the Harvard School of Public Health (from MedlinePlus.gov) • University of Florida scientists find sugar may have a sour side—Fructose may trick you into thinking you are hungrier than you should be (from EurekAlert.com) • Study: Wine heart benefit "small" (link from cnn.com) • Red wine improves artery health in heart patients (from NutraIngredients.com) Who knows what tomorrow's headline holds?…

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I've been on the road a lot lately. In October, I attended the American Dietetic Association Food & Nutrition Conference & Exhibition (FNCE), in St. Louis, Missouri. Restaurants were packed with dietitians (& locals rooting against the Astros!). Quiz: How can you spot a FNCE dietitian from a mile away? A. the power suit B. the line of women outside the single conference center Starbucks C. they're the only ones using the hotel health club (a closet-size room with equipment from 1988) D. they carry a bright blue bag advertising Equal E. all of the above Answer: E. Imagine the…

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Hello! I just returned from a quality visit my Italian grandparents. At 88 years young, Nana is still cooking strong! Eggplant Parmesan, homemade meatballs, ravioli, potato pie, and the list goes on. She is a machine, cooking for days. Papa, also renowned for his kitchen skills, has, at 92 years, stepped back to let his wife wine and dine him. Nana's food is quite nutritious because it's not only fresh, but it's also infused with love and great attention. She takes the time to cook from scratch using the freshest ingredients that undoubtedly are more nutrient-dense. Good food and good…

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Joining our office Organic Verde Club (our weekly organic veggie box delivery from a local farm/CSA is your ticket to health! Anyone who works here can receive a cornucopia of guaranteed healthy surprises delivered to their desk each week. Why do so many CLIF-sters's let this opportunity pass them by? I surveyed and found not one excuse that held water. I empathize with the excuses but argue that if you persevere, you'll find pros easily outweigh cons. So don't throw your lettuce and leeks in the air screaming, "No more!" Continue cooking those leeks until you figure out a way…

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I just read this article in the September issue of Runner’s World about fueling up during your long runs on foods traditionally found in your cupboard. Studies have shown that raisins and honey work quite well and some people do prefer to just eat food like bagels and bananas out there. I will take a gel over a squished banana or sticky honey any day. But I say, whatever works for you and is: Well tolerated by your digestive system Provides 30-60 grams of carbohydrate per hour of activity lasting over an hour Enhances your performance to your expectations The…

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Words I never thought I would say to a 7 year-old until I began volunteering at a diabetic summer for kids 6 summers ago. Being "high" takes on a whole new meaning here. I am at Camp De Los Ninos this week volunteering as Camp Dietitian (aka Snack Lady) to 100 hungry campers (ages 6-14) who have type 1 diabetes and 50 staff members (who also need the nutrition 411). Around here, a string cheese and peanut butter cracker shortage can cause riots and the arrival of sweet treats evokes images of Planet of the Apes. Hold on to your…

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Low Carb Fever cool-down has been a huge relief! Though some good things came out of the low-carb revolution: Awareness of overeating carbohydrate foods with few nutrients (like white bread and soda) Choosing less-processed and more natural foods Searching out healthier, nutrient-dense carbohydrates (like fruits and whole grains) But despite the new popularity "good" carbs like whole grain bread, oatmeal, bananas, carrots, long-grain rice, and smaller spaghetti plates, I still hear echoes of low-carb misconceptions among even my most nutrition savvy co-workers, family, and friends. Comments like the following make me cringe: "I love corn, even though I shouldn't" "The only…

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Not a question for some, but for me I like to look at both sides of an issue. I contemplate pro & cons of GMO’s only to be faced with even more questions & few answers. Many agencies & nutrition professionals contend there is nothing wrong with GMO foods & that they are safe for humans because: They won’t make you sick (not toxic);   Allergic reaction risk is low (if no allergenic foods are involved in their production). “OK, awesome. Eat away, then?” Safety, a perfectly necessary and important determination, is just one point of evaluation. This view-finder seems short-sighted. What…

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This one is in honor of Geoff who listened to my many fava trials and tribulations. As lover of nearly all vegetables I have to say that the fava’s try my patience. The arrival of these high maintenance veggies in our weekly organic veggie box delivery torments me. Certainly there are other veggies requiring attention but no matter how much a try to find the Zen in the fava, I cannot. Its not because of their taste, texture, or color. It’s not their nutrition content either – they are quite superior in nutrients. It is the bean’s clear lack of…

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Anyone see the over-hyped, "new" Food Guide Pyramid? Well, it was finally released.    vs.   Can you say copyright issues? Did the USDA check with Pink Floyd first? At first glance, it looks like the cover of the Dark Side of the Moon Album with about the same amount of meaning! All I can say is…..missed opportunity! It took our leading scientists, researchers, and health specialist to come up with that?! They really need a communications person on their team. How is this supposed to guide Americans to better eating? It makes for a good abstract symbol of health,…

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In my efforts to drink enough water, I have a plethora of beverage containers accruing at my desk. Getting enough water & fluids has many advantages supported by tons of research I have recently combed through in the development of our new CLIF SHOT drinks. But, man…… the fluid intake is turning into nothing but a distraction today as I try to write my outline for my meeting on the break-through "a-ha” in Sports Nutrition. I get on a roll describing the application of these latest findings only to be interrupted by the call of nature. Like every 20 minutes! This…

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So, I'm sitting hear trying to right an article for the Eat Well section on www.lunabar.com. While I am a bit of a nutrition nerd (I fully admit it), I really try to give nutrition the hip voice it deserves because eating well really is a lot sexier than it gets credit for. I mean, really, doesn’t a sleek, crisp, fresh, organic apple sound a  whole lot better than a fried Twinkie? (I’ve tried one, by the way, and, like most fried food, totally overrated). This month's topic is sodium, and, man, it's hard for even me to get fired up…

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