FoodBozo.com

When Maureen Ackerly won the 2008 Napa Valley Marathon, earning a spot at the Olympic Trials, she thanked two people for helping her realize the dream: her husband/coach and the hotel manager at her wine country lodge. Her husband had Fed-Exed Ackerly’s favorite pancake mix in advance to guarantee his wife would have exactly the same prerace meal she’s eaten for years. And the hotel manager agreed to have the kitchen whip up a batch of the cornmeal shortcakes. Yes, Ackerly admits she’s a control freak. But the stakes were high, she says, so sticking to her eating routine was crucial to her efforts.

Read more here: Road Food: 5 Nutrition Tips to Follow When You Travel

Yes, those flowers look beautiful as garnishes, but what do they taste like?

Bean blossoms have a sweet, beany flavor. Nasturtiums have a wonderfully peppery flavor similar to watercress and their pickled buds can be substituted for more expensive capers. Borage tastes like cucumber, and miniature pansies (Johny-Jump-Ups) have a mild wintergreen taste.

Read more here: Cooking with Flowers Tips and Hints

You haul yourself off to bed with a million details buzzing around your head and big surprise the coveted ZZZZs don’t happen.

Here are some foods that might help you get some much needed shut eye.

- Carbohydrates like popcorn, brown rice, whole grain toast or crackers, a whole grain bagel, a small bowl of whole grain cereal, or even microwaving a small potato may help you nod off. Whenever you eat a starchy carbohydrate you raise up the blood levels of an amino acid called tryptophan which your brain turns into soothing serotonin. Snack size only, please. Avoid big servings at least two hours before bed.

Read more here: Can’t get to sleep? Try these foods and tips

Want to obtain or maintain a healthy weight, reduce your risk of disease and increase longevity? Stop eating like a typical North American.

That seems to be the message we’re getting from health experts as more research points the finger at our unhealthy eating habits as the culprit behind a growing number of health issues — like obesity, diabetes, heart disease and stroke (to name a few). Our love of junk food, lack of exercise and preference for quantity over quality can have detrimental effects on our well being.

Meanwhile, people in other countries and cultures have lower rates of disease, healthier weights and better health. It’s no surprise we often hear advice like “diet like the French” (according to trendy books) or “eat a Mediterranean diet” (according to a growing body of research). When it comes to living well and eating well, “looking elsewhere” may be our best option.

Read more: 10 diet tips from around the world

To follow a healthy diet is not about avoidance of eating favorite cuisines and obeying nutritional charts. It is only aimed to keep you fit by following some basics of nutrition in a way that works for you.

Following a healthy diet does not apply rocket science. Here are some tips for maintaining a healthy diet.

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