On the marine food chain that is, where the world’s healthiest proteins wait. No need to give up taste, as this spicy shrimp and broccoli salad shows…served with mixed greens and raw veggies, and garnished with almonds, parsley, anise, tarragon, and black pepper…

Simple quartered vegetable omelet with mixed greens, tomatoes and diced cucumber…to the table in minutes…garnished with pistachio, parsley, paprika, marjoram, coriander, anise, and black pepper…

A new comparison of popular diet plans has just been released by U.S. News & World Report. The plans were evaluated by a panel of experts, whose conclusions reasonably reflect our current scientific understanding of optimal human nutrition – including some gaps and open hypotheses that scientists have yet to resolve. Without singling out specific plans here, the panel concluded that programs emphasizing high vegetable and fruit consumption, moderation of processed carbohydrates and fats generally, and consistent interpersonal support during plan adoption were the most effective (in categories that included short and long-term weight optimization, cardiovascular health, and diabetes prevention). Notably, natural diets like HumanaNatura’s that follow these guidelines but further limit cooked grains, starches, and legumes were ranked lower due to the current lack of adequate long-term data on this approach. On the other hand, diets that recommend greatly limited carbohydrate consumption and calorie replacement via extra protein and fat intake were ranked lowest, based on growing data suggesting both long-term cardiovascular injury and weight instability from this approach. Learn more about the rankings at Diets Ranked or see a full summary of the panel’s conclusions at Best Diets.

Spicy lean turkey patties and a melange of sauteed veggies with mixed greens, diced cucumbers, and cut grape tomatoes…garnished with pistachios, parsley, anise, and black pepper…

Imagine having healthy meat protein in your diet, sustainably and without harm to animals. Based on current trends in the development of in vitro, synthetic, or living meat from animal stem cells, this should be a possibility for us within the next decade. Though the technology will take time to perfect and become accepted, it promises to allow a natural human diet without slaughterhouses or factory farms. It also promises food production with much lower resource inputs and environmental harm, including a lower overall carbon footprint. If you would like the benefits of a natural diet but avoid meat for ethical or ecological reasons today, this development promises new options for you in the future. Learn more about emerging “living meat” technology at Cultured Meat and In Vitro Meat.

With new U.S. guidelines allowing gentler cooking of pork, we mark the change with a meal of grilled ground pork over a melange of sautéed red onion, pea pods, and slivered almonds, along with mixed greens, grape tomatoes, and diced cucumber…garnished with parsley, marjoram, coriander, black pepper, and just a bit of anise. Learn more about the new guidelines at Pork Cooking Guidelines.

Stay home, make a nice breakfast, celebrate who you are…this one is a veggie omelet with mixed greens and berries…garnished with slivered almonds, parsley, paprika, coriander, and black pepper…

Spicy shrimp and veggie omelet with sliced mango and a handful of berries on a bed of mixed greens…garnished with pistachios, parsley, paprika, coriander, and black pepper….