Learn more about four nutrients you should know and love… and two you should give the cold shoulder!

This is week three of National Nutrition Month, and the third installment of how to use the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 in real life to go from expert recommendations to everyday healthy habits.

While “everything in moderation” is a mantra you may have heard, like most things — there are exceptions. Nobody likes to be the food police, but truth be told, of course there are good and bad foods (and good and bad habits), and most people know the difference.

I’m not talking about the artisanal champagne truffle or dry-aged steak dinner you enjoy once a year; but I am talking about everyday choices that can make a big impact on your everyday sense of wellbeing.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 feature four superstar nutrients most Americans need to be eating more of, and two that most of us could do with less of — all in the interest of living healthy, vibrant lives. (More…)

For some, St. Patrick’s Day means parades, green beer and pub crawls.

But for those who don’t hit the bars, there’s also a rich tradition of Irish and Irish-American recipes that make St. Pat’s a great “stay home and cook” holiday… no food coloring necessary!

Nearly everyone recognizes the classic Irish potato (though they were actually introduced to Ireland in the 16th century), but Irish cuisine has long relied on a wide variety of ingredients, including wild garlic, kale, scallions, geese and poultry, cured pork and sausages, lamb and mutton, barley, oats, wild berries, hazelnuts and varied aquaculture, ranging from lobsters, cockles and mussels to cod and rich salmon. (More…)

A cheese board can be a easy — and impressive — entertaining option for parties, but there are a few pitfalls on the path to glory.

To smooth the path to success, we got the lowdown on party dos (and don’ts!) from our own super-savvy specialty foods expert, Ken Blanchette.

After a successful career in specialty foods manufacturing, Ken brought his know-how to FreshDirect, where he oversees our selection of deli items, specialty products and artisanal cheeses, traveling the world to discover the most delectable goodies from near and far. (Can’t say we’re not jealous!)

Here are Ken’s top tips for showing off a tempting selection of cheeses at your next party. (More…)

Welcome to week two of National Nutrition Month, and the next installment of how to use the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 in real life to go from expert recommendations to everyday healthy habits.

Regularly enjoying a variety of seafood is one of the best (and tastiest) ways to benefit from their heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. That’s the main reason health experts from the likes of the American Dietetic Association, American Heart Association, and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 all promote eating fish twice a week. There’s also emerging research linking omega-3s to improved mood and brain function.

Maybe you’re convinced that you should eat seafood, but you think fish is a kitchen challenge. You’re not alone!

To help, I talked with our Director of Research and Development, Chef Tina Bourbeau, who knows a thing or two about preparing seafood from her days working in New York’s finest kitchens. She’s also a tried-and-true New Yorker, which means she values a quick, delicious, no-mess dinner as much as the next person. (More…)

I’ve always been struck by the perfect timing of the peak citrus season.

Just when the bitter cold winter months are this close to getting me down, FreshDirect gets shipments of zesty oranges, tangerines and grapefruit.

As I break open a citrus peel and revel in the bright floral, almost piney scent, I am virtually transported to a sunny locale (insert mindless hula humming here).

These dazzling fruit can (and should) be enjoyed just as they are, but there plenty of other ways to use citrus’ unmistakable flavors and aromas in baking or cooking. Here are 14 of my favorite fast uses. (More…)

Mardi Gras is fast approaching (next Tuesday!), and those of us not fortunate enough to sample our way through the French Quarter of New Orleans may want to bring the party home instead.

All beads and debauchery aside, New Orleans is considered the birthplace of the American cocktail, so here are a couple of “Nawlins-born” concoctions to craft for your Mardi Gras celebration.

Our first cocktail is The Bourbon Smash, a 19^th Century creation that has taken on different manifestations over the years. This is a more savory take on the Mint Julep that many derby enthusiasts are familiar with. (More…)

Every five years, our friends over at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human Services bring together a committee of top nutrition and health experts to review new research findings about food and health.

The result is a state-of-the-science Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) to help us eat right for wellness, to help us reach a healthy weight, and to help prevent disease.

The most recent set of guidelines were just released, and they’re full of exciting new findings we’ll all be hearing a lot more about in the upcoming months.

March happens to be National Nutrition Month, so each week I’ll feature news you can use from the new Dietary Guidelines along with smart ways to go from expert recommendations to everyday healthy habits.

For a sneak peak at what’s to come, here are some of the more surprising and new recommendations in the 2010 edition. (More…)

Introducing MyFD — a brand-new area at FreshDirect.com that’s dedicated to you!

At MyFD, you’ll see your favorite products, shopping lists and profile information at a glance.

We’d love for you to give us your thoughts in our weekly Quick Poll and connect with us at Facebook and Twitter.

Each week, we’ll serve up a selection of handy food facts, practical nutrition advice, new food trends and delicious recipes.

You’ll savor the season with timely usage information, read profiles of local chefs, farmers, fishermen and producers and find lots of easy ideas to help you feed your family right!

All this and more is in store. (Just wait ’til you see what we have up our sleeves!) Make sure you don’t miss a thing — add us to your blog reader now.

Every time you shop FreshDirect for grocery delivery straight to your door, be sure to stop by and see what’s new at MyFD: www.freshdirect.com/myfd

According to a recent American Heart Association presentation, top sources of added sugar in the American diet are sodas and other sugar-sweetened soft drinks, sugars, candy, cakes, cookies, pies and fruit drinks.

Their recommendations add up to no more than 100 calories from sugar each day for women and no more than 150 calories from sugar each day for men. (That’s about 6 teaspoons of daily sugar for women and 9 teaspoons for men.)

Americans of all ages add too much sugar to their diets, but it’s easy to sate your sweet tooth by watching the portion size of special treats and choosing foods that have naturally occurring sugars.

Need a few ideas? I’ve selected some of my favorite alternatives that will satisfy your sweet tooth naturally. (More…)

By now, we’re probably all aware that breakfast is good for us.

Research indicates that a healthy breakfast offers a bunch of perks, ranging from improved concentration and performance to more strength and endurance for physical activities and some not-so-obvious benefits, like lower cholesterol levels.

But on the weekends, it’s sometimes fun to branch out from the quick and easy into other, more adventurous options.

We’ve gone through all the delicious breakfast/brunch recipes in our One-Click Recipes section and pulled out five tasty, easy options we think you’re going to love:

• French Toast recipe from “Country Egg, City Egg”
  Huevos Rancheros recipe from “The Well-Filled Tortilla Cookbook”
• Apricot and Ginger Cream Scones recipe from “Cold Weather Cooking”
• Puffed Pancake recipe from “Dad’s Own Cook Book”
• Buttermilk Corn Muffins with Orange recipe from “Staff Meals from Chanterelle”

Explore our entire Brunch Recipes section to find something special for your winter weekend starters, and be sure to let us know at Facebook what you make!