Ellie Krieger The Washington Post

Taking a pill-like view of eating does a disservice to food as a whole. Beyond being a delivery system for nutrients, food is flavor, pleasure, connection and social interaction. Read more on a nutritionist's perspective to the "food as medicine" discussion.

Some brands have in-store dietitians conducting tours, leading cooking demonstrations and classes, providing tasting opportunities, and doing health screenings.

Gymnema leaves, chewed or brewed into tea, have historically been used in Ayurvedic (traditional Indian) medicine as a way to reduce blood glucose and decrease sugar consumption.

Manufacturers seem to be hoping that Americans - approximately 90 percent of whom don't get the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables (not including fried potatoes) - will turn to crunchy snack items to help fill the nutrient gap.

Actively trying to control weight may be an effective tactic for some people, but for others, it can be downright destructive.

Warm, fragrant and sweet, this medley of dried fruit simmered in vanilla and honey-infused chai tea is the kind of comfort food to go for when you want that cozy, feel-good essence in a healthful way.

I believe "diet" is a four-letter word - one that connotes an unsustainable, sometimes self-abusive, short-term fix.

The holidays may be peak season for elaborate, tradition-steeped dishes, but they are also a time when most of us feel overwhelmed and could use something fast and fabulous to take the edge off the stress of entertaining.

Green Salad With Pears, Pecans and Blue Cheese is a great salad recipe with just four ingredients, and each can be varied based on your preferences or what you have at home.

This soup is a dream come true - if, like me, you dream about things like soup. It has all the attributes that made a warm bowl of broccoli cheddar soup a comfort food classic.

These biscotti have all the appeal of the traditional twice-baked treat: a satisfying crunch that holds up to an enthusiastic dip into cappuccino and just enough sweet taste and richness that they definitely qualify as a cookie.

Not too long ago, hummus seemed exotic to many Americans. Now, it is practically an everyday food. In light of that, it seems baba ghanouj is ready for its close-up.

The magic of the Mediterranean diet is that it manages to satisfy both chefs and nutritionists. With its bounty of vegetables, fruit, nuts and grains, its garlic and herb seasonings, its luxurious use of olive oil and, of course, good wine, it offers plenty of inspiration for any food lover.

It's now the norm to carry around a water bottle as if it's a permanent extension of your arm, so it seems that most of us have bought in to the benefits of proper hydration. But is what you think about your drink more hype than fact?

Radicchio, although red, certainly qualifies as a grill-friendly "green," and both its royal color and pleasantly bitter flavor deepen beautifully during grilling.

Taking a pill-like view of eating does a disservice to food as a whole. Beyond being a delivery system for nutrients, food is flavor, pleasure, connection and social interaction. Read more on a nutritionist's perspective to the "food as medicine" discussion.

Some brands have in-store dietitians conducting tours, leading cooking demonstrations and classes, providing tasting opportunities, and doing health screenings.

Gymnema leaves, chewed or brewed into tea, have historically been used in Ayurvedic (traditional Indian) medicine as a way to reduce blood glucose and decrease sugar consumption.

Manufacturers seem to be hoping that Americans - approximately 90 percent of whom don't get the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables (not including fried potatoes) - will turn to crunchy snack items to help fill the nutrient gap.

Actively trying to control weight may be an effective tactic for some people, but for others, it can be downright destructive.

Warm, fragrant and sweet, this medley of dried fruit simmered in vanilla and honey-infused chai tea is the kind of comfort food to go for when you want that cozy, feel-good essence in a healthful way.

I believe "diet" is a four-letter word - one that connotes an unsustainable, sometimes self-abusive, short-term fix.

The holidays may be peak season for elaborate, tradition-steeped dishes, but they are also a time when most of us feel overwhelmed and could use something fast and fabulous to take the edge off the stress of entertaining.

Green Salad With Pears, Pecans and Blue Cheese is a great salad recipe with just four ingredients, and each can be varied based on your preferences or what you have at home.

This soup is a dream come true - if, like me, you dream about things like soup. It has all the attributes that made a warm bowl of broccoli cheddar soup a comfort food classic.

These biscotti have all the appeal of the traditional twice-baked treat: a satisfying crunch that holds up to an enthusiastic dip into cappuccino and just enough sweet taste and richness that they definitely qualify as a cookie.

Not too long ago, hummus seemed exotic to many Americans. Now, it is practically an everyday food. In light of that, it seems baba ghanouj is ready for its close-up.

The magic of the Mediterranean diet is that it manages to satisfy both chefs and nutritionists. With its bounty of vegetables, fruit, nuts and grains, its garlic and herb seasonings, its luxurious use of olive oil and, of course, good wine, it offers plenty of inspiration for any food lover.

It's now the norm to carry around a water bottle as if it's a permanent extension of your arm, so it seems that most of us have bought in to the benefits of proper hydration. But is what you think about your drink more hype than fact?

Radicchio, although red, certainly qualifies as a grill-friendly "green," and both its royal color and pleasantly bitter flavor deepen beautifully during grilling.