Serena Ball

1 month ago | foodnetwork.com | Serena Ball

178402705 bhofack2/Getty Images Many of us have tossed those colorful little packages of squishy fruit snacks into our kids’ lunch boxes, almost as an afterthought. But have you ever stopped to think about what they actually are? Do fruit snacks really count as fruit, a “snack” or are they really just dessert? Fruit snacks do contain fruit juice or fruit puree – so you might think they are nearly equivalent to an apple or an orange in a lunchbox.

1 month ago | foodnetwork.com | Serena Ball

Next Up April 11, 2025 Improvements to your microbiome can lead to better overall health. Photo: phototake/Getty Images Scroll For More Photos 1 / 8 The good news is that things you do every day can help your gut. The opposite is also true – and daily habits can negatively affect gut health.

2 months ago | foodnetwork.com | Serena Ball

2204376826 Nathalie Pellenkoft/Getty Images Counting up the number of plants you eat in a week might help you have a healthier gut. Researchers found that eating at least 30 different plants a week helped people diversify their microbiome. And this diversity of good bacteria in the digestive tract can lead to health benefits, like having more energy and even decreasing the risk of obesity, diabetes and IBD (inflammatory bowel disease).

2 months ago | foodnetwork.com | Serena Ball

If you’re tired of being tired, better nutrition before bed could lead to better sleep. “You don’t need prescription drugs or lengthy bedtime routines to fall asleep quickly and wake up refreshed,” says Karman Meyer RD, LDN registered dietitian and author of Eat to Sleep: What to Eat and When to Eat It. “Try incorporating ‘sleepy’ foods as well as good sleep hygiene to get optimal shut-eye, naturally.”Snacking before bed is not essential for good sleep.

Feb 25, 2025 | foodnetwork.com | Serena Ball

2033571623 Kevin Trimmer/Getty Images We love to snack. Almost all of us snack with 90 percent of U.S. adults reporting eating one or more snacks daily. But our snacks are under scrutiny. Many have been labeled as processed or ultra-processed. Now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the use of food dye Red No. 3 which is mainly in snack foods. Red No. 3 doesn’t need to be removed from foods until 2027. So you may still find it in some snacks until then.