FOOD

Can you fight fat with a spoonful of these?

Black Pepper May Give You A Kick, But Don't Count On It For Weight Loss

Black pepper and other spicy foods are often touted as weight loss aides, thanks to ingredients like capsaicin, but saying no to the freshly-grated Parmesan is more likely to help you lose weight.

FOOD

The calico lobster known as Calvin is shown in this photo provided by Boston's New England Aquarium. The lobster is dark with bright orange and yellow spots.

Rare Calico Lobster Turns Heads, And Escapes Dinner Menu

A calico lobster that had been living in obscurity off the coast of Maine has now been catapulted into a sort of celebrity, thanks to its rare coloring: a calico mix of orange and yellow spots. Researchers say it could be a 1-in-30 million specimen.

Vermont Beer Makers Bring Back Old-Time Maple Sap Brews

Late season maple sap was used in a potent beer that cooled farm workers in the heat of summer.

Even Your Mother Will Approve Of Vegetable Chips

These baked, seasoned crisps are so tasty and colorful, you might not miss those fried potato chips.

Jetlagged By Your Social Calendar? Better Check Your Waistline

The disconnect between our social calendars and our biological clocks is creating 'social jet lag.'

At Basque Cookings Clubs, Food And Fraternity Mix Heartily

Txokos are bustling, food-centered social clubs, somewhere between dinner party and fraternal lodge.

California's Genetically Engineered Food Label May Confuse More Than Inform

An analysis shows that labeling requirements could make it harder to discern what "natural" food is.

Bring On The 'Yabbies': Australia Ditches The Bad British Food

Australia left the bad British food behind years ago for a modern, multicultural dining aesthetic.

Chefs Fight California's Foie Gras Ban

California is set to impose the nation's first statewide ban on foie gras this summer. Nearly eight years have passed since the bill enacting the ban was signed. Rachael Myrow of member station KQED has the story from San Francisco. - READ MORE

Thomas Jefferson's Vegetable Garden: A Thing Of Beauty And Science

Thomas Jefferson's garden was a vast a beautiful science experiment involving over 300 varieties of 90 different plants. And no gardening detail was too small for Jefferson to note in the gardening journal he kept for nearly 60 years. - READ MORE

Why It Matters That California Teens Eat Less Than Their Peers

California teens eat about 158 calories less a day than their peers in other states, a new study says. But even that tiny amount of fewer calories per kid can help them maintain healthy weights over time, experts say. - READ MORE

Hospital Food So Fresh, Even The Healthy Come To Dine

You won't find cardboard chicken and mushy carrots at the Fauquier Hospital in Virginia, one of a dozen health care facilities dedicated to improving patient experiences beyond their immediate medical needs. In fact, the hospital's cafeteria has become a hang out for senior diners. - READ MORE

What Our Gut Microbes Say About Us

While U.S. adults have relatively uniform microbe colonies in their guts, adults in Malawi and Amazonia have much more diverse populations. Scientists are still struggling with why that is and what it means. - READ MORE

Power Puff: Flex Your Culinary Muscle With A Souffle

The souffle has a reputation for being finicky in the kitchen: a billowy, golden masterpiece that collapses as soon as it's out of the oven. But home cooks should have no fear, says food writer Nicole Spiridakis. The key to success, she says, is fresh eggs — and a pinch of moxie. - READ MORE

From Weed To Whimsy: Chefs Conquer Wild Foods With Butter And Oil

A new generation of chefs committed to seasonal, wild and local foods may have no idea how or what they're going to cook until the last minute. And since they're charging big bucks, they better figure out how to make weeds taste good. - READ MORE

Recipe For Safer Drinking Water? Add Sun, Salt And Lime

Adding dirt and salt can help make drinking water cleaner, and is far cheaper than fancy filtration systems for getting rid of harmful bacteria, scientists say. It just takes a little patience and the sun. - READ MORE

What HBO And iCarly Can Do To Get Kids Psyched About Veggies

As part of efforts to spotlight obesity, health officials are betting that HBO and Nickelodeon entertainment companies can teach kids it's cool to form healthy eating habits that last a lifetime. - READ MORE

Alcoholidays in America: ¡Viva El Tequila Julep!

The way holidays stack up in this country, an outsider might be forgiven for thinking the United States seems like a party monster lurching from beer blast to beer blast. And this Saturday presents an unholy marriage on the same day: Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby. Call it Drinko de Mayo. - READ MORE