Q: I found the June article on cooking terminology interesting, but it’s not what I’m used to seeing in this newsletter. Has there been a change?
A: Judith C. Thalheimer, RD, LDN, executive editor of Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter, answers: “Thank you for being an observant and interested reader! There has been no change in our mission to present evidence-based, expert-reviewed, trustworthy health and nutrition information to the public.
“Many readers have asked us to add practical information on cooking and other food preparation tips. These articles are part of our effort to help readers put reliable scientific information about nutrition and lifestyle into practice.
“Behavior change is hard—and knowledge is not enough to guarantee that change. We must also have the skills to put that knowledge into action. For example, we often make the evidence-based point that it is easier to regularly consume a healthy dietary pattern when cooking at home than when eating out, ordering in, or heating up highly processed foods. But this information is not going to lead to behavior change if one does not know how to cook and is unfamiliar with the terminology found in even simple recipes.
“With each of our articles, you will notice a ‘Take Charge!’ box. These sidebars are designed to make the information in the article actionable. You may also notice we generally wrap up NewsBites by connecting the study being summarized to its practical application. And, of course, there’s this page to directly address questions of concern to our readers!
“We are proud to be providing you with the information—and the tools—you need to live a long, healthy, quality life!”