(Feature Impact) Making health-conscious decisions with your at-home menu doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does require commitment and a little more foresight at the grocery store. Simple adjustments to overall eating patterns, like building your plate around produce, powerful proteins and whole grains, can encourage better health.

Nutritious meal-planning can be easy, affordable and delicious – and it all starts with a little balance. Consider this advice from the American Heart Association’s Healthy for Good initiative, nationally sponsored by the Egg Nutrition Center, to adequately round out a healthy plate.

Fill Half Your Plate with Fruits and Veggies

Loaded with nutrients, fresh produce is a perfect place to start each plate. Fill about half your plate with combinations of bananas, strawberries, blueberries, sweet potatoes, peas, carrots and more of your favorites. To boost variety with each meal, look for fruit and veggie blends or step out of your usual routine and try something new.

Grocery tip: Frozen fruits and veggies are often cheaper and just as delicious as their fresh counterparts. It’s frozen right after it’s picked, locking in freshness for a longer shelf life. Just be sure to avoid products with added salt or sugar.

Carve Out a Quarter of the Plate for Powerful Proteins

Healthy food isn’t just fuel. It should be easy and nourish you, too. Look for versatile solutions that provide a protein power-up like skinless chicken breast, no-salt-added beans, low-sodium tuna, tofu or eggs.

High-quality protein from foods, along with a balanced diet and regular exercise, can help support the muscles in your body. Eggs are an example, along with lean animal protein and some plant-based proteins. According to the American Heart Association’s guidelines, healthy people can include up to one whole egg daily, and up to seven per week, as part of a heart-healthy diet. For older adults with normal cholesterol, two eggs per day is acceptable.

Eggs deliver both protein and choline, nutrients that help support growing brains and bodies, especially early in life. In fact, many Americans don’t get enough choline, a critical nutrient for supporting brain development, memory and mood.

Grocery tip: Stock up on proteins that offer both versatility and affordability, helping you cook multiple meals per week without putting a dent in your wallet. Eggs are a perfect example as they can be used at any meal, not just breakfast – try them in wraps or omelets in the morning, hard-boil them to go with a lunchtime salad or add to a frittata at dinner.

Save a Corner for Whole Grains

Finally, fill that last quarter of the plate with ready-to-go whole grains, many of which provide dietary fiber that can support a healthy heart and healthy digestion. Conversely, most refined grains contain little or no fiber.

Examples of whole grains include barley, brown rice, corn, oatmeal, rolled or steel-cut oats, popcorn, quinoa, sorghum and wild rice, along with products labeled “whole grain” or “whole wheat” like bread or pasta.

Grocery tip: Look for whole grains that can make mealtime a cinch. Corn tortillas, instant oats and even popcorn can help you create nutritious plates and better-for-you snacks with the snap of your fingers. Try keeping packets of pre-cooked brown rice on hand to bulk up favorite dishes or toss with leftovers to round out a healthy plate.

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Visit Heart.org to discover more nutrition guidance for heart-healthy meals.

3 Tips to Complement a Healthy, Balanced Plate

Nutrition isn’t just about what’s on your plate – it’s also about what’s next to it and how much is on it. Pair a balanced meal with this advice to help take healthy eating to the next level.

Stay Hydrated
If it’s not already a habit, add a glass of water to each meal. Staying hydrated helps your heart pump blood throughout the body, get rid of waste and regulate body temperature. While water is the best source of hydration, water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables can also play a role.

Watch Portion Sizes
Pay attention to suggested servings from your favorite food groups. For example, one slice of whole-grain bread, 1/2 cup of cooked pasta and two ounces of cheese (about the size of a domino) are the suggested serving sizes for these popular foods.

You can serve and eat smaller portions by:

• When cooking at home, offer the proper serving size to each family member then put extra food away for leftovers.
• When dining out, skip appetizers and split your meal with a friend or partner.
• Avoid eating while watching TV or at your computer. It may be harder to control how much you’re eating if you’re not paying full attention.
• Mindfully measure out your snacks – even fruits and veggies – into appropriate portions before serving instead of helping yourself directly from the bag or box.

Limit Salt
While sodium supports vital functions like controlling your body’s fluid balance, excess sodium in your bloodstream pulls water into the blood vessels, increasing the amount of blood inside them and thus increasing blood pressure. More than 70% of the sodium people eat comes from packaged, prepared and restaurant foods due to salt added for flavoring, stabilizing, preserving and reducing bacterial risk, according to the American Heart Association. 

Cutting back on sodium can help reduce the rise in blood pressure that occurs as you age, even if you don’t have high blood pressure now. It may also help reduce the risk of heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease and more.

Try cooking more meals at home where you can control sodium intake, flavoring foods with herbs and spices instead of table salt and rinsing canned beans and vegetables to wash away excess sodium.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock (family preparing meal)

SOURCE:

American Heart Association

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Last Updated on May 6, 2026 by Daily News Staff

Second Nature Brands has issued a voluntary recall for certain 10-ounce pouches of SECOND NATURE KETO CRUNCH SMART MIX™ after discovering the product may contain undeclared cashews, pistachios, and cherries. For anyone with allergies or severe sensitivities—especially to tree nuts like cashews and pistachios—this is a serious safety issue.

The company says the affected product was distributed nationwide, both in retail stores and through online orders.

Why this matters

Undeclared allergens are one of the most urgent types of food safety alerts because consumers rely on labels to avoid ingredients that can trigger reactions. Second Nature Brands warns that people with allergies or severe sensitivity to cashews, pistachios, other tree nuts, or cherries could face serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume the recalled product.

As of the announcement, no illnesses have been reported.

How to identify the recalled product

Check your pantry (and any recent online snack orders) for the following details:

• Product: SECOND NATURE KETO CRUNCH SMART MIX™
• Size: 10-ounce pouch
• UPC: 077034013405
• Best if used by date: 2/12/2027 (printed on the backside of the pouch)

Only pouches with the “Best if used by 2/12/2027” date are included. Other Best if used by dates are not affected, according to the company.

What happened

Second Nature Brands says the recall began after it was discovered that product containing cashews, pistachios, and cherries was placed into packaging that did not disclose those allergens. The company reports that a follow-up investigation indicates the issue was caused by a temporary breakdown in production and packaging processes.

The recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

What consumers should do right now

If you have the affected product:

1. Do not consume it.
2. Keep the pouch (and take a photo of the UPC and Best if used by date if helpful).
3. Contact Second Nature Brands for a full refund.

Contact information for refunds and questions

Second Nature Brands says consumers can reach them by phone or email:

• Phone: +1.800.651.7263
  • Monday–Friday: 8:00 AM–8:00 PM ET
  • Saturday–Sunday: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM ET
• Email: recall@secondnaturebrandsus.com

Health & fitness note: “Keto” doesn’t equal “risk-free”

Keto-friendly snacks can be convenient for people managing carbs, training schedules, or busy workdays—but this alert is a reminder that label accuracy is non-negotiable, especially for anyone balancing nutrition goals with medical dietary restrictions.

If you or someone in your household has a tree nut or cherry allergy, consider doing a quick sweep of:

• Snack drawers at home and work
• Gym bags and travel kits
• Recent bulk orders or subscription deliveries

Bottom line

If you have a 10-ounce pouch of SECOND NATURE KETO CRUNCH SMART MIX™ with UPC 077034013405 and Best if used by 2/12/2027, do not eat it. Contact Second Nature Brands for a refund and share the alert with anyone who may have purchased the product—especially those with tree nut or cherry allergies.

Source

• PRNewswire (May 1, 2026): Second Nature Brands issues allergy alert on undeclared cashews, pistachios, and cherries in Keto Crunch Smart Mix

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Last Updated on April 30, 2026 by Daily News Staff

CropX Technologies has launched CropX Vision, a new AI-powered vineyard monitoring solution designed to help growers measure vine water stress using a single canopy image.

The new tool uses computer vision and agronomic modeling to estimate leaf water potential from a smartphone photo, giving growers and agronomists a faster and more scalable way to assess plant stress across entire vineyard blocks. The company says the goal is to support better irrigation decisions throughout the growing season.

CropX Vision is available globally on both iOS and Android. The platform is also integrated into the broader CropX application, allowing users to combine canopy-based stress insights with other agronomic data in one place.

According to CropX, the technology offers an in-season alternative to traditional pressure chamber measurements, which can be more time-consuming and limited in sampling range. Instead of relying on specialized equipment, growers can capture a single image in the field and receive plant-level water stress insights.

The product builds on technology originally developed by Tule Technologies, a California-based precision irrigation company acquired by CropX in 2023. Tule’s canopy sensing technology has already been used in California vineyards, and CropX is now expanding that capability to growers worldwide.

CropX says the global release reflects its continued focus on data-driven tools that help growers improve productivity while managing water more efficiently.

CropX Vision is now available for download via the app stores:

• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/nl/app/cropx-vision/id6756921607?l=en-GB
• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cropx.cropx_vision&pcampaignid=web_share

For more information, visit CropX Vision.

Visit the Food and Drink section on STM Daily News for the latest food news, beverage trends, restaurant stories, seasonal recipes, culinary events, and community-driven lifestyle coverage.

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