This was a Kashi advertisement in the newest Real Simple magazine, but I thought it was so informative that you might get something out of it too.

The 12 fruits and vegetables that contain the highest pesticide load

1. Apples. Tote a few dried, organic apple slices in your bag for an easy-to-carry, satisfying snack.
2. Bell peppers. Pick up several jars of organic roasted red peppers when they're on sale and you'll be able to whip up an easy antipasto anytime.
3. Celery. When you see organic celery in a market in the late summer or fall, snap it up. Then, when chopping it for pasta sauce or soup, make extra and freeze it for later.
4. Cherries. Toss organic dried cherries into a green salad - along with some toasted walnuts or pecans - to add extra flavor, texture, color, and nutrients.
5. Grapes. Keep a stash of organic green or red seedless grapes in the freezer and you'll always have access to an icy sweet treat.
6. Nectarines. Serve organic dried nectarines on your next cheese board. The sweet-tart flavor complements anything from Camembert to Manchego.
7. Peaches. Slice and freeze fresh ones to make summer-flavored slushies year-round. And experience an intense hit of flavor, whatever the season, by stirring a jar of organic peach preserves into a savory dish, like baked chicken.
8. Pears. When they aren't in season, buy naturally prepared jarred or canned organic pears and spruce them up by poaching for five minutes in a mixture of their natural syrup.
9. Potatoes. When you find organic potatoes, stock up. You can peel, parboil, and freeze them so you always have the makings of a fast side dish.
10. Raspberries. Puree a bag of frozen organic berries with evaporated cane juice crystals to taste, then spoon over chocolate cake or vanilla ice cream for an intense infusion of flavor and color.
11. Spinach. Make a delicious stuffing for chicken by chopping defrosted and drained frozen, organic spinach, then sauteing briefly with toasted pine nuts, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and raisins.
12. Strawberries. Freeze fresh organic berries when you find them in late spring and early summer - or buy frozen ones anytime - and enjoy them in pancakes, smoothies, and cereal year round.
    

Check out this article in the Rachael Ray magazine for the best pizzerias in America. Mmm pizza...

...continued...

Sonic: C
For whatever it's worth, Sonic manages to keep all of its burgers under the 1,000-calorie threshold, but just barely. Its sides menu, with a fat-loaded lineup of fries, tots, and onion rings, will push you well beyond that. And if you settle on a shake or a sugar-spiked "fruit" drink to wash down your lunch, you may have just doubled your caloric intake. it's best to view Sonic as a quick-stop snack shop because full-on meals can be dangerous.
SURVIVAL STRATEGY
The Jr. Banana Split makes an awesome treat with only 180 calories. Besides that, there are a couple of staples that you should remember: the Jr. Burger, the Grilled Chicken Wrap, and the Grilled Chicken on Ciabatta.
Best: Grilled Chicken Wrap
Worst: Super Sonic Cheeseburger with Mayo

Subway: A minus
If Jared was able to shed 245 pounds on his own Subway diet, then surely you can find a dec ent meal to keep your gut in check. But beware of what researchers call the "health halo." Patrons who believe they're eating in a healthy place tend to reward themselves with extra cheese, mayonnaise, and soda, none of which woud have helped Jared lose a single pound. Avoid the halo shine and you'll be fine at Subway.
SURVIVAL STRATEGY
Stick to 6-inch cold subs made with ham, turkey roast beef, or chicken. Be sure to load up on veggies and skip the fattening sauces and dressings (calorie counts at Subway don't include cheese, mayo, or dressings).
Best: Ham Sandwich on 9-Grain with all the veggies you want
Worst: Footlong Meatball with Cheese

Taco Bell: B plus
Here's the good news: The next time you run for the border, you don't have to run all the way home to burn off the calories. Taco Bell combines 2 things with bad nutritional reputations - Mexican food and fast food - but provides plenty of paths to keep your meal less than 500 calories. The best way to do it is to stick with the Fresco Menu, where no single item exceeds 350 calories.
SURVIVAL STRATEGY
Grilled Stuft Burritos, food served in a bowl, and anything prepared with multiple "layers are trouble. Instead, order any combination of 2 of the following: crunchy tacos, bean burritos, or anything on the Fresco menu.
Best: Fresco Ranchero Chicken Soft Tacos (2)
Worst: Fiesta Taco Salad

T.G.I.Friday's: F
We salute Friday's for one thing and one thing only, and that's their smaller-portions menu. The option to order smaller plates ought be the new model to dethrone the dogmatic bigger-is-better principle that dominates chain restaurants. But no matter how small they shrink the entrees, we're still forced to fail this chain due to their strict policy of nutritional secrecy.
SURVIVAL STRATEGY
We realized just how dangerous Friday's menu was when a New York City ordinance forced them to cough up the numbers on their caloric bombs. Our advice: stick to either their smaller-portions menu or check out the Lighter Side of Friday's menu, which promises to find you meals with around 500 calories apiece.
Best: Shrimp Key West
Worst: Jack Daniel's Ribs and Shrimp

Of course, all of my favorite places got the worst grades. Oh well... Let's eat!

Sorry for the delay folks; here's the continuation from March 6...

Olive Garden: D plus
We initially gave the Garden an F for failing to disclose their nutritional content. And we really appreciate the effort they've made to increase their transparency. But when a typical entree packs an average of 905 calories (and that's before you factor in appetizers, sides, drinks, and desserts), it's not time to celebrate just yet.
SURVIVAL STRATEGY
While most pasta dishes are packed with at least a day's worth of doium and more than 1,000 calories, the Linguine alla Marinara and Ravioli di Portobello are both reasonable options. As for chicken and seafood, stick with the Herb-Grilled Salmon, Parmesan Crusted Tilapia, or Shrimp and Asparagus Risotto.
Best: Herb-Grilled Salmon
Worst: Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara

Panera Bread: B minus
Artisan they may be, but some of the sandwiches push into quadruple digits, and a train-length list of brownies, pastries, and cookies almost qualifies Panera as a dessert shop. Pitfalls aside, the healthy selection of soups and salads offers a much-needed reprieve from the carb-heavy bagels and breads.
SURVIVAL STRATEGY
Breakfast options abound with refined carbohydrates, so cut your losses and order the Egg & Cheese breakfast sandwich. Skip the stand-alone sandwich lunch. Either pair together a soup and salad or take the soup and half-sandwich combo.
Best: Half Asian Sesame Chicken Salad with cup of Vegetarian Black Bean Soup
Worst: Chipotle Chicken Sandwich on Artisan French Bread

Papa John's: C
Give Papa John's credit for being the only pizza franchise to offer a whole wheat crust, thus providing a viable, fiber-rich option to pizza lovers the country over. combine that with an innovative list of healthy toppings - including the surprisingly lean Spinach Alfredo - and you start to see hope for Papa John's devotees. The chain loses big points for its line of treacherous dipping sauces, its belly-building bread sticks, and its 400-calorie-a-slice pan-crust pizza.
SURVIVAL STRATEGY
There are only two crust options to consider: thin and wheat. Ask for light cheese and cover it with anything besides sausage, pepperoni, or bacon.
Best: Garden Fresh Thin Crust Pizza (1 slice)
Worst: The Meats Pan Crust Pizza (1 slice)

P.F.Chang's: D plus
A plague of quadruple-digit entrees turns Chang's menu into a nutritional minefield. noodle dishes and foods from the grill all come with dangerously high fat and calorie counts, while traditional stir-fries aren't much better. Chang's does have a great variety of low-cal appetizers and an ordering flexibility that allows for easy substitutions and tweaks.
SURVIVAL STRATEGY
Order a lean appetizer like the Chicken Lettuce Wraps or the Seared Ahi Tuna for the table and resolve to split one of the more reasonable entrees between 2 people. Earn bonus points by tailoring your dish to be light on the oil and sauce.
Best: Wild Alaskan Salmon Steamed with Ginger (full serving)
Worst: Combo Lo Mein (full serving)

Pizza Hut: C
In an attempt to push the menu beyond the ill-reputed pizza, Pizza Hut expanded into toasted sandwiches, pastas, and salads. Sound like an improvement: Think again. Every sandwich has at least 680 calories and 75 percent of your day's sodium. The salads aren't much better, and the pastas are actually worse. The thin crust pizzas and the Fit 'n Delicious offer redemption with sub-200-calorie slices. Eat a couple of those and you'll be doing just fine.
SURVIVAL STRATEGY
Start with a bowl of Tomato Basil Soup and then finish with a couple of slices. Turn to anything on the Fit 'n Delicious menu for slices as low as 150 calories.
Best: Ham, Red Onion & Mushroom Fit 'n Delicious Pizza (2 slices)
Worst: Meat Lover's Personal Pan Pizza

Please take a look at this recent list of recalled products if you haven't already. It covers a lot!

...Continued

Domino's: B
The Bad News Pies on Domino's menu are the same as those at any other pizza purveyor: oversize crusts, fatty meats, and greasy shag carpets of cheese. But Domino's Crunchy Thin Crust cheese pizza is one of the lowest-calorie pies in America, which makes a sound foundation for a decent dinner. Just avoid the bread sticks and Domino's appalling line of pasta bread bowls and oven baked sandwiches.
SURVIVAL STRATEGY
Domino's thin crust has fewer calories than any other pizza chain's. Show your appreciation by making it your go-to order. Want toppings? Stick to ham and pineapple or pure veggies.
Best: Thin Crust Pizza with ham and pineapple (2 slices, medium pizza)
Worst: Chicken Bacon Ranch Oven Baked Sandwich

Five Guys: C
Without much more than burgers, hot dogs, and French fries on the menu, it's difficult to find anything nutritionally redeeming about Five Guys. The only option geared toward the health-conscious is the Veggie Sandwich, which also happens to be the only item on the menu to carry a load of trans fat. The burgers range from 480 to 920 calories, so how you order can make a big difference to your waistline.
SURVIVAL STRATEGY
The regular hamburger is actually a double, so order a Little Hamburger and load up on the vegetation. And if you must indulge somewhere, don't do it with the fries - the difference between a large and a small is 1,150 calories.
Best: Little Hamburger
Worst: Bacon Cheeseburger

Jimmy John's: C
Jimmy adheres to the bigger-i-better syndrome that pollutes countless sub shops the country over. Two slices of 7-Grain Wheat Bread run an unthinkable 390 calories, making healthy sandwich construction impossible. Good thing Jimmy John's preps the food in front of you; that way, you can play foreman while the sub crew constructs your perfect low-cal sandwich.
SURVIVAL STRATEGY
Start with the sub-size French bread, which has 140 fewer calories than its wheat cousin. Then build a sub from a single lean meat - ham, turkey, or roast beef - being sure to replace mayo with Dijon or avocado spread. And stay away from the Italian cold cuts!
Best: Totally Tuna Unwich (lettuce wrap)
Worst: The J.J. Gargantuan

McDonald's: B plus
The world-famous burger baron has come a long way since the days of Fast Food Nation - at least nutritionally speaking. The trans fat is mostly gone, the calorie bombs reduced, and there are more healthy options such as salads and yogurt parfaits. But don't cut loose just yet. Too many of the breakfast and lunch items still top the 500-calorie mark, and the dessert menu is a total mess.
SURVIVAL STRATEGY
The Egg McMuffin remains one of the best ways to start your day in the fast-food world. As for the later hours, you can splurge on a Big Mac or a Quarter Pounder, but only if you skip the fries and soda, which add an average of 590 calories onto any meal.
Best: Egg McMuffin
Worst: Deluxe Breakfast with Large Biscuit, Syrup, and Margarine

Continued from yesterday...

Chili's: D
From burgers to baby back ribs, Chili's serves up some of the saltiest and fattiest fare in the country. In fact, 73 percent of its starter and entrees have more than 1,000 milligrams of sodium. The Giultless Grill menu is Chili's admirable attempt to offer healthier options, but even there the average entree carries 1,320 milligrams of sodium.
SURVIVAL STRATEGY
There's not to much to choose from after you cut out the ribs, burgers, fajitas, chicken, and salads. You're better off with a Classic Sirloin and steamed vegetables or broccoli. Another solid option is the fajita Pita Chicken with Black Beans and Pico de Gallo.
Best: Fajita Pita Chicken
Worst: Crispy Honey-Chipotle Chicken Crispers

Dairy Queen: D plus
Dairy Queen has taste for excess that rivals that of other fast-food failures such as Carl's Jr. and Hardee's. But unlike Carl's, DQ offers a whole slew of abominable ice cream creations to pair with its calorie-riddled savory bites. here's a look at one hypothetical meal: a Mushroom Swiss Burger with Regular Onion Rings and a Small Snickers Blizzard - a staggering 1,650-calorie meal with 78 grams of fat.
SURVIVAL STRATEGY
Your best offense is a solid defense. Skip elaborate burgers, fried sides, and specialty ice cream concoctions. Order a Grilled Chicken Sandwich or an Original Burger, and if you must have a treat, stick to soft serve or a small sundae.
Best: Original Hamburger
Worst: 6-Piece Chicken Strip Basket with Country Gravy

Denny's: D plus
Too bad the adult menu at Denny's doesn't adhere to the same standard as the kids' menu. The famous Slam breakfasts all top 800 calories, and the burgers are even worse. The Double Cheeseburger is one of the worst in the country, with 116 grams of fat, 7 of which are trans fat.
SURVIVAL STRATEGY
The Fit Fare menu gathers together all the best options on the menu. Outside of that, stick to the sirloin, grilled chicken, or soups. For breakfast, order a Veggie Cheese Omelette or create your own meal from a la carte options such as fruit, oatmeal, toast, and eggs.
Best: Veggie Cheese Omelette with Egg Beaters
Worst: Flat Jack Sizzlin Skillet