Pantry Raid: Good and bad food choices

What the Eckerlings are doing right: The couple are eating some fruits and vegetables and cooking many meals at home, so they’re able to control what goes into their food. Having a bowl of fruit on the counter is a good reminder to eat it. Many healthful foods are part of their diet, such as eggs, oatmeal and fish, and they’re able to keep treats in the house without bingeing on them.

Where they need improvement: The Eckerlings can add even more produce to their diet, in addition to re-adding foods they’ve cut out but miss, such as lean red meat and whole grains. Both should cut back on sodium, and reading food labels will help them determine how many milligrams they’re taking in. If Herb has late-night hunger pangs, he might want to pass on the rye bread and opt for low-carb, low-calorie snacks such as raw celery, carrots or some herbal tea.

Registered dietitian Ruth Frechman suggests they both start exercising regularly. That will help Herb control his blood sugar and allow Susan to expand her somewhat spartan diet. Although Herb hates commercial gyms, there are other ways to get daily physical activity, such as gardening.

— Jeannine Stein