True or false: The rate of women in the U.S. who die because of complications related to pregnancy or childbirth has declined in the past 20 years.
Not only is the statement false, but the number has actually doubled over the past two decades—which is one of the reasons a panel of experts addressed the 2013 Women In the World Summit on Friday to discuss possible solutions to the global issue of maternal mortality.
“Saving Mothers: A Surprising Solution” was moderated by Deborah Roberts, a network correspondent for ABC News. The panel included Senior Chief Kwataine Masina, board chairperson of the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health and Safe Motherhood in Malawi; Molly Melching, founder and executive director of Tostan, an organization that promotes education about women’s health in Africa; Christy Turlington Burns, founder of Every Mother Counts; and Julie L. Gerberding, MD, MPH, president of Merck Vaccines.
Maternal mortality claims about 800 women worldwide every single day, most of whom die because of post-partum hemorrhage or preeclampsia, a condition where pregnant women experience high blood pressure and protein in the urine. About 15 percent of all pregnant women have complications—and it’s how those complications are handled that makes the difference between life and death, says Burns, a former model who became passionate about the issue of maternal mortality when, nine years ago, she hemorrhaged after giving birth.
“My situation was dealt with very efficiently with a midwife and a doctor and a team of people who knew how to react,” she says. “What I learned in the weeks afterward was that hundreds of thousands of women were dying of the same or similar complications because people didn’t know what the symptoms meant.”
One of the most poignant moments in the session occurred when Kwataine Masina, a senior chief in Malawi, recounted the story of a woman in his district who was struggling through a breech birth years ago. “We never knew what a breech was,” says Masina. “We thought she was bewitched.” After the woman had spent more than 12 hours in labor and lost a lot of blood, Masina and other local men were asked to carry the pregnant woman to the nearest hospital, which was about three kilometers away. One kilometer into the walk, the woman died in Masina’s arms. So when he took over as tribal chief in 2000, he made maternal survival a priority—a lofty goal considering that in Malawi, 1 in 36 mothers die during childbirth.
“A woman has also a right to life and a right to health,” he says. “Why should women only die like goats, die like chickens just because they want to give life?”
Masina instituted committees of women who keep track of all the pregnant women in the village and check in on them. He also recognizes men in the community who support pregnant women by taking them to a health center for prenatal visits and escorting them to a clinic for delivery. As a result, Masina hasn’t experienced a single incident of maternal mortality in his district in the past three years.
But as mentioned previously, this issue affects mothers in the U.S., as well. On the list of nations with the lowest maternal mortality rate, the U.S. actually ranks 50th, behind other countries like Bosnia, Turkey, and Kuwait. About 1,000 women a year die because of maternal mortality in this country, but another 51,000 experience what doctors call a “near miss,” where they almost die. This can often result in debilitating complications post-pregnancy, says Priya Agrawal, MD, OBGYN, executive director of Merck for Mothers, an organization to created to save women’s lives.
The problem may be on the rise because there is no standardized quality of care from hospital to hospital, although the increased incidence of pregnant women with pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes likely also contributes, says Agrawal.
Here’s what you can do to make sure you and your loved ones minimize your risk of complications—or even death—because of pregnancy:
Get adequate prenatal care
Agrawal shared the story of one woman who thought she didn’t need to visit the doctor while she was pregnant with her fourth child since, by that point, she knew what she was in for. It wasn’t until her brother encouraged her to visit the OBGYN anyway that she found out she had preeclampsia. When you manage problems effectively, you’re much more likely to avoid any lasting problems, says Agrawal.
Share your birth story—and encourage friends and family to share theirs
Often, women don’t even realize they had a near-miss until they hear others’ stories, says Agrawal, because they don’t know what’s normal and what’s not. ”Pregnancy ends six weeks after delivery,” she says. “If you have any lingering complications afterward, you probably experienced a near miss.” If you tell your story on Merck for Mothers’ Facebook page, Merck will also make a contribution to Join My Village, an organization that supports women in India and Malawi.
Watch for warning signs
If you’re pregnant and you experience blurred vision or a headache that won’t go away, head to your doctor to get it checked out—both are symptoms of preeclampsia. Signs of a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot that’s another leading cause of maternal mortality, include severe shortness of breath and/or one leg that’s significantly more swollen, red, or painful than the other. It’s also worth noting that staying sedentary for extended periods of time—like taking a three-hour road trip—can put you at a higher risk for pulmonary embolisms (so you should stretch your legs at least once every couple of hours). As for post-delivery hemorrhaging, say something if you feel weak and you’re worried about the amount of blood you’re losing—even if no one else seems concerned. “I’d rather a woman ask me to check two or three times than walk in five minutes too late,” says Agrawal.
photo: courtesy of Women In the World
More From Women’s Health:
5 Ways Pregnancy Changes Your Body
Want a Baby Someday? How to Preserve Your Fertility
Fertility Treatments: Is IVF Dangerous?
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If extra vacation days aren’t enough incentive to actually go on vacation, here are a few more: You’ll lose weight and lower your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and your Body Mass Index (BMI).
The trick? Choosing the right trip. According to a small study from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, a health and wellness vacation—i.e. a week spent focusing on healthy food, exercise, and stress management—is your ticket. In the study, people who experienced such a trip lost an average of 6.8 pounds, lowered their blood pressure by 7.7 percent, and saw a 5.2 percent decline in cholesterol levels and BMI.
While we can’t promise the same results, there are plenty of great getaways across America where your workout and diet won’t suffer. Here are five trips that put your health first. (And for more cool trips and kickass challenges, check out the Women’s Health Adventure Guide!)
Eat Right at the Sofitel Hotels
Grub on the go can leave you feeling queasy a few hours later—and it could also derail your weight-loss progress. So forget a diet disaster, and stay at one of the many Sofitel locations across the U.S., including Chicago, New York, and Miami. You can dine the guiltless way with the hotel chain’s De-light menu, which puts an emphasis on fresh ingredients—but doesn’t sacrifice flavor. The best part: Every option is under 300 calories. Who thought a Pollack fish dish with avocado cream, artichoke hearts, and Dijon mustard could clock in at a mere 129 calories? Find out which cities offer the menu at sofitelde-light.com.
Be Happy and Fit in Hawaii
If the gorgeous weather isn’t enough of a sell, a recent Gallup Healthways survey of more than 350,000 people rated the people of Hawaii to be the happiest in the country. Experience those good vibes yourself when you get a taste of the breaks with locals. Don’t fear the North Shore’s 10-foot plus monsters—just sign up for an intro lesson with the premier surf school on the island, Hans Hedemann. There’s a satellite location right inside the Turtle Bay Resort on the island’s North Shore, just minutes from Kuilima Bay’s surf spot.
Build Endurance—for Free—in Aspen
You’d have to try hard not to be healthy in Colorado. (After all, it’s the fittest state in the country, according to a recent CDC report). But in pricey Aspen—a city known for celeb visitors and lofty prices—the trick is to break a sweat on a dime. Our advice: Book the Limelight Hotel for at least three nights, and workouts with killer views are yours for free. Each night, Limelight will hand you two lift tickets that you can use at all four of Aspen’s local mountains. Got some extra cash? Stay at the premier (but pricier) hotel The Little Nell, whose “Adventure Concierge” arranges personalized fitness conquests for guests, including snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
De-Stress in Scottsdale
Scottsdale, Arizona is dotted with more resort spas per capita than any other U.S. destination. As it turns out, getting pampered is time well spent—it’s actually good for your health. Research has shown post-sweat rubdowns promote recovery and relieve pain the same ibuprofen does: by improving your ability to produce proteins needed for rebuilding worn-down muscles. There’s your excuse to relax from start to finish (in case you needed one). Hike Camelback Mountain, play some tennis, finish with one of the many massages the local spas offer, and fly home a new woman. (Discover The Benefits of Massage.)
Face Your Fears in Utah
Adrenaline isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, researchers at Texas A&M University found that adventure sports like canyoneering (a combo of hiking, climbing, scrambling, and rappelling) can produce more of it than something as freaky as public speaking. An activity that’s stressful on your mind and body can help you prep for—and react to—your everyday stressors back home. So book your flight out west and check into a place like the Red Mountain Resort, an all-inclusive, active resort surrounded by Southern Utah’s red rock cliffs. Rappelling down the 150-foot canyons in Zion National Park will test your strength and determination—and better equip your bod for the cubicle stress waiting for you at home.
photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock
More from WH:
10 Outdoor Travel Adventures
7 Reasons to Take Your Workout Outside
The Best Fitness Foods for Women
Find easy ways to look and feel good fast in Dr. Oz’s book You Being Beautiful
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If you commute by car, there may be more to worry about beyond the price of gas: Commuting by car, rather than by bike or foot, could increase your risk of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey.
Survey administrators polled 9,933 adults about their transportation habits and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Three out of four respondents reported spending less than 10 minutes a week biking or walking for transportation. Meanwhile, people who reported biking or walking had 24 percent lower risk of hypertension, 31 percent lower risk of diabetes, and on average, lower BMI and waist circumference than the car commuters.
But unless you live in an intimate urban city, walking to work is probably not a viable option. However, cycling may be. It’s a fairly efficient way to get around – depending on your speed, you can pedal a two-mile route in just 10 or 15 minutes. Plus, it saves you money on gas, and time spent searching for parking. And if you’re already spending a chunk of your day driving to a gym and working out there, you can count your commute toward your gym time.
That said, becoming a bike commuter isn’t as simple as just planting your buns on a bike seat. Prepare for your daily ride with this checklist:
• Bike: You can buy a basic bike for as little as $ 200 at a local bike shop, where you’ll get better service, advice, and knowledge than you might receive at a chain store, says Rich Conroy, education director and Bike Commuting 101 instructor of Bike NYC, who regularly bikes 10 miles to work. (Note: Bike shop attendants can also help fit you and your bike for most of the cycling gear suggested below.) Alternatively, dust off your old two-wheeler and take it to your bike shop for a tune up, which can cost about $ 50 to $ 60. They’ll check the brakes, wheel alignment, and gears and adjust the seat to a comfortable height. You should also swap your mountain bike tires (they have tread and resemble car tires) for smoother tires, which are easier for traveling and more efficient. Every week, pump the tires and oil the chain (a bike shop mechanic can show you how), and bring your bike in for a checkup at least once a year.
• Lights: Not unlike an automobile, you’ll need a white light in front and a red light in the rear so other drivers and bikers see you coming and going.
• Basket or rack: Instead of carrying your stuff in a backpack or messenger bag, make the bike haul it. Attach a basket in the front or a rack or bike panniers (water-resistant saddle bags) in the back.
• Fenders: In bad weather, a pair of fenders will cover your tires to keep muddy puddles from messing with your clothes and keep your bike in better, cleaner shape. Your bike shop can fit your cycle and install them. Still, you don’t have to ride through miserable conditions. “It’s not all or nothing. If the weather is bad, bail,” says Conroy. “And if you have a really long commute, you don’t have to make it a daily grind. Do it one day a week, and drive the other days. Like a workout, it’s good to take a break,” he says.
• Lock: “Always lock up your bike like you’d like lock your car,” says Conroy. Your workplace may provide indoor parking or a bike rack, but if not, you can lock your bike to a signpost, parking meter, railing, or scaffolding. When leaving your bike in a high-theft area in public view, use a heavy chain and padlock. In a parking garage or indoors, you can get away with a lighter and less expensive cable lock. Ask a bike shop attendant to recommend a lock that fits your bike and your needs.
• Helmet: “It’s like a seatbelt for your head,” says Conroy. “It won’t prevent you from crashing, but it’s what you need when you do have a crash.” Because an ill-fitting helmet won’t protect you, buy the smallest helmet size that fits your head for a snug fit, and adjust the strap so the buckle is snug below your chin when your mouth is completely open. Also known that a helmet isn’t the be-all end-all of bike safety. Follow the same rules as motorists, ride with the traffic, stop at lights and stop signs, and avoid distractions such as headphones and texting to take safety into your own hands.
• Route: Quieter roads with less traffic are ideal for cyclists, but if your only option is akin to a high-speed racetrack, you don’t want to ride there, says Conroy. Instead of riding all the way to work on a route with poor road choices, consider breaking up your commute into two or three modes of transportation. (Think about it: You might already drive your car to the train, or take a bus and a subway.) If you live in a suburban or rural area, or a large city, use a bike rack to drive your cycle through less desirable areas, or consider buying a public-transit-friendly folding bike, which are often allowed on buses and trains.
• Stash: While peddling in work attire might be uncomfortable, it’s not as big a problem as people make it out to be. “Riding a bike won’t make you smell like a week-old dead animal. Just don’t bike fast, and you won’t get sweaty,” says Conroy. For a one or two mile trip, you can wear whatever you wear to work—just roll up baggy pants or tuck them into your sock so they don’t interfere with the gears and get dirty. For longer trips, wear moisture-wicking clothes while you cycle, and leave a week’s worth of clothes at your office. Keep deodorant, wet wipes, a hairbrush, and some makeup in your desk to freshen up after you change.
photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock
More from WH:
Cycling Tips for a Better Workout
Benefits of Spinning
Look Better Naked Workout
Get a Sexy Yoga Body! Discover the power of yoga to tighten, tone, and calm. Buy The Women’s Health Big Book of Yoga today!
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SweepstakesHealth NewsettersSubscribeHealthy & HappyNews & ViewsFamilyHome and TravelMind and BodyMoneySex and RelationshipsDiet & FitnessFitness • Cardio • Strength • YogaWeight Loss • Diets • Dieting TipsFood & RecipesEating • Cooking • Nutrition • Restaurants and Fast FoodsRecipesBeauty & StyleBeauty • Skincare • Hair • Makeup • StyleCelebrity • Celebrity Tips • Celebrity HealthHealth A-ZAlzheimer’s DiseaseAsthmaBipolar DisorderBirth ControlBreast CancerChildhood VaccinesCholesterolChronic PainCold, Flu, and SinusCOPDCrohn’s DiseaseDepressionDiabetes (Type 2)FibromyalgiaGERDHeadaches & MigrainesIncontinenceMenopauseOsteoarthritisOsteoporosisRheumatoid ArthritisSexual HealthSleep DisordersUlcerative ColitisMore ConditionsMagazineCurrent IssueSubscribeTablet EditionArchiveGive a Gift SubscriptionCustomer ServiceMedia KitAge-Proof Your BonesHome >> Food & Recipes >> Eating >> Guide >> America’s Healthiest >> Vignette StoryServer 6.0 Wed Aug 22 18:30:09 2012 America’s HealthiestAmerica’s HealthiestHealthiest FoodsAdvice from Dr.OzHealthiest SpasMore!Health magazine rates the top 10 healthiest fast food restaurants in America based on their efforts to provide nutritious fare. Comments: Add | Read 
Dan WintersWho hasn’t unwrapped a sandwich while driving down the highway or pulled a hard U-turn into a fast-food joint on the way home from a late meeting or soccer game? We practically live in our cars, so we need quick food, and please, we’d like it to be healthy.
Well, guess what: We surveyed the nation’s 100 largest fast-food chains, as defined by the number of locations, and found many are creating menus that look more and more like what we’d cook ourselves (if we had the time)from nutritious soups and healthy salads to fresh whole grains and sensible desserts. Even better: They’re offering good-news Mexican, Asian, and Mediterranean fare.
Using criteria that was created with the help of our expert panel, we scored the chains on such factors as the use of healthy fats and preparations, healthy sodium counts in entrees, availability of nutritional information, and the use of organic produce to determine the 10 highest-ranking restaurants.
One big surprise: A traditional fast-food chain, McDonald’s, cracked our top 10. Sure, it’s the home of the Big Mac, but did you know it also serves a mean yogurt-and-granola parfait? Here, the standouts that are making grabbed food healthy food.
#1 Panera Bread
Over 1,230 locations nationwide (and in Canada)
This bakery-cafe-based eatery wowed our judges with a comprehensive menu of healthy choices for every meal. “Variety makes it easy for everyone to choose healthy,” praises registered dietitian and panelist Marisa Moore. What does that mean for you? For starters, you can pick from two whole-grain breads for your sandwich and have an apple with it instead of chips (though the chips are fine, toothey can be baked!). Half-size soups, salads, and sandwiches make it a cinch to control portion size. Also, most of the chicken is antibiotic- and hormone-free, a rarity for large chains.
Panera also won top honors for kid fare, dishing out RD-approved crowd-pleasers like squeezable organic yogurt, PB&J (with all-natural peanut butter), and grilled organic cheese on white whole-grain bread.
We love: Delicious, nutrient-packed combos like a half–Turkey Artichoke on focaccia bread with a bowl of black bean or garden vegetable soup.
Danger zone: Sticky buns and cheese danishes are on display at the counter.
View this article as a gallery. 123456Next Tracy Minkin and Brittani RenaudLast Updated: February 19, 2009
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Vignette StoryServer 6.0 Mon Sep 17 16:44:46 2012 Editor’s Pick 
The Healthiest Options at Fast-Food Restaurants
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Vignette StoryServer 6.0 Thu Jul 26 10:18:25 2012 Healthy & HappyDiet & FitnessFood & RecipesBeauty & StyleHealth A-ZHealth.comHealth A-ZHealthy LivingWeight LossEatingRecipesHealth NewsInside Health MagazineSweepstakesSite MapAbout UsContact UsFree NewslettersHelpAdvertise with Health.comAdvertise with Health MagazineHealth BuzzHealth Magazine Customer ServiceSubscribeTablet EditionGive a GiftRenew Your SubscriptionStay Connected to Health.comSign Up for NewslettersBecome a Fan of HealthGet Health Twitter UpdatesSubscribe to RSSJoin Healthy Voices
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“, board_url: “http://www.health.com/health/gallery/comments/0,,20396171,00.html”});Comment.render_comments_count();}); Vignette StoryServer 6.0 Mon Aug 20 11:41:40 2012 S
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E SweepstakesHealth NewsettersSubscribeHealthy & HappyNews & ViewsFamilyHome and TravelMind and BodyMoneySex and RelationshipsDiet & FitnessFitness • Cardio • Strength • YogaWeight Loss • Diets • Dieting TipsFood & RecipesEating • Cooking • Nutrition • Restaurants and Fast FoodsRecipesBeauty & StyleBeauty • Skincare • Hair • Makeup • StyleCelebrity • Celebrity Tips • Celebrity HealthHealth A-ZAlzheimer’s DiseaseAsthmaBipolar DisorderBirth ControlBreast CancerChildhood VaccinesCholesterolChronic PainCold, Flu, and SinusCOPDCrohn’s DiseaseDepressionDiabetes (Type 2)FibromyalgiaGERDHeadaches & MigrainesIncontinenceMenopauseOsteoarthritisOsteoporosisRheumatoid ArthritisSexual HealthSleep DisordersUlcerative ColitisMore ConditionsMagazineCurrent IssueSubscribeTablet EditionArchiveGive a Gift SubscriptionCustomer ServiceMedia KitAge-Proof Your BonesHome >> Food & Recipes >> Eating >> Restaurants >> America’s Healthiest >> Vignette StoryServer 6.0 Wed Aug 22 18:30:09 2012 America’s HealthiestAmerica’s HealthiestHealthiest FoodsAdvice from Dr.OzHealthiest SpasMore! Comments: Add | Read 
Credit: mcafedechaya.com
1 of 7
Healthy local eats
By Tracey Minkin and Frances Largeman-Roth, RD
These independent restaurants are trail-blazers of healthy eating.
Los Angeles: M Café
mcafedechaya.com
7119 Melrose Ave.
Remember your macrobiotic friends who eschewed refined sugar, eggs, and dairy, and their noble (but bland) dinner parties? Meet your new BFF: This café makes macrobiotic cuisine incredibly tasty fare.
Next: Berkeley, California: Chez Panisse
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“, board_url: “http://www.health.com/health/gallery/comments/0,,20331905,00.html”});Comment.render_comments_count();}); Vignette StoryServer 6.0 Mon Aug 20 11:41:40 2012 S
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1 of 17Superfoods for superwomen
By Laurie Herr
From Health magazine
You love to eat, but you also love to feel great. You can do both if you choose foods that make you smarter, leaner, strongerand then use them in tasty new ways.
We’ve made that easy to do with Health’s top 10 superfoods for women. They were selected by our panel of experts for their mega benefitsfrom bone building and energy boosting to fat busting and disease fighting.
What’s even more delicious: When you mix and match these America’s Healthiest choices, you get super combos with even more powera breakfast that’s good for your heart, a dinner that fights cancer, a sweet treat that helps keep your tummy calm and mind sharp. Plus, we’ve rounded up 15 delicious, benefit-packed runners-up, too. So read on (and start eating) for a super you.
Next: Wild Alaskan salmon
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View the Original article
Who hasn’t unwrapped a sandwich while driving down the highway or pulled a hard U-turn into a fast-food joint on the way home from a late meeting or soccer game? We practically live in our cars, so we need quick food, and please, we’d like it to be healthy.
Well, guess what: We surveyed the nation’s 100 largest fast-food chains, as defined by the number of locations, and found many are creating menus that look more and more like what we’d cook ourselves (if we had the time)—from nutritious soups and healthy salads to fresh whole grains and sensible desserts. Even better: They’re offering good-news Mexican, Asian, and Mediterranean fare.
Using criteria that was created with the help of our expert panel, we scored the chains on such factors as the use of healthy fats and preparations, healthy sodium counts in entrees, availability of nutritional information, and the use of organic produce to determine the 10 highest-ranking restaurants.
One big surprise: A traditional fast-food chain, McDonald’s, cracked our top 10. Sure, it’s the home of the Big Mac, but did you know it also serves a mean yogurt-and-granola parfait? Here, the standouts that are making grabbed food healthy food.
#1 Panera Bread
Over 1,230 locations nationwide (and in Canada)
This bakery-cafe-based eatery wowed our judges with a comprehensive menu of healthy choices for every meal. “Variety makes it easy for everyone to choose healthy,” praises registered dietitian and panelist Marisa Moore. What does that mean for you? For starters, you can pick from two whole-grain breads for your sandwich and have an apple with it instead of chips (though the chips are fine, too—they can be baked!). Half-size soups, salads, and sandwiches make it a cinch to control portion size. Also, most of the chicken is antibiotic- and hormone-free, a rarity for large chains.
Panera also won top honors for kid fare, dishing out RD-approved crowd-pleasers like squeezable organic yogurt, PB&J (with all-natural peanut butter), and grilled organic cheese on white whole-grain bread.
We love: Delicious, nutrient-packed combos like a half–Turkey Artichoke on focaccia bread with a bowl of black bean or garden vegetable soup.
Danger zone: Sticky buns and cheese danishes are on display at the counter.
View this article as a gallery.
#2 Jason’s Deli
206 locations in the West, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, South
How did this up-and-comer snag second place? Largely because of its devotion to organic food: About one-fifth of all its ingredients are organic, from blue-corn tortilla chips and whole-wheat wraps to field greens and spinach. Plus, its creative salads—like the Nutty Mixed-Up Salad with organic field greens, grapes, chicken breast, feta cheese, walnuts, dried cranberries, pumpkinseeds, raisins, and organic apples—make you actually want to order the greens.
Our judges applauded the portion-control option: Reduced sizes of, say, a stuffed baked potato, are $ 1 less. Jason’s menu also highlights ultrahealthy sandwiches and provides the nutitional info.
We love: Being able to build any sandwich on an organic whole-wheat wrap.
Danger zone: High-sodium counts on some sandwiches; if sodium is a concern, stick to the ultrahealthy choices.
#3 Au Bon Pain
280 locations nationwide
A pioneer in healthy fast food, Au Bon Pain serves up sandwiches, soups, salads, and hot entrees made with whole grains, veggies, and hormone-free chicken.
New this year: Portions, a 14-item menu of nutritious small plates—from appetizers like apples, blue cheese, and cranberries to salads like chickpea and tomato—all of which are less than 200 calories. Another impressive feature: Au Bon Pain provides on-site nutritional information via computer kiosks, so before you even order you know each option’s calories, fat, and sodium. “It’s a great way to empower customers,” praises judge Amy Jamieson-Petonic.
We love: Yummy low-cal soups, from Jamaican Black Bean to Fire Roasted Exotic Grains and Vegetables.
Danger zone: The sodium counts can get high if you don’t pay attention.
#4 Noodles and Company
204 locations in West, Midwest, South
Noodles and Company isn’t your typical greasy Asian food-court joint. In fact, it goes beyond Asian fare and cuts out the grease (only healthy soybean oil is used in sauteing). Here, you choose from three food types: Asian, Mediterranean, or American, then within each style, pick from four noodle bowl options. Lean proteins—hormone- and antibiotic-free chicken, beef, shrimp, and organic tofu—can be added, too.
The result? Tasty combos like Japanese Pan Noodles with broccoli, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, Asian sprouts, and sauteed beef. Also key: “You don’t have to chow down on a giant bowl of noodles. You can opt for a small portion,” says judge Frances Largeman-Roth, RD, Health’s Senior Food and Nutrition Editor. The small Bangkok Curry bowl has just 250 calories.
We love: The whole-grain linguine—usually hard to find when eating out.
Danger zone: The desserts. The only options are two kinds of cookies and a Rice Krispy Treat bar that checks in at 530 calories and 19 grams of fat!
#5 Corner Bakery Cafe
111 locations in West, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, South
What sets Corner Bakery apart? A fantastic breakfast menu, which is rare in the quick-serve world. We love the Farmer’s Scrambler: eggs scrambled with red and green bell peppers, red onion, mushrooms, potatoes, and Cheddar cheese. (It’s only 260 calories when ordered with egg whites.) There’s also Swiss oatmeal, a chilled European breakfast cereal made with rolled oats, green apples, bananas, currants, dried cranberries, low-fat yogurt, and skim milk.
But Corner Bakery also has healthy salads, sandwiches, and soups made with whole grains, fresh, lean meats, and vegetables, as well as great portion-controlled combinations that make limiting calories a no-brainer.
We love: Healthy oven-roasted chicken that comes on most pastas and salads.
Danger zone: You have to go to their Web site to get nutritional info.
#6 Chipotle
800+ locations nationwide
Buffet-style Chipotle gives every customer complete control over her burrito, taco, or salad. (Take that, Taco Bell!) And you get to build it with fresh, local ingredients. In fact, Chipolte won high marks for its commitment to organics, hormone- and antibiotic-free meats, and produce sourced from local suppliers, which is revolutionary in a chain this big. Many of its entrees can be low-sodium, if you choose add-ins such as the fajita veggies and green tomatillo salsa.
We love: Burrito Bowls, which let you skip the tortilla—and the extra carbs.
Danger zone: The dark side of a buffet is that you can go wild. So you have to go light on cheese and sour cream.
#7 Atlanta Bread
106 locations in 24 states (Southeast, West, and North)
Someone at Atlanta Bread must be a Seinfeld fan: There are muffin tops (half the size of regular muffins) on its breakfast menu—the low-fat pumpkin muffin top has only 200 calories, compared with 320 to 640 calories for regular-size muffins. But this chain’s got more going for it than skinny muffins. This innovative bakery also features whole-grain bread, fresh sandwiches (including paninis), and hearty, healthy soups and salads. It earned high marks for great sides, too, including fire-roasted black bean and corn salad.
We love: The entree salads like Salsa Fresca Salmon Salad: grilled wild Alaskan salmon filet on greens with fire-roasted black bean and corn salsa and a pineapple-mango vinaigrette.
Danger zone: Pasta entrees at some locations are offered with bread … that’s a whole lotta carbs!
#8 McDonald’s
14,000 locations nationwide
Among the big burger-based chains, McDonald’s is leading the way in overhauling its menu to offer more heart- and waist-friendly fare. Take the Happy Meals, which you can order with a side of apple dippers (with low-fat caramel) instead of fries and low-fat milk or fruit juice instead of soda. (Now the trick is just getting your kid to go for them!) And if you’ve gotta have fries, McDonald’s are made in a healthy canola-blend oil and come in at just 230 calories for a small.
The Grilled Chicken Classic sandwich and wraps are healthy choices, too (just skip the mayo or sauce). So is the salad with Paul Newman low-fat balsamic vinaigrette. Registered dietician Moore notes that an Egg McMuffin, at 300 calories, is a smart alternative to other “calorie-laden biscuit breakfasts.” And our whole panel commends McDonald’s for spelling out the nutritional information right on the back of its tray liners.
We love: The chain’s 260- to 270-calorie Snack Wraps (choose grilled chicken) for protein without a lot of unwanted carbs.
Danger zone: Although McDonald’s made our list, this is still the land of supersizing and giant sodas. It’s up to you to request a small.
#9 Einstein Bros. Bagels
649 locations nationwide
OK, we all know that bagels are pretty high-carb, but slathering cream cheese or butter on them is what really gets you into trouble. No worries at this chain: Einstein Bros. offers healthier alternatives like reduced-fat shmears, hummus, and peanut butter—a great way to add healthy fat to breakfast (or lunch). It also serves a Good Grains bagel that has an impressive 4 grams of fiber.
In the mood for a salad? You can order any in a half-size. For kids, our panel of judges gave a thumbs-up to the bagel dog (picture a Pig-in-a-Blanket with bagel-style bread as the “blanket”) and a fruit salad upgrade.
We love: The high-fiber Veg Out on a sesame seed bagel.
Danger zone: “Overstuffed” size sandwiches are a calorie nightmare.
#10 Taco Del Mar
270 locations in 22 states
You may have noticed that Baja-style Mexican cuisine—think: fresh ingredients and fish instead of beef and chicken—is a growing trend. Whole grains are easy to get here, with whole-wheat tortillas available as an alternative in burritos. The chain gets high marks for its new 320-calorie chicken burrito, available at most locations. Our judges were also impressed that Taco Del Mar banned lard from its beans and bakes its fish and taco shells instead of frying them.
We love: The 460- to 555-calorie Mondito-size burrito, which fills you up but keeps fat and sodium in check.
Danger zone: The breakfasts. In particular, steer clear of the Mondo Breakfast Burritos, which are more than 1,000 calories.
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Eating – Health.com
True or false: The rate of women in the U.S. who die because of complications related to pregnancy or childbirth has declined in the past 20 years.