Read this, not that

The second edition of

Eat This, Not That

(The Supermarket Survival Guide)

does for your ice cream, cereal, and canned-tomato choices what the first edition did for fast food. Who knew that Breyer's All-Natural Mint Chocolate Chip has literally half the calories and fat of Haagen-Dazs Mint Chip? Or that a can of Muir Glen tomatoes has far less sodium than Hunt's? You could look this stuff up. But it's more fun to flip through the photos of side-by-side comparisons, sort of like going through the mug-shot book in the precinct house.

- Rick Nichols

"Eat This, Not That," by David Zinczenko, $19.95, Rodale, Inc., www.rodalestore.com.

Set this pretty serving tray out to brighten spirits while waiting for the season to change. From Cypress Home, the glass is inset in a wooden tray.

- Maureen Fitzgerald
Garden room tray, $34, at Scarlet Fiorella, 113 S. 13th St., 215-922-1955.

nolead begins

While almonds and walnuts are terrific, nutritional snacks, it's easy to overdo with handful after handful. These 100-calorie packs provide just enough to satisfy, with a protein kick and an energy boost, to boot.

- Maureen Fitzgerald
Emerald 100-calorie packs, $3.69 for a box of seven at area supermarkets.