Thank you, New York!!!

With the induction of calories to all chain restaurants in New York, reporters have been quick to eat up (pun: intended) the now, perhaps overly, visible calorie counts appearing on menus and signage across the city.

I was lucky enough to hear on Wall Street Journal This Morning (subscribe via iTunes!) that a wonderful indulgence of mine, something I try to have when I head back to my native of Chicago, is a real, legitimate and traditional slice of Chicago style pizza. No, just because it’s deep dish does NOT mean it is Chicago style…trust me. Anyhow, I digress. My point is that I started my morning by hearing that a slice of the most famous pizza in the city, Pizzeria Uno– has 2,330 calories. Sick. Seeeeee ya Uno!

So to better lift my spirit, I loved seeing the Times’ piece today on “The 11 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating.”

Here are their recommendations- now go be bold and fill up your baskets (and stay AWAY from pizza!)

1. Beets: Think of beets as red spinach, Dr. Bowden said, because they are a rich source of folate as well as natural red pigments that may be cancer fighters. How to eat: Fresh, raw and grated to make a salad. Heating decreases the antioxidant power. ***WIT Note: A favorite salad of mine at the best neighborhood restaurant by me, Luella, combines spinach, golden beets, and pecan-crusted warm goat cheese and is completely do-able in your own kitchen. If that doesn’t make you like beets- you never will!***

2. Cabbage: Loaded with nutrients like sulforaphane, a chemical said to boost cancer-fighting enzymes. How to eat: Asian-style slaw or as a crunchy topping on burgers and sandwiches.

3. Swiss chard: A leafy green vegetable packed with carotenoids that protect aging eyes. How to eat it: Chop and saute in olive oil.

4. Cinnamon: May help control blood sugar and cholesterol. How to eat it: Sprinkle on coffee or oatmeal.

5. Pomegranate juice: Appears to lower blood pressure and loaded with antioxidants. How to eat: Just drink it. ***WIT Note: pomegranate is everywhere right now- so stock up and definitely try POM juice– it’s sweet goodness and loaded with antioxidants!***

6. Dried plums: Okay, so they are really prunes, but they are packed with antioxidants. How to eat: Wrapped in prosciutto and baked.

7. Pumpkin seeds: The most nutritious part of the pumpkin and packed with magnesium; high levels of the mineral are associated with lower risk for early death. How to eat: Roasted as a snack, or sprinkled on salad.

8. Sardines: Dr. Bowden calls them “health food in a can.’’ They are high in omega-3’s, contain virtually no mercury and are loaded with calcium. They also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese as well as a full complement of B vitamins. How to eat: Choose sardines packed in olive or sardine oil. Eat plain, mixed with salad, on toast, or mashed with dijon mustard and onions as a spread.

9. Turmeric: The “superstar of spices,’’ it may have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. How to eat: Mix with scrambled eggs or in any vegetable dish.

10. Frozen blueberries: Even though freezing can degrade some of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables, frozen blueberries are available year-round and don’t spoil; associated with better memory in animal studies. How to eat: Blended with yogurt or chocolate soy milk and sprinkled with crushed almonds.

11. Canned pumpkin: A low-calorie vegetable that is high in fiber and immune-stimulating vitamin A; fills you up on very few calories. How to eat: Mix with a little butter, cinnamon and nutmeg.