Long before Hostess Brands’ plan to shut down made Twinkies the rage, Nancy Peppin found something special about the cream-filled snack cakes.

The news is packed with headlines aghast at the recent report that Americans waste 40 percent of their food. Many are springing into action to connect food banks and shelters with restaurants, or find creative ways to compost or biofuel the leftovers. I’ve also seen reminders to “eat what you purchased.” Consumers are feeling guilty and to blame.

Contradictory messages are flying at us left and right: we're starving, we have a hunger epidemic, we're obese, diets don't work, but lose weight, but we're starving. Plus, we've got doctors afraid to tell patients they're fat, and fat people getting fatter (yes, I used the socially unpopular word).

Contradictory messages are flying at us left and right: we're starving, we have a hunger epidemic, we're obese, diets don't work, but lose weight, but we're starving. Plus, we've got doctors afraid to tell patients they're fat, and fat people getting fatter (yes, I used the socially unpopular word).

The end of the Space Shuttle program last month brought a nostalgic mood to my house. Generations of us were molded by the attainment of the impossible. My grandparents' generation experienced the first airplanes, jet travel, rockets orbiting the earth, humans walking on the moon, and landing a reusable spacecraft like an airplane. It seemed that as humans dreamed it, we did it.

The end of the Space Shuttle program last month brought a nostalgic mood to my house. Generations of us were molded by the attainment of the impossible. My grandparents' generation experienced the first airplanes, jet travel, rockets orbiting the earth, humans walking on the moon, and landing a reusable spacecraft like an airplane. It seemed that as humans dreamed it, we did it.

It's said that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. No one actually says that in front of me, because I'm known to take umbrage when I'm compared unfavorably to the arthritic, untrained dog.

It's said that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. No one actually says that in front of me, because I'm known to take umbrage when I'm compared unfavorably to the arthritic, untrained dog.

I got to thinking the other day (dangerous, I know) - just what the heck does "I'm gonna eat healthy" mean?

I got to thinking the other day (dangerous, I know) - just what the heck does "I'm gonna eat healthy" mean?