This New York Times "Well Blog" post has had a huge impact on the culture of healthy eating since it was published last June. In summary, the 11 foods are: 1. Beets 2. Cabbage 3. Swiss chard 4. Cinnamon 5. Pomegranate juice 6. Dried plums 7. Pumpkin seeds 8. Sardines 9. Turmeric 10. Frozen blueberries 11. Canned pumpkin For more detailed information on why each of these foods is good for you, you can read the original blog post here. I think part of the reason this list has become so popular is that, unlike many other "you should eat this" lists, all of these foods are familiar and easily available. Turmeric, a spice often used in curry, is probably the most foreign of anything on the list. Everyone has heard of beets and frozen blueberries, and we encounter all of these foods at the grocery store on a regular basis. The second reason why this article has been a hit is that the author is right - we aren't eating them. It is one thing to understand intellectually that beets are good for you. It is quite another thing to stand there at the grocery store, eyeing a tub of rock hard fresh beets, wondering how you are supposed to pick a "good" one. Much less what to do with it when you get home. I have been experimenting with these foods in the last six months. Here is my report: 1. Beets. Like many people, I was raised on crinkle cut canned beets, and I have an instinctive "ugh" reaction to the very word. I have since had fresh beets roasted in the oven and lightly salted, and found them rather pleasant. But I have to say, I do not really care for the sweetness. I find it somehow unsettling. 2. Cabbage. Cabbage is alright, but too much of it - cooked or raw - has some rather unpleasant consequences later that night, if you know what I mean, and I think you do. 3. Swiss chard. I have learned to love swiss chard. I like to slice it thin into shreddies, and steam it with some onions, garlic, and a dash of soy sauce. 4. Cinnamon. I have always loved cinnamon. Recently I learned that you can sprinkle it into your hot cocoa. Delicious! 5. Pomegranate juice. I know this is really good for you, but it gives me terrible heartburn. PASS. 6. Dried plums. I just can't get over the texture. Sorry. PASS. 7. Pumpkin seeds. I like these, and they are relatively inexpensive. I buy a little bag once or twice a month. They make nice snacks. 8. Sardines. Dude, yuck. I have tried several different kinds of sardines, in several different preparations. I just can't get over the way they smell like canned cat food. PASS. 9. Turmeric. I'm not against turmeric per se, but I have yet to find a way to introduce it into my everyday cuisine. Needless to say, I'm not much of a chef. 10. Frozen blueberries. Definitely the biggest success for me, out of everything on the list. I buy bags and bags when they go on sale, and eat them with lowfat vanilla yogurt - either in a bowl, or blended into a smoothie. 11. Canned pumpkin. I bake a loaf of pumpkin bread about once a month, and eat the entire thing within a few days, while priding myself on "being healthy." Make of that what you will.