Andrew F. Smith

Periodicals: Diet-Conscious Magazines

Appears in
Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America
Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America

By Andrew F. Smith

Published 2004

  • About
The recognition of obesity as a national health problem has proved a challenge to food magazines. Confronted with the realization that many readers are increasingly concerned about their weight, editors feature foods rich in butter and cream less frequently in recipes, and scaled-down versions of favorite dishes are common. The interest in diet and fitness has also spawned several magazines devoted entirely to healthy lifestyles.

In 1950J. I. Rodale, a pioneer in the organic gardening movement, published the first issue of Prevention: The Magazine for Good Health, featuring fitness and diet information. American Health: Fitness of Body and Mind began publication in 1982, with articles on nutrition and dietary habits as well as on general health issues. In 1986 appeared the first issue of Cooking Light, an information-filled magazine written in an easy conversational style that bills itself as the world’s largest epicurean magazine. Dozens of delicious and nutritious recipes along with down-to-earth fitness tips appeal to readers who prefer not to give up good food in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Recipes provide nutritional breakdowns along with accurate and useful culinary information and are accompanied by beautiful photographs designed to show that low-calorie dishes can be appealing. Articles feature healthy exotic vegetables like edamame, the young green beans of the soy plant, and sautéing techniques that don’t sacrifice flavor to nutrition.