On the Table:It's shaping up to be a cardiac summer. In my circle of family and friends, we've had one triple bypass, one myocardial infarction and one blocked artery.

Traditional-calendar school is out. For kids and teens, that means days will be less structured for the next few months.

On the Table:For some people, arthritis is a pain in the big toe.

On the Table:Need a weight-loss buddy? Call your dog.

Hobbs:Some people try to defy the years by going under the knife. Here's a better idea: Use your knife and fork.

Hobbs:For any number of reasons -- the economy, health or as gesture of support for a more environmentally friendly way of life -- we're expecting to eat more veggies more often this season.

On the Table:We're a nation of pill-poppers. The nutritional supplement industry estimates that Americans spend more than $6 billion every year on vitamin- and mineral-packed pills, gelcaps, powders and tablets.

Hobbs:'Killer meat," said The Los Angeles Times headline, one of several that grabbed our attention in major newspapers last week.

Hobbs:Bulbous bottles of pomegranate juice beckon from end-aisle displays in the supermarket.

Hobbs:A colleague recently asked me to settle a food fight she was having at home. "We're having the war of the corn dogs," she said.

It's possible to get a home-style meal when you're away from home. If you know where to look, you needn't go much farther than just off the interstate.

Hobbs:Now may be the time to put your grocery cart on a Depression diet.

Hobbs:In a victory for public health after a decades-long campaign by consumer advocates, artery-clogging trans fat has all but disappeared from packaged foods in the U.S.

Hobbs:With freezing temperatures still a threat, it doesn't seem like the time to think about planting peas and carrots.

Hobbs:The biggest enemy of your waistline may be the sweet tea you order at lunch, the soft drink you sip all day, the sports drink you guzzle after a run or that margarita you enjoy when you go out to eat.

Hobbs:National discussions of energy and economic policies get plenty of attention in the news media. Health care gets regular coverage, too.

On the Table:It's a new year and a time of change for our nation. Harness the optimism and make it a time of change at home by taking steps to improve your diet and health.

On the Table:We're entering the holiday home stretch, when drop-in guests can send you dashing to the grocery store for snacks and hors d'oeuvres.

On the Table:Bake that pie and eat it, too -- without compromising your health-supporting diet.

On the Table:Here comes the pep talk. It's the discussion about how to enjoy the holiday season without feelings of remorse about what you ate.

On the Table:Stuck for holiday gift-giving ideas? This year, keep it very simple.

On the Table:This month's election results hold hope for fixing some of our nation's most vexing problems, including breakdowns in our financial, health care and educational systems.