Letters

The

"People are looking for a magic bullet, but they can't ignore the basics: eat healthy foods, exercise and stay away from fast food."
Irina Mounkes
Incline Village, Nev.

LATEST COVER STORY Mind & Body Happiness Jan. 17, 2004 Past Issues Tsunami Jan. 10, 2004 ----------------- Person of the Year Jan. 3, 2004 ----------------- Secrets of the Nativity Dec. 13, 2004 ----------------- The Stealth Killer Dec. 6, 2004 ----------------- Coolest Inventions Nov. 29, 2004 ----------------- Battle for Fallujah Nov. 22, 2004 ----------------- Four More Years Nov. 15, 2004 ----------------- The Joy Of Sox Nov. 8, 2004 ----------------- The Morning After Nov. 1, 2004 ----------------- The God Gene Oct. 25, 2004 ----------------- The Vote Battle Oct. 18, 2004 ----------------- Visions of Tomorrow Oct. 11, 2004 ----------------- The Tragedy of Sudan Oct. 4, 2004 ----------------- CBS Controversy Sept. 27, 2004 ----------------- America's Border Sept. 20, 2004 ----------------- Struggle Within Islam Sept. 13, 2004 ----------------- World of George Bush Sept. 6, 2004 -----------------   SPECIAL REPORTS  Coolest Video Games 2004  Coolest Inventions  Wireless Society  Cool Tech 2004 PHOTOS AND GRAPHICS  At The Epicenter  Paths to Pleasure  Quotes of the Week  This Week's Gadget  Cartoons of the Week More graphics >> More photos >> MORE STORIES Advisor: Rove Warrior The Bushes: Family Dynasty Klein: Benneton Ad Presidency More Stories >> CNN.com: Latest News

Thank you for the superb article about eating smarter [Oct. 20]. It certainly proved that spending millions on fad-diet books is a waste of time. Why is it that people who want to lose weight don't understand that they have to adopt eating habits they must maintain for the rest of their life? Everything they need to know was included in your reporting. After I read your story, I danced around the room, saying "Yes, yes, yes!"
Barbara Watson
Nipomo, Calif.

As a registered dietitian, I was happy to see an article about nutrition that gave sound advice. But I have two messages for our food industry: 1) many of the foods that our population should be eating — fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains — are prohibitively expensive for the working class and the poor, and 2) too much money is spent on developing and marketing inexpensive foods with no nutritional value. Food manufacturers would do well to put fewer choices on our grocery store shelves; then perhaps Americans would slim down and be healthier.
Nancy Dimond
Easton, Md.

Your article began with an account of a busy parent trying to get a quick but healthy meal to the table. Then you told us everything that was wrong with it. Where was the list of fast, healthy and child-friendly dishes that we can throw on the table after the bruising day at the office and the hair-raising commute?
Beth Tiggelaar
Grapevine, Texas

You should have explained the benefits of complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains, legumes, vegetables and fruits. These foods promote health because they are high in fiber, vitamins and minerals and low in calories. They should not be compared with the highly processed, simple carbs that are virtually empty calories. As I advise my students, Go for brown, not white, grains. Read labels. If you can't pronounce it, don't eat it. Eat whole foods. An apple does not come with a label; nature packs it with the nutrients our bodies need.
Antonia Demas, President
The Food Studies Institute
Trumansberg, N.Y.

I was surprised that animal meat and other animal products were included in your report on healthy eating. The vegan diet is the most healthful one there is. Your body can thrive on the bounty of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes and soy. Going vegan is the best way.
Laura Frisk
Encinitas, Calif.

You shed no light on a key reason people eat — to satisfy emotional needs — and hence did not advise your readers on how to deal with that problem.
Thomas Peischl
Ellensburg, Wash.

Veggies? Does that include beansies, squashies and yammies? And presumably we are to eat our fruities also? Come on! Baby talk is O.K. up to age 3, maybe, but intelligent adults use adult language. If I read or hear veggies one more time, I'm going to barfie.
Charles-Gene McDaniel
Chicago

The broccoli-wielding woman in our cover photo struck readers in a variety of ways. "The cheeky-looking beauty offering to share her entree was a nice change from the war," wrote a man from Washington State. Less approving was a Coloradan who asked, "Were you trying to suggest that broccoli is a form of foreplay for perky twentysomethings?" Other readers couldn't get past fashion. A Chicagoan quipped, "Maybe your next issue should be about the secrets of dressing smarter. Your model appears to be stuck in the 1980s." Seconding that opinion was a New Yorker who declared, "Ask any womanno one has worn earrings like that since 1984!"

China Blasts Off

I read about China's manned space program with interest and wonder [Oct. 20]. I grew up watching the Apollo launches and hoped that by now the U.S. would have made many more giant leaps into our solar system and beyond. The Apollo lunar program was a testament to mankind's curiosity, tenacity and intellect. But it demonstrated our competitive nature and paranoia about the Soviet Union's space program. Perhaps a little competition is what we need to give the National Aeronautics and Space Administration the proper funding. I wish the Chinese success in space. It can only help us all in this large universe.
Veronica Coscia
Havertown, Pa.

Does China's success in manned space flight command our respect? As long as the communist government there continues to deprive the Chinese of their basic human rights, the answer is a resounding no. It is well known that there are numerous democracy advocates, religious workers and protesters against corruption incarcerated in Chinese jails and labor camps. Whether China's space program is being developed for peace or war is yet to be seen. But freedom-loving people of the world need to be vigilant against dark forces.
Timothy Ho
Anaheim, Calif.

China's fledgling manned space program can benefit the world. As a science student, I think the research we do is for the advancement of all mankind, not for one particular country. Only through collaboration among all nations can we explore the areas that humans have never before reached.
Chan Sin Hang
Hong Kong