More young people go the vegetarian route (USA Today) Sierra Predovich pops carrot sticks and hummus the way most teens nosh on fries. Predovich, 17, became a vegetarian at 13 and is among a growing number of children in the USA who are cutting meat from their diets, or at least cutting back. [News Source]

Healthy mom, healthy child (USA Today) The stakes have always been high for pregnant women. But lately, the stakes have gotten even higher. The newest research suggests that what women do and especially what they eat before and during pregnancy can have long-term consequences for their children. [News Source]

Still leery about buying bagged salads? Don’t be, experts say (Daily Herald) In a world filled with bleak news about the sorry state of our nutrition, here's a bright note: We're eating more leafy salads than ever before. Thanks to pre-washed, ready-to-eat bagged greens, adding a salad to dinner is as easy as pouring a bowl of cereal. [News Source]

China Loses Congressional Republicans Over Tainted-Toy Trade (Bloomberg via Yahoo! News) Oct. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Republican Representative Michael Burgess won his Texas seat five years ago as a free-trade proponent and has been a reliable vote for each of the seven market-opening agreements sent to Congress since then. [News Source]

Logic in bakery brouhaha? Fat chance. It's no surprise that a city obsessed with the past loathes change. But Philadelphia bakers' arguing a constitutional right to shorten lives with trans fat really takes the cake. [News Source]

Food cop: Love him or hate him. Those who have worked with Michael Jacobson describe him as a muckraker who will go head-to-head with restaurant chains and food companies. As executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, he's also a scientist who is known for his persistence in navigating government bureaucracy. [News Source]

Shades of green: what’s your carbon footprint? Just about everything you do, from burning a light bulb to washing a load of laundry, has an environmental impact on our planet. [News Source]

Quixtar Goes On Warpath Against Bloggers (CBS News) Quixtar, a marketing company which hires independent entrepreneurs to sell its products, has filed a lawsuit against 30 people who anonymously posted disparaging remarks about the company in blogs and online forums. [News Source]

Living longer (The Herald News) While the calendar continues its steady tick forward, strategic lifestyle choices can, in theory, roll it back. Experts say things like taking vitamins, flossing and being optimistic can help you live longer. The fountain of youth may be easier to find than you think. Some easy choices can inspire you to make the effort. [News Source]

Eating smart for an adventurous day (The Steamboat Pilot & Today) Heading out onto a lengthy snowshoe or day of skiing? Registered dieticians Pam Wooster and Jenny Thomsen have come up with a meal plan that is energy dense and nutrient-packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals to support health and an active day. [News Source]