Healthier veggie prep We all know vegetables are healthy, but some ways of preparing them are healthier than others. In general, cooked beats raw, CNN reports, noting, “Studies show the process of cooking actually breaks down tough outer layers and cellular structure of many vegetables, making it easier for your body to absorb their nutrients.” And while the ideal method may differ slightly for different vegetables, the news site reports, as a rule of thumb it’s often best to steam (don’t boil) or microwave your veggies and “keep cooking time, temperature and the amount of liquid to a minimum.” Then throw in a wee bit of olive oil and you’re good to go. Best ‘metabolic start’ Eating for two may require some restraint. Women who gain an excessive amount of weight (more than 40 pounds) or have elevated blood sugar levels during pregnancy may “imprint” their children with obesity – increasing the children’s risk of obesity later even if they are born at a normal weight — a new stud