GrubGirl.

Who: Monica Reinagel is the Nutrition Diva, which is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips series of podcasts and newsletters.

What: Her podcasts. I discovered them on iTunes, and you can also access them from her website.

When: At least weekly. She’s got a newsletter and the podcasts.

Where: iTunes or her website, nutritiondiva.quickanddirtytips.com.

Why:

• She debunks nutrition and healthy eating myths. Since she’s a licensed nutritionist AND a professionally-trained chef, I figured she’s more qualified than me and my healthnut friends. Living in San Francisco, it’s easy to jump on the hearsay bandwagon on latest food trends or admonitions without really understanding the real deal.

Who: Thank you, Food Network’s Healthy Eats blog!

What: Tips on easy ways to shave off some calories each day without feeling like you’re too inconvenienced. The article gives 3 ideas of how to reduce your caloric intake each day, depending on how much time (read: effort) you want to put into it.

Asking for dressings and gravies on the side just takes some verbal effort and the rest is up to the restaurant folks to handle. Another example is adding one less packet of sugar into your coffee (or your fruit dessert)… all that adds up to small changes with big effects.

I just found the National Resources Defense Council’s Mercury in Fish wallet card printout that helps you remember which type of fish typically have what types of mercury levels. In the back of my mind, I always have known that I need to eat more fish, though I can never remember which ones tend to have higher levels of mercury.

The printout also gives you recommended guidelines on how many servings you should eat (moderation is key, even with fish that can contain higher traces of mercury). It also provides some good guidelines if you want to continue eating canned tuna.

Editor’s Note: Yikes! In the fickle world of San Francisco restaurants, Art’s has already closed its doors! Bummer.

Who & Where:

Art’s Tapas + Sushi Lounge
2353 Lombard St. (at Pierce)
415-931-7900

What & When:

• Serenely hip Asian-inspired decor with roomy surroundings provide the perfect backdrop for small plates and sushi
• Happy hour happens everyday from 5:30pm – 7:00pm and then 9:00pm to closing. (Make sure you hang out in the bar or lounge area, not the seated dining room.)

Why:

• Their daily happy hour serves $0.99 oysters on the half shell (in 1/2 dozen or dozen orders only…but who eats less than that?)