"consumerreports" news and stories

Quite often, the things on which Consumer Reports reports don't make it online (or it's by subscription only), but since they tested casual dining restaurants - one of the most popular sectors of dining - it's no surprise that the story has popped up. Casual dining restaurants range from lower priced Cracker Barrel and Denny's to more upscale chains, like Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. They're popular because not only do they offer a familiar option to hungry patrons, but you generally know exactly what you're going to get and how much it costs before you walk in the door. This can be a huge asset for diners on a budget.

CR grouped the chains by the type of food they offered and their price level, then rated them based on the survey results from 66,000 readers who ate 149,000 meals over the course of a year. If you're familiar with the magazine, you already know that they go into great detail on all the things that they review, so this piece doesn't even cover half of the info in the article. To get the full story, pick up a copy the next time you're out at the newsstand, but I'll share their quick picks for special occasions, where the food and service justify higher prices, and "good food at a good price", where price and quality hit an equilibrium:

Consumer Reports recently ran a helpful article about buying organic produce on a budget. Actually, the bulk of the article details recent developments in the organic food industry such as the recent weakening of organic standards and the debate over Horizon dairy products.

Aside from a brief overview of what "organic" means when it comes to vegetables, meat and dairy, the article gives some insight into what the health benefits of an organic diet may or may not be. It also points out certain vegetables, such as asparagus and broccoli, that, even when grown conventionally, have such low levels of pesticides that buying organic versions seems unnecessary.

The piece ends with several tips for finding less costly organic produce. Suggestions include buying direct from farmers through local markets and CSAs or simply comparison shopping among the stores that offer organic foods in your area.