The Power of Protein

The episode begins with a hot location intro... literally! The July temperature was 117 as host David Jackson stands atop 60 million tons of reflectively white sodium chloride at Bristol Dry Lake in the Mojave Desert. Emphasizing the importance of reducing salt in our cooking and eliminating 'hidden' sodium from our diets overall, "The Salt Show" consists of two exemplary, in-kitchen recipes, no salt chicken chili verde and low sodium orange sesame chicken.

Healthy Omega-3 fatty acids are found in a variety of fresh foods, but according to resident dietician and "Second Helpings" co-host, Elizabeth Kelsey, seafood, particularly finned fish like salmon and mackerel, is the most efficient source for our bodies. Episode three begins beside Uig Bain the Outer Hebrides, and leads the viewers through three great seafood recipes high in Omega-3's. They include mussels marinara, smoked mackerel pate, and foil roasted salmon with lemon and dill.

This episode shows viewers exactly how to satisfy a sweet tooth with creative deserts containing a healthy package of nutritionally sweet benefits, as opposed to refined white sugar which contains nothing but empty calories. "Sweet Things" opens in the arid date gardens of southern California's Coachella Valley, where David introduces three delectable desert desserts - a Mediterranean sweet/savory dessert tray, boozy oranges with a hint of chocolate and date and bourbon Chantilly cream over fresh fruit. David whips up all these yummy temptations from his kitchen studio near Palm Springs.

David Jackson reflects on the passage of time, watching himself on a mid-century television set as much younger David promotes the importance of fiber. This is from his first cooking show 35 years ago. The message is similar. Only the messenger has changed, which in point of fact makes a high fiber message all the more vital. The tasty menu includes David's delicious almost chicken soup, so loaded with hearty, healthy and fresh vegetables and beans that there's almost no room left for lean, skinless chunks of chicken breast.