Steve Chavis

A new study reported at WebMD.com says America's youth may be eating too much pizza (or just not the right kind of pizza).  So what's a college student to do?!  Ramen noodles to rescue, say KUVO interns Cindy Howard and Ryan Mecillas.

It's about the things you add, says Howard (CU-Boulder).  "When we're using the regular ramen noodles we will add some basil, some chicken, some vegetables, carrots, sprouts. We'll make it like a pho" (the Vietnamese noodle dish).

There is a difference between the stable family restaurant and the "next big thing" trendy spot that has the latest food fad on fancy, overpriced display.  With some thoughts on the former, Alfonso Nuñez from La Cueva ("The Cave") in Aurora visited "First Take with Lando and Chavis."

(Sniff, sniff)  Yes, there's a bug going around.  State epidemiologist with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Lisa Miller visited "First Take with Lando and Chavis" (at a safe distance, by telephone) with an update on the annual flu season.

"This year the (flu) outbreak started rather early, and we believe it peaked in late December, but there's still a lot of flu out there," said Miller.  But it's not all flu.

On this "Eats and Beats" Wednesday, our culinary trip around the world celebrates New Year's Eve traditional dishes.  For an Italian twist, we called on Howard Treppeda, whose menu for tonight includes the essential good luck food, beans. 

"We grew up eating lentils every New Year's Eve, and I want to share that with our guests," said Treppeda.  

Not eschewing the traditional foods of good fortune entirely, Treppeda notes, "What brings luck into it is not only the menu items.  It's the spirits, it's the music, it's the family that comes around the whole package."

In its 30th season, and it's second season as a statewide competition, the televised high school quiz game "Matchwits" is a marvel of mental capacity and reflexes.  Produced at Pueblo's Rocky Mountain PBS affiliate KTSC, Scott Jones guides the tournament to its exhilarating climax. 

"These kids are very quick," said Jones.  "They only have three seconds to answer the questions."  Fifty schools started the competition last September, and the TV show features the top 16 schools in a single elimination tournament.