This week’s Ruby began with Ruby chatting with her ex-boyfriend Denny on the phone, which is then followed by one of her “Women’s Fat Night” meetings with some of her heavy friends discussing sex. Then, the bombshell was dropped: Ruby is a virgin.

The declaration opens up all kinds of intrigue and speculation. Sure, the most obvious is wondering what kind of depth of emotional pain one must have to be a virgin at 47. Secondly, how could someone be in a relationship for more than eight years, as was the case with her ex Denny, and not have sex? Their relationship is already intriguing in that you’re looking at a fit guy with a woman who was once 700+ pounds.

While some people may not want to actually say it, that certainly must make most of us wonder. Could he have been a genuinely good person who saw her for who she is on the inside, and not minded her physical shortcomings? Sure. But, the realist – or perhaps cynic – in me has to wonder about his motives. Not that they were necessarily bad, but everyone has to be surprised by the relationship.

Call it brilliant marketing and timing, but the makers of The Fresh Diet are bringing their delivery services to the nation’s capital at a time when Michelle Obama is taking a high-profile stance against childhood obesity, thanks to her new organization Let’s Move.

The marketing brilliance not only comes with how the company has timed the move to expand their services to Washington, D.C. as a way to hop on board with first lady Michelle Obama’s initiative, but the press release announcing the move cleverly states that the gourmet delivery service “unites” with the First Lady’s battle against obesity. No, they aren’t tied to Mrs. Obama’s efforts in any formal way, but both parties share a common and noble goal.

“It seemed like the perfect time to do this, particularly as the First Lady has made obesity – especially among our children, a key issue during her tenure in the White House,” says Zalmi Duchman, CEO of The Fresh Diet.

I must confess that until this week’s episode, I have only seen Ruby sporadically, and usually only parts of each episode that I stumbled upon. My first impression was that she was so sweet. She has the stereotypical Southern charm, and such a sweet disposition that you can’t help root for her.

Ruby’s show is a 180 from The Biggest Loser, in that it doesn’t share the same combative nature or personalities that are antagonistic. It’s not a competition, rather a sort of open diary as you watch Ruby go through daily struggles and triumphs.

The early drama in season three of Ruby is her struggle with repressed childhood memories – her entire first 13 years. This episode, she and her friends took a road trip to her childhood home in Mississippi. The interesting twist is that she is facing her demons in more ways than one. Not only is she investigating her mysterious childhood, but Mississippi is also the heaviest state in the country, and in Ruby’s case, filled with dietary landmines.

One of the biggest complaints about eating healthy is that it costs a lot of money. While there is an element of truth to that, if you are going organic, it is a misnomer to think that you have to shed zeros on your account balance to shed weight around your waist.

First, you need a basic “hunting and gathering” strategy when you enter your local grocery store. Experts have long pointed out that the best strategy is to stick to the periphery of the store, where most of the healthy items reside. If you’re trying to save money, and who isn’t in these lean economic times, here are a few healthy food suggestions that won’t break the bank:

Beans - I love black beans and rice. And if you pair them up with whole-grain brown rice, you have yourself a healthy and cheap side dish.

Bananas - I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who thinks bananas aren’t a tasty snack. And, you don’t have to wait for them to be in season. At about 70 cents a pound, you have a great source of fiber and potassium. And, a diet rich in potassium is believed to reduce the risk of hypertension and stroke. Extra savings tip: use them before they go bad. Add ripening bananas to a smoothie or banana bread.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, better known as MIT, is world renowned for its brilliant students and faculty. They are also known for innovative student projects that result in interesting inventions.

The Cornucopia, esoterically referred to as a “3D printer for food,” is a grad-student project concocted by Marcelo Coelho and Amit Zoran that has canisters attached to the top of the apparatus containing food and flavoring. The canisters refrigerate and store the user’s favorite ingredients. The Cornucopia mixes precise amounts of ingredients from the canisters to produce food.