It's probably better to skip dessert, you tell yourself as the waiter brings the check, but let's just take a peek at the menu. Soon you're three spoonfuls into a bowl of vanilla ice cream, and there's a triple-fudge brownie waiting patiently for your attention. You smile in delight with each bite, then twinge with regret for your poor belly. Months from now you'll curse yourself as you sink into a dentist's chair and grasp an armrest with trembling fingers.

As a dietitian working in the cancer unit, my patients are often very interested in nutrition. The topic of organic food stirs up a lot of questions: Should they shop organic after being diagnosed with cancer? Should they transition to an all-organic diet to stay healthy and reduce the risk of relapse moving forward? Why opt for organic in the first place? The popularity of organic foods is rising, and now almost all supermarkets have a wide variety of organic selections. Organic food categories vary: 100% organic, made with organic ingredients, etc. It can be confusing even for a dietitian. Let’s explore what the labels mean.

There’s lots of advice about what to eat once you’re pregnant, but what about before? Ideally, men and women should be well-nourished three months prior to conception for optimal pregnancy outcomes. Avoiding smoking, alcohol, and minimizing caffeine intake can all lead to a shorter time to conception and healthier babies. Diet and lifestyle choices can [...]

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If you happen to walk by, it might look like the typical downtown restaurant. But step inside and you’ll discover a whole new world. The FareStart Restaurant, located at the corner of Virginia Street and 7th Avenue in Belltown, is far more than a place that serves food; it is a culinary job training and [...]

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If you have ever strolled through the streets of Italy and stopped for lunch at a family-run restaurant or grabbed a “square” of pizza, you might have noticed one thing: the simplicity of Italian cuisine. Simple, high-quality, seasonal ingredients, cooked using simple techniques. The main idea behind Italian cuisine is to use the best ingredients [...]

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Walking through the picturesque medieval alleys of Le Mont Saint-Michelle in France. Watching the sunset among the blue domed churches of Santorini in the Greek islands. Soaking in the harmony and peace of a Japanese garden. There’s nothing quite like those experiences, but for me, no trip to another country is complete if one doesn’t [...]

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We are lucky to live in the Pacific Northwest, where an abundance of locally grown produce, livestock, seafood, and countless other foods and beverages are available. While Seattle hosts several year-round farmers’ markets, May marks the official start of the “farmers’ market” season, where you will find a bounty of fresh and seasonal foods. So, [...]

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Shaved Brussels sprout and kale salad with dried cherries. Coconut quinoa and lentil curry with lime mango and curry. Pistachio pudding. Sounds like the menu from a fancy new restaurant downtown. But these were actually homemade dishes UW faculty and staff enjoyed at potlucks throughout the month of March to celebrate National Nutrition month. We [...]

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The University of Washington Medical Center is excited to be joining a growing international initiative called Green Monday, and you’re invited! Green Monday promotes small, easy changes that make a big impact on the environment and on our own personal health. We’re starting Green Monday by focusing on vegetarian options in the Plaza Café all [...]

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Farmers markets are opening, flowers are blooming, and bees are busy at work. You know how delicious the final product is, but did you know these four facts about our bee friends and the delicious honey they whip up? Like table sugar, honey is mainly composed of the glucose and fructose. But, honey actually contains [...]

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Cinnamon is one of the most widely used spices, and it’s also one of my personal favorites. It goes well with both sweet and savory dishes, like apple pie, roast chicken, and, of course, hot chocolate. This versatile spice comes from a small tree that grows in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Brazil, Vietnam, and Egypt. [...]

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What we eat matters. But so does how, when, and why we eat. This is the message the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is promoting this March via National Nutrition Month. This year’s theme is “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right.” It encourages us “to take time to enjoy food traditions and appreciate the pleasures, [...]

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