American grocery stores devote entire aisles to grain products, including crackers, cereals, bread, and buns. Most of these items are made from common grains like wheat or oats, but many are also refined, which strips the whole grain of its protein, fiber, and vitamins. Whole grains such as wild rice, steel cut oats, and Einkhorn [...]

Continue Reading →

Are the feelings of “I have no time to cook” or “I am too tired to cook” preventing you from making home cooked meals during the week? Working parents especially find the thought of cooking dinner at the end of a long day to be overwhelming. The good news is that making home cooked, healthy [...]

Continue Reading →

If you think that changing your eating habits will be difficult, you are not alone. Who wants to follow a list of “don’ts” from the food police telling you not to eat your favorite foods? As a registered dietitian, I work with people of all ages to dispel this concern. Whether it is a young [...]

Continue Reading →

There’s not just one diet, food item, dietary supplement, pill, or powder that fits all or is a fix all. Food/nutrition and its impact on our health is much more complex than that. An example of this is the connection between diet and our microbiota. The term microbiota refers to the collection of microorganisms (including, [...]

Continue Reading →

Some of life’s most embarrassing problems are a lot more common than we think. Approximately one in seven adults suffer from gastrointestinal problems such as gas and bloating, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and functional diarrhea. These symptoms can be painful and disruptive to normal activities. There has been research suggesting that a low FODMAP diet [...]

Continue Reading →

It’s well-established that increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables is good for you. A review of studies has shown that eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day can decrease the risk of stroke by 26%, as well as reduce the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. One study done in [...]

Continue Reading →

It’s flu season. Staying healthy should be a top priority, especially for those of us who come in contact with people who have weakened immune systems. Many factors play a role in whether or not you will fall victim to the dreaded flu this year, including your diet. While foods alone won’t guarantee your health [...]

Continue Reading →

Holidays are filled with favorite foods, family traditions, and fun. However, it can also be a busy time of year with worries about how to stay healthy. Here are some tips for healthy holiday cheer. Meals: Stick to your normal routine and don’t skip meals to save room for later. Eat most of your meals [...]

Continue Reading →

With the burdens of work, commuting, and school activities, it can be difficult to find time to sit down to enjoy a meal as a family.  Yet, there can be very positive outcomes from making the effort to do so.  Here are just a few examples: Families who eat together tend to include a greater [...]

Continue Reading →

With our busy schedules, it can be a challenge to pack healthy lunches for ourselves and our kids. Here are a few tips to help get the new academic year off to a smooth start for everyone in your family: Make your list and shop for the week ahead of time. Figure out your lunches [...]

Continue Reading →

Humans have relied on salt for thousands of years. Throughout history, it has been used for everything from currency to preserving foods. In fact, the history of salt runs so far back that the word “salad” comes from the ancient Romans, who would salt leafy vegetables. Salt is actually the name for the chemical compound [...]

Continue Reading →

The benefits of a vegetarian diet have been well researched and the results have been positive. The American Society of Nutrition and Dietetics announced this year that a vegetarian diet can reduce the risk of death from ischemic heart disease and lower your chance of having Type II diabetes or hypertension. It can also decrease [...]

Continue Reading →