It's flu season! Everyone knows to wash their hands and cover a cough - right? But, did you know that eating well and staying well-hydrated are just as important to avoiding the flu virus? Try these good nutrition strategies to feel better this winter. How to Eat Well When you choose foods with nutrients that boost your body’s immune system, like vitamins A, C, and folic acid, good things happen in your body to avoid the flu. By simply eating more fruits and vegetables - fresh, canned, frozen - you will benefit. Here are some delicious options: Fresh … [Read more...] about Eat Well and Stay Well Hydrated to Avoid the Flu this Winter
The Spring Farmer’s Market has Healthy Nutrition Choices for Everyone
The Market Opens in May There's something very exciting going on in May - that is, in addition to the Kentucky Derby, a new baseball season, and many college graduations. I'm talking about the season of local Farmer's Markets opening and blooming with vibrant colors, amazing flavors, top-quality nutrition, and fun for everyone. It has become a 'thing' these past 3-5 years to meet your friends, buy a vegetable, and meet a farmer on Saturday mornings at the Market. But, it was weeks and months before May that local farmers got started... Starting the Crops As winter transitions to spring, … [Read more...] about The Spring Farmer’s Market has Healthy Nutrition Choices for Everyone
5 Meals to Cook on the Grill for a Healthier Lifestyle
Grilling Makes Good Nutrition Easy As a registered dietitian, I'm into healthier ways to cook. So, the grilling season opens lots of possibilities for me. The great thing is that most everyone I know likes to grill out, so the outdoor cooking season broadens their repertoire of healthy meals, too. Think about it -- with grilling, the fat drips away from center-plate favorites like steak, salmon, or chicken. This means fewer calories and less potentially harmful fat. The grill offers tons of variety of side options, too, like asparagus, skewered mushrooms, a sweet potato, or colorful Bell … [Read more...] about 5 Meals to Cook on the Grill for a Healthier Lifestyle
10 Tips for Using Spices and Herbs
Are you an herbs-and-spices kind of cook? With all the good news about how they boost the immune system and lower risk for chronic disease, you'll want to use herbs and spices in your kitchen everyday. But how? 10 Easy Tips for Using Spices and Herbs - Getting Started Get started for using more spices and herbs by tossing out your very old ones. If they've been in your pantry for >3 years, then out they go. Next, go to the grocery store and buy new ones, two per shopping trip. If you see a sale, then buy three. Little by little, you'll own an assortment of fresh and flavorful spices … [Read more...] about 10 Tips for Using Spices and Herbs
Cooking in a New Kitchen
It takes determination and desire to break-in a new kitchen and the results are definitely worth it. My Cooking Mistakes While living in northwest Spain this fall, I'm finding out that cooking in a new kitchen is not so easy. I've already made a ton of mistakes like these: Letting the rice boil over and make a mess Burning part of the eggplant I was trying to sauté Measuring the salt incorrectly, without a proper measuring spoon Running out of eggs when I wanted to make a Spanish Tortilla Omelet Missing the spices I needed to make a chickpea burger … [Read more...] about Cooking in a New Kitchen
Keep it Simple in the Kitchen for Better Nutrition
Trends come and go, yet what will always make sense for achieving better nutrition is to Keep it Simple in the Kitchen. As a registered dietitian, I meet many people who want to find and follow a path to better nutrition. Some people invest a little in their effort and others invest a lot of energy and resources. For some goals in life, a bigger cash investment leads to better success. Yet with nutrition, it isn't necessarily true. Let's take a look at a Keep it Simple Approach to Better Nutrition for everyday people who lead busy lives. The energy investment is reasonable as is the cash … [Read more...] about Keep it Simple in the Kitchen for Better Nutrition