Summer has a way of inspiring healthier grill foods and one choice for better nutrition can lead to another and another. 3 Easy Ways to Choose Better Nutrition this Summer When summer comes, a lot of us feel that making a positive change for healthier nutrition can be a reality and this is definitely true. I encourage you to choose Mediterranean nutrition by hopping into your kitchen and taking action with the 3 easy ways described below. 1st Easy Way: Add Veggies to Your Grill Grilling season is here to stay for many months. The easy way to succeed with a healthier meal is to add … [Read more...] about 3 Easy Ways to Add Mediterranean Nutrition to Your Summer
Plant Proteins and 3 Easy Mediterranean Meals
Plant proteins are all the buzz - and they are a perfect start to designing quick, easy, and affordable Mediterranean meals. As a registered dietitian, my job is to assist, encourage, and teach clients all about food and nutrition in a customized-individualized way. I ask questions to learn about a new client's current nutrition, meals, and snack habits, and I find out about their medical and lifestyle issues that can be impacted by nutrition in a positive way. One of the questions my clients ask most often these days is about plant proteins. When they ask, I explain how handy plant proteins … [Read more...] about Plant Proteins and 3 Easy Mediterranean Meals
Cooking at Home with Mediterranean Ingredients
Cooking and consuming better nutrition starts with a home kitchen full of great ingredients, Mediterranean style. The easiest way to shift to high quality, Mediterranean nutrition is to transition your home kitchen's ingredients. This begins with a focused effort to replenish your dry pantry, fridge, and freezer. A Dry Pantry with Better Nutrition The dry foods in your kitchen are important to every meal. To improve their quality, Mediterranean style, try a few changes at a time. Here are 3 steps to take: Add more canned or dried beans, lentils, and nuts Expand your … [Read more...] about Cooking at Home with Mediterranean Ingredients
Lentils are a Plant Protein that’s Easy to Cook and Delicious
More and more people ask me about plant proteins these days and lentils are a great choice. Lentils are new to some people so it's time to take away the mystery of this delicious food. Lentils are a meatless alternative to meat, poultry, egg, or dairy protein. They are in the category of pulses which are plant foods that include dry beans, dry peas, and chickpeas. Pulses are grown and harvested for their edible, dry seeds and each 1/2 cup of cooked pulse gives us 8-9 grams protein and 8-9 grams fiber. They truly fit a modern lifestyle because they are quick and easy to prepare and easy on … [Read more...] about Lentils are a Plant Protein that’s Easy to Cook and Delicious
A Tasty Little Marinade for Chicken, Steak, Seafood and Veggies
Since so many of us enjoy a dinner from the grill, here's an easy and tasty marinade recipe to love. I see two big advantages to having a go-to marinade recipe. The first is that marinating chicken or steak or fish or shrimp forces us to have a plan for dinner hours ahead of time - when marinating ideally begins. The second is that having a trusted recipe on hand erases the worry of how the final flavor will turn out -- it's always a big success. Here is a marinade that fits just about everything that's a protein food. For veggies, it works as a delicious brush-on-when-grilling … [Read more...] about A Tasty Little Marinade for Chicken, Steak, Seafood and Veggies
7 Ways to Enjoy Apples and Pears in Healthy Meals
Is there anything nicer about late summer and fall than new-season apples and pears? I don't think so. Most people know that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But, did you know that a pear a day can do the same? Apples and pears share a nutritional benefit called fiber which is especially important to digestive health, nutrient absorption, and appetite control. In fact, if you eat a medium sized apple or pear, you'll consume 5-6 grams of fiber along with about 100 calories. Also, there are plant-based phytochemicals in apples and pears and research shows that they can protect us … [Read more...] about 7 Ways to Enjoy Apples and Pears in Healthy Meals