August 2013 Easy Solutions: Breakfast is How Every Day Starts for the Best! I’m a hard-core believer in breakfast. I guess it goes back to my growing up years when I was not allowed to leave for school without eating a decent breakfast (Thanks, Mom!) As an adult, I gradually realized that when I ate a hearty and healthy breakfast, I had a better supply of energy all morning long. Not only that, I felt more alert and my stomach didn’t growl as much. When my son went to school, I fed him a hearty breakfast to wake him up and fuel him up. Breakfast is an essential spark that wakes … [Read more...] about It’s Back-to-School with a Healthy Breakfast!
Back-To-School with Less Sugar and More Good Nutrition!
The Love of Table Sugar! Do your kids love sugary foods and snacks? Do they go nuts for drinks that pack in the sugar? Do they expect a sweet cookie, cupcake or ice cream for dessert day-after-day? If you answered, yes, you are not alone. Sadly, sugar-rich treats are on the top of many kids' want-lists. But, table sugar isn’t what kids’ bodies need nor is it great for your dental bill. It's time to set kids up for a successful new school year, academically and nutritionally! Steering Away from Too Much Table Sugar! As a registered dietitian, I help caring parents steer their kids … [Read more...] about Back-To-School with Less Sugar and More Good Nutrition!
Back-To-School with a Healthier Macaroni & Cheese Recipe
A Home Recipe to Love I cannot imagine feeding a busy family without macaroni and cheese. It's just one of those comfort foods that everyone seems to love and it goes with everything. With the kids going back-to-school, wouldn't it be nice to find a less-processed solution than boxed mac and cheese? I hope you'll try my recipe and then teach your kids to make it, too! For other tips on making recipes healthier, click here. Super Duper Easy Mac & Cheese - Makes 8 servings Ingredients: 2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2-1/2 Cups Macaroni or Spiral Pasta, … [Read more...] about Back-To-School with a Healthier Macaroni & Cheese Recipe
Back-to-School with a Healthier and Cheaper Sandwich!
Are you tired of sandwiches? After the first week of kindergarten, my son came home and said to me, "Mom, I'm tired of sandwiches." Oh boy, I thought, what else can I use as the anchor to his healthy bag lunch? I pulled out all my most creative thoughts and came up with things like whole grain crackers with cheese, bread sticks with peanut butter and honey to dip, and a rolled sandwich on a tortilla. Are you tired of the same old sandwich? Unlike my son, I have always been more-or-less a sandwich lover. But I get tired of the same old sandwich. I vary it between tuna salad, hummus and … [Read more...] about Back-to-School with a Healthier and Cheaper Sandwich!
Featuring Pears in Your Meals and Snacks
September 2013 Easy Solutions: Pears are Worth a Look and a Taste this Fall! When was the last time you had a fresh, fall pear? A sweet and nutritious, medium-sized pear has a lot going for it such as 100 calories, 6 grams fiber, 0 fat, 0 cholesterol and 0 sodium. Here is the humble pear’s Nutrition Facts label and, just for fun, take a look at 10 different varieties of fresh pears. Try substituting pears every time you think of having an apple, like this: Pear in the kids’ school lunch box, and yours Pear for a late afternoon … [Read more...] about Featuring Pears in Your Meals and Snacks
Go Green with Greens for Good Nutrition this Fall!
Eating Seasonally! When fall is in the air, like today, I cook leafy greens. It's not that I grew up eating a lot of greens because I didn't. The only green my sister, brother and I found on our dinner plate was spinach and I wasn't too excited about it back then. When I moved south of the Mason-Dixon Line, first to Virginia and later to North Carolina, I began appreciating the special foods of the Southeast - like greens. When I got hooked on Farmer's Markets, I began craving greens of all kinds! Kinds of Greens! I especially love Swiss Chard and you can see it in the photo at the … [Read more...] about Go Green with Greens for Good Nutrition this Fall!