Do you look forward to the vegetables that are in season in winter? It was a nice surprise when I walked into my local produce market in the last week of January. My expectations were low as this is not really the growing season of the year. As I looked at my choices, instead of feeling frustrated and limited, I easily found fresh ingredients that work in my winter, comfort food kitchen. My lesson was this: Embrace each season of the year and buy mostly what's in-season. Left to right in my picture, I bought these vegetables: Parsnips Purple cabbage Golden Beets Red Beets … [Read more...] about Winter Vegetables Brighten Up Meals
Try These Holiday Foods for a Lighter & Healthier Twist
Holiday foods bring us into the kitchen, and that's a good thing. Putting together a healthy menu, though, can be tough. Think about your holiday party appetizer table, for example. Are there rich cheeses, sour cream dip, and mini-quiches.? Or, are there steamed shrimp, nuts, and colorful raw veggies? The second option is definitely the direction to go for an enjoyable and nutritious nibble. So, this holiday season, challenge yourself to offer lighter and healthier foods in delicious harmony with great flavor. Here's a tasty starting point: Lighter & Healthier Appetizers - Try these: … [Read more...] about Try These Holiday Foods for a Lighter & Healthier Twist
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
Better Nutrition Quality this Summer and 3 Meals to Try
Summer is a great time to focus on healthy, tasty food. So, here's a 'how to' on boosting the nutrition quality of what you choose this season. With each new season come opportunities to eat well. Summer is in the spotlight here as an example of a time for identifying favorite foods and then raising the bar on their nutrition quality. Better nutrition may involve re-making a recipe by substituting healthier ingredients. Or, re-making the sides for a meal can have a positive impact on its nutrition quality, too. Summer Favorites ... Made into Healthier Meals with a Nutrition … [Read more...] about Better Nutrition Quality this Summer and 3 Meals to Try
Waste Less Food with Consistent Meal Planning
If you want to reduce your kitchen food waste - and who doesn't - then the best solution is to consistently plan your meals. There's a lot of information these days about food waste. In fact, here is an easy to understand summary on the topic. The bottom line is that less is better and more is harmful to the landfill, the Earth, and what you spend at the retail food market. There is a solution that seems to tick all the boxes of wasting less food and getting more nutrition and it's meal planning. Taking the time to pre-think your meals for a few days at a time, write them down, grocery … [Read more...] about Waste Less Food with Consistent Meal Planning
Colorful Nutrition is Normal in Spain and It Inspires All of Us
In December, I needed to stock up on fruits and vegetables and was totally surprised at how much I got for less than 15 Euros (about $16!) In Salamanca, Spain, where I've been living for a few months, it's really fun to shop for fruits and vegetables because they are affordable, plentiful, and everyone - vendors and customers - puts an emphasis on fresh. I can shop at a very small street market, a regular grocery store, or the large Central Market, over 100 years old, which is adjacent to beautiful Plaza Major. Whatever is in season like tomatoes, sweet red peppers, and melon in the summer, … [Read more...] about Colorful Nutrition is Normal in Spain and It Inspires All of Us