Looking to eat more plant-based protein sources? You’re in good company. According to the International Food Information Council’s 2022 Food and Health survey, plant-based diets are the fourth most common eating pattern among Americans, with 12% of us striving to go veg. There are tons of benefits to a plant-forward lifestyle, including reduced risk of…
Read MoreIt’s 5:30 on a weeknight and you’ve just crashed through the door after a stressful day. So…what’s for dinner? Will it be takeout (again)? Or the package of Top Ramen that’s been hanging around the back of your pantry like a lonely, salty ghost? Or maybe, just maybe, could there be a way to toss…
Read MoreWhen you think about the connection between stress and eating, your thoughts probably drift to the pint of ice cream down in a single sitting after a difficult day or the greasy cheeseburger crammed between errands. Though it’s true that the pressures of life can drive us toward less-than-healthy eating habits, the link between stress…
Read MoreLike most American families, mine has been hit with the sticker shock of rising grocery prices in the last few years. (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve texted my husband from the store with photos of the latest most eyebrow-raising price on frozen pizza or nuts.) For awhile now, I’ve been searching for…
Read MoreAs a child of the ‘80s and ‘90s, I’m no stranger to frozen lunches. I was raised on Stauffer’s frozen lasagnas and Marie Callendar’s frozen Salisbury steaks (served on TV trays in front of Family Feud, of course). Now, though, as a nutritionist, I tend to view frozen meals with a bit of skepticism. Convenient…
Read MoreBesides the allure of low price and high quality, Costco is also a surprising source of good-for-you foods, especially in the freezer cases.
Read MoreYour brain is, arguably, your most important organ. The gray matter inside your head not only controls all your other organs, it’s the source of your personality, memory, and intellect. Within your body, there’s nothing that doesn’t happen under its watch! Yet, in our pursuit of a healthy diet, we often focus on other goals…
Read MoreDespite modern advances in medication, much of managing diabetes still comes down to limiting the carbs you eat. Sticking to a low-carbohydrate diet helps your body keep blood sugar in a healthy range, preventing the sky-high spikes that can be so damaging to your health. If you’ve been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2…
Read MoreEven if you live nowhere close to the Mediterranean Sea, by now you’re probably familiar with the basics of the Mediterranean diet. This anti-inflammatory eating plan has earned justifiable accolades for health benefits like lowering cholesterol and helping with weight loss. But just when you thought you knew all about the world’s healthiest diet, another…
Read MoreWhen I moved to a new house 11 years ago, I was thrilled with its location near freeways and good school — but possibly even more excited at its proximity to the closest Trader Joe’s. A mere two miles were now all that stood between me and the iconic California grocery chain. And believe me,…
Read MoreThe Mediterranean diet reigns supreme as the healthiest eating plan around, sitting atop U.S. News and World Report’s 2023 rankings of the best diets overall. This eating plan’s top-dog status is largely due to its focus on minimally processed foods. Research shows that a Med diet’s whole food focus reduces inflammation—a sinister culprit behind numerous…
Read MoreLike any busy mom, I’m constantly running around from errands to appointments to football practice (my son’s, not mine!). In the hustle and bustle, it’s a near guarantee that my kids or I will find ourselves hungry at snack time. And since we usually don’t have time to stop off for a nourishing mini-meal, I’ve…
Read MoreSkincare is about so much more than finding the right acne wash. Among other factors, diet can play a significant role in the appearance of your skin. While the American Academy of Dermatology Association cautions against putting too much emphasis on diet for skin health (as in, removing a single ingredient like gluten probably won’t clear up…
Read MoreEating for heart health involves sticking to a few basic principles: cutting back on sodium and saturated fat, upping your fruit and vegetable intake, focusing on lean protein, and opting for whole grains, to name a few. Heart-healthy eating patterns like the Mediterranean and DASH diets emphasize choosing whole, minimally processed foods as much as…
Read MoreA visit to the beach isn’t complete without a cooler of cold drinks. Kicking back with your feet in the hot sand practically requires something cool to sip on! But whether you’re the designated driver or are just trying to cut back on alcohol, you might prefer to pack zero-proof beverages for your beach day.…
Read MoreFollowing a Mediterranean diet is totally worth putting in some time and effort. This anti-inflammatory eating plan centered around whole grains, seafood, fruits, vegetables, and healthy oils has benefits galore, from reducing your risk of heart disease to possibly extending your life. But in the summertime, you might not feel like heating up the kitchen…
Read MoreIf you live with discomfort in your joints, your body might feel like a rusty door hinge that just can’t seem to get enough oil. That’s because, as we age, the cartilage in our joints begins to break down and the underlying bone begins to change.
Read MoreHealthy, sustainable weight loss is usually a slow process made up of tiny little choices we make every day — even as little as our snack choices! Though snacks might seem like small potatoes compared to the content of your meals, choosing the right items to munch on contributes to weight loss in some important…
Read MoreBetween work pressures, family commitments, global political drama, and climate woes, it’s fair to say we live in a stressful world. Just getting through your everyday life can easily run you ragged. Sometimes, don’t you just want to step back and feel relaxed?
Read MoreThese days, there’s no shortage of immune-supporting supplements to choose from, and Americans are reaching for them in droves. About 58% of people over age 20 say they take supplements in general—and the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements reports that sales of immune-targeted supplements markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as folks…
Read MorePeople love to joke that spring is the shortest season: one day you’re shivering in freezing temps and a week later, you’re scorching at 90 degrees. The seemingly fleeting nature of this beloved season is one more reason to enjoy the tasty produce it has to offer — like veggies! Asparagus, radishes, peas, leeks, beets,…
Read MoreIs there any food as humble-yet-perfect as beans? Whether you’re a vegetarian or just want to incorporate more plant-based protein into your diet, beans are an immediate go-to ingredient. And when you whip up these slow cooker bean recipes for set-and-forget cooking, you can enjoy their creamy texture and ample nutrition even more conveniently. Despite…
Read MoreListening to some official reports about sugar and health, you might think that sweet foods are a curse straight from the netherworld. Greater consumption of sugar has been linked to increased risk of everything from obesity to higher odds of heart disease to disrupted mental health. These are real, serious effects of overdoing it on…
Read MoreThey say the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and the same is often true for the journey of more nutritious eating. Though some people may do well making drastic dietary changes overnight, for most of us, incremental modifications lead to greater positive change. Fortunately, taking things slow and steady doesn’t…
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