The focus on mental health is greater today than it has ever been. From mental health days at schools to a dedicated mental health awareness month, the knowledge and availability of resources is quickly expanding. One of those is the impact that nutrition plays on our mental health. By strategically choosing what we eat we can positively affect our mental health, and the science is available to prove it! The level of serotonin in our body is directly related to many mental health issues including phobias, depression, and anxiety. The National Library of Medicine has reported that 95% of our bo ..read more

There are thousands of weight loss books and gurus out there that will tell you exactly what to do to shed those extra pounds.  While many of them are good, sorting through it all can be overwhelming. Our bodies are complex and there are lots of factors that influence how we gain or lose weight. There is no single plan that works for everyone, and sometimes the hardest part is just getting started.  However, in choosing foods that help you stay full longer while targeting fat elimination, you’ll have a much higher chance of success in reaching your goals! By incorporating the foods d ..read more

Most of us visit the grocery store a few times a week.  Each time, we are given a choice to buy conventional produce or organic.  Should we buy organic?  Is there really a difference or is it all just hype? And is it the same for each type of produce? Fortunately, there are groups that analyze this and answer the question for us. Each year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) reviews data collected by the US Department of Agriculture and the FDA to determine which conventionally grown fruits and vegetables contain the highest levels of pesticides after being harvested. This is ..read more

Eat before you work out.  Eat after you work out.  Eat a lot of carbohydrates. Don’t eat a lot of carbohydrates.  Knowing how to fuel your body before and after a workout can be confusing. While each person is different, exercise nutrition can help you make the most of your next workout! Before you workout… Sugars are stored in our body as a short-term source of energy.  However, once those sugars are consumed, our body turns to stored fat for an energy source. If you incorporate overnight, intermittent fasting into your routine, try working out in the morning before you ea ..read more

What produce is most nutritious for my family? Frozen and fresh produce have been shown to have a similar nutritional value. And depending on how long you wait to eat your fresh produce, frozen produce can actually have a higher nutritional value.  This is because oxygen, over time, depletes vitamins and minerals.  The sooner you eat produce, the more nutrients you will gain.  For this reason, frozen can be a great alternative!  Frozen produce is often frozen close to the time that it was harvested, locking in many of those valuable vitamins and minerals.  Frozen pr ..read more

Who doesn’t want to save money? Food that is in season is more available and tends to come from farmers that live closer to where you live.  This increases supply and drives down the cost per pound.  Producers also save money on transportation costs helping to drive the cost down further.  In season produce is often a dollar or more less per pound than when it is out of season.  This can quickly add up, leaving you with more money to do the things that make you happy!  The benefits don’t stop there.  In season foods are also healthier for you.  Here’s why! Bu ..read more

Stress is our body’s way of responding to a potential threat.  When we feel threatened, our natural defenses trigger an automatic ‘fight-flight-freeze’ response.  Our body then releases hormones that help us  by increasing our concentration and improving our ability to act.  However, when stress becomes a frequent part of our lives, it plays havoc on our overall health and well-being. The American Institute of Stress reports some alarming statistics: 55% of Americans are stressed during the day (compared to 35% globally) Stress causes 57% of US respondents to feel paralyze ..read more

Often parents say ‘My son/daughter is very picky.  He/she will never eat that.’  And while that may be true today, it doesn’t have to always be the case.  Tastebuds are quite complex, and we can teach children to like to foods that are healthy just like we can teach them to like foods that are unhealthy. Let’s stop calling our children “picky eaters,” especially in their presence! Why? There’s a good chance that they will live up to that label after hearing it over and over and think that forever they will be picky. But taste preferences are NOT static, and for almost all child ..read more

Soy is a low-calorie and low-fat superfood with many recognized health benefits.  Among the most nutritious of all legumes, it is an inexpensive, vitamin and mineral-rich plant with lots of protein, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and many disease-fighting phytonutrients.  First brought to the United States by Benjamin Franklin in 1760, soy is available in many different forms including soymilk, edamame, tempeh, miso, soy nuts, and tofu.  While soy sauce is another form of soy, it is not a good source due to its minimal nutritional benefit and high sodium content.  There are fe ..read more

Every year December seems to fly by.  Between friend and family get togethers for the holidays, the weekends are booked, and many good memories are made.  It is a time of the year to be grateful for the people in our lives and the opportunity to spend time together.  Often these events are associated with a favorite dessert or a delicious holiday-themed drink.  The food is delicious and plentiful and, come January, our tight-fitting jeans are only too happy to taunt us with memories of those delicious meals.  Fortunately, here are some strategies that will allow us to ..read more