A client of mine messaged me this week, asking why her weight on the scale increased after she had some theater popcorn over the weekend. She had been diligently following her meal plan throughout the week, which usually helps her in her weight loss journey. The thing is, I can relate to a similar experience. We've all heard that popcorn is supposed to be a healthy snack, so what's the deal?   Truth is, it is mostly healthy! But let’s dive into the details...   We say popcorn is healthy for these reasons: It's a Whole Grain: The recommendation is to eat more whole grains becau ..read more

We've all been navigating a tumultuous journey in these past two weeks. The news and our social media feeds have bombarded us with some of the most distressing images we've seen in our lifetime. It's hard to put into words how we feel, and every day seems to bring a new layer of heartbreak. Emotional Eating: A Common Reaction to Stress I must admit, my own thoughts were quite clouded this weekend, leaving me uncertain about what to share in this week's newsletter. It was then that a client of mine came to the rescue with a message that struck a chord: "How does anyone focus on anything these ..read more

I’m writing this while I’m 6 months pregnant (almost 7 lol, I always try to count forward cause I’m excited for little booboo to arrive). The objective of this blog post is to help women feel less alone, more seen and to share my experience so far. Your body image might be something that you struggle with during this time, and I want you to know that’s ok.    The joy and gratitude that come with pregnancy are immense and it’s such a beautiful miraculous time. I’m grateful for it every single day, especially when those little kicks come in BUT that’s not to say that there are tough d ..read more

Team! If you follow me on Instagram you know what I am about to say…  I AM PREGNANT!!  Listen… Going through this first trimester and not being able to share it with you all has had me (and the baby) on our toes!    This year has been filled with the best! Traveling, turning 30, and most special, the baby!                    For all the moms out there, kudos to you! The first trimester is no walk in the park. We… I guess I can say that now… have done lots of reflection and want to share 3 discoveries we have made over the ..read more

The Perfect Physical Activity  What if I told you there was an activity that combined fitness, education, socializing, AND work? Sounds too good to be true, huh? You might even say that’s impossible… but this perfect activity does exist and it’s called WALKING.  If you prefer listening to this episode while you walk, you can find it right here. I think you’ll really get a feel of what I’m going to be talking about if you’re actually experiencing it.    Why Walking Is Perfect For Multitasking Walking is such a wholesome, simple activity that keeps you moving and, when pla ..read more

There’s nothing better than cozying up on your favorite seat after a long day with a cup of coffee and a donut. Especially this easy sweet potato baked donut! It's a great snack or dessert to take to the next holiday dinner, the weekly family gathering, or just keep them all for yourself, no judgment here! Easy, Breezy Donuts Recipe Thanks to @nutritionally.stripped, I’m going to share a recipe for super easy, baked, incredibly soft, naturally sweetened, and nutritious donuts. The not-so-secret ingredient is sweet potato! Even if you’re not the biggest fan of sweet potatoes, I ..read more

Information Overload! Have you ever felt there was information overload when it comes to fat loss and muscle gain? Everywhere you look, there’s a new piece of advice, type of trend, or a workout craze that everyone swears is the reason “they got abs”. Allow me to introduce myself and tell you why I’m qualified to share this information with you. My name is Baraa El Sabbagh, and I’m a dietician, sports nutritionist, and personal trainer in Dubai. I also have a podcast called B for Better Health where I talk to experts in the field of nutrition and fitness to bust myths and uncov ..read more

All Your Oats Questions Answered Are you struggling with preparing your healthy breakfast overnight oats? For some, this skill comes as second nature. They get a perfect mixture every time! However, there are others that can’t quite get the ratio of milk to oats right or the consistency doesn’t come out great.  I wouldn’t be your friendly neighborhood Dubai dietician if I didn’t share some secrets to make your overnight oats restaurant quality, each time!  Ever since I moved to Dubai in 2017, life has been about making things happen by saving time in different areas of my life, espe ..read more

What Is Bone Broth? Magical elixir. Protein source. Immunity booster. Call it what you want, bone broth is taking Dubai by storm. But what exactly is it? In short, it’s a liquid from cow, fish, lamb, or chicken bones made by simmering the bones in water to release its nutrients. It’s super flavourful, delicious, and most importantly, nutritious.  Our parents and grandparents used Maggi stock cubes their whole lives to flavor their food, which was high in sodium, salt, and additives. Stock cubes are used because of convenience and lack of time in preparing our own broth at home ..read more

All You Need To Know About Walnuts As a dietitian, I’m always recommending walnuts and other nuts and seeds to my clients in Dubai. At the same time, we hear so much about nuts and seeds being high in calories, so people don’t know what a daily healthy portion is anymore. I’ve also noticed over the years in Dubai that people want to know why they should be increasing their nuts and seeds consumption, and that’s my favorite part: spreading awareness. So I’m going to dive deep into the research on walnuts in specific because there’s something very special about them that I want to share with yo ..read more