It may be smelly but garlic sure is healthy! Today is National Garlic Day and what better way to celebrate this medicinal herb then by incorporating it into your favorite dish?   Dating back to at least 6,000 years ago, garlic has been a staple in many different cultures. Garlic can be used as a…

Yesterday, April 16th, was the Day of the Mushroom! These days, mushrooms are becoming an increasingly popular food. Although they are typically categorized with vegetables, mushrooms are actually fungi.   These fungi have a long history of use as food and medicinally. Mushrooms have been used for several thousand years, dating back to ancient Egypt,…

Soy has gained a lot of attention in recent years, as it is a healthy alternative source of protein for those who maintain a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle.  However, soy foods are not just for the vegetarian, it can be incorporated into anyone’s meal plan, whether you eat meat or not.  To help people become…

April is Stress Awareness Month! This month is dedicated to increasing awareness of the causes and coping methods related to stress. Stress affects everyone in some way or another. Whether you feel stressed over a deadline at work, the responsibility of planning a party, or long-term stress over things you have trouble coping with, stress…

There’s No “Beeting” Around It By Charna Sheinfeld,  Nutrition Intern There’s no “beeting” around the bush when it comes to beets! Both the beet root and its greens are loaded with vitamins, antioxidants, and heart healthy components.  Many people shy away from beets because of its bright color and somewhat intense and sweet taste. However…

It is time to bring out your gardening tools – April is National Garden Month!   April is typically the time to start planting your summer fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Gardening is a great outdoor activity that can be done with friends and family of any age. If you are new to gardening, try starting…

Nowadays, with strict emphasis being placed on green leafy veggies, there is one green vegetable that tends to go unnoticed: celery!  In celebration of National Celery Month, I felt I should take the time to highlight the healthful benefits of celery which by the way go beyond using it as a side on your plate…

There have been many things to celebrate this month, such as daylight savings time giving us more daylight and the spring equinox (slowly) bringing us warmer temperatures. We also get to celebrate National Sauce Month! This is a time to explore new sauces and flavors, plus a time to make some healthier choices when dressing…

Yesterday, March 26, was Spinach Day! While you may not be interested in eating spinach straight out of a can like Popeye, the health benefits of spinach are worth giving it a try in a few different recipes.   You may remember Popeye eating a full can of spinach to gain super strength. Although you…

Between 1980 and 2011 the number of newly diagnosed cases of diabetes among people ages 18-79 has more than tripled.  With the incidence of diabetes on the rise, the American Diabetes Association promotes Diabetes Alert Day®, a nationwide one day “wake-up call” to urge the public to find out if they are at risk for…

Today I would like to open up a conversation on a topic that I am passionate about. I’m talking about the priceless benefits of making mindful eating and lifestyle changes to improve health.   There is currently a huge gap between lifestyle and pharmaceutical interventions in our healthcare system. Despite doctors and organizations fighting to…

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, with 1 in every 4 deaths resulting from the condition.  Though genetic predisposition plays a role in developing cardiovascular disease, the reason why the incidence of this disease has reached exponential numbers is likely a result of poor lifestyle choices, including a high…

Each March, health professionals put the focus on Colon Cancer Awareness. Although colon cancer, sometimes referred to as colorectal cancer, is one of the most preventable types of cancer, it is the third most common cancer among men and women individually. While the death rate from colon cancer has decreased over the past 20 years,…

Childhood obesity is of great concern in health care, as more and more children are developing obesity related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, thyroid diseases and joint pain.  In an effort to reverse this epidemic, researchers are continually trying to discover both genetic and environmental factors that have influenced more than one third of…

Every March, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics hosts National Nutrition Month®. This campaign is designed to promote awareness of healthy food choices and lifestyle habits. The theme for this year’s National Nutrition Month® is Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle, which encourages everyone to commit to making better food choices to improve their health.  …

Last night kicked off the Freedom to Eat Forever program and I am thrilled to see that participants are already having “ah-ha” moments! If you aren’t yet familiar with the program, Freedom to Eat Forever is an online small group coaching program to help you break free of the pain of dieting so you can…

Take a Bite into Healthy Snacks By Charna Sheinfeld and Samantha Baturin, Nutrition Interns Join us and the dietitians around the country as we celebrate National Nutrition Month®! The American Dietetic Association (ADA) annually sponsors nutrition education campaigns during the month of March to promote healthy eating and lifestyles. March is a fitting time for…

Today is the first day of National School Breakfast Week, a weeklong celebration of school breakfast brought to schools nationwide by the School Nutrition Association (SNA).  The movement towards increasing breakfast participation among schools in the US is an important one, as there is a strong association between eating a healthy breakfast and a child’s…

Strawberries are among the most eaten fresh fruits enjoyed in the United States, so it is no wonder why today, February 27, is National Strawberry Day. While strawberries are available for fresh picking across the country, most of the strawberries you will buy from a grocery store will be from California or Florida due to…

For quite some time, people have sworn by choosing egg whites over whole eggs to avoid eating too much cholesterol, and for seemingly good reason.  High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, which is why the Dietary Guidelines for Americans has always recommended that people eat no more…