Earth Day 2016 is here! Today, April 22nd, is Earth Day and this year’s theme is “Trees for the Earth.”   So what does that mean? The Earth Day Network has set a goal of planting 7.8 billion trees over the next five years! I know that sounds like an unimaginable amount but we have…

Although carrots are around all year, locally grown carrots are grown during the spring and summer seasons. They are the freshest, crunchiest and most flavorful during this time of the year.   Carrots come in a variety of sizes and colors! They may be as small as two inches or as long as three feet….

April is all about IBS awareness. Irritable Bowel Syndrome, commonly known as IBS, is the most common gastrointestinal disorder worldwide. In fact, it affects 10-15% of the North American population. Symptoms of IBS are vague and vary from one individual to another. The purpose of this month is to shed some light on the what,…

  Soy has gained popularity over the years, mostly as being a healthy alternative for animal protein.  Vegetarians and vegans will consume soy in their diets in place of animal protein and other animal products.  However, you do not have to be a vegetarian or vegan to enjoy soy!   Despite soy’s popularity, many people…

I think most of us can say that we feel stressed far more often than we would like to admit. Our day-to-day lives- from work, family life, etc.- are filled with stressors and can get a little bit chaotic. With all that stress surrounding us, it is important to take a step back every once…

One of the foods celebrated in April is soy, so I figured it would be appropriate to highlight edamame in this month’s monthly morsels. Edamame are young immature soybeans that are harvested before the beans are allowed time to ripen. The beans are contained in a fuzzy and fibrous inedible shell and are typically boiled,…

I used to think that celery was the dullest of all of the vegetables. I used to resent its mild, watery flavor. Who knows, perhaps it was an immature palate that steered me away from celery. But boy things have changed. April is National Celery Month and a great time to start making healthy food…

How do you spend your day?  Do you go to work and sit in front of a computer? Do you come home and watch TV?  Do you spend your weekends binge-watching a show on Netflix?  Are you trying to fit in some type of exercise during the day, but have no motivation?   Well, you’re…

When it comes to our health, doctors and researchers work together to develop evidence to support how our day-to-day choices affect our bodies later on in life. Especially when it comes to developing type 2 diabetes.   Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States. Although we have a general idea…

Some claim that the word Easter is derived from Eostre, a pagan goddess of spring and fertility. So how did chocolate, dyed eggs and giant bunnies become such a large part of the celebration? Over the centuries various folk tales and pagan traditions sparked Easter eggs, bunnies, baskets and a slew of candy as tradition…

Tomorrow is World Water Day and this year’s theme, set by the UN-Water members, is Water and Jobs. Did you know that almost half of the world’s workers (that’s about 1.5 billion people worldwide) work in a water-related field? That is a lot of people! If you think about it water is really involved in…

Lack of a good night’s sleep is not something that goes unnoticed. You probably experience the consequences right away. The morning is rough, you wake up groggy and lethargic. No amount of coffee can keep you running until lunch.   Sleep is the one thing that everyone needs but that most people take for granted….

St. Patrick’s Day is this coming Thursday and whether you celebrate or not, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Probably corned beef and cabbage, soda bread, and food dyed the color green such as green bagels, green muffins and green cupcakes.   What do all these green-dyed foods have in common?   They…

Peanuts are one of America’s favorite snacks. You probably can picture yourself at a baseball game, digging your hand into a bag of nuts, cracking the shell and enjoying the sweet, salty taste of peanuts.   March is National Peanut Month That’s right a whole month dedicated to the perfect little peanut! National Peanut Week…

  Every year, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics designates the month of March as National Nutrition Month. This honorary month was established to educate and celebrate the benefits of making healthy choices. Of course if it were up to me, every month would be National Nutrition Month. But hopefully you’ll find ways to take…

If you have ever cooked with garlic before you’re probably familiar with its potent aroma and the way it carries on your hands and clothes for hours. And though the most delicious meals are cooked in garlic, as soon as you eat it, no amount of chewing gum or mouthwash can really take away that…

The Superfood, Spinach It seems that your mother may have been on to something when she told you to “eat your spinach” for dinner! Spinach is bursting with healthful properties including being an excellent source of a slew of vitamins and minerals. This delicate green is high in antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamin K, vitamin A, iron,…

Hi everyone! My name is Jackie LiPera and I’m a dietetic graduate student on Long Island. I work alongside Bonnie to develop wonderful nutrition-driven ideas and resources for you guys. I wrote this blog to give you some ideas on what you can do with your extra day this leap year.   We all have…

Even though oatmeal has been around forever, it seems like people are finally sparking interest over this old breakfast. Overnight oats, steel cut oats, oatmeal granola bars, and oatmeal energy bites- the options are boundless! So why this sudden revival in one of America’s oldest breakfasts? People are rediscovering all of the wonderful benefits of…

Persimmon? Isn’t that a tomato? Many of us think that winter seasons means there’s a limited fruit selection; however, the truth is that there is plenty of variety on the market of winter fruit. One fruit that is currently in season is the persimmon.   The persimmon is a red/orange fruit that resembles a tomato…