Cranberries have been a celebrated fruit every October since 2002, but their legacy is so much older than that. Cranberries were used by Native Americans to make a traditional dish called pemmican. Pemmican was a sustainable meal composed of hunted protein mixed with melted fat and cranberries. This meal was a staple to keep Native…

The Humble Yet Powerful Cabbage By Charna Sheinfeld,  Nutrition Intern Part of the cruciferous vegetable family, cabbage is closely related to kale, broccoli and cauliflower in that they all offer vast amounts of nutrients. One of the major benefits that cruciferous vegetables and specifically cabbage, have to offer that is continuously being studied by researchers,…

October is more than just a month to celebrate spooks and sweets. It’s also a month to celebrate treats that are good for you like popcorn! It’s National Popcorn Popping Month which means it’s time to give a little patronage to this healthy snack. Did you know that fresh popcorn, lightly seasoned can be a…

Happy October everyone! October is one my favorite months- cooler weather, changing leaves, autumn clothing, and apple picking! As I was speaking with my interns about how I love this time of year, Kimberly shared how her favorite family tradition is their annual trip out east to go apple picking. Her family always make it…

September is the time to celebrate everyone’s favorite beverage, coffee. September 29th is National Coffee Day, right in the heart of the transition between cold brew and hot brew. While the USDA MyPlate hasn’t yet identified coffee as a piece of the puzzle, many people include coffee in their regular day. With more information out…

Did you know September 29th is World Heart Day? Every year this day is celebrated to bring awareness to the severity of cardiovascular disease. Heart disease and stroke are the world’s leading causes of death. Every year about 17.3 million people die from heart disease and stroke. So in 2000 the World Heart Federation founded…

You’re staring at your plate that now has just a few more bites of your dinner food left. You’ve really enjoyed your meal, but if you are being honest with yourself, you are satisfied and probably don’t need to eat any more.   As you contemplate what to do, you glance around the table. Everyone…

There is nothing I love more than the beginning of fall. The nights become cooler, the leaves begin to fall and the neighbors are decorating their porches with pumpkins and gourds. Fall harvest is particularly my favorite. All of the new fruits and vegetables fill up grocery store as well as my kitchen. There are…

Ascorbic acid is everywhere. It’s in your food, it’s in your pharmacy and you quite possibly might even be taking it as a supplement. That’s because ascorbic acid is better known as vitamin C, one of the most commonly consumed vitamins around. Deficiencies in vitamin C are uncommon in western culture- but back in the…

This Wednesday is National Guacamole Day! What could be better than a day celebrating a creamy avocado mashed up with fresh cilantro, lime, and other great produce? If you couldn’t tell already, I have a bit of a passion for all things avocado and for guacamole in general. So let’s dive into the avocado and…

The crowd is roaring with excitement.  Everyone around you is munching on foot long hot dogs and drinking out of large cups filled with iced cola.  You hear the sound of the batter’s swing hitting the ball out of the park—home run, the crowd roars again.  You spot the vendor coming by just as your…

Fall is just around the corner. With a new season comes new foods, new flavors and a new, perhaps busier, you. The kids are back to school, the errands seem to pile up and work is in full force. During these rather stressful times it’s important to remember to keep your body on its A-game….

Whole Grains Month   Happy National Whole Grains Month everyone! If you’re like me then you happen to love grains! They definitely make up my favorite part of every meal since I’m not much of a meat lover. The best part about whole grains is that there is such a variety to choose from that…

The Magnificent Mushroom By Charna Sheinfeld,  Nutrition Intern Don’t be fooled by their official classification as a fungi. Mushrooms, as long as they are edible, are one of the most versatile additions to any kitchen. Their meaty, fleshy and intensely savory flavors make these little miracle caps capable of amplifying any food, or worthy of…

It’s National Trail Mix Day!  The name that most of us have come to know and love is trail mix, but it may also be known as gorp, scroggin, and schmogle.  The word “gorp” is a term often used by hikers for trail mix and is typically said to be an acronym for “good old…

Sodium is essential for your health. It is a vital nutrient for balancing the fluids in your body, sending nerve impulses as well as a player in muscle contractions. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to live. However, too much sodium or salt throughout your day can have negative side effects as well. In the…

Mornings can be tough! You are hurrying to get ready for a work, and you run out of the house with breakfast. According to the Institute of Food Technologists, research shows that about 18% of Americans, over the age of 2, regularly skip breakfast.  In addition to this percentage, when studies were conducted with young…

It’s that time of the year when all the kids are headed back to school. One of the questions I get most frequently is how do I get my child to eat more healthfully? Well this is the perfect time of year to start to make some changes!   Share in the Packing   One…

I bet you’ve all been wondering what the food of the month is for August. I’ll give you a hint- it’s round, orange-pink, and has some fuzz. If you guessed peach, then you’re right!   Peachy Keen   I happen to love peaches! I would definitely place them among my top 3 favorite fruits. One…

With prepackaged produce, you have the advantage of almost guaranteed consistency. There is a certain kind of convenience from prewashed, precut food that are readily available at the supermarket. However, these prepackaged products are typically more expensive than loose produce. Save yourself a few dollars and purchase your veggies separately or by the pound. You’ll…