December 13th is Ice Cream Day! It seems only natural to recognize and enjoy the delicious, frozen, creamy sweet extravagance.   Through all the holiday madness, take the time to sit back and relax after dinner and enjoy the frozen delight.  Although most varieties of ice cream contain sugar and are high in fat, there are…

Bite into a juicy pear this December during National Pear Month. Pears are a popular pick in the fall and winter months when they are in season and readily available in most grocery stores. These fruits are versatile in the kitchen and contain nutrients favorable for cardiovascular health and prevention of type 2 diabetes.  …

It has been well established that obesity is related to a variety of chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D).  Because of this, the national weight management guidelines advise that all obese individuals lose at least 5%-10% of their body weight in order to improve health outcomes.  Though it…

The Magic of Quinoa By Charna Sheinfeld, Nutrition Intern Most people have heard and probably tasted Quinoa by now. It was only a few years ago that quinoa was an item only found in specialty health food stores, reserved for those “health nuts” among us to enjoy. So what is so special about this pseudo…

The days are getting shorter and the nights, longer.  The brisk air is slowly creeping in, which is a sure sign that winter has arrived!   Before flu season is in full swing, I thought now would be the perfect time to provide tips on how to boost your immune system to kick off the start…

Hopefully your Thanksgiving was full of family, friends, food, and laughter. Now that the celebration is over, I’m sure your refrigerator is overflowing with leftovers. Tomorrow, November 29th, is National Throw Out Your Leftovers Day, a day dedicated to safely handling leftovers. While leftovers are great to have in the house for quick meals, especially…

The holiday season is here and if you are concerned that you will gain weight like in past years, let me assure you that it doesn’t have to be that way.  Holiday weight gain often comes from mindless eating such as eating fast without even tasting the food, munching mindlessly on hor d’oeuvres before dinner…

National Eat a Cranberry Day is coming up on November 23rd. What better time to celebrate cranberries than a few days before Thanksgiving? Cranberries are a trademark for the Thanksgiving holiday feast and many other holiday celebrations.  Today, I encourage you to eat a cranberry (or a couple) and create amazing recipes that focus on…

Fall is in full swing – trees are shedding their leaves, the air is brisk, and fall produce are plentiful. During this month, we are turning the spotlight on one of my favorite root vegetables, the sweet potato, for National Sweet Potato Awareness Month. Sweet potatoes are popular in the conversation on health due to…

Did you know, one 12-ounce jar of peanut butter contains 540 peanuts?  Peanut butter is one of the most loved foods nationwide and is the leading use of peanuts in the United States, which is why there is an entire month to celebrate America’s favorite spread – November is National Peanut Butter Lovers Month!   …

Each year, the second week in November is designated as Split Pea Soup Week – and for a good reason.   Let us take a moment to review all the health benefits split peas have to offer. This legume is a nutrition-packed powerhouse! Split peas provide a whopping amount of heart healthy soluble fiber.  Did…

Pumpkins are Plentiful! What better time to talk about all the wonderful health benefits, fabulous recipes and fun the pumpkin has to offer than the month of November?  Pumpkin flavored “everything” has become increasingly popular throughout the years during the cool fall months.   Did you know the name “pumpkin” originated from the Greek word for…

Diabetes is a life altering disease that affects nearly 30 million adults and children nationwide and costs the United States approximately 245 billion dollars in diagnosed cases.  In an initiative to raise awareness of this ever growing disease, the American Diabetes Association has created American Diabetes Month, which takes place each November and is a…

Tis’ the season for tricks and treats! Are you feeling uneasy with the haunting holiday of sweets approaching? Between keeping candy by the front door for the tricker-or-treaters and perhaps your own trick-or-treaters bringing home a pillow case full of sweets, this is an important time of the year to practice mindful eating. No need…

Wednesday is National Oatmeal Day! Plan to kick off the day with a large bowl of oatmeal to celebrate!  As the weather gets colder, the days get shorter, and the mornings get more brisk, this is the perfect time of year to start incorporating hot cereals like oatmeal into your daily routine.  The advantages of…

There are a lot of days throughout the year that are celebrated as national food days, but October 28th is a most important food celebration as we raise our ice cream cones to America’s favorite flavor: chocolate on National Chocolate Day!   Recently published data has actually found that chocolate is the most craved food…

October is National Apple Month!  Apples are surely nutritious and delicious.  They are a great source of fiber and Vitamin C to help keep you heart healthy while aiding in digestion. Another plus is that apples are inexpensive, easy to carry on-the-go, and are known as a natural mouth freshener!   This month is specifically…

The month of October has been chosen for more than 30 years to be National Popcorn Poppin’ Month in celebration of popcorn, one of America’s oldest snack foods. October was chosen because the popcorn harvest takes place each fall in the Midwest.   Popcorn is unique to other snack foods in that its roots trace…

Friday is World Egg Day.  Eggs are eaten all over the world, wherever they could be obtained.  The two most popular eggs to eat are chicken eggs, and in some parts of the world ostrich eggs.  Eggs have always been such a popular choice around the world because they are relatively easy to obtain, a…

5 Powerful Health Benefits of Tomatoes By Bonnie R. Giller, MS, RD, CDN, CDE and Charna Sheinfeld, Nutrition Intern Some pronounce it tomAYto, and some say tomOto, some believe it’s a fruit, while others argue that it’s a vegetable. But all must agree that tomatoes are a tasty superfood, chock full of nutrients that provide…