National Bean day is today!  This day can be celebrated by serving up your favorite bean dishes at “bean parties”, by sending gifts to your friends      such as beans in a jar with your favorite bean recipe, or by creating bean projects with your children.  Before you choose which way you will celebrate National Bean…

Today is National Spaghetti Day.  You must think I make these things up, but I promise I don’t.  Spaghetti is the most common round type of pasta and in Italian, “spaghetti” means “little lines”.  Kids and adults alike love this fun food.  But wait!  Before digging in there are some things you need to know. …

WOW!  This year flew by!  As 2011 comes to an end, I want to wrap up some of the food and nutrition trends that really took off this year.  Looking back, it seems as though food simplicity was in style, where the consumer cared more about the quality of their food and where it was…

With the end of the year fast approaching, what better time to reflect on the many changes, events and trends that have come about in 2011.  This year has been quite a busy year in the nutrition world.   I have highlighted below what I believe to be some of the major standouts.  Take a look…

The holidays are a special time of year, filled with family traditions, presents, gatherings and.….temptation!  You’ve worked hard all year to maintain a healthy weight and improve your lifestyle, so don’t let the holidays be your excuse to fall back into old habits.  Here are some tips that can become new habits to help you…

The cold crisp chill of winter is finally here and one way to ward off the flu and other colds can be found right in the isle of your supermarket.  The majority of colds come during the fall and winter season because most people stay indoors and bacteria and germs are easily transmitted from one…

Happy Chanukah! Chanukah means DEDICATION in Hebrew — the holiday pays tribute to the dedication of a group of Jews who believed fervently in their right to religious freedom.  Also known as the “Festival of Lights,” Chanukah celebrates the miracle that occurred when the Maccabees reclaimed the Temple.  The sanctuary was torn apart by the…

Today is National Oatmeal Muffin Day and what a better way to start your day than with a fresh oatmeal muffin for breakfast or midmorning snack!  Not only are they tasty but it’s a great way to enjoy the health benefits of oatmeal that’s different from the everyday bowl of oatmeal in the morning.  It’s…

Are you a tea drinker?  I mean real, freshly brewed tea.  Well, if you are I am sure you have heard that tea can offer many nutritional benefits.  If you are not, give it a try.  Whether it is a hot, relaxing cup of hot tea or a cold refreshing glass of iced tea, this…

 For all of you chocolate lovers out there, today, December 13th is “National Cocoa Day”!  Yes, believe it or not there is a day for chocolate and there are health benefits that come along with eating it.  No, I am not giving you full license to go on a chocolate binge, but some chocolate, specifically…

Pears have been around in the United States since the 1700s and are the second most popular fruit in the United States.  They are similar to apples in the fact that they can be used in many of the same ways.  The two distinct differences between pears and apples are the pears shape and its…

An apple a day keeps the doctor away!  We’ve all heard this saying before in order to get us to eat more fruits, but there is some truth to it.  With the cold season quickly approaching, the winter cold, flu, and sore throats are inevitable.  Keep your immune system strong with plenty of vitamin C…

Are you among those people who leave Thanksgiving cooking for the last minute?  Well, fear not.  There’s still time to make your favorite traditional dishes healthy!  Thanksgiving is the number one holiday where people tend to overeat.  By following the healthy substitution tips below, you can significantly cut down on calories, fat, sugar, sodium, and…

When people think of Thanksgiving they typically think of a massive dinner containing all sorts of rich and delicious foods.  What they don’t think about, are all the calories they are consuming.  The average Thanksgiving dinner contains over 2,000 calories!  That’s a full days worth of calories being squeezed into one meal! Let’s be honest,…

For all you bakers out there, today is your day.  November 17th is Homemade Bread Day!  Bread has been around for thousands of years and although most people today take a quick trip to the store to buy bread, it’s easy to make delicious and nutritious bread at home.  Homemade bread can be a lot…

Today was a busy day!  My previous post today was about National Guacamole Day.  Well, today, November 14th, is also World Diabetes Day, led by the International Diabetes Federation in response to the growing rate of diabetes.  It is celebrated on this day to mark the birthday of Fredrick Banting who, along with Charles Best,…

Do you know when National Guacamole Day is?  Let me rephrase that…were you aware that there was a National Guacamole Day?  Well there is!  Today, November 14th,  was National Guacamole Day and what a great day to enjoy this delicious dip that also happens to be a nutritious treat. Guacamole is easy to make and…

November is National Georgia Pecan Month! Georgia is the primary pecan manufacturing state and September marked the peak harvest for this buttery, crunchy nut.  High production rates will continue throughout this month, making pecans easily accessible all year-round.  This delicious tree nut is rich in essential health boosting nutrients.  Pecans are a delicious portable and…

November is National Healthy Skin Month – who knew!  Possibly in preparation for the cold winter months ahead, the American Academy of Dermatology has designated November as the month to increase awareness of how you can keep your skin healthy, fresh and hydrated.   I’ve always been a firm believer in the saying “you are what…

November is American Diabetes Month and the American Diabetes Association is encouraging people to take action and raise their hand to STOP DIABETES. You probably know a family member or friend that has diabetes.  But have you ever stopped to think about how prevalent it is?  Take a look at these stats: Prevalence of Diabetes:…