Since 1989, February has been considered National Snack Food Month as declared by the Snack Food Association and the National Potato Promotion Board. While this was initiated as a promotional tool to increase consumer consumption of snack foods during a month with low sales, it is no doubt that 26 years later, snacking is popular…

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…

We all know that fruit is good for you; but are some better than others? Are fruit juices viable substitutions? Which fruits should you be eating everyday?   Recent studies have shown that eating a greater variety of fruits may be more beneficial to oneself than eating a greater quantity.  A research study* found that…

This week we are celebrating an American staple: the apple! While most people have heard the old idiom “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, many people may not understand the meaning behind this. Apples provide health benefits from the numerous nutrients within them to help keep us from getting sick and staying in…

Choo! Choo! There’s a new train in town, and it’s express to healthy-town! This train is the whole grain train, and it is ready for you and your family to step aboard! To understand what a whole grain is, you must first understand the anatomy of a grain itself. A whole grain consists of 3…

Today we are celebrating the numerous health benefits of beans! Beans are also known as legumes which are seeds, pods, or other edible parts of a plant used as food. While some of you out there might be thinking “Oh, I’m not a fan of beans”, it is probably because you’ve only tried a few…

My clients often tell me that it’s hard to eat enough fruits during the winter because there aren’t many to choose from.  If you’ve been slacking on eating enough fruits each day, I have some news for you!  Today is National Apricot Day so be sure to eat at least one apricot at some point…

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…

As you are well aware, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, now celebrating 25 years of awareness, education and empowerment.  While there are some factors, such as family history that you can’t change, there are several things you CAN do to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.  These tips are likely recommendations you…

In this issue: Fiber Facts • Tailgating Tips • The Benefits of Apples • Black Bean Skillet Chili. For many sports fans the much anticipated football season is now in full swing, many delicious fruits and vegetables are in season, and Whole Grains Month has arrived. Fall is the perfect time to get outside and practice those football drills you see on T.V. or take advantage of the delicious apple season and go apple picking. And since September is Whole Grain Month, make a commitment to try a new Whole Grain each week for added fiber and other important nutrients. Lastly, be sure to check out our featured recipe, a delicious Black Bean Skillet Chili.

What can help: Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Once ingested, omega-3’s convert into compounds that are much more potent than the original fatty acids themselves.  One important type of compound, called resolvin, is effective in signaling the inflammatory response to end. In arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, an overactive immune system causes degradation of body tissues.  Resolvins…

Getting your cholesterol levels checked on a consistent basis is the key to living a healthy life. According to the American Heart Association, those who have cholesterol levels higher than 240 mg/dl are at double the risk of having a heart attack as opposed to those who have cholesterol levels <200 mg/dl. Include “good” fats…