As soon as fall rolls in and October starts, the pumpkins come out! Pumpkins are pretty, trendy, and represent the weather and holidays approaching. But, pumpkins are also delicious and they do not get enough credit for it!! Besides using them as decorations, they are the perfect food to eat on a chilly day!  …

International Walk to School Month, celebrated on October 7th, gives children, parents, school teachers and communities an opportunity to be part of a global event to celebrate the many benefits of walking. Walkers from around the world walk to school together to create communities that are safe places to walk.   Walk to School Day…

Today is National Egg Day and I thought it would be the perfect day to shed light on the truth about eggs.  For many, they either eat eggs as a breakfast staple or shy away from them in fear of them raising their cholesterol.  But, eggs are actually a very healthy breakfast option (and great…

All you ladies out there, guess what this week is? National Women’s Health Week!   National Women’s Health Week is an initiative founded by the Department of Health and Human Services to empower women to take control of their health and make it a priority. It begins every year on Mother’s Day; this year it…

Bend Over Backwards for Milk!   One of the health highlights of May is that it is National Osteoporosis Prevention Month. It is estimated that 10 to 54 million Americans have osteoporosis, with 80% of cases being women.   Bones are living, growing tissue and osteoporosis occurs when there is bone loss or too little…

This smoothie is super simple to prepare and is a great breakfast for on the go. This chia seeds add a punch of fiber and protein as well as adding to the thickness of the smoothie, because they gel up when added to fluid.

Ah, sweet, sweet peas!  Green peas are my personal favorite and they are now in season so we can enjoy them when they have the best flavor (and are least expensive, which is always a plus).   Did you know that green peas are part of the legume family?  Green peas happen to be overlooked…

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…

  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,…

These edamame pods are great as an appetizer, snack or side dish. They are crunchy, flavorful and fun to eat. Substitute a serving of these when you need a snack and you’ll never crave potato chips again!

This is a quick salad to assemble that makes a refreshing side dish to any meal.

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…

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…

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….

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…

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,…

This dish is an explosion of antioxidants and nutrients from both the orange carotenoids in the sweet potato and the green chlorophyll in the spinach. The spinach and sweet potato complement each other beautifully in this dish that makes a wonderfully cozy side dish or appetizer.