Did you know that the average American eats three pounds of peanut butter per year? How about that one 12-ounce jar of peanut butter contains about 540 peanuts? Peanut butter consumption is so high and widespread there is an entire month dedicated to celebrating it!   November is National Peanut Butter Month, which makes now…

What better way to start off 2018 than with National Fiber Focus Month! Fiber is an essential part of any diet and provides a seemingly endless array of health benefits. But, are you getting enough?   The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommend that men get ~38 grams per day and women consume ~25 grams…

The month of May is National Mediterranean Diet Month! The Mediterranean Diet, made famous by Ancel Keys, is thought of as being one of the healthiest diets in the world. This diet follows the diet of many of the countries along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and has a host of delicious and vibrant…

January is National Fiber Focus Month.  What better way to start the New Year than to learn about the benefits of fiber and how you can eat more fiber!   Fiber is a form of carbohydrate, also known as roughage or bulk.  It comes from starch from plant and your body cannot break it down…

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…

Split pea soup is a savory and wholesome dish that’s just perfect for the cool weather. This week is National Split Pea Soup Week and also a wonderful time to introduce this healthy, hearty dish into your life.   There are many variations of this soup but it traditionally consists of split peas, chicken or…

The Versatile Chickpea By Charna Sheinfeld, Nutrition Intern   By now, most Americans have tasted that creamy and popular dip known as Hummus. However, it has only been a few years since we have figured out that chickpeas, its main ingredient, can provide lots of fiber and protein and make for a delicious snack!  …

These Chickpea and vegetable Patties are wonderful as a vegetarian side dish to brighten up a meal, or great on their own as a main course. They are fun to eat wrapped in a piece of lettuce or whole wheat bun with some vegetables. They freeze beautifully, so I will sometimes cook up a large batch and then freeze them in packs of two. On a day where I will be out for a few hours, I can just grab two from the freezer in the morning, and eat them for lunch or as a “midday pick me up snack” once they have defrosted.

January is National Fiber Focus Month!   I can’t think of a better way to start the New Year than to learn about the benefits of fiber and how you can increase your daily intake.   To start, what is fiber?   It is a form of carbohydrate which, unlike other carbohydrates you’re familiar with,…

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…