Did you know September 29th is World Heart Day? Every year this day is celebrated to bring awareness to the severity of cardiovascular disease. Heart disease and stroke are the world’s leading causes of death. Every year about 17.3 million people die from heart disease and stroke. So in 2000 the World Heart Federation founded…

There is nothing I love more than the beginning of fall. The nights become cooler, the leaves begin to fall and the neighbors are decorating their porches with pumpkins and gourds. Fall harvest is particularly my favorite. All of the new fruits and vegetables fill up grocery store as well as my kitchen. There are…

This Wednesday is National Guacamole Day! What could be better than a day celebrating a creamy avocado mashed up with fresh cilantro, lime, and other great produce? If you couldn’t tell already, I have a bit of a passion for all things avocado and for guacamole in general. So let’s dive into the avocado and…

I’m writing this blog today with a cup of tea to my left, a box of tissues to my right and a throat lozenge in my mouth.   Yes, I am sick. My throat hurts, I am coughing and overall I just don’t feel well.   I don’t usually get sick so this is really…

What better way to celebrate the beginning of summer than with National Papaya Month!   Papayas are easily the most underrated food; it’s not every day you add this tropical plant to your fruit bowl. Unbeknownst to most, papayas are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants that combat a countless number of diseases. Not to mention,…

“Pass the Peas, Please!” By Charna Sheinfeld,  Nutrition Intern When you think of green peas, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Does it stir up those childhood memories of being “force fed” these small green spheres along with their little orange carrot counterparts?   When cooked well and paired with the right foods,…

Pairing peas with brown rice is a great way to create a complete protein. This is because brown rice is high in the amino acids cysteine and methionine but low in lysine. Peas, on the other hand, contain a high lysine content but are low in cysteine and methionine. This makes peas and rice complementary proteins and when paired together they offer an excellent amino acid profile that is equivalent to eggs or dairy.
Mint is often added to dishes containing peas because it boosts the natural sweet flavors that the peas offer to the dish. The sundried tomatoes add a satisfying tartness to balance the salad. Enjoy!

Are you a coffee drinker? Hot, iced, latte, cappuccino? Or do you go for those dessert-type beverages like the Frappuccino?   If you like the more decadent specialty drinks, you probably are aware that they come with some “extras”, such as a hefty amount of calories and fat grams.   If this is you, you’ll…

“Gluten-free” foods may just seem like a whole new fad and the coolest new food trend to follow, but for some people gluten-free is a non-negotiable lifestyle.   This month we celebrate Celiac Awareness Month. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that can occur in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to…

This week, May 10 – May 16, is the 16th annual National Women’s Health Week. This week-long observance was initiated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health. It encourages and empowers women to put their health as their top priority.   The Office on Women’s Health provides women of…

Often the beets that we purchase come with beautiful green stalks attached to them which we promptly throw out when using the actual beet root. However, the beet greens are nutrient-rich with very high levels of vitamins A, K, and C. Similar in taste and appearance to Swiss chard, beet greens can be prepared in a similar manner. They can be eaten as a side dish sauteed with garlic and lemon or added to various recipes such as eggs and pastas. I decided to add them to my morning breakfast omelet and I found it to be delicious and satisfying

Nowadays, with strict emphasis being placed on green leafy veggies, there is one green vegetable that tends to go unnoticed: celery!  In celebration of National Celery Month, I felt I should take the time to highlight the healthful benefits of celery which by the way go beyond using it as a side on your plate…

Yesterday, March 26, was Spinach Day! While you may not be interested in eating spinach straight out of a can like Popeye, the health benefits of spinach are worth giving it a try in a few different recipes.   You may remember Popeye eating a full can of spinach to gain super strength. Although you…

Between 1980 and 2011 the number of newly diagnosed cases of diabetes among people ages 18-79 has more than tripled.  With the incidence of diabetes on the rise, the American Diabetes Association promotes Diabetes Alert Day®, a nationwide one day “wake-up call” to urge the public to find out if they are at risk for…

Today I would like to open up a conversation on a topic that I am passionate about. I’m talking about the priceless benefits of making mindful eating and lifestyle changes to improve health.   There is currently a huge gap between lifestyle and pharmaceutical interventions in our healthcare system. Despite doctors and organizations fighting to…

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, with 1 in every 4 deaths resulting from the condition.  Though genetic predisposition plays a role in developing cardiovascular disease, the reason why the incidence of this disease has reached exponential numbers is likely a result of poor lifestyle choices, including a high…

I’ve just completed launching my program Freedom to Eat Forever and I’ve spoken and emailed with a lot of you. Many of you were ready to jump in and leave dieting behind for good. And some of you were hesitant. That’s fine, I respect that. You just weren’t ready.  Yet, it’s important to explore the…

Childhood obesity is of great concern in health care, as more and more children are developing obesity related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, thyroid diseases and joint pain.  In an effort to reverse this epidemic, researchers are continually trying to discover both genetic and environmental factors that have influenced more than one third of…

Every March, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics hosts National Nutrition Month®. This campaign is designed to promote awareness of healthy food choices and lifestyle habits. The theme for this year’s National Nutrition Month® is Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle, which encourages everyone to commit to making better food choices to improve their health.  …

For quite some time, people have sworn by choosing egg whites over whole eggs to avoid eating too much cholesterol, and for seemingly good reason.  High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, which is why the Dietary Guidelines for Americans has always recommended that people eat no more…