Do you think that brown-bag lunches are just for kids going to elementary or middle school?  Most people do, but that’s not the case.  Anyone can bring a brown-bag lunch to school, college or work.  In fact, I encourage my clients to brown bag it more often!   National Brown-Bag-It-Day is being celebrated on May…

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…

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…

  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…

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…

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…

Persimmon? Isn’t that a tomato? Many of us think that winter seasons means there’s a limited fruit selection; however, the truth is that there is plenty of variety on the market of winter fruit. One fruit that is currently in season is the persimmon.   The persimmon is a red/orange fruit that resembles a tomato…

  A favorite mid-afternoon snack for many is a handful of pistachios. And with National Pistachio Day is coming up on the 26th, I figured I’d give you all the facts about this little green nut or should I say kernel. That’s right, the pistachio isn’t a nut, it’s actually a seed. The pistachio is…

The weather has finally changed and it’ definitely feeling like winter outside. I don’t know about you but my favorite way to start a cold, winter day is with a nice warm breakfast. There are plenty of options for a hot meal on a winter morning but there is no better way to start the…

When I was growing up, we always ate family dinners. My dad was home from work by 6:30 pm and we ate together every night.  It was a very special time where we talked about our days and shared stories.   Unfortunately for many, family meals have become less common as family members seem to…

The Memorial Day Holiday is meant to celebrate the lives lost from the armed forces; people who gave their life for the freedom and liberty of this country. Let’s salute them!   This long weekend is always a tough one for many chronic dieters. So many parties, so much food, it never ends! And who…

May is National Salad Month and while this may not excite many people, I am a huge salad fan, especially this month. I feel like this year the weather went from snow days to beach days practically overnight. During these warm days I notice my appetite changes my body wants more cold dishes than hot…

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…

January 21st is Granola Bar Day!  Granola bars are the perfect grab and go snack food to fit into any busy schedule, and there are hundreds of varieties on the market to choose from.  Although granola bars were originally created to be a healthy snack bar to keep you energized throughout the day, many manufacturers…

September is celebrated as Whole Grains Month in the world of food and nutrition.  Each year, there is a different theme. The theme for 2014 is “Make the Switch”.  As you can guess, this theme is referring to switching from refined grains to whole grains! Making the switch can be as simple and easy as…