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Healthy Eating

A garden is a place of mystery, adventure, collaboration and accomplishment. It’s a place to learn about our environment and where natural, whole foods come from. It’s where children can laugh and play while developing valuable social and cognitive skills for a brighter future. If your child has never been introduced to gardening before, these are just a few reasons to start. Children Who Help in the Garden May Eat More Fruits and Vegetables. Research has shown that children engaged in gardening projects may eat more fruits and vegetables, become more knowledgeable about nutrition, and continue healthy eating habits into adulthood. Gardening can also improve social skills, behavior, academic achievement in math and science, and attitude towards the environment.  With all of these positive outcomes, let’s dig in! Below are some ideas adapted from kidseatright.org to help you and your young one get started. Involve kids in every step of […]

March is National Nutrition Month. This year’s theme is Put Your Best Fork Forward, emphasizing that a healthy diet is the sum of many individual healthy choices. Revamping your family’s diet may sound daunting. But by focusing on small healthy choices you’ll be eating better with ease! Focus on Fruits and Vegetables Add fruit to your breakfast routine. Top cereal, oatmeal, pancakes, waffles, yogurt, or peanut butter toast with banana slices or berries. Whip up a quick smoothie with frozen fruit, skim milk, and a tablespoon of almond butter. In need of a quick breakfast? For quick mix-and-match breakfast options, stock the kitchen with on-the-go fruit options (like bananas, apples, and pears) and portable snacks (like peanut butter crackers, whole grain granola bars, and cheese sticks). Make vegetables your go-to-snack. Pair sliced raw vegetables with hummus, cheese, guacamole, or a Greek-yogurt-based ranch dressing. Go meatless on Mondays. By taking a […]

The holiday season is ready to kick in to high gear. For many families this can mean family functions and friendly get-togethers. And that, of course, will include lots of amazing food and beverages. The abundance of treats and savory dishes can feel overwhelming and portion control can be difficult. In fact, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) reports that Americans gain about one to two pounds during the holidays. Don’t Deprive Yourself: Enjoy in Moderation As a registered dietitian, I often hear parents’ concerns about trying to control food intake during social events. Eating in moderation is something we should practice and teach our kids every day, including the holidays! Portion control and moderation is critical to weight management. It allows you to enjoy all food without the guilt or weight gain, unlike dieting which can leave you feeling deprived. Below are 10 tips to help you and […]

College is such an exciting time in a young person’s life. For many, it marks a new beginning and an age of independence students probably haven’t experienced before, especially if they move away from home and choose to live on campus. Suddenly your “baby” is solely responsible for waking up on time for class, doing laundry, and – maybe for the first time – making healthy food choices. Navigating the kitchen at home may be an easier task than navigating one of the many all-you-can-eat dining halls on campus. But fear not! It isn’t impossible to maintain a healthy lifestyle during the college years. Share the following tips with your teen to help with healthy eating in college. Stock up the mini-fridge. Healthy eating in college starts in the dorm room. Having nutritious food choices on hand is a must. Keeping things in a mini-fridge is always a good idea. […]

One of my favorite things about summer has always been the great variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables. In addition to being delicious, they’re packed with nutrients including fiber, potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin A, and folate. The high water content also makes them a perfect snack to help kids stay hydrated during the hot summer months. Mix It Up With Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables You can incorporate fruits and vegetables into your child’s diet in a variety of ways to help beat the heat this summer: Try freezing grapes, melons, orange slices, or your favorite fruit so it’s still cold when your child wants a snack at the pool or beach. Add seasonal fruits and vegetables to water. Include cucumbers, strawberries, lemons, or limes to give it a refreshing summer-time taste. It’s also a healthy alternative to juice without providing extra sugar. Just slice up the produce of your […]