Category Archives: Nutrition and News

Apr 20Are you drinking sugar?

In my recent post, people were very surprised to see how much sugar is in their favorite yogurt. But the good news is that there are some awesome alternatives that put you in control of your sweeteners. What about your favorite drinks, though? I measured out the sugar contained within each of these bottles, just to give you a visual of what you might be consuming...without even realizing it. I mean, what's wrong with drinking 100% orange juice? It's not like they are adding any sugar to...

Apr 6Look! There’s Yogurt In My Sugar

I think that most people just assume that yogurt is a healthy food. I used to. That is, until I learned that every 4 grams of sugar added to foods equals 1 teaspoon of sugar. Yep - you read that right. Go check out the yogurt in your fridge. If it has 24 grams of added sugar, there are 6 teaspoons of sugar in that baby! Of course, milk naturally contains lactose, a milk sugar, that contributes to the overall carbohydrates in yogurts. But the nutrition label on most yogurts...

Mar 30Our Food System Is Broken - Ted Talk by Robyn O'...

We eat 3 meals a day. Every single day. But our food system is very very very broken...and it is affecting our bodies and the health of our planet. Each of us needs to do something to improve our food system. Please.

Mar 16Easy & Healthy Do-it-Yourself Granola Bar Recipe...

I don't know about you, but I am always looking for new ideas for healthy snacks. I like to carry food with me wherever I go (to feed hungry and grumpy children), and have been known to dive into the stash, myself, in a pinch. When my friends, Liz and Janice (AKA The Meal Makeover Moms) offered to send me a copy of their new book, No Whine with Dinner - 150 healthy, kid-tested recipes from The Meal Makeover Moms, I couldn't wait. Some nutritionists seem to spend more of their energy on the...

Mar 14Portion Distortion – How Much Food To Eat

I know I am not the only one who piles food on my plate, and then wonders if I am eating the "right amount." We all know we are supposed to be eating at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies daily - but what does that really mean? Here's a valuable resource, using real life examples, that should help you measure your food portions and give you peace of mind. Which of these serving sizes surprised you the most?

Mar 11McDonald's Oatmeal Throwdown (& Steel Cut Oatmea...

McDonald’s Oatmeal Throwdown (& Steel Cut Oatmeal Recipe)

I tend to be too trusting. I want people to be good, and I want their intentions to be honorable. But sometimes, companies have ulterior motives, and their goodness isn't meant to be. Take the golden arches, for example. When I read Mark Bittman's piece in the NY Times, I was disappointed (but not surprised) to discover that the oatmeal being offered at McDonald's "contains more sugar than a Snickers bar and only 10 fewer calories than a McDonald’s cheeseburger". Really? I...

Feb 28Healthy Eating on a Budget for Families (+ Givea...

I know I'm not the only parent who struggles to feed my children a balanced diet, filled with a plethora of fruits and vegetables. And goodness knows, when we struggle, we aren't much fun. I am really excited to share a guest post from my friend, Kia, the founder of Today I Ate A Rainbow, an interactive tool that helps parents establish healthy eating habits by setting the goal of eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables every day! Kia's tool makes it fun to feed kids a balanced meal - even...

Feb 23Food Dyes – Do They Cause Hyperactivity?

As a former science teacher, I understand what it means to run a credible science experiment. One has to really control the situation, including all of the factors that might influence the result. It's hardly realistic to experiment on our children, especially since there are just too many dang variables to take into account. But since my scientist-brother-in-law likes to poke holes in all of the "theories" I propose on Facebook, I thought I'd offer this first paragraph as a disclaimer. ...

Feb 185 Tips to Help Kids Accept New Foods

Little is more frustrating than trying to feed a child who is unwilling to try new foods. I have heard many stories from people in my Facebook Community who are worried about their children's limited food preferences and how it will affect their growth. Help your kids learn to accept new foods: Visually - see food and ingredients in different forms, at the farmer's market, in the grocery store and in the kitchen Scent - allow them to learn to tolerate the smell of different foods by cooking...

Feb 11Training Toddlers to Become Better Eaters

If babies are lucky enough to be born with their instincts intact, they can suckle and ingest enough nutrition to grow. At around the age of 6 months, eating becomes a learned behavior. It's easier for some babies (and parents!) than it is for others. Imagine yourself as a new eater for a second - you don't like the feel or flavor of something in your mouth, so you spit it out. Your parent smiles at you, scrapes it off your face with the edge of a spoon and then shoves it right back...