Improving Health

We all know that sugary drinks aren’t good for us, so why do people keep going back to them? Often times, it is because they want something more than plain water.

Although I love water, I can appreciate the need for something with a little more jazz. That’s where infused water can come in.

Take advantage of all the fresh produce in season this summer and whip up a delicious gazpacho. Did you know you can make gazpacho in just minutes with a food processor?

Check out this recipe and make a batch for your family and friends to enjoy this week.

No-Bake PB Energy Bites are easy to make, perfect to take on the go, and packed with the nutrients of a good, hearty snack. Peanut butter gives you the energy to push through the morning or afternoon, while the oats provide fiber to keeps you full and promote health digestion.

Step up your summer salad game with a watermelon, strawberry, feta salad. This recipe puts a fun spin on the traditional summer fruit salad. A small amount of feta, paired with mint and basil really brings the flavor to the next level.

The ingredients are fresh, the assembly could not be simpler, and people love it. This crisp, refreshing side will be the hit of your next cookout!

Chinese fried rice is traditionally made with white rice and comes packed with carbohydrates and calories. Just one cup of white rice contains 204 calories. Instead, substitute riced cauliflower.

One cup of riced cauliflower only contains 25 calories, less than one eighth the calories of white rice!

You can rice fresh cauliflower using a cheese grater or buy frozen riced cauliflower at the grocery store. This low-carb option has all the flavor of Chinese fried rice but none of the guilt.

I’m sure you’ve heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and there is reason for this. It’s not a myth! 

Breakfast really does serve as the best meal of the day, because without it your body wouldn’t have the fuel it needs to jump start your metabolism for the day. Your body doesn’t receive fuel while you’re sleeping, so it’s important to provide energy upon awakening in the mornings.

Pizza has always been extremely tasty in my opinion, but after traveling to Italy, pizza stole my heart! You may be thinking, "How does a Dietitian love pizza?" The truth about pizza is it doesn’t have to be unhealthy – in fact, it can actually make for quite the healthy dish.

If you break down the components of pizza, you will find it to be healthy ingredients. Pizza consists of crust, sauce, cheese, meat, and the occasional pizza will have vegetables on it. All these ingredients can be healthy if chosen with care.

These vegetable and protein packed muffins are the perfect on-the-go breakfast or afternoon snack.

They take mini muffin omelets to the next level with a punch of protein, good fats, and healthy carbohydrates. Incredibly simple to make and amazingly delicious, try them this week! 

Cold winter nights call for warm vegetarian chili! Try this sweet potato chipotle chili this week.

This dish takes less than an hour to prepare and then the stove does all the work. Plant protein packed, easy, and delicious – what more could you want?

Mexican food can be quite the healthy meal depending on how the meal is cooked and what it consists of. Think about it, many of the food items are filled with fiber e.g., black beans, tortillas (if using wheat or whole grain of course), vegetables, and many more!

Fiber is a big component that we often neglect, but any meal or cuisine from any culture can be filled with fiber, it’s all in the choices of food we make. The beauty of fiber is that it helps us reach satiety quickly and it does not affect blood sugar levels.