Healthy Halloween Tips: How Parents Can Find a Sweet Balance

Halloween night is a fun and spooky occasion, but for many parents it can trigger something even scarier: the candy. Navigating a night filled with endless sweets can feel challenging. How do we balance the celebratory spirit of Halloween with healthy moderation? As a mom and dietitian, I have a few thoughts. A version ofContinue reading “Healthy Halloween Tips: How Parents Can Find a Sweet Balance”

What is the Deal with Seed Oils?

A Look at the Science and the Skepticism In the masterpiece that was Mean Girls, Regina George once said “why are you so obsessed with me?” In my mind, that is what seed oils must be thinking too. In recent years, lowly seed oils have found themselves at the center of a heated health debate.Continue reading “What is the Deal with Seed Oils?”

Seeing the Forest for the Trees

The Not-So-Secret Key to Health and Vitality that Health Professionals Want You to Know About Nearly every day I see a headline or social media post about a food, ingredient or chemical that’s supposedly the underlying cause of what’s “making us sick.” The story is typically sensationalized coming from misinterpreted data or an unqualified interpreterContinue reading “Seeing the Forest for the Trees”

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

5 Public Health Success Stories Being Turned Upside Down by Modern Misinformation I just read Siddhartha Mukherjee’s The Song of the Cell and I can’t help but feel inspired and in awe of how far we’ve come in medical science. From the discovery of the cell to germ theory, from in vitro fertilization to T-cellContinue reading “Two Steps Forward, One Step Back”

Nutrition Misinformation and How to Spot It

Happy New Year! It’s officially the time of year where our news feeds are inundated with diet hacks, detox plans and juice cleanses. Unfortunately, many of these promising solutions fall short in evidence-based science. Worse, some misguided advice can even be harmful to our health (but, if you are looking for realistic health resolutions, checkContinue reading “Nutrition Misinformation and How to Spot It”

5 Misconceptions about Dairy

In the spirit of National Dairy Month, I’m tackling dairy myths.   There’s a lot of misinformation about dairy food and dairy farming. But when you look beyond the fear mongering and (sadly) hate messaging, and closer to the science or the perspective of a farmer, you can gain an appreciation for the nutritional valueContinue reading “5 Misconceptions about Dairy”

MSG: The magical seasoning that’s missing in your kitchen

When you hear MSG, what comes to mind? Processed, chemicals, toxic, headaches, intolerance, Chinese food …? If so, you’re not alone. MSG has been subject to decades worth of misinformation based on unsubstantiated evidence and, quite frankly, xenophobic fearmongering. What if I told you that MSG is not only used in Asian cuisine, but alsoContinue reading MSG: The magical seasoning that’s missing in your kitchen

Organic: What does it really mean?

We’ve all been there … perusing the produce section to find ourselves deciding between the $3 mixed greens and the $4 organic mixed greens. They both look equally mixed, equally green, and equally fresh. So, which do you choose?   “Organic.” It’s a term that’s become synonymous with “healthy,” “high-quality,” and “natural.” But is organicContinue reading “Organic: What does it really mean?”

Ditch the Detox: 10 Realistic Resolutions for a Healthy New Year

The holidays have come and gone. If you’re feeling a little less Merry and Bright, but more Dreary with pants a bit tight … that’s okay! There’s no need to punish yourself with a restrictive detox or cleanse. Below are 10 ways to feel back on track without sacrificing your wallet or your sanity. (1)Continue reading “Ditch the Detox: 10 Realistic Resolutions for a Healthy New Year”

Food is …

It’s the day after Thanksgiving. How are we feeling? If you enjoyed a day off, filled with food and family, I hope your hearts and bellies are both full. If you’re feeling more guilt than gratitude, I encourage you to read on. This brief post shares how food is so much more than something toContinue reading “Food is …”