Ditch the Diets

  The dieting industry is a multi-billion dollar industry for a reason. The reason you keep seeing all of these new trendy diets hitting the market is because diets don’t work! Millions of Americans attempt to lose weight each year by purchasing diet pills, meal plans, and other various dieting programs. Only to fail miserably. The truth is, it's not your fault. For years we have been taking the wrong approach, restriction is not the answer. Psychologically, dietary restraint can lead to greater reactivity to food cues, increased cravings, and indulgence. This, in-turn can cause overeating and binge eating. Biologically, dieting can lead to unhealthy changes in body composition, hormonal changes, reduced bone density, menstrual disturbances, and lower resting energy expenditure. The smartest decision you can make is to ditch the dieting and restriction mentality. Instead, incorporate healthy foods into [...]

Nutrition Review of Meal-Kit Delivery Programs

  Lock us down and Americans will eat it up. Literally! While in quarantine many of us ate like bears preparing for hibernation. More time at home to cook and limited access to grocery stores spawned an explosion of meal-kit delivery programs. Our lead dietitian tried several of them to assess the nutritional value of these “healthy, convenient meals”. Overall, we found these options to be heavy in salt and fat, and low on produce portions. The meals seemed to be kept at a low price-point by substituting processed foods for fruits and vegetables. In several the produce seemed more of a garnish. Upon closer review of each program, we often found that choices classified as “healthy” seemed to have had a very loose definition of health. For example, Marley Spoon has no information on the site as to the [...]

Recipe- Melty-Cheesy Zucchini Boats

  Summer is here and so are a whole array of seasonal vegetables! Today, we are putting the spotlight on a summer favorite - zucchini. Zucchini is naturally low in calories and rich in nutrients such as potassium, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. Check out the nutritious and delicious recipe below! Melty-Cheesy Zucchini Boats Prep: 20 minutes Cook: 30 minutes Serving: 8 Ingredients: 4 medium zucchini (about 8oz each) 2 tbsp olive oil, divided Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 lb ground turkey 1 tbsp minced garlic (3 cloves) 1 cup chopped yellow onion (1 small) 1 -14.5oz can petite diced tomatoes, drained 2 tsp Italian seasoning ⅔ cup panko breadcrumbs, divided ½ cup low-fat shredded mozzarella ⅔ cup shredded parmesan cheese, divided 1 ½ tbsp chopped fresh parsley Instructions:  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 13x9-inch baking [...]

Eat Right, Bite By Bite

Eat Right, Bite by Bite March is National Nutrition Month® and the theme this year is to Eat Right, Bite by Bite. This theme reminds us that making small changes, one bite at a time, can help lead you to an overall healthier lifestyle. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages you during National Nutrition Month® to focus on the themes below. Week 1: Eat a variety of nutritious foods every day! Include healthful foods from all food groups. Hydrate healthfully. Learn how to read the Nutrition Facts Panel. Practice portion control. Take time to enjoy your food. Week 2: Plan your meals each week! Use a grocery list to shop for healthful foods. Be menu-savvy when dining out. Choose healthful recipes to make during the week. Enjoy healthful eating at school and at work. Plan healthful eating while traveling. [...]