Category: Education Series

Debra Loder, RDN Tis the season for family, friends, festivity, and food—lots of food. Temptations are everywhere and it goes on for weeks. Beginning with bags and bowls of candy and other treats on Halloween, then the traditional Thanksgiving Feast, followed by weeks of office parties and family gatherings leading up to Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Years’. So, how …

Jack-O-Lateran Apple Salad Cups Ingredients: Four Large Oranges 2 Medium Gala Apples 1 Stalk Celery ¼ Cup Dried Cranberries ¼ Cup Chopped Pecans or Walnuts 1 Tablespoon Orange Zest ½ Cup Low-Fat Vanilla Greek Yogurt Directions: 1. Wash and dry oranges. 2. Cut a ½” slice off of the top of the orange and reserve. 3. Using a spoon, remove …

It seems that Americans are constantly looking for a “quick fix”. On television we see countless commercials for cosmetic gimmicks aimed to take away wrinkles and smooth out fine lines in our faces. Plastic surgeons advertise outpatient treatments to shrink belly fat. And, then there are the fad diets! Do a “Google” search and you will find a ceaseless number …

By: Debra Loder, RDN Do’s: Keep healthy snacks available in a convenient place so that snack time meets the child’s nutrition goals.  – Homemade Ranch Dip (made with Greek Yogurt) with fresh veggies and whole grain crackers.  – Hummus with veggies and whole grain crackers.  – Fruit with Greek Yogurt, Cheese, or Peanut Butter. Remember that serving sizes for children …

By Debra Loder, RDN In recent times we have heard a lot about intermittent fasting. Should we or should we not fast. This being my personal stand on the subject, I believe that most of us practice intermittent fasting daily. If you have dinner at 6:00 P.M. and eat breakfast at 7:00 A.M., you have fasted for about 13 hours. …

March is National Nutrition Month and this year’s theme is “Celebrate a World of Flavors”.   During the first week of March, nutrition professionals focused on eating a variety of nutritious foods by including foods from all food groups in your diet and to incorporate your favorite cultural foods and traditions.  Using the MyPlate guidelines is an easy way to make …

National Nutrition Month is an annual campaign that was created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). During the month of March, AND invites you to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthful eating and physical activity habits. This year’s theme for National Nutrition Month is “Celebrate a World of Flavors”. “Celebrating flavors from cultures around the …

February is Heart Health Month which makes it a good time to learn more about the American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines. The AHA recently released 10 guidelines to help improve cardiovascular health. Following these guidelines will help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Here are the Guidelines: Following these guidelines supports a healthy diet and can help improve …

Often, I am asked, “Should I take a multivitamin and mineral supplement?” My answer is always, “it depends”. If you eat a healthful diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, low fat dairy, and healthy fats, you probably don’t need a supplement. However, not everyone manages to eat healthfully and, in this case, using a multivitamin mineral …

As we come to the close of another year, I think about the stressors that our nutrition status has faced. COVID-19 caused long work hours making it hard to plan nutritious meals. The stress associated with the pandemic increased mindless eating. For many, the diagnosis of COVID-19 stressed bodies and increased the need for proper nutrition. When we needed it …