Nutrition

People are often surprised to hear that the corn they are eating with meals doesn’t really count as a vegetable, or may be hindering their weight loss goals. If you are included in that group of people, let’s chat.

First, let’s talk about the difference between starchy and non-starchy vegetables. Keep in mind that starchy vegetables aren’t “bad” and can fit into a healthy diet, but you just want to watch portion sizes.

Probiotics receive a lot of attention and buzz for their role in promoting healthy digestion and supporting the immune system. It is likely that you already consume foods rich in probiotics or take supplements that contain probiotics to receive the health benefits. But did you ever take a moment to think about creating an optimal environment for the live cultures, also known as good bacteria, so that they can flourish in your gut and provide optimal benefits?

As a dietitian I like to follow food and diet trends to see what is popular because it helps me understand what people are hearing about and trying. During the past few years counting “macros” or macronutrients became popular. Macronutrients refers to the nutrients that our bodies need in larger quantities and provide the bulk of calories in our diet. The three primary macronutrients are carbohydrates, protein, and fat. There are also micronutrients which our bodies need in smaller amounts, hence the “micro”. Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients.
 

There is no denying that reading the Nutrition Facts Label is important when you are shopping for food. With nutrition facts focusing on serving size and nutrients such as calories, fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate and protein, the actual ingredients that go into food items are often overlooked. A food item may fit into your requirements for calories or other parameters but may be filled with highly-processed or artificial ingredients.

As temperatures get warmer and summer clothes are worn on a daily basis, healthy glowing skin becomes the ultimate accessory. Slathering ourselves in skincare products is often the first line of defense when trying to achieve skin health. Often, we don’t think about how our skin can be affected from the inside-out by the foods we consume. Try the tips listed below and adopt a new approach by nourishing your skin with healthy food.

What do you think of when I ask about whole foods? The whole foods that I am referring to are foods that are in their natural state with little or no processing and no artificial ingredients. Like many things, food falls on a spectrum. At one end you have the healthiest options such as whole foods and at the other end are highly processed foods. Let’s take a look at what types of foods fall along the spectrum and how to find balance along the way.

What if I told you that your kitchen cabinet may hold an amazing heart-healthy ingredient? If it isn’t in your cabinet already, this ingredient is easy and accessible to buy. Oats, yes oatmeal, packs a punch of heart-healthy benefits. Oatmeal may not be the most glamorous food that generates a ton of buzz but it deserves some love this February as we talk about heart health.

• “What do you eat for protein?”
• “Do you eat a lot of salads?”