by kelsey | Mar 3, 2016 | Cooking Tips, Diet, Food, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
March is National Nutrition Month! National Nutrition month is an annual event that reinforces the importance of developing healthy and balanced eating and activity habits. “The theme for 2016 is “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right,” which encourages everyone to take time to enjoy food traditions and appreciate the pleasures, great flavors and social experiences food can add to our lives. How, when, why and where we eat are just as important as what we eat. Develop a mindful eating pattern that includes nutritious and flavorful foods — that’s the best way to savor the flavor of eating right!” [http://www.eatright.org/resource/food/resources/national-nutrition-month/national-nutrition-month]
Fruits and vegetables are a great way to promote health and wellness while preventing disease. You all know this, but the doing it part, ie-eating 5 servings/day is typically missed and the majority are falling short in this area. To celebrate national nutrition month, I have included 20 ways to add fruits and veggies to your diet. This is something we all have to work at, including myself, so pick a few of these suggestions and give them a try! Strive to get 5/day along with a balanced intake of lean meats, whole grains, low fat dairy, and healthy fats. Balance, portion control, and moderation are keys to a healthy and successful diet!
1. Variety abounds when using vegetables as pizza topping. Try broccoli, spinach, green peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms and zucchini.
2. Mix up a breakfast smoothie made with low-fat milk, frozen strawberries and a banana.
3. Make a veggie wrap with roasted vegetables and low-fat cheese rolled in a whole-wheat tortilla.
4. Try crunchy vegetables instead of chips with your favorite low-fat salad dressing for dipping.
5. Grill colorful vegetable kabobs packed with tomatoes, green and red peppers, mushrooms and onions.
6. Add color to salads with baby carrots, grape tomatoes, spinach leaves or mandarin oranges.*
7. Keep cut vegetables handy for mid-afternoon snacks, side dishes, lunch box additions or a quick nibble while waiting for dinner. Ready-to-eat favorites: red, green or yellow peppers, broccoli or cauliflower florets, carrots, celery sticks, cucumbers, snap peas or whole radishes.
8. Place colorful fruit where everyone can easily grab something for a snack-on-the-run. Keep a bowl of fresh, just ripe whole fruit in the center of your kitchen or dining table.
9. Get saucy with fruit. Puree apples, berries, peaches or pears in a blender for a thick, sweet sauce on grilled or broiled seafood or poultry, or on pancakes, French toast or waffles.
10. Stuff an omelet with vegetables. Turn any omelet into a hearty meal with broccoli, squash, carrots, peppers, tomatoes or onions with low-fat sharp cheddar cheese.
11. “Sandwich” in fruits and vegetables. Add pizzazz to sandwiches with sliced pineapple, apple, peppers, cucumber and tomato as fillings.
12. Wake up to fruit. Make a habit of adding fruit to your morning oatmeal, ready-to-eat cereal, yogurt or toaster waffle.
13. Top a baked potato with beans and salsa or broccoli and low-fat cheese.
14. Microwave a cup of vegetable soup as a snack or with a sandwich for lunch.
15. Add grated, shredded or chopped vegetables such as zucchini, spinach and carrots to lasagna, meat loaf, mashed potatoes, pasta sauce and rice dishes.
16. Make fruit your dessert: Slice a banana lengthwise and top with a scoop of low-fat frozen yogurt. Sprinkle with a tablespoon of chopped nuts.
17. Stock your freezer with frozen vegetables to steam or stir-fry for a quick side dish.
18. Make your main dish a salad of dark, leafy greens and other colorful vegetables. Add chickpeas or edamame (fresh soybeans). Top with low-fat dressing.*
19. Fruit on the grill: Make kabobs with pineapple, peaches and banana. Grill on low heat until fruit is hot and slightly golden.
20. Dip: Whole wheat pita wedges in hummus, baked tortilla chips in salsa, strawberries or apple slices in low-fat yogurt, or graham crackers in applesauce.
http://www.eatright.org/nnm/handoutsandtipsheets/#.UyHnjs47Bw0
-Kelsey Raml, MS, RD, LN
by kelsey | Feb 18, 2016 | Cooking Tips, Diet, Food, Weight Management
Last year during Lent, I posted a comparison chart for fish selections at fast food restaurants and since Lent is underway again, I thought it would be beneficial to repost! Many of you are eating more fish right now than you ever do due to the Lenten season. All of the fish sandwiches you get at fast food restaurants are breaded and fried, but how to do know what’s better than others? I did a little research for you to help you make better choices. When you look at the chart below, please take note of the calories, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat (the only place that has trans fat is Culvers), sodium (recommended to stay below 2400mg/day), and cholesterol (recommended to stay below 300mg/day). The carbohydrates are coming from the bun and a little from the breading and can easily be dropped by taking off half of your bun. Other important things to note is that holding the tarter sauce can save you about 100 calories and 5-10g of fat. Another healthy choice would be to get a side salad, instead of fries with the sandwich. The best choices are the McDonalds Filet of Fish, no tarter sauce or Taco John’s Fish Taco, no sauce. Even better than eating out, would be to make your fish at home like my picture of grilled shrimp above. Choose healthy cooking methods such as baking, broiling, or grilling…try to avoid frying and incorporate some great vegetables with your fish for a well-balanced meal!
-Kelsey
Nutrient Comparison
References: restaurant’s websites, calorieking.com, and myfitnesspal.com.
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Nutrition Facts |
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| Food Item |
Calories |
Total Fat |
Sat. Fat |
Trans Fat |
Cholesterol |
Sodium |
Total Carbs |
Fiber |
Sugar |
Protein |
| McDonalds Filet of Fish |
380 |
18g |
3.5g |
0 |
40mg |
610mg |
39g |
2g |
5g |
16g |
| *McDonalds Filet of Fish-No Tarter |
290 |
9g |
2g |
0 |
30mg |
530mg |
38g |
1g |
5g |
15g |
| Burger King Fish Sandwich |
590 |
31g |
5g |
0 |
45mg |
1480mg |
57g |
3g |
8g |
21g |
| Burger King Fish Sandwich-No Tarter |
410 |
12g |
2g |
0 |
30mg |
1240mg |
53g |
3g |
6g |
21g |
| *Taco Johns Fish Taco |
280 |
14g |
4.5g |
0 |
35mg |
1160mg |
29g |
2g |
3g |
10g |
| Arby’s Fish Sandwich |
570 |
25g |
4g |
0 |
45mg |
1010mg |
64g |
2g |
9g |
21g |
| Arby’s Fish Sandwich-No Tarter |
450 |
15g |
2.5g |
0 |
35mg |
730mg |
59g |
2g |
6g |
21g |
| Culvers Cod Filet |
663 |
40g |
7g |
1g |
76mg |
979mg |
47g |
1g |
5g |
31g |
| Culvers Cod Filet-No Tarter |
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553 |
27g |
5g |
1g |
58mg |
877mg |
46g |
1g |
5g |
31g |
| Culvers 3 piece Cod Dinner |
1929 |
132g |
22g |
2g |
196mg |
2444mg |
108g |
8g |
18g |
75g |
| Culvers 3 piece Cod Dinner-No Tarter |
1553 |
96g |
16g |
2g |
148mg |
2172mg |
106g |
8g |
18g |
75g |
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by kelsey | Feb 16, 2016 | Cooking Tips, Diet, Food, Weight Management
Winter is a great time to enjoy tasty soups and hotdishes. If you are watching your waist line, it’s important to be careful of how much you consume of these foods as they can be high in calories, fat, and carbs… depending on how you prepare them. Broth based soups and stews are lower in calories and fat than cream based. In addition, if you’re making a hot dish, you may consider cutting calories by choosing fat free soups to add to your dish, such as fat free cream of chicken or mushroom soup. They also have low sodium varieties of these so if you’re watching your blood pressure or sodium intake, you may consider using this variety. And, as always, be sure to incorporate your lean proteins and plenty of fruits and veggies to your meal. You may consider doubling the veggies in your soups to make them a bit heartier and healthy. A few of my favorite cold weather soups are beef stew that has carrots, peas, potatoes, onion, and roast meat, bean and ham soup (plenty of protein and fiber!), and chicken noodle soup that also has plenty of veggies with white meat chicken. You may also consider doing some batch cooking with these hearty meals–make a big batch and portion out into smaller containers and freeze. Take one out at a time to enjoy a healthy, hearty meal without all the prep time!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Feb 4, 2016 | Diet, Food, Weight Management
With Superbowl Sunday only a few days away, many are getting their grocery lists ready and starting to prepare all those tasty snacks. Here are some tips to help you get through Superbowl Sunday without busting the calorie bank:
- Be sure to eat consistently throughout the day and leading up to the party and game. If you fast all day to allow for extra eating during the game, you’re more likely to over-indulge as you’ll be extra hungry.
- Include fresh fruits and vegetables into the spread.
- Beware of the dips and sauces. They usually have a lot of extra calories, sugar, and fat. If you’re making your own, try using light or fat free to make your recipes healthier.
- Choose your beverages wisely. Liquid calories are hidden calories and we often times don’t realize how much they can add up. Opt for sugar free or calorie free beverages or limit your portions.
- Stay away from the fried and breaded items. Instead choose lean meats such as white meat chicken without the skin, lean hamburger, fish, or lean pork.
And remember that the food doesn’t always have to be the focus of the event, instead really take in and enjoy the fun and fellowship with friends and family!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Feb 3, 2016 | Diet, Etc., Food, Wellness/Health
The winter months seem to take a toll on our skin as the air is dry and cold! The beauty industry has a variety of products to help promote healthy and glowing skin, however diet is also an important factor. Research on the best foods for healthy skin is limited, but what we do know is that antioxidant rich foods are effective in promoting healthy and glowing skin. Antioxidants are substances that protect our cells against free radical damage. Free radicals are molecules made when our body breaks down food or by environmental exposures such as tobacco use or radiation. They damage the cells and may play a role in diseases such as heart disease and cancer. A colorful diet is most effective for skin health and each color offers specific vitamins and minerals such as: beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. A diet rich in the following foods will help you get beautiful and healthy skin you’re wanting!
- Red, Orange, & Yellow Produce: carrots, tomatoes, red and yellow peppers, apricots, etc
- Green Leafy Vegetables: spinach, romaine lettuce, broccoli, etc
- Blue & Purple Produce: blueberries, raspberries, eggplant, etc
- Lean Proteins: beans, lentils, nuts
- Fatty Fish: salmon, mackerel, sea bass
It’s also important to be mindful of foods that can cause greasy and oily skin such as high sugar and high fat foods: pastries, cookies, fried foods, etc. These foods should be avoided or limited and instead focus on a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, low fat dairy, and whole grains. In addition to diet, eliminating tobacco abuse and using sunscreen are effective in promoting healthy skin. These recommendations are not only going to benefit your skin, but also your overall health. Color and variety in your diet will help you look stunning always!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Jan 26, 2016 | Diet, Food, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
5 of the Healthiest Winter Foods
Winter is always challenging to get fresh produce at a reasonable price, but these top 5 winter foods are not only reasonably priced, but offer a great source of nutrients. Be sure to add them to your grocery list and include them in your meal planning!
1. Pomegranates: this heart-healthy food is rich in antioxidants that can contribute to improving blood flow to the heart and keep arteries unblocked.
2. Dark Leafy Greens: kale, chard, and collards thrive during the winter season while the rest of the produce section looks bleak. These greens are rich in vitamin A, C, and K. They are also an excellent source of folate.
3. Citrus fruits: limes, oranges and grapefruits are juiciest in the wintertime and can brighten up a dull winter. They are loaded with vitamin C. Citruses are a rich source of flavonoids like hesperidin, which is credited for boosting HDL (good) cholesterol while lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.
4. Potatoes: they often given a bad rap for being one of the white starches along with white rice and white bread but unlike those starches, potatoes are a whole food and contain many beneficial nutrients. They have two excellent immune boosters – Vitamin C and B6—while also providing a good source of folate and fiber.
5. Winter Squash: comes in a variety from butternut to acorn to delicata and even spaghetti squash and they are all excellent choices in the winter. One cup of squash has 80 calories and is high in both vitamin A, C and K while also boasting a good source of potassium, B6, and folate.
-Kelsey
