Oatmeal happens almost everyday in my house. With the exception of the summer month (when instead I throw oats into cookies, muffins, and smoothies), my family eats oatmeal for breakfast everyday.
Most people struggle with their weight at one point or another, even nutrition experts. Achieving sustainable weight loss isn't easy, otherwise everyone would sit at their most comfortable weight.
Many parents dread mealtimes with their kids, because getting them to eat - or at least even try - nutritious foods seems nearly impossible without a full-on battle. Growth slows after the age of two, which often translates into kids having smaller appetites and erratic eating patterns. When this is coupled with a child's newfound desire to control their lives (eg.
No matter what time of the year, Prosecco is my go-to fun beverage of choice. I love the bubbles and the fact that it's not too sweet (so I sip rather than drink), and most of all, I love drinking out of a champagne glass--it makes everything more fun! Recently I went to a dinner party where the hostess served alcohol-soaked strawberries in glasses of Prosecco. Festive, delicious and fancy (with a touch of sweetness), this cocktail quickly became my new favourite, and I just had to share! Happy Holidays!
In the second installment of my "Breakfast Outside The Box" series, I used my always-trusty muffin pan again and created a protein and nutrient-packed breakfast (which also makes for a perfect lunch or dinner).
The holidays are here and so are fun holiday parties and get-togethers involving delicious food. As fun as this time of year is, it can also induce a bit of anxiety in those who are trying to watch their weight.
I've written about the importance of breakfast few times on this blog and I still can't stress it enough. Whether or not you eat breakfast (and what you include in it) will set the stage for your day nutrition-wise. It may even prevent you from unhealthy snacking later on (which can help with weight management).
Introducing solids to your baby can be nerve-wracking and a bit overwhelming, especially when you're overloaded with conflicting information about what, when, and how to do it. You might be wondering if you should introduce iron-fortified rice cereal before six months of age to help your baby sleep through the night, or you may have read that purees aren't best and that finger foods are the way to go.
As a nutrition expert who consults with and writes for other Moms about how to best feed their families, I sometimes feel pressure to be the perfect feeding role model; to post pictures of my son and I chopping freshly-picked-out-of-our-backyard-garden tomatoes for homemade salsa or to write about why homemade hummus is just as easy (and much healthier) than the store-bought stuff.
Well, I have a confession to make. I'm a Mom and a Registered Dietitian who feeds her kids packaged foods sometimes. I'm not perfect. And it's time to get real.
As much as you feel the need to play "treat police" this Halloween, try not to. It's no fun for you as parents, and it takes the joy out of Halloween for your kids. Instead, take advantage of this holiday by using it as a teaching tool for healthy and balanced eating habits—an excuse to actually improve your child's long-term relationship with food.
It's almost turkey time! If you're anything like me, you LOVE turkey dinner, but you get a bit squeamish at the thought of handling raw poultry. When it comes to thawing your turkey, you want to pay close attention to food safety in order to avoid cross-contamination and bacteria growth. The safest way to thaw a turkey is in the refrigerator, where the entire turkey will remain at a cool and at a safe temperature while thawing, or in cold water if you're tight for time.
I'm not one to deny my kids a tasty treat, and I certainly don't make any food "forbidden," but there are some convenience foods that I don't buy for my kids, mostly because the ingredients list is a mile long, full of sugar, artificial flavours and colours, preservatives, fillers, and other chemicals. When it comes to feeding my kids, my number one priority is that they eat real food, not food-like items (most of the time).
It's rare that I serve a meal without cheese. It adds a generous dose of calcium for healthy bones and teeth, as well as protein which helps create a feeling of fullness after a meal. The best part about adding cheese to a meal though, is the comfort that it brings. Cheese brings homecooked meals to a whole new level of deliciousness —it's the component of the meal that makes you close your eyes and savour every bite.
If you consume artificial sweeteners such as Splenda (sucralose), Equal (aspartame) and Sweet n' Low (saccharine), you may be putting yourself at risk of metabolic disorders such as Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes, a recent study suggests.
Does your child belong to the "eat one thing and one thing only on my plate club"? If it's a yes, you're not alone.
I recently received a question on my Facebook Fan Page from a Mom who was stumped on whether or not she should give in to her toddler's request for second helpings of his favourite food, when leaving the more nutrient-dense foods untouched on his plate:
Even though I'm a Registered Dietitian, eat a healthy balanced diet (most of the time) and make physical activity part of my daily routine, I am not immune to developing health problems. Because high blood pressure—also known as hypertension—runs in my family (both of my parents have it), I am at an increased risk of developing it. If I continue to take good care of myself by eating well and staying active, I may be able prevent hypertension, but if my blood pressure eventually does creep up, I will do my best to keep it well controlled.
When I received an e-mail from my son's new preschool outlining their "no treat" snack policy (even for birthdays), my first thought was, "where's the fun?" followed quickly by, "and what, exactly, is considered a treat?" But what really got me was the teacher's list of healthy choices, which included cereal bars, pudding cups, fruit s
If there's one food group that tends to be the source of family food battles, it's vegetables. Veggies, especially the nutritious green ones, are often bitter-tasting and therefore don't appeal to children as much as other foods. As parents though, we do whatever we can to get our kids to eat some vegetables every day (even just a few bites!) because we know the nutritional benefits they provide.
The first day of school is right around the corner, and many of us are faced with the seemingly daunting task of packing healthy lunches every day for our kids. Because this seems to be a common source of anxiety for moms everywhere, I thought I'd create a list of kid-friendly lunch-box staples that have my dietitian's stamp of approval.
But first, here are five tips that will help you feel a little less overwhelmed and a little more prepared for making healthy lunches that you kids will actually eat:
When you and your partner make the decision to have a baby, the initial excitement and happiness that you feel at the thought of conceiving can slowly turn into worry and anxiety if it doesn't happen right away. The deep desire to become a mom is like no other—it can be all-consuming and heart wrenching. And the waiting game...almost agonizing.
