Category: Nutrition Essentials

Vitamins & Minerals

From bone strength to infection resistance, vitamins and minerals play dozens of essential roles in keeping you healthy. The best way to get them is from whole foods, which provide complete nutrient packages of vitamins, minerals and countless protective plant chemicals. Many Americans do not eat enough nutritious whole foods to meet their micronutrient requirements. […]

Thoughtful Eating

How often do you practice thoughtful eating? Although we wouldn’t be able to function without food, it lands on the bottom of our to do lists all too frequently.  Then, we are left to go hungry or choose whatever is available nearby – often settling for something that’s less than nutritious. So many of the […]

Understanding Processed Foods

Never before has the American supermarket—or the average American—contained so many processed foods.  From tortilla chips to frozen entrees, these foods can be convenient and tasty. Some are easy to carry and eat on the run, others require little or no preparation, and all are available practically everywhere. Processed foods are hybrids of ingredients that […]

Is it hunger . . . or something else?

Physical hunger is a powerful drive. Sometimes, hunger can be so intense that it leads to overeating of energy-dense foods. Ever notice that you crave pizza or fast food when you haven’t eaten all day? The last thing you want at that moment is an apple or salad.  Becoming crazy hungry is often the downfall […]

Making the Most of Elective Calories

Sometimes a plate of French fries or brownie sundae is exactly what you want.  It may not be nutritious, but it gives you something else that you need.  That’s exactly what elective calories should be for you – A really satisfying and pleasurable treat. Why is thoughtful eating so important here?  Because today’s food environment […]

Calories: our love/hate relationship

The calorie gets a lot of undeserved flak. We rely on calories for survival and yet they have a less-than-desirable connotation.  Why? Maybe we mindlessly devour them by the hundreds (or unfortunately, even thousands!) at fast food restaurants.  Maybe we ignore their existence on weekends.  Maybe we resent the way they turn into extra pounds […]