Nutritious choices made simple®
Garrick is a Registered Dietitian and brings knowledge of nutrition and public health to Guiding Stars. He develops, manages, and coordinates nutrition and wellness programs using Guiding Stars for our clients and community.
Garrick earned his bachelor’s in Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Maine and his master’s in Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Rhode Island. He’s passionate about food insecurity and ensuring that all members of our communities have access to nutritious foods.
As the end of the year approaches, it’s time to look back and review highlights from 2018. We’ve gone through our content and news this year to bring you a list of noteworthy items. Thanks for following and engaging with us throughout this year and in the year ahead.
On a normal day, managing diabetes requires constant attention to blood sugar levels and thoughtful choices in your diet. During the holidays, things get even more complicated for diabetics. Parties, travel, and a never-ending barrage of sugary treats can disrupt their routine and create a real health challenge. I’ve compiled some tips from the CDC and the American Diabetes Association to help people with diabetes enjoy a healthy holiday season.
There are a lot of meal gatherings this time of year. Hosting friends and family for a holiday or celebratory meal can be a lot of fun, but it can also induce stress for the host. On top of all the planning, cleaning, shopping, and cooking involved, there may be a financial burden. Feeding a crowd of people can get expensive quickly no matter what your budget is. The task of host does not need to be so difficult or costly. I’ve compiled some tips below for hosting a nutritious meal for your guests without spending too much money.
The last thing you want to do as a guest is show up and take up valuable counter and oven space to prepare your dish. We’re planning to bring Southern Cornbread in a cast iron skillet to this year’s meal. I will bake the recipe ahead and cover the skillet with some aluminum foil to transport it in the car. When we arrive, I will heat it up on the stovetop to serve it warm.
No one wants to cook when they have weak muscles, a headache, a stuffy nose or feel sick to their stomach. Complicated recipes with too many steps can ratchet up the misery for parents and caregivers. I’ve pulled together some simple and nutritious dinner options for when you’re feeling ill, but still need to prepare a meal. Avoid overspending on less nutritious options and nourish yourself and your family with these manageable meals.
Although anyone can get food poisoning, some people are more at risk. Those groups include pregnant women, young children, older adults and people with immune systems weakened from medical conditions (e.g., diabetics, cancer patients). It’s especially important for these groups and their caregivers to follow safe food handling practices. Here are 4 basic food safety principles from the CDC that we should all follow to reduce the risk of food poisoning:
Instead of planning every weeknight meal, it works well for my family to grocery shop for three dinners and make them when we have the time. We also keep other key ingredients stocked, which allow us to quickly put together a balanced meal on busy nights. Here is an example from Cooking Light:
Another school year is upon us. Before sending their children to school, parents will weigh the pros and cons of participating in school lunch versus packing lunch at home. In addition to cost and convenience, nutrition is an obvious factor in this decision.