Author: Kitty Broihier

This easy Cranberry Smoothie earns 3 Guiding Stars for nutrition, and will probably also earn you some “What a great idea!” comments from your holiday guests. True, smoothies are not typical Thanksgiving fare—which is why it’s a unique menu addition. Try serving the smoothie in punch glasses or little “shooter” cups and offer it to guests as they arrive. Or include it in your day-after-Thanksgiving breakfast or brunch: multiply the recipe to serve your crowd, then transfer it to a big pitcher so guests can serve themselves. However you decide to serve it, the creamy consistency and alternative way to feature cranberries makes it a festive and tasty choice this season.

Continue reading »

As I’ve been suffering from a bad cold for almost a week now, and spending waaaay too much time bundled up in bed, I figured now was as good a time as any to examine the old adage “feed a cold, starve a fever” and see if there was any truth to it. First off, I want to say that dietitians never recommend “starving” for any reason, so you can rest-assured I won’t be giving anyone that advice. But what’s this bit of medical folklore all about?

Continue reading »

Keep in mind, the sugar that is added to foods provides energy (calories), but nothing else in the way of nutrients. On the other hand, the sugars found naturally in foods such as fruits, vegetables, and dairy products comes packaged with plenty of nutrients like vitamins and minerals. Therefore, the sugar we’re interested in limiting is added sugar—sweeteners added by food manufacturers and consumers themselves. If you need a quick primer on sugar basics, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few tips that will help you rein in your added sugar intake.

Continue reading »

I’ve put together a week of ideas (some breakfasts, some lunches, some dinners) for those of you who aren’t feeding a family. They are flexible recipes in terms of ingredients, meaning you can use up leftovers or adapt to your  own taste. I hope it inspires you to rediscover your own culinary creativity.

Continue reading »

I’m not known to be much of a fan of leftovers (my husband doesn’t mind taking them to work the next day for lunch, so I’m usually off the hook). However, I don’t like wasting food, so many times I will “refashion” leftovers into something that seems more like a new dish than just a reheat-and-eat situation. Even though I am pretty diligent about making quick use of leftovers that are hanging out in my fridge, sometimes something gets pushed to the back and when I finally find it, it’s a little “iffy” food safety-wise. That leads me to the first rule of leftover food safety: when in doubt, throw it out.

Continue reading »

Lots of colleges and universities have healthy food these days, but sometimes you just want to make something in your own room (maybe in your jammies even). And that’s ok! A tube of cinnamon rolls baked in a toaster oven is tasty, as is ramen from the hot pot at midnight, but they’re hardly “real food.” If you want to cook in your dorm room more than just once in a while, it’s a good idea to learn to cook something that is actually nourishing. Here are a few suggestions to help you take your dorm cooking game up a notch…

Continue reading »

End-of-summer exercise means different things to different people, of course. For me, the basics are covered in my gym, but I do like to milk the last few days of summer freedom with time spent outside. Outdoor fitness in your town might not look like it does in my area. But no matter where you live, I bet you can find some fun things to do that let you enjoy August’s precious days while also providing good exercise.

Continue reading »

As much as you might enjoy smoked foods, you might be wondering about the food safety aspects of smoking foods at home, and whether smoked foods in general should be a regular part of your diet. Here are a few things we think you should know about cooking and eating smoked foods…

Continue reading »