Visit Your Farmer’s Market to #BuyLocal

July 6th, 2017 by Allison Stowell in Our Dietitan

Today’s supermarket produce section is an example of how connected our world is. Where we once had to wait for our local growing season, we now have access to a variety of produce all year as we import fruits and vegetables from all over the world. The result is that we don’t have to wait for June to enjoy strawberries or September for apples (if you live in the northeast, for example). Naturally, I’m all for a colorful diet all year, but have you ever stopped to think about what it means that we have access to just about every fruit and vegetable twelve months a year?

Put Your Best Fish Forward

June 30th, 2017 by Recipes in Recipe Roundup

Americans, in general, could stand to eat a bit more fish. Packed full of nutrients that are great for your brain (and overall health), it’s a smart choice for any time of the year, but especially for summer, when the fresh options are even better. These recipes will help the fish-wary explore and try incredible flavors that will persuade you: fish can be a nutritious delight on any budget.

3 Tips to Help You Get Over Your Fear of Cooking Fish at Home

June 29th, 2017 by Kitty Broihier in Nutrition Science

I’ve heard lots of people claim that they are “afraid” to cook fish at home. I get that. Really. I feel the same way about nice steaks. Why is that? Well first, good seafood (like good steak) can be pricey, and nobody wants to mess up and waste expensive ingredients. Then there’s the intimidation factor: Don’t you have to be a skilled chef to make a nice seafood dish turn out well? What if it comes out dry? Aren’t certain fish supposed to be cooked in specific ways? These are legitimate concerns, and you’re not alone. The thing is, seafood has so much good stuff going for it nutritionally that it’s a shame to shun it at home. To help alleviate your fish-cooking phobia, I’ve put together three tips to address your concerns and boost your confidence. Let’s dive right in, shall we?

Meet Sophia: Nutrition Champion

June 27th, 2017 by Elizabeth Caton in Guiding Stars News, Healthy Kids

At age 11, Sophia Carpenter is already a champion of the Guiding Stars Program. Sophia and her father visit our Hannaford store every Monday to stock up on nutritious foods for the week and check out the Manchester, NH store’s demo, led by Hannaford Dietitian, Marilyn Mills. While many of us struggle with weekly meal planning and serving our families nutritious choices throughout the week, Sophia has this covered. Sophia comes to the store every week equipped with a detailed meal plan and shopping list that includes delicious choices and is packed full of items that earn Guiding Stars. Marilyn helps out by offering new recipes, ideas, and offers a taste of a product for folks in the region to try out. Sophia compiles all of this into creative recipes to enjoy throughout the week. A true inspiration and amazing role model, we are so thankful to have folks like Sophia to champion the use of the Guiding Stars program in their own home!

Fish Chowder With a Splash of Wow!

June 23rd, 2017 by Recipes in Recipe Reviews

Fish chowder can easily become one of those routine, boring dishes that doesn’t change much from one generation to another. Put a stop to that now with this shining star of a West Coast-style tomato-based chowder. Any firm, white fish will play beautifully with the lovely sauce and the fresh vegetables. Enjoy.

Fishing for Health: Environmental Health

June 22nd, 2017 by Elizabeth Caton in Sustainability

Most of us know that fish are good for our health, but how do we know which fish are good for environmental health? Like many other foods, we need transparency of where it came from and how it got to our plate. To complicate matters, we don’t have labels like “USDA Organic” to help guide us – you don’t know what the fish is eating, so you can’t very well label it organic. What we do have is labeling of farmed or wild-caught, but that tells us very little about how it was caught or raised or treated after it was caught. The simple answer to a simple question, “How do I know if my seafood is sustainable?” It’s complicated.

Fishing for Health: Environmental Health

Update: Fish and the Guidelines for Pregnant Women

June 20th, 2017 by Allison Stowell in Our Dietitan

The type of fat found in seafood, omega-3 and DHA specifically, makes it essential for both mom and baby. Research shows that the benefits for women during pregnancy include increasing the likelihood for full-term pregnancy, as well as improved size of the newborn. Research also suggests that appropriate intake of seafood and DHA reduce the potential for post-partum depression. For baby, DHA is believed to offer extensive neurological benefits, including development of baby’s eyes and brain. It’s even possible that there is an increased potential for maintaining an ideal body weight in childhood.