Category: Nutrition Science

At about this same time last year, I started my love affair with cauliflower. I am not sure how it all came about. I remember being at the grocery store and seeing the clean, bright white heads all bunched together and peeking up at me. I thought, wow, it’s been a while since I’ve eaten cauliflower and it’s one of my favorite vegetables. Every time I went shopping, I would tell myself to pick a different vegetable, not to get too attached to cauliflower. Then I would find myself back in front of them again, choosing my favorite one from among their creamy florets.

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You know the saying, Heidi Klum made it famous on Project Runway – “One day you’re in, the next day you’re out.” Heidi was referring to the world of fashion, and here I am referring to the explosion of interest in food and cooking in America. Fad diets, you are out! Eating healthy and delicious foods, you are in!

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When I think of salads, I think of them being loaded with dark green, leafy lettuces such as romaine and spinach. My favorite is the Caesar salad which consists mainly of romaine lettuce. This salad has had a huge resurgence in recent years because it is both delicious and versatile. It is used as a salad and in wraps, can be a side dish or main course and may be eaten plain or by adding a lean protein such as grilled chicken, shrimp or salmon. If you eat salads to enjoy the nutritional benefit of vegetables without a lot of calories, keep in mind that toppings and dressings can have quite a bit of calories, so add them in reasonable portions such as by the tablespoon or teaspoon.

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This time of year in the northeast our thoughts turn to comfort foods that warm and soothe us. Since soup is a hot liquid that is satisfying and filling, it can easily top a list of favorite comfort foods. Here are some great reasons to prepare and enjoy soup as a part of your regular meals and snacks.

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As a kid, I grew up carving pumpkins as a decoration for Halloween and having pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. A long time ago, my father told me that his relationship to pumpkins was quite different from mine. To my father, who grew up on a farm in Sicily, pumpkin was a squash to be eaten. My father said he would saute slices of pumpkin in olive oil; oil from the olives grown and pressed on his family’s farm. Sounds delicious, doesn’t it?

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When human beings were truly hunters and gatherers during the Stone Age, nuts and berries were an important part of our diet. Think about how much easier we have it now since our hunting and gathering can take place at the local supermarket and farmers’ market. Take advantage of this ease and consider including these foods in your diet every day. Studies show that berries, nuts, colorful vegetables and fatty fish provide health benefits important to today’s lifestyle. Here are some ideas on how to enjoy these foods and why they are important to your health.

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Salt, or the chemical term sodium chloride, has been so highly prized in our history that it has been used as currency and as a strategy to wage war. Salt rations that were given to Roman soldiers were known as salarium, an early term that became the word salary that we use today. Why did something as simple as salt come to have such power?

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Everyone is being affected in some way by the current economy! What seems to be the almost daily rising price of gasoline has an impact on a budget. In order to keep the household budget balanced, when the costs of necessary items go up, we need to find ways we can spend less. Let me share with you some tips on how to control food costs. You can still eat healthy and balance the budget!

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