Our Dietitian

Guiding Stars for Kids

February 19, 2019 by Allison Stowell

As a retail dietitian, I work with all my customers, including my littlest shoppers. These are the guests that are often the most excited to see what nutritious message—and of course snack—I’m able to share with them. Even the very youngest, who remind me of their age by holding their three or four small fingers chat with me and absorb my carefully crafted guidance. These little friends who are quick to show me that they know how to count to three are most excited when I show them the little green cartoon that can also only count to three.

Guiding Stars 101

February 5, 2019February 6, 2019 by Allison Stowell

A typical grocery store has about 40,000-50,000 products in it. That’s a lot of food, a lot for your eyes to take in, and a lot for you to choose from. Add to it that as a shopper, you are likely shopping with a “list of wants” right along with your grocery list. You are likely looking for foods that are lower in sodium, rich in heart-healthy fat, possibly with fewer artificial ingredients, and that offer overall beneficial nutrition for you and your family. But all those products…and all those decisions to make. Wouldn’t it be nice if you had a shopping partner by your side to help you “weed out” the foods that aren’t aligned with your health goals or not as healthy as they appear to be? Welcome to Guiding Stars, the BFF that helps you do just that.

Whole Body Wellness: Nutrition & Sleep

January 22, 2019January 21, 2019 by Allison Stowell

We often think of the roles of food, nutrition, and exercise in maintaining a healthy weight and overall wellness, but a regular pattern of restful sleep is just as important. A good night’s sleep is essential for many reasons from the apparent (it restores us) to the complex (it helps prevent chronic disease). Indeed, something as simple as sleep is about way more than being cozy under the covers. It’s about preventing chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression. Many of us are seeking a better night’s sleep and turn to the pharmacy for the answer. However, we need not look any further than our kitchen.

Positive Alternatives to Fad Diets

January 8, 2019 by Allison Stowell

It’s that time of year when dieting and the bars, powders, and more that come along with it are in the spotlight. Engaging in these diets, which may or may not bring the results you’re looking for, takes a bit of learning and always leave you feeling like a tourist in your own “eating world” until it becomes natural to you. How about avoiding these diets altogether this year and just focusing on personal goals? After all, you know what you want to achieve, so why not set simple, strategic goals to get you there?

Diabetic-Friendly Parties

December 4, 2018 by Allison Stowell

The holiday season can be difficult for anyone who follows a special diet or manages a diet-related health issue like diabetes. Decadent dishes, shifts in meal times, and lack of control over the menu can be stressful for friends who worry that a brief moment at a buffet or dinner table may mean many moments of discomfort or elevated blood sugar later.

Inexpensive & Impressive Potluck Ideas

November 15, 2018January 21, 2019 by Allison Stowell

When you’re the dietitian, you’re often asked for nutritious dishes, suitable for feeding a crowd at a potluck, which taste great and cost little. And when you’re the dietitian, you appreciate the question and want to provide recipe suggestions that both the home cook and crowd they’ll be feeding will be excited about. Since party season is upon us, it’s a good time to create a go-to list of perfect pot-luck menu ideas so that I’m ready the next time I’m asked.

Alli’s 2018 Thanksgiving Pick

November 6, 2018 by Allison Stowell

While a table of richly colored autumn dishes is a good thing, it often lacks variety in texture. This is where my pick for your holiday table comes in. In my opinion, no holiday table is complete without something crunchy and green because while I love sweet potatoes just as much as anyone else, our Thanksgiving table needs a bright boost. With this in mind, I’m choosing Apple Walnut Tossed Salad for my Thanksgiving pick. With fresh, crisp, greens, apples and walnuts, this seasonal salad is what your table needs to round it out perfectly.

Haunted Kitchen

October 16, 2018 by Allison Stowell

My daughter loves to be in the kitchen, experimenting with new recipes and practicing fun cake decorations. She looks forward to the arrival of her food magazine, endlessly searches Pinterest, then supplies me with shopping lists to replicate the perfect pictures she sees. Of course, this leads to the next thing she is also all about, which is parties and using them as an opportunity to showcase her latest kitchen adventures. Over the past few years, this has meant an annual Halloween party.