To some, Halloween officially kicks off the holiday season, and along with it the challenge of enjoying yourself while managing to limit your intake (or disbursement) of unhealthy treats. So when it comes to Halloween and the time-honored tradition of doling out candy to ghosts, goblins, and – of course – Frozen Princesses, one question…
Thanksgiving is such a curious holiday. At a time when we are showing gratitude for our health and those around us, you would think the holiday would feature a slow meal filled with foods that nourish the body and spirit. Perhaps it used to be that way, but somehow the traditional Thanksgiving foods have gotten…
Every health and fitness professional understands that the holiday season is the most difficult time of the year for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. We bake, we feast, we travel, we party. In fact, every day throughout November and December seems like a day spent consuming more calories than expended. We tell our clients to “indulge…
The holiday season can be stressful. From shopping to controlling one’s diet and exercise regimen, everyone experiences some form of stress this time of year. Vegans, for example, may find holiday parties particularly challenging as many holiday favorites contain both dairy and meat. Fortunately, there are plenty of meat and dairy-free alternatives that vegans can…
Water is the most abundant substance in the human body (equivalent to 50-70% of total body weight). Our joints require it for lubrication, nutrients need it for transport and absorption, and our organs need it for protection. Simply put, water is essential for human life. Despite water being a critical component to sustaining life, it…
Say hello to purple coconuts and goodbye to macros! An analysis of food trends for 2017 reveal that overall, consumers want real food, including purple everything and more coconut-based products. This real/whole-food based approach to eating is crowding out the “as long as it fits your macros” notion, meaning that we are taking to heart…
You probably think you know everything you need to know about fruit, but here are 15 facts about this delicious food group that just might surprise you: A drupe is a stone fruit. Drupes have a hard pit or stone, which can be freestone or clingstone. Peaches, plums and cherries are drupes, but so are…
Protein is vital to many aspects of health. In addition to its structural, mechanical and transport roles in the body, protein helps maintains fluid balance and pH levels, and is required to form hormones, enzymes and antibodies. It’s easy to get carried away with the notion of “a little is good, a lot is better”…
March is National Nutrition Month, an annual campaign sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to provide education around the pivotal role nutrition plays in overall health. The 2017 theme is “Put Your Best Fork Forward,” which helps inspire us to strive to make every bite count. Small changes can add up to big…
Hunger is the body’s signal indicating the biological need for food, but most of us often eat for reasons that reflect other forms of hunger. Have you ever walked into a movie theatre and ordered a large popcorn, even though you’re still full from lunch? Or soothed a broken heart with a tub of rocky…