Over the past 20 – 30 years we have seen everything from low-fat, fat-free, sugar-free, gluten-free, meat-free, grain-free and animal-free diets to high-fat, paleo, Mediterranean-style and many other “diets” and trends. This information leaves people feeling confused and overwhelmed about what to eat as well as how to eat. And there is always this question: What am I supposed to eat for optimal health and longevity? I don’t believe there is just one way to eat, but instead, we all have different needs as well as different genetic, physiological and psychological responses to food. The key is to find the foods that work for you – foods that empower you in your day-to-day activities as well as foods that nourish your body and provide pleasure to your life.

Real food wins and portions matter!

Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner and before you know it, we are in “vacation season.” As much as we all love a good vacation, one thing I hear clients talk about time and time again is how challenging it is to balance healthy eating with the “laissez faire” attitude of a vacation. In reality, vacation is the perfect time to practice taking care of your bodies and feed it right. The trick is to honor your body by making a healthy eating and living game plan. This month I am sharing with you some simple tips to stay healthy, fit, and happy while living life on the road. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, implementing these simple tips can help you live a lean life on the road!

This month’s issue is dedicated to snacking! Whether you are looking for a sweet snack, salty snack, or just an easy snack, this month I am providing you with real food snack solutions. Preparing and eating foods that fuel you will empowering you to succeed and is key to long term health and well-being.

A few simple things to remember when you are planning your snacks:
•The simpler the ingredients, the better.
•The simpler the transportation time from land to mouth, the better.
•The simpler the prep time, the better.
•The simpler the food, the better.

March is National Nutrition Month and this year the theme is “Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle”. The truth is, “diets” will come and go and with it weight goes up and down. This “yo-yo” dieting of losing weight and regaining weight actually lowers your metabolism and makes losing weight harder. Typical diets are very restrictive and may exclude favorite foods or even whole food groups. Restricting foods and having a strict diet sets you up for failure. When we tell ourselves we cannot have something we want it even more, so instead of eating just one piece of candy we eat the whole box! And with this comes feelings of guilt and negative thoughts, which starts a vicious cycle of dieting, bingeing and guilt.

Ready to ditch the diet? This month I would like to inspire you to bite into a healthy lifestyle instead of spending more money on the newest “diet”. Build a better relationship with food and learn to become mindful of what you are putting into your mouth.

February is National Heart Awareness Month and this month I am addressing the link between inflammation and heart disease. Scientist and nutritionist have long known that there is a link between diet and heart disease. But now, more research is emerging between the correlation of inflammation in the body and heart disease. Inflammation is a […]

2015: Eat Dirty! Kick off your new year by eating dirty! That’s right eat dirty, a.k.a eat from the ground. Think about going back to the basics and eating the way Mother Nature intended. We live in a society that has become accustomed to eating foods from boxes, wrappers and packages. Have you ever wondered, […]

I want to wish you a holiday season inspired by the gifts of life, rather than a holiday filled with guilt from over-indulgence. This month I am going to share with you some simple tips on how you can embrace the holidays and enjoy the peace of the season without calorie counting and the worry about unwanted weight gain.

With the change of season, comes a change in what we eat and what is available for purchase. Butternut squash, spaghetti squash, acorn squash, buttercup squash and sugar pumpkin join the fall scene; with spaghetti, acorn and butternut as the most popular and familiar. These fall squash are packed with nutrients, such as beta-carotene, which is great for the skin, Vitamin C, which helps boost your immune system and antioxidants, which prevent or delay some types of cell damage. They are also low in calories and fat. Not only are these squash beneficial for your health, they are also tasty and can be a great addition to any meal. You may be wondering how to cook these squash and how to incorporate them in your menus. You’ll find the answers in this month’s newsletter, where I will discuss the different varieties of squash and share some of my favorite ways to prepare them.

When it comes to weight loss and your health, what you do from about 4:00 p.m. until the time you go to bed can make all the difference in your overall weight loss and health success. This is the time when you are the most susceptible to fall into bad habits such as sitting in front of the TV and “vegging” out, snacking on chips, crackers and cheese, etc. while you wait for dinner to be served. Some of you may also fall into the habit of having a few cocktails to help unwind, or eating large portions of ice cream or other snack type foods after dinner to “reward” yourself for a hard day’s work.