Live Well. Eat Well. 2014

It seems as though salsa has become a more popular condiment than ketchup, as I see it accompany so many dishes at restaurants. Is this contributed to Americans' growing love of hot and spicy foods and interest in ethnic foods? Or are we merely trying to make healthier choices when dining? My...

Americans gain one to two pounds between the Thanksgiving feast and the New Year countdown. Some do not lose those extra pounds and continually gain weight every year. Simple, smart selections can help avoid this annual obstacle and set up a positive start to 2015. The best...

Creamy alfredo sauce is almost a heart attack waiting to happen! Traditional sauces made with butter and heavy cream cram in 350 calories per 1/2 cup (and that's before the pasta)! Get your alfredo fix with my slimmed down sauce served over whole grain linguine, chicken, and broccoli. (...

These days, so-called natural sugar substitutes are all the rage. Some are good old-fashioned favorites: honey, molasses, maple syrup. Others are newer to the scene, like agave nectar, stevia, and monkfruit extract. But wait. What exactly is a sugar substitute? The terminology can be...

Healthy and cornbread are not two words that typically go together, but today they do! Traditional cornbread recipes typically include some combination of butter or bacon grease and buttermilk or sour cream along with cornmeal, flour, and other ingredients to make it rise. Sugar is also sometimes...

Labor Day marks the "end" of summer. Having just observed this holiday you might think the season is effectively over. Our yard's rampantly growing grass, my tan lines, and our 75 degree thermostat setting suggests other wise. As does my backyard garden, which is in FULL effect! One of the...

Corn dogs and cotton candy---what trip to the fair would be complete without them? Ask anyone what they enjoy most about the fair and many will say ---THE FOOD! The once a year treat can pack some big calories into your regular diet, so here are a few tips. Most of us know that the "Doughnut Burger...

It's December, and along with the possibility of snow, we can expect a flurry of holiday get-togethers. Naturally, I'll be tackling party favorites in the next several Recipe Rescue posts! I'm starting off with Buffalo Chicken Dip. Although this dip packs in satisfying protein, the fat and calories...

Dietitians don't always have the answers. We know what foods to eat and in what amounts for certain conditions, but it's not as cut-and-dried as just following the diet, especially when it comes to weight loss. Weight management is the first line of treatment for many chronic health conditions....

Carrot cake has vegetables, so it's healthy.. right? Not so much. Between the rich, nutty cake and over the top sweet cream cheese frosting, you've got a carrot catastrophe! Try my version with a secret ingredient for a carrot cake that's far more waistline-friendly and still...

I don't know about you, but I am fired up to fire up my grill after the brutal winter we had. Grilling is one of my favorite ways to prepare all types of foods — from the typical burgers, steaks and chicken to fish, vegetables and even fruit. It's a relatively low-fat preparation method, and...

At the rate of sparing myself the embarrassment of my overgrown garden-I did not include any pictures of the inspiration of this post. The late harvest of tomatoes in my home garden more than my husband and I can possibly consume! We have made BLT's, salad, salsa (fresh and canned)...we are...

A few years ago, hazelnut spread was something very few people ever heard of or tried before. Nutella® used to be the sole brand found on the market shelves. Suddenly, this creamy spread is being made by multiple big brand names, including Jif® and Hershey's™, as well as store-bought or off-brands...

One of my favorite lunchtime staples is a bowl of Greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey and topped with some kind of trail mix or fruit and nut blend. I mean, dried fruit and nuts go together like peas and carrots. Chewy sweetness combined with rich, crunchy nuts is both satisfying and delicious....

Is there anything more American than apple pie? There's something about that buttery sweet filling and flaky crust that just hits the spot. But a typical slice can set you back nearly 500 calories, and that's not even a la mode or mile-high. Try a mini cinnamon-sugar apple pie instead for a...

We're just past Father's Day, but did you know that June overall is Men's Health Month? The media seems to pay a lot of attention to ladies' health issues, so let's not neglect the guys; men, too, have special nutritional concerns. Here's what you need to know to keep yourself (or — if you're a...

Peach Cobbler is a very American summer favorite, but all that buttery sweet deliciousness means fat, sugar, and calories! Try my lightened version at this weekend's Memorial Day BBQ! (Scroll to the bottom of the post for a printable PDF version of the recipe!) Image...

The other day I was eating lunch in our staff break room with some of my coworkers. As I was assembling my lunch and adding my mandatory scoop of avocado atop my chicken and kale, my co -workers winced in disgust. "I can't eat avocado alone" they kept saying. Guacamole seems to be the only way...

March is National Nutrition Month and this year's theme is "Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right." Given that taste is the biggest indicator of whether we will eat a food, the theme is certainly appropriate! With warmer weather on the way, I'm asking you, too, to bring the heat and try my favorite...

Cold temps triggering a craving for comfort food? There's nothing better than a steaming bowl of chili on a crisp fall day, but it can be a bit high in calories when higher-fat ground beef is used. Whip up a batch of our hearty turkey chili for a meal that'll stick to your ribs but not your...