I'm pleased to introduce guest blogger and Illinois State University, Food, Nutrition and Dietetics student, Tessa Spinelli! Since early spring, you have been patiently waiting for your vegetables to grow. Thanks to your hard work, time, and patience, you now have a garden filled with nutritious...

Do I need to salt the water when cooking pasta? My years of watching cooking shows on TV would tell me “yes.” But this hefty debate between chefs, dietitians, and the like has gone on for years. As a dietitian, my obvious answer is “no!” but it’s not quite as simple as that. There are two main...

My saving grace during the winter, where calorie-laden foods seem to be everywhere, is citrus fruits. The clementine is one of my favorites. It's juicy, sweet, and serves as the perfect snack. But what exactly is a clementine? Many people think that a clementine is the same as a mandarin orange,...

Who doesn't love cheese? Grilled cheese sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, baked lasagna with ooey gooey cheese melted all over it are common cheesy dishes. But with over 2,000 varieties to choose from, it's time to put a little more thought into your cheese choices. Cheese is formed from milk. Milk...

The holiday season is a time of giving, and what's not the perfect gift but a homemade treat from your kitchen? While peanut brittle, fudge, and cookies are a popular and generally safe choice, you'll need to consider a few things before giving away homemade jarred goods, such as jams and jellies,...

I get this question all the time: is honey any healthier than granulated sugar? The short answer is no, but there are some differences to make note of. Both honey and sugar are carbohydrates, but each carry different characteristics. While ounce for ounce, the nutrients in honey and table sugar...

I’ve always been a sucker for fettuccine alfredo. I can distinctly remember my very first taste of the creamy white pasta; I was a long-haired junior high kid on vacation with my cousin, and when she ordered the dish at an Italian restaurant, I had to be just like her, so naturally I ordered the...

Many people find cauliflower bland and uninspiring, and when this colorless vegetable is unseasoned and eaten by itself, I’d have to agree. But you should never underestimate the power of the cauliflower. It’s remarkably versatile with a mild flavor that can work to your advantage, and...

Happy New Year! Now is the time that many people reflect back on the previous year and look forward to a new year with a fresh start. Morning news segments, talk shows, and advertisements are all about giving advice to help you set your new year's resolutions. You'll hear about foods that you...

Christmas morning breakfast in my house is more than just the usual oatmeal, cereal or smoothie. I admit; it generally consists of an unhealthy Danish, donut or cinnamon roll…but with a bowl of fruit, of course! This year, I am fixing my fellow co-worker's healthier take on Apple Donuts. Donuts...

As my son is nearing the age of starting solid foods, I've began to contemplate whether or not to make my own baby food. I want my child to receive fresh food with no additives. However, I'm a little daunted just thinking about the work it may involve! Let's think about this a little more… Some...

Tis the season of cooler weather and comfort foods. Nothing warms up the heart better than savory dishes, such as macaroni and cheese, potato soup, meatloaf, or fried chicken. But while these all-star fare are certainly delicious, they're also heavy and high calorie. Lightening up your favorites...

Burgers are the quintessential all-American grilling favorite. Nothing beats biting into a juicy burger with all the fixings. But when it's dry and under seasoned, it can be a disappointment. Just how do you get the perfect burger? It starts with the right kind of beef. Most grilling experts will...

A hot summer day often calls for an icy cold treat. While ice cream and popsicles are both adult and kid favorites, they're typically loaded with added sugars and sometimes fat. Luckily, there are numerous frozen snacks that are kid-friendly, healthy, and so simple to make! Stock your fridge and...

I'm pleased to introduce guest blogger, Virginia Luchini! Virginia is an undergraduate student at Illinois State University studying Food, Nutrition and Dietetics. While we would all love a relaxing, peaceful holiday season that's rarely ever the case. There are too many things to do,...

The oblong, pale yellow winter squash that you may have seen at the grocery store or farmers market is known as spaghetti squash. It acquired its name for a reason. Once cooked, the flesh is scraped out with a fork into long thin strands that resemble spaghetti noodles. And because spaghetti...

  I'm pleased to introduce guest blogger and Illinois State University dietetic student, Tessa Spinelli! You've heard it over and over again, "breakfast is the most important meal of the day", and it's true! Although some of us may not feel hungry right after we wake up, our bodies are in...