Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious 2016

This July 29th we celebrate an Italian classic: Happy National Lasagna Day all you lasagna lovers. A cheesy, gooey pan of carbs is what makes this meal a favorite of all ages. The ingredients are simple, inexpensive, and feeds an army, making the whole family happy. Lasagna begins with the flat-...

Tofu anyone? Ok. Most people look at me like I'm a weirdo when the "t" word is mentioned. However, tofu is one of the ultimate convenience foods; it's quick and easy to use in a wide variety of dishes. Before you write it off, you must first know a little bit about it. Tofu is made by coagulating...

I'm pleased to introduce guest blogger, Noel Konken, Illinois State University Dietetic intern! Memorial Day Weekend jump starts the season of cookouts, potlucks, and picnics. While these social gatherings are a classic American summer tradition, they are not always conducive to healthy...

Much like Thanksgiving is bombarded with pumpkin spice, the flavor of Christmas is most notably peppermint. There's peppermint mochas, chocolate peppermint bark, cool peppermint pies and delicious peppermint cookies. It's the chief mint chosen to flavor candies and gum, and it comes to good little...

When the weather is warm and beautiful, there is nothing better than eating outdoors. Whether at a park, an outdoor event, or just in the backyard, a picnic can be a fun excursion for the whole family. There's no need for a picnic table; a blanket on the ground will do. You can use paper plates or...

Weekday breakfasts' for working families may be a quick bowl of cereal, fruit and yogurt, or a granola bar on-the-go, but nothing beats a hot breakfast on a cold day. February is Hot Breakfast Month, a time to celebrate the wonderful warmth of eggs, pancakes, waffles, oatmeal and, of course, "b and...

Are you a late night snacker? While "eating after 8 p.m. is bad for your health," is a myth that has long been debunked, it doesn't mean that all foods in a late night kitchen spree should be on the table. However, late night snacking doesn't have to kick the curb as long as you follow...

January 2nd was National Buffet Day. That's day number two in the start of most people's diets. Just who was the malevolent person who determined the need for Buffet Day to be celebrated at the beginning of News Year's resolutions? I guess the more important question is, "why is there a buffet day...

The 68th United Nations General Assembly declared 2016 the International Year of Pulses. What in the world are pulses you ask? Pulses are a subgroup of legumes; legumes refer to the whole fruit enclosed in the pod of the plant, but pulses refer to only the edible seeds within the pods. Common...

Somewhere packed between holiday shopping, stringing of lights and putting up the tree is a marathon day of cookie baking and candy making. A platter of goodies just wouldn't be the same without the famous gingerbread man. While this little guy may try to run away from being eaten, he's too tasty...

Many will celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Irish-inspired dishes like the classic corned beef and cabbage, but let's not forget the potatoes. Taters are a must on an Irish menu, whether it be in the form of shepherd's pie, colcoannon, champ, boxty, or hash. Not sure what any of those are? Don't...

Plump and juicy blueberries are one of nature's best treats. The blueish purple fruit is grown on bushes and typically in season all summer long from April to late September but peaking in June and July. Blueberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of dietary fiber. They've...

In the world of cookie flavors, a chocolate chip cookie tends to win the battle of Americas favorite over its competitor, the oatmeal raisin cookie. However, this doesn't mean that the raisin doesn't have its use in our kitchens. Raisins are a versatile food that can be added to stews, sauces,...

If you're an enthusiastic cook, you probably don't even think twice when preparing a recipe that has twenty different ingredients and numerous steps. However, if you're not as comfortable in the kitchen, a large recipe like that may be very intimidating. Recipes with shorter lists of ingredients do...

There's a new way to get your daily dose of veggies: veggie noodles. While there's nothing wrong with a whole grain noodle or pasta (certainly packs more nutrition than regular enriched), veggie noodles can offer a variety of nutrients with less calories. So grab your julienne peeler, vegetable...

Muffins are one of those breakfast foods that seem like the healthy choice. It's surely better than a doughnut or a bagel with cream cheese, right? Not so fast. A muffin found at a bakery can clock in around 550 calories and over 20 grams of fat. An original glazed doughnut, on the other hand, is...

Have you ever wondered if there is a difference between noodles and pasta? Noodles are different than dry pasta, such as spaghetti or fettuccine, because noodles contain eggs or egg yolks while other pasta does not. As a matter of fact, the FDA rules that a noodle, except chow mein noodles, must...

Much like its breakfast competitor, bacon, everything tastes better with sausage. Whether it's a sausage lasagna or sausage on top of pizza, Americans have grown accustomed to seeing the meaty protein in various dishes. While sausage is simply ground meat stuffed into a casing, different types of...

Serve it for breakfast or dinner; polenta is a versatile dish. But with its yellow tint and slight grit, it looks a lot like cornmeal and grits. So what's the difference? Cornmeal may be made from blue, white or yellow corn and ground into fine, medium or coarse textures. Cornmeal is the...

What was the first meal you ever learned to cook by yourself? Did it happen to be two slices of buttered bread with a slab of American cheese in between and toasted over a hot skillet? A grilled cheese sandwich is simple to make and scores high on a child's menu, but it's so gooey and comforting...