While some people wouldn’t dream of skipping breakfast in the morning, others just aren’t breakfast eaters. There are three common reasons as to why breakfast may be overlooked: “I don’t have time,” “I don’t like breakfast food,” and “I’m not hungry.” It’s the “I’m not hungry” excuse that most...

The shorter days this season can leave many people feeling the winter blues. It’s not uncommon to be in a sore mood when there’s less natural sunlight. But a more severe type of depression, called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), is a medical condition that appears when fall and winter come, and...

I get this question all the time: is honey healthier than granulated sugar? The answer is yes and no. Oh, don’t you hate this answer! However, the truth is not always a simple one and it warrants further explanation. Both honey and sugar are carbohydrates, but each carry different characteristics....

This blog post is written by Ariana Rosado Lafontaine, Illinois State University dietetic intern. Thanksgiving Day is near! This is a time to gather with family and enjoy eating traditional thanksgiving dishes. However, for some people, the traditional feast can be a cause of concern...

Fish and seafood are such healthy additions to one’s diet, delivering important nutrients such as iron, choline, vitamin D, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids, that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults eat at least eight ounces every week. However, many people have questions...

Most of us have a love for great tasting food. We can get tasty foods through a variety of ways: fast food and restaurant fare, convenience foods at the grocery store, or made-from-scratch meals at home.  Generally, the made-from-scratch foods have the greatest potential of offering the...

Someone once told me a story of their search to buy lemon zest at the grocery store. Seeing it on the ingredient list of a new recipe, they didn’t quite know what they were looking for but were puzzled when there appeared to be no such thing. To a novice cook, “zest” or “zesting” may be an...

It’s not always easy to snack on healthy foods, especially during big games like the Super Bowl where the fruit and veggie trays get passed over for the wings and dips. However, healthy snacks don’t always have to be in the form of fresh produce. A homemade trail mix can provide a nutritious mix of...

Eating more plant-based foods is a good goal for most everyone. After all, only 1 in 10 adults in the U.S. meet the recommended 1 ½-2 cups of fruit and 2-3 cups of vegetables each day. Plant-based eating is trending, and whether you are ditching the meat altogether or you’re simply trying to eat...

You’ve likely been told to eat more fresh foods and less processed foods for better health. It may sound simple, but what exactly does the term “processed” mean, and what about the terms, “ultra-processed” and “minimally processed?” Let’s dive into some definitions set by the NOVA classification...