How do you eat an elephant? You’ve likely heard this question when addressing how to tackle a big goal. (As a dietitian, my first question when I heard this was, who eats elephants?) The answer, of course, is one bite at a time. As with so many things, we need to do a few things to accomplish something “big” – reach a goal and get results.

March is National Nutrition Month®, an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (the professional association to which I belong as a registered dietitian nutritionist). This year’s theme (2023), “Fuel for the Future,” highlights the importance of fueling our bodies at every age and eating with the environment in mind. Continuing with National Nutrition Month® today, I bring you the topic: See a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).

Nutrition is part of our world, and our body needs nutrients. That is a fact – you cannot live without eating, and you cannot avoid it. Many people enjoy it. Some people are confused by it. Others do it without considering any implications of the food they eat. And nutrition can be VERY confusing. The fads, gimmicks, trends, and unrealistic ideas about eating in the real world – how does one do it? The Real World Nutrition Challenge will help you with that.

March is National Nutrition Month®, so to kick off National Nutrition Month®, eat with the environment in mind. It would be great to do it with every meal – but not everyone thinks about this. So here are five tips to help you eat with the environment in mind.

Over the years, people have put me on the spot and demanded I answer this question: “What is ONE thing I can do to be healthier?” Now as a dietitian, I gravitate to a food-related answer. I cannot help it. However, that doesn’t mean that answer is ‘right,’ and my answer has changed over the years.

You may have heard of antioxidants and have a vague idea that these are good for you. But what are they, why are they good for you, and where do we find them?

Cancer has many causes and contributors, including smoke, sunlight, and environmental issues. Then, of course, there is also the genetic predisposition. But one of the most significant risk factors is a lifestyle and overall diet pattern. The big thing is the overall healthy eating pattern. Here are five foods I tell people to include in their overall eating patterns to reduce the risk of many types of cancer.

There are many things to consider for your overall risk of heart disease. These considerations include lifestyle, family history, and regular checkups. Many people are unaware that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. People think that if they aren’t “old,” they don’t have a family history, and because they drink red wine and eat dark chocolate, they aren’t at risk.

People say this all the time, “dark chocolate is good for your heart.” Okay – if only that were it. But it isn’t. There is so much more to this.

While there are many foods you can add to your diet for heart health, consider some simple swaps for things you are already eating. Not all foods warrant a trade or swap, but consider what you could do. Today I list five simple food swaps for your heart and your health.

Many things contribute to heart disease and heart health. Rather than what foods to avoid, which often comes to mind, consider what to add to your overall diet to reduce your risk of heart disease. Consider adding these foods to your daily (or weekly) routine.

February is American Heart Month. It is also Cancer Prevention Awareness Month. So this month, most of my articles/posts will address several things related to both disease classes. However, this post explains a bit more about what is considered heart disease (there are many things) and that cancer is not just one disease but many. Consider this article foundational for additional information coming in the following several articles.

Being a dietitian for over two decades, I guarantee that I have heard all kinds of reasons why people have challenges with healthy living. I know these are authentic and valid obstacles. I get it. Like many people, I have many roles, some running concurrently. I get it. I promise you I do. This is why I address what I hear are the top 5 obstacles to healthy living.

The case for meal planning. Now, don’t confuse this with meal prep – making the bulk of your week’s meals in one major cooking session at the start of the week. That is a different topic. Meal planning and meal prepping are two different topics. This is meal planning to save you time.

Are you frustrated with your scale and apparent lack of weight loss? Consider this: the number on the scale tells only part of the overall health story. Does it say anything about our overall health? Not really. It just shows mass, and changes in mass, day-to-day. That's it.

In the last post, I wrote about fueling fitness and how most people either don’t do it correctly or at all or believe it requires supplements. So today, I am giving the top five things to ensure you properly fuel, and recover from, your fitness.

One of the most significant issues I see when it comes to diet and exercise is that people need to fuel their bodies in preparation for exercise - but they don't. While doing a 30-45, or even 60-minute run or lifting session, there isn't a need to carbo load, pound protein, or take pre-workout. However, properly fueling will help with a productive workout and feeling like it is easier.

The previous post included the top five myths regarding weight loss. But I couldn’t stop there. This post includes five more myths: low carb, exercise, and that healthy food tastes like cardboard - does it?

While I am always promoting that people should focus on their overall health and mental and physical wellness, weight loss is still a big focus for many people – not just in January, but year-round. Many drastic measures to lose weight are temporary and will result in weight regain when old habits return. I have found that many weight loss myths persist. Here are the top five myths regarding weight loss.

As people start to eat healthier, they often find it overwhelming, time-consuming, and challenging. But it doesn’t have to be. Here are five ways to make eating healthier easier. And don’t worry - you don’t have to adopt all five immediately. Take small steps.