Do Omega 6 Fats Cause Inflammation?

You may have heard that foods high in omega 6 fats (soybean oil, safflower oil, sunflower seed oil, vegetable oil) can cause inflammation in the body. Since inflammation is the root cause of most chronic illnesses including heart disease this would not be good. So, where is this theory coming from that omega 6 fatty […]

5 Tips for Using Your Freezer to Waste Less Food

Cooking during the pandemic definitely changed how we use the freezer. These 5 tips have been helpful to reduce food waste, reduce meal prep time, and help us use our freezer more effectively. Freezing Food is about Preserving the Quality of the Food Oftentimes you will see the phrases “Best if used by,” “Sell by” […]

A woman exercising with ropes

How to Modify Any Workout

There are countless workouts available online, but they likely are not always a perfect fit for you. The good news is you can modify any workout you find! Maybe not yet, but after reading through these tips, you will have the skills to make any workout your own. Start by focusing on the FITT principle […]

Leftover salmon stored in glass containers

Leftover Food Safety

Whether we are cooking for a crowd, our household or ourselves this holiday season and beyond, we are bound to generate leftovers at some point. Just like washing your hands is an easy way to prevent foodborne illness while cooking, there are steps we can follow while storing leftovers to stay healthy and continue enjoying […]

Is it ok to eat a hot dog every now and then?

For most of us, we should strive to eat healthy most days of the week. However, “cheat” days are part of our lives and on some eating plans, encouraged. So what do you eat on splurge days? Pizza, pasta, hamburgers, sweets or hotdogs? Researchers from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of […]

Roast chicken on a plate with a bowl of salad next to it

Getting Ahead of The Holiday Meal Cost

Everyone loves the holidays, but let’s be honest, it can get expensive, especially when you have several guests to feed. Our NC State colleagues on the More in My Basket team have created a great six-part series on how to prepare and get ahead of the holiday meal cost. They recommend planning your menu in […]

A stressed looking woman with Christmas clutter

How to Manage Holiday Stress

Stress can be a powerful and often unnoticed force in your life. It can influence weight, mental health, quality of sleep, and have effects on blood pressure, heart rate, and the immune system. When chronic stress is present, a hormone called cortisol is released which increases glucose in the bloodstream. This increase in glucose is […]

Tracking Still Works

Tracking is once again a winner when it comes to helping us achieve and maintain a healthy weight.  Tracking has long been a key strategy included in most weight management programs, including the Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less and Eat Smart, Move More, Prevent Diabetes programs.  Writing down everything that we are eating and […]

popular diet

A Dietitian’s Guide to Popular Diets

Paleo?  Keto?  Blood type diet?   It seems like every week, a different popular diet trend emerges.  As a dietitian, I receive many questions from program participants, family, and friends about how I feel about the newest diet fad.  Luckily, there are two questions that many dietitians and I ask to determine if a diet is […]