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Olympic Games + Junk Food Ads = Outrageous Combination
Tweet Share on Facebook August 16, 2012 CommentOver the course of the generally wonderful and inspiring London Olympic Games, now drawn to a close, something rather ominous about the superimposition of money, mouths, and medals was persistently on my mind—and remains so now.
Our mouths are important, and how we use them matters. They are the source of our words, and consequently, our premier capacity to share ideas, ideals, and convictions with one another. Our mouths give voice to our character.
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Eating Healthy When Those Around You Don't
Tweet Share on Facebook August 16, 2012 CommentOne of the most common complaints I hear from my patients is that it's hard to eat healthy because the people around them don't. Their co-workers, family members, and friends seem to eat whatever they want, whenever they want, without thinking about their health or weight.
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Beans: The Undervalued Superfood
Tweet Share on Facebook August 16, 2012 CommentWe've all heard the expression "shop the perimeter of the store." But if you skip the middle, you're missing out on a wealth of wholesome, delicious food choices. Your supermarket shelves are filled with hidden treasures that you shouldn't pass up. Like beans, one of the most neglected and under-valued items.
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Watermelon, Three Ways
Tweet Share on Facebook August 15, 2012 CommentIf summer were a food, it would be large, round, dark green on the outside, and vibrant pink on the inside—that's right, it would be a watermelon. Every aspect of biting into this refreshing fruit, juice dripping down your chin and all, just screams summer. From its syrupy sweet taste to its crystal-like texture, resisting a fresh cold slice on a hot summer day is near insanity.
Watermelon isn't just the face and flavor of summer, this fruit also does wonders for your health and beauty. That messy juice is loaded with antioxidants—such as vitamins A and C. These nutrients travel through your body, eliminating free radicals that increase inflammation and damage our cells—all of which can lead to heart disease and cancer. Both vitamin A and C may prevent dry, flaky skin, sun spots, and wrinkles, common byproducts of summer.
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'You Can't Eat That!' No Match for Junk Food
Tweet Share on Facebook August 15, 2012 CommentYou've heard the argument before—if parents are unhappy with the quality of the food their kids are receiving, they can just say No.
No to ice-cream sandwiches following each and every soccer game or practice.
No to the never ending loot bags filled with treats.
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Fight the BBQ Bulge: Your Guide to Summer Sauces
Tweet Share on Facebook August 15, 2012 CommentSchools are out, beaches are open, and the sun is blazing! With all this summery goodness comes one of my favorite events: Outdoor barbecues! It just wouldn't be summer without an outdoor gathering of your closest friends and family. Ribs, steaks, and chicken kebabs … what do all of these things have in common? Sauce! It's usually slathered on thick or used as a marinade before cooking protein or veggies. But certain ones can wreak havoc on your carefully chiseled summer waistline.
Below is a guide to sauces that will get you through the season without the barbecue bulge!
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Regaining Lost Weight? Your Hormones May Be the Culprit
Tweet Share on Facebook August 14, 2012 CommentIf you're one of the many people struggling to maintain your weight loss after dieting, emerging research may help you understand your plight. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that dieters who regain weight are not simply backsliding into old eating habits: They're battling biology itself, which tends to fight to keep weight on.
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Rethinking The Kid-Veggie Relationship
Tweet Share on Facebook August 14, 2012 CommentOn days I'm not wearing my dietitian hat, I stay home to take care of my twin toddlers. In the course of playground banter with other moms, the topic of picky eating inevitably comes up. And by far, the number one complaint I hear is that their kids won't eat vegetables.
I can certainly sympathize. My being a dietitian doesn't mean my kids are genetically hard-wired to love vegetables. Weeks have gone by where green veggies remain untouched on one—or both—of my kids' plates, and the only vegetable matter they consume is a lone sweet potato fry, possibly by accident when they thought it was something else. But then, just as mysteriously, a broccoli binge may come from out of the blue, and they're furiously cramming florets in their little mouths, with little interest in the pile of macaroni and cheese on their plates.
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3 Ways to Get Fast Food From Your Garden
Tweet Share on Facebook August 13, 2012 CommentYou'd think if anyone were eating healthy meals every day, it would be me, the biodynamic farmer and green business owner, wouldn't you? My entire business day is spent showing individuals, communities, and companies how to grow their own food. Enjoying such bounty should be my standard operating procedure, right?
Complete honesty here. Just like many of you, my days require long hours, lots of travel, and many meals in restaurants or conference rooms where I often don't have a say as to what's available. Many days, I arrive home after dark, and those precious moments I like to spend in my garden or preparing fresh food don't always happen. Plus, now with a wife who has her own business as well—and did I mention our new baby?—we're pretty much stretched to the limit.
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Is an Organic Margarita Ruining Your Diet?
Tweet Share on Facebook August 10, 2012 CommentIf you were offered an organic margarita at a restaurant, would you order it? Would it make you feel like you were being just a little bit healthier, going for the organic version instead of the typical sugary margarita?
If you answered yes, you're not alone: Research shows that the term "organic" translates to "healthier" in many people's minds. But the truth is, organic is not the same as healthy, or even healthier.
