Bananas are a versatile fruit for snacking and baking, it’s combined well with a variety of flavors and offers up natural sweetness in place of sugar in many recipes. High in soluble fiber and resistant starch, it helps add bulk to stool and acts as a prebiotic, or food for healthy gut bacteria to flourish. Moreover, it’s rich in vitamin…
Soup brings coziness and comfort to the winter season and is effortless to heat up for lunch. There’s something warming beyond the temperature about having a bowl of soup on a cold, snowy day. Though they’re often touted as health foods because of their liquid nature and vegetable content, soups can often rack up in saturated fat, sodium and even…
A skincare routine is much more than face washing and moisturizing before bed. It also includes using sunblock, staying away from harsh chemicals or pollutants – and feeding the skin important nutrients by eating certain types of healthy foods. Eating right is the foundation for a healthy body, and good nutrition should be part of any skincare routine. The produce…
With this year winding down and 2022 just around the corner, it means it is nearly time for New Year’s celebrations – and a fresh batch of New Year’s resolutions. While some people love the idea of starting the year off with a list of self-improvements, others seem to dread the calendar flip that traditionally ushers in a season of…
The Michigan winter isn’t known for its crop yield but it an excellent opportunity to dig into freezer items from your home or store. Foods intended for freezing are picked at peak ripeness when their nutrient content is at its highest, then blanched and frozen. In general, frozen food retains nutrients well up to one year, but some nutrients are…
It’s officially here – the cozy season of delicious food, special gatherings and cookie exchanges. A holiday centered around food can certainly pose challenges to health goals. It’s difficult to say no to a second helping of your favorite food, but there are ways to help keep your hunger and desire for more in check: Get enough sleep to keep…
The holiday season is a wonderful time to get together with loved ones, but it can also bring along a period of stress that can ultimately affect mental health. Financial pressure is among the highest on the list of holiday stressors. According to a Lending Tree poll, 13 percent of those surveyed are still paying off last year’s holiday bills…
Turkey isn’t the only staple on the Thanksgiving menu, and it’s important to plan and think ahead to avoid waste. A good rule of thumb whether you’re receiving a Thanksgiving goody bag of leftovers or storing away, foods stay safe for up to about four days in the fridge. Here are some other things to keep in mind: The average…
What came first, the chicken or the egg? My vote is the egg, especially since this post is all about them. The latest and greatest debate lately has been: What is better for you, the egg white or egg yolk? Eggs are a great source of a complete high-quality protein with few calories. One whole egg has ~5.5 grams of protein…
One in 10 Americans has diabetes, and 95% of them have Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body’s ability to regulate and use glucose, or blood sugar, as fuel is impaired. The pancreas produces less insulin, the hormone that helps cells process sugar from blood, and cells become insulin-resistant and begin to take in less sugar. This…
Organic, healthy, low-fat, natural and the list goes on – commercial food packages are filled with seemingly healthy terms. The truth is, there are plenty of foods packed with unhealthy ingredients that are deemed organic and natural. The best place to look decipher a healthy choice from an unhealthy one is the nutrition facts label and ingredient list. But even…
The fall season brings along beautiful warm colored leaves, cozy flannel, trips to apple orchards and of course – pumpkins. Belonging to the same family as squashes, pumpkins pack in a plethora of nutrients. A single cup of pumpkin provides 7 grams of fiber to aid in digestion and a third of the daily need for vitamin K. Its bright…
Plant-based milks have long catered to those with lactose intolerance, milk protein allergy and food restrictions. Lately, these dairy alternatives’ sustainability and health aspects have attracted more consumers to add them to their grocery carts in the form of milk, yogurt, coffee creamers and desserts. The nutrient profile of dairy alternatives varies among brands. It’s common practice to load sugar…
Cucumbers are a family favorite. Composed of 96% water, they promote hydration and bring refreshing flavors to a hot summer day. Although it’s mostly made of water, this crispy, crunchy, low-calorie vegetable is rich in vitamins C and K, as well as antioxidants. Walking down a grocery aisle, you might be met with a variety of cucumbers. The most common are garden and English…
As we head further into the Autumn, a fresh harvest of in-season produce is calling. In the fall, Michiganders can take advantage of grapes, green beans, corn zucchini, cabbage and of course – apples. A family trip to the apple orchard is a great way to teach kids about healthy produce while packing in some steps. Sometimes known as nature’s…
