Broccoli is known as a health food, but doesn’t need to be boring or covered in sauce to make it taste good. Try these healthy recipes. It’s finally spring and the first crops of the year are starting to peep. Cruciferous vegetables are tolerant of cold weather and their seedlings are resistant to light frost. Broccoli is among the first…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Processed meats like deli sliced turkey and ham are sandwich staples and make for easy protein additions at breakfast and lunch. However, research continues to show that processed meats – high in sodium and preservative chemicals – are associated with chronic illnesses. In fact, a study found individuals who ate red or processed meat four or more times per week…
It’s no secret the pandemic has shifted family schedules – many parents are working from home, some children are attending virtual school and participating in fewer evening-time extracurricular activities and sports. A silver lining of the pandemic for some are family meals. In fact, research demonstrates a plethora of health benefits associated with consuming meals as a family. Along with…
The health benefits of a plant-based diet have been proven by research. But what do you do if you can’t imagine going without some of your favorite foods — like burgers? Fortunately, there are delicious meatless versions, like the Black Bean Burger. Beans are a great source of protein, fiber, iron, calcium and a slew of other nutrients. A cup…
