Are you a soda drinker? I am and I have to have my Diet Coke throughout the day to keep me going! I know it isn’t the healthiest option for me even though its diet. So, I started looking for a substitute that would eliminate those extra calories in my day. The American Beverage Association (ABA) estimates that each person in the United States consumes 600 12-ounce servings of soda each year. That means we consume more soda than any other country!. [More]

One of my favorite things to eat in the winter is soup. It is so hearty and warms you up after coming in from the cold. It can be hard to find a good healthy soup, but I was lucky enough to stumble on this article from Fitness Magazine that has 12 soup recipes. I can’t wait to try these to see if the taste holds up to the somewhat skeptical healthy counterpart. I picked out two that I am interested to sample in the next couple weeks and have shared them below.. [More]

I’m sure you’ve heard the news by now that Paula Deen has confirmed that she does in fact have type 2 diabetes and was diagnosed three years ago. Who is Paula Deen, you ask? She’s a cook on the Food Network who touts the greatness of Southern food (Deen is from Georgia). Known for her high calorie, high fattening, over-the-top gluttonous recipes (think deep-fried chocolate-covered cheesecake and a doughnut-hamburger-fried egg sandwich), she has a particular enthusiasm for butter. A Google search for “Paula Deen and butter” reveals some humorous links. One link shows Deen drinking melted butter. Another shows a picture of her new butter flavored lip balm. “Put a little South on your mouth” the label reads. Eww!. [More]

You are often limited in healthy options when going through a drive thru, but get a diet soda to counteract the rest of the calories you are about to consume. I know… I’ve been there, done that. That word ‘diet’ leads us to believe it is healthy, but on the contrary this is usually a misconception. According to new studies presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, drinking diet soda actually causes weight gain and blood sugar spikes.. [More]

As my one of my previous posts explained, I have made a resolution to “… learn how to cook a few more things at home” and so I have been on a mission to find delicious recipes to try. Most of us, including myself, often believe the theory that if it tastes too good, it can’t be good for you, right!? Well, not so, at least in this case. I found a great recipe that challenges my culinary horizon, as well as holds its nutritional value and still tastes great. I thought that something so good, should be shared!. [More]

Happy New Year! That wonderful time of year to dwell on your past mistakes, swear you’ll do better this year, set nearly unattainable goals and then feel bad about it again next year! Wrong! Now is not the time to scrutinize your past mistakes but accept what you could do better. And for me, that has to do with food. No, I’m not trying to lose weight or eliminate certain foods all together but rather, I want to learn how to cook a few more things at home. Cooking at home is cheaper than eating out and you know exactly what ingredients are going into your meal. However, I tend to fall into food ruts and just make the same meals over and over - do you do this as well? Let’s break that cycle! Here are a few meals I want to tackle in the New Year.. [More]

We’ve all been told time and time again not to buy fruit and vegetables out of season. For those of us in areas with winters that last from November to May, that’s a long time to be without any fruit. So, how can we still get the nutrients we need without breaking the bank?! Recently I stumbled upon this article by Health.com showcasing smart ways to get fruit in the winter months. If you’re like me, this could really come in handy!. [More]

What goals have you set for yourself this year? One of my goals is to try to eat a variety of vegetables every month. Sometimes I get stuck in a rut and eat the same things over and over again. Sometime this summer when they are in season, I hope to try patty pan squash! I haven’t had Brussels sprouts for a very long time so I hope to get them in at least once this year. (Brussels sprouts are not my favorite, so I’m collecting good recipes now if you have any!) I aim to eat a minimum of one vegetable from every color of the rainbow.. [More]

Welcome back, friends! I found so much information on common nutrition mistakes from this Cooking Light slideshow I had to break the post into two parts! Missed the first segment? Check it out here. Back to the matter at hand – digging into common slip ups in the kitchen.. [More]

I love cooking. Anyone else out there like to play around with new recipes and see what happens? Although I usually come up with some pretty good meals, I’m often intimidated by the spice rack. I can never seem to remember what rosemary tastes like or what ginger would taste good with. Lucky for me, and you if you’re so inclined, I’ve found the “Beginners Guide to Herbs and Spices” and I’m going to spill the details. This article lists ten different spices, their health benefits, and how to use them. Here we go!. [More]