Choosing Healthy Foods

When life gets busy, whipping up a delicious, well balanced dinner that the whole family will enjoy can seem like a big task. Follow these tips from some of our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists to make dinner time more manageable. Plan and Prep Ahead: Spreading the work of meal prep to less hectic days can be a big time saver. CulinArt’s Director of Wellness, Kimberly Hoban, does just that. “When it comes to throwing together a quick, healthy dinner, I suggest taking a few hours on the weekend or one weeknight to prep and cook healthy ‘components.’ I like to roast a few types of veggies, cook some grains (barley and farro are my favorites) and prep one or two proteins like hardboiled eggs or tempeh. Then during the week, I can mix and match these pieces of a meal, add a dressing or avocado and have a complete healthy dinner in a snap.” Smart Time Savers: Weekdays don’t always lend themselves to spending a lot of time in the kitchen, but that doesn’t mean that the healthfulness of you...

The end of the semester is approaching.  Which means more time studying and the need for quick food options.  Here are some easy convenient meal and snack ideas to ensure you are continuing to eat healthy while you finish out the semester. Some of these can be made in your dorm room- so there is no need for a full kitchen.  All you need is a refrigerator and maybe a microwave!  Meal and Snack Ideas Grains : Great source of B vitamins, fiber and important minerals (iron, magnesium..) Hot oatmeal – Microwave ½ c. oats, 2/3 c. water (or with milk to add protein, calcium and vitamin D) for 2 minutes. Top with granola and some blueberries or raisins. You can also add a scoop of Greek Yogurt for added protein.  Overnight oats – Mix oats, milk, fruit, chia seeds and nut butter. Let sit overnight. Grab & go in the morning. Whole grain bread – Make sandwiches with sliced turkey or tuna salad or toast (try topped with peanut butter & banana). Whole grain wraps/pit...

Do you eat at your desk? If so, you are not alone. 83% of us eat both meals and snacks at our desks. While common, this may not be the best way to enjoy a meal. Is it safe to eat at your desk? Our desks are full of things that we touch often, but probably don’t clean often – keyboard, phone and mouse, among others. Germs that make us sick can live on these surfaces. The flu virus, for example, can survive on your desk for up to 48 hours! Eating at your desk gives these germs a quick and easy ride into your body on your food and hands, increasing your chances of getting sick. Crumbs left on your desk can also introduce new germs and possibly unwanted pests. Is it healthy to eat at your desk? Limiting distractions and avoiding screens during meal time are good strategies for mindful eating. Not only do distractions take away from the enjoyment of the meal, but they also keep us from listening to our internal signals that let us know we are full, making it easier to overeat. The time save...

Have you heard that eating late at night is bad for you? While the bigger impact usually comes from the type of foods we tend to eat late at night more than when we eat them, there may be some benefits to adjusting when we eat. Does meal time matter? Many of us eat in a way that has our meals getting larger as the day goes on – lunch is bigger than breakfast and dinner is bigger than lunch. New research suggests that this may not be the best way to eat to maximize health. Our bodies seem to react better to larger meals eaten earlier in the day than ones eaten later. A few benefits to the earlier meals include better blood sugar control and better weight management. We may even burn more calories after meals eaten earlier in the day. How does our body know what time it is? Our internal clocks, influenced by external cues like sunlight or darkness, make up our circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythms can influence when we sleep, our body temperature and other important bodily functio...