Choosing Healthy Foods

It's the week of finals and suddenly there's so much to do and not enough time to do it. With projects, papers, studying, all-nighters, and early wake-ups, indulging in your favorite (and maybe not so good for you) foods seems like the perfect way to relieve some of that finals stress. When we turn to food to relive stress, it tends to be food that comforts us and makes us feel good, which a lot of times is a carton of ice cream, a slice of pizza, or your favorite piece (or bag) of candy. The truth is, finals may not only be a stressful time of the semester but a time where weight gain occurs in stressed out students. The combination of a large amount of sedentary time studying and test taking, little to no exercise, and stressful or late-night eating is a recipe for weight gain. Another truth is that we may not even recognize that we are in fact stress eating due to being completely preoccupied. So how do we avoid this stress eating before it takes place? Here are four tips to...

The semester is coming to a close which can mean only one thing: finals. While your time may be consumed by reading, studying, reviewing and memorizing it is important to maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet. Believe it or not, there are some foods that have been proven to be essential for proper brain function, improve learning and motor skills, contribute to healthy blood flow, enhance memory and focus, and overall maintain a healthy brain. Though food has typically been seen as a mean to provide us with the energy and material we need to maintain our body and its functions, over the last decade research has shown evidence that dietary intake has an influence on the mechanisms that maintain mental function (Gomez-Pinilla, 2008) . Here are some major brain foods to fuel your mind this finals season. Antioxidants Blueberries, pomegranate and pomegranate juice, tea, dark chocolate, citrus fruits and cranberries to name a few antioxidant power houses. Antioxidants aid in protecting the...

The holiday season is right around the corner which means lots of celebrating with parties and gatherings accompanied by much to eat and drink, not all being "healthy." First up is Thanksgiving, a time to give thanks, centered around a huge feast. So how do we keep it happy and healthy without weight gain during this joyous season of eating? Here are a few tips on how to have your feast and eat it too without the weight gain. Think About Portion Control Sometimes our eyes are bigger than our stomachs when we look at the Thanksgiving spread in front of us. It is important to consume proper portion sizes of our favorite holiday foods versus stacking our plates high with everything. Keep these visual markers in mind as you fill your plate to make sure you’re not over consuming. 1 serving of turkey is 3 oz, about the same size as a deck of playing cards A serving of gravy is 1/4 of a cup, about the size of a golf ball A serving of mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes is 1/2 cup, abo...

As we enter the colder months of fall and winter, squash of many different shapes, sizes and colors are appearing in grocery stores and farmers markets. These nutritious, delicious and colorful seasonal wonders are known as winter squash. Winter squash are low in calories and fat and contain no cholesterol while being loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and dietary fiber. Squash is also low in carbohydrates. Many of these varieties are loaded with vitamin A, which is essential for immune function, vision, cell growth and the maintenance of many of our bodies organs including the heart, lungs and kidneys. Seeds are edible as well providing protein, healthy fats and dietary fiber and taste great when roasted. Eating these foods seasonally also benefit our bodies as well as the environment. Because they are in season they have been picked at their peak and are fully ripe and loaded with nutrients. Vegetables that are not in season are picked earlier to ripen during its travel in...

Guest post by Northeastern graduate student Meghann Jurkowski Halloween is an exciting time of year filled with tricks, treats, costume parties and loads of candy. It's always fun to take part in the festive activities and taste all the Halloween goodies that surround us but sometimes we indulge a bit too much. If you have been to one too many parties or ate a little bit too much this holiday, leaving you feeling sluggish, overly full, sick or just plain creepy, you should consider cleansing your body with some detoxing foods. It is completely possible to give your body a cleanse, ridding yourself of those Halloween toxins without fasting! Here are 10 detox foods to get you back to normal... 1. Leafy Greens Leafy greens, including kale and arugula, are loaded with vitamins, minerals and some fiber to restore what our bodies need to run properly while pushing out the bad. Greens like kale also have detoxing abilities. 2. Lemons One of the most potent detox foods, lemons are loaded w...

Guest post by Northeastern graduate student Meghann Jurkowski The mighty kale has been a hot topic on the rise. Everyone seems to be drinking green smoothies or doing juicing cleanses with kale as a main ingredient. It's also been popping up in dishes at restaurants across the country and promoted heavily in all kinds of grocery stores. October 2nd was even National Kale Day! You may be looking around and wondering to yourself, what's all the hype about kale? The truth is, this nutrient packed super leafy green is something to be raving about. There are so many different kinds of kale, so many ways to prepare and eat it, it tastes great and the nutritional benefits are outstanding! What are the health benefits associated with kale? Nutrient Density Kale is extremely nutrient dense so when you eat this green you are getting more nutrient bang for your calorie buck. This means that the ratio of nutrient density to calorie intake is high. One cup of kale contains 33 calories. Wit...