Tanya earned her dietetics degree, completed a dietetic internship and served as a clinical dietitian in several Cincinnati hospitals. With more than 20 years of nutrition education experience, she is also a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators.
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Video Gaming Found to Increase Caloric Intake
Our almost fifteen-year-old son loves technology and playing his variety of video gaming platforms. With occasional encouragement from mom and dad, he balances his screen time with other activities such as reading, drawing, practicing his instrument and outdoor activities. He also eats non-stop while growing about six inches this school year alone. When I saw the headline Do Video Games Make Kids Eat More in my inbox last week, I just had to open the article to find out the answer.
Posted 5/9/2011 9:00:00 AM By: : 17 comments 12,979 views
Is the 17-Day Diet for You?
I first read about the 17-Day Diet at the start of the year. It was promoted as a way to lose weight put on over the holidays. Now that swimsuit season is just around the corner, it has hit the promotional circuit again.
Dr. Mike Moreno's best selling weight loss book appears to be a mix of tried and true weight loss principles and modern day myths packaged in a creative way. The 17-day diet program consists of four cycles that are each 17 days in length. The four cycles supposedly help you achieve weight loss by confusing your metabolism. While there is a little scientific truth to this philosophy, not to the extent it is highlighted as a program cornerstone. Adding variety to your workouts and your eating plans can prevent or bust plateaus. Although following this diets specific 17-day cycle provides no magical metabolism confusion secrets, there may be some aspects about this weight control approach that could help some people move toward success.
Posted 5/2/2011 2:49:16 PM By: : 36 comments 35,515 views
Benefit from Coupons Without Being Extreme
They can make a reality show out of just about anything, including the use of coupons. TLC's Extreme Couponing show allows us to meet people that have taken the art of bargain shopping to a completely new level. For some people highlighted on the show, tough times created the need for using coupons to stretch their food budget. For other people, using coupons to save or take advantage of deals seems to have triggered compulsive tendencies such as buying 35 bottles of heartburn medicine because it is an awesome deal or hoarding 75 boxes of cereal and dozens of other groceries in a closet.
There are a variety of tips that can help you save money at the supermarket. Here are some coupon tips and resources to help you get the most from coupon savings without having to go extreme.
Posted 4/25/2011 6:00:00 AM By: : 39 comments 20,591 views
Make Integrity Your Key to Success
Many of us watched Candace Cameron Bure grow up on Full House. On Saturday, April 16th at 8 PM on FOX she will star in the new family movie night feature Truth be Told. Candace joins David James Elliot and Ronny Cox (does anyone but me still remember him from Apple's Way?) to unravel the secret of marriage. In the year since Wal-Mart and P & G first launched Family Movie Night, they have brought fun, action-packed entertainment that everyone can enjoy. This one will most likely be no different and will provide teachable moments and discussion opportunities surrounding universal truths like honesty and the pitfalls of compromising integrity to achieve a goal.
No doubt, many of us have been told that honesty is the best policy and the truth will set you free. Today we need people with moral integrity, character, and honesty more than ever. Every day we are faced with opportunities to operate and live in truth. Courage allows us to call things like we see them and increases our personal power. Here are nine benefits of living with integrity.
Posted 4/11/2011 10:00:00 AM By: : 28 comments 21,581 views
New Proposed FDA Restaurant Labeling Regulations
Last week the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released news of two proposed regulations related to calorie labeling. As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed into law last year, calorie and nutrition information in designated food establishments must be disclosed. Establishments with 20 or more locations doing business under the same name with nearly similar menu items will be effected by the new regulations. Since we already know nutrition calculations are derived from a variety of sources and serve more as an estimate then an exact number, can these new regulations really help us stay on track toward our goals?
Posted 4/8/2011 2:00:00 PM By: : 77 comments 26,243 views
Go Nuts for Walnuts!
I grew up with a native black walnut tree in my back yard. Its ugly green corrugated round fruit would ripen and eventually fall in our yard each year serving as a routine lawn-mowing hazard. My brothers liked to use them to practice their baseball pitches. As they ripened on the ground, they would become yellow-black in color. When they looked like that, you knew not to touch them because their black dye would stain your hands. A great natural dye option perhaps but as a child I didn't have too many uses for that.
English Walnuts were first cultivated in the United States in California in the late 1700's.Today, 99 percent of the U.S. commercial supply of this type of walnut comes from California. A new report last week suggests that walnuts are the healthier nut choice.
Posted 4/4/2011 6:04:01 AM By: : 31 comments 37,123 views
Are You Getting The Most From Your Calcium Supplement?
I have previously shared that calcium is an important nutrient you may be missing in your diet. The newly released 2010 Dietary Guidelines lists calcium as a nutrient of concern because intake by many Americans is lower than recommended. There are also reports that getting too much calcium later in life can be detrimental.
Calcium is an essential nutrient, necessary for nerve transmission, hormone secretion, and muscle function in addition to vasodilation and constriction. Ninety-nine percent of the body's calcium supply is found in the bones and teeth. By the time we reach our 30's, we have reached the end of our bone building years. That means the bone building teen and early 20's are important ones for eating right. We can maintain healthy bone mass through healthy eating and this is especially important during our 40's and beyond. Adequate calcium from healthy eating becomes critical especially for post-menopausal women to limit bone breakdown and loss that increases osteoporosis risks. Male and female adults, ages 19-50, need 1,000 milligrams daily and those over age 51 should increase their intake to 1,200 milligrams daily. Males and females between the ages of 9-18 require 1,300 milligrams of calcium each day. A safe daily upper intake level has also been established as 2,500 milligrams for individuals between the ages of 19-50, and 2,000 milligrams for those over the age of 51.
There are many ways to boost your calcium intake but sometimes supplements are still necessary. Are you getting the most from yours?
Posted 3/21/2011 5:24:33 AM By: : 43 comments 29,518 views
5 Tips to Eat Right with Color
If we were asked how to describe March, each of us would have a different answer. Some of us might respond with the old saying, "in like a lion, out like a lamb." Others might talk about the wearing of the green for Saint Patrick's Day. After last week's blog, some of you may respond about National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month.
Since 1980, March has been known as National Nutrition Month. The goal this year is the same as in previous years, to "help the public make informed food choices to develop sound eating and physical activity habits."
This year's theme is Eat Right with Color and is aimed to encourage people to include color on their plate. Last year we ask you if you were eating a rainbow and provided helpful tips to sneak fruits and vegetables into your meal and snack plans. We have also shared ideas about how to get kids to eat their veggies as easy as offering veggies as pre-meal snacks. We have also found that one of the top Secrets of Success for weight loss success was to eat more fruits and veggies.
If this is an area you still find a struggle, here are some additional tips that might help you eat with color during March and throughout the year.
Posted 3/14/2011 10:00:00 AM By: : 24 comments 22,029 views
Autoimmune Disease: Could You Be At Risk?
There are over one hundred known autoimmune diseases and another 40 diseases suspected to be autoimmune related.
Collectively they are one of the top 10 leading causes of death in women under age 65 and affect women 75 percent more often than men.
Sadly, less than 13 percent of Americans can name an autoimmune disease.
Back in 2002, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and today am one of 50 million Americans that are. Since these diseases can run in families, I want my children to be aware of their risk. Do you know yours?
Posted 3/7/2011 6:00:00 AM By: : 51 comments 60,725 views
2010 Dietary Guidelines – Continuing to Move Forward
Last summer I reviewed the 2010 Dietary Guideline Report that set the stage for the newly released Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 by the USDA.
While there are no major changes in recommendations, there are plenty of reinforcements to spark your commitment to healthier living.
Posted 2/21/2011 5:00:00 AM By: : 21 comments 23,020 views
Eggs: Now More Incredible Than Ever
A certain amount of cholesterol is necessary by the body for proper physiological and structural function. Too much of it can have negative health consequences. Since cholesterol levels are influenced by your genetic makeup, your diet and certain lifestyle choices, controlling it can be a challenge.
According to the newly released 2010 Dietary Guidelines, eggs and egg dishes comprise approximately 25% of total dietary cholesterol intake in the American diet. Over four decades of research suggests that healthy adults can enjoy eating as much as one egg per day. Nutrition data released last week suggests the nutritional content of eggs may be even better than previously thought.
Posted 2/14/2011 11:30:00 AM By: : 75 comments 22,414 views
Stuff We Love: Family Favorites to Help You Stay Healthy and Connected
Busy lifestyles can make family time and connection difficult. It can also be hard to stay focused on living a healthy lifestyle too. One way we found to stay connected while also encouraging and maintaining a healthy, nutritious, and fit lifestyle is to multi-task.
Here are some ideas that might help your family enjoy health minded quality time in your busy lives.
Posted 2/7/2011 11:00:00 AM By: : 28 comments 24,308 views
Do You Know What's In Your Taco?
While fast food isn't typically the healthiest option, sometimes it is necessary when you are on the go. For this reason, our Food on the Run series attempts to provide you with helpful information to make nutrient wise choices when eating away from home.
Last week there was a firestorm of news stories about a lawsuit against Taco Bell. Apparently, an Alabama law firm filed a class action suit claiming false advertising. While Taco Bell states their tacos are filled with "seasoned ground beef," the lawsuit contends they should be using the term "taco meat filling" instead. With news stories of this nature, what are consumers to think?
Posted 2/3/2011 5:00:00 AM By: : 43 comments 24,928 views
Is It Time For A Reward?
We are several weeks into the New Year. For many people that also means several weeks into new goals and resolutions. I hope you are doing well with your healthy living goals and finding success without being overwhelmed. Now is a great time to take a quick inventory of the positive steps you have made.
Have you begun using my tip for healthier eating and selecting items with the shortest ingredient list? How are you doing with the tip to take control of mindless eating? Are you beginning to make conscious choices about what you eat and drink? Have you begun to monitor more than just your weight? Are you making positive steps forward in your short term health and fitness goals?
It is far too easy to overlook or minimize our achievements and only focus on mistakes or shortcomings. This behavior quickly lessens our motivation and can cause us to give up on our quest for healthier living and reaching attainable goals. One way to focus less on the areas that still need work and shining the spotlight on where you have seen achievements is by rewarding yourself.
Posted 1/20/2011 5:24:28 AM By: : 56 comments 26,450 views
Are You Monitoring More Than Weight?
Earlier this week I encouraged you to use a simple tip to take control of mindless eating to help you with the secrets to a strong start.
Another of the secrets is to weigh yourself weekly to help track your success. I know how frustrating it can be to work really hard, watch what you eat, exercise faithfully and see little results on the scale. Because we are not all metabolically equal, it is very important to limit comparison of individual success with the success of others. It is also important to see success to spur you on in your new habits. Measuring progress without the scale can be very important to maintain motivation. Here are some tips to help you begin using other measurement tools.
Posted 1/13/2011 11:56:46 AM By: : 77 comments 31,588 views
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