If you are familiar with my blog, you will know that I am not a fan of labelling foods as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ or of unnecessary dietary restrictions. On the other hand, I am a proponent of evidence-based advice and enjoying foods mindfully. While writing these posts, I am reminded again and again just ...
Enjoying Life Bite by Bite
Summer is officially over and after spending 3 months in Canada we have returned to Nicaragua. I have been sorting through the hundreds of photos we’ve taken to select a few to print. While reliving these recent adventures I have been struck by the regularity by which food appears in our ...
“Is This Food ‘Good’ or ‘Bad’ for Me?”: A Dietitian Responds
I instruct an introductory nutrition course. During the first week of class, I ask students to share one thing that they hope to learn by the end of the 12 weeks. Invariably a large proportion will state that they want to be able to pin-point which foods are ‘good’ and which are ‘bad’. As we proceed ...
A Look Beyond the Headlines: The Paleo Diet vs. Healthy Eating Guidelines
Fad diets come and go but the Paleo diet has been around for over a decade. If the media attention it garners is an anything to go by, its popularity shows no signs of waning. However, the media coverage usually focuses on anecdotes from celebrities or must try Paleo friendly desserts and not so ...
Nicaraguan Staples that Pack a Nutritional Punch
The mention of Nicaragua usually conjures thoughts of political instability and poverty but with the growth of tourism this perception is slowly changing, and it is fast becoming known as a beautiful land of lakes, volcanoes and beaches. However, it does not have a reputation as a culinary ...
A Look Beyond the Headlines: Diet and The Gut Microbiome
As an individual with more than a passing interest in nutrition (okay, I’m a total geek when it comes to this stuff) it is easy to become trigger happy with pressing the ‘share’ button on social media when I read about exciting new research results. But I have quickly learned to curb my enthusiasm, ...
Eight Valuable Things My Mother Taught Me About Eating Well (That I Did Not Learn in My Nutrition Degree)
With over a decade of post high school nutrition education under my belt, I have more than a passing understanding of the complex relationship between the food we consume and our health; I may even be considered an expert in the field. However, I have come to understand that when it comes to eating ...
The Not So Sweet Story of Sugar: A Nicaraguan Perspective
Even from my home in rural Nicaragua it is hard to ignore all the recent commotion about sugar. Whether it is through my social media feeds, newspaper articles, or documentaries, it seems that there is a constant stream of headlines; from describing the latest study results showing the negative ...
Food Tracking Apps: An Aid to Healthy Eating or an Added Stress?
Recording food intake can help you better understand your food choices and identify areas to target for improvement. In my professional life, I can attest to the usefulness of keeping dietary records. While working clinically this information helped to pinpoint specific foods or eating patterns that ...
Eat Your Words … Unless They’re Positive and Affirming!
In many respects we have become a left-brained society. We value reasoning, analytic and linear thought, routine and structure. We focus on the details rather than the big picture, as opposed to the more intuitive, creative, philosophical, emotional, holistic thinking attributed to the right-brain. ...
Five ‘Mindless’ Tricks To Help Healthy Eating Habits Stick
March is Nutrition Month, a time to bring awareness to the benefits of consuming a healthy balanced diet. This year, the Nutrition Month Campaign, led by Dietitians of Canada, is dedicated to encouraging individuals to make small dietary changes under the slogan “Take a 100 meal journey: make small ...