My father had a robust vegetable garden for years before deciding to plant asparagus. After he passed, we continued the tradition. Asparagus is a perennial, and once seedlings grow, it will take a couple of years to bear stalks that you can pick and eat. The growing season [...]
If you've been diagnosed with hypertension (high blood pressure), your doctor may have recommended some lifestyle changes. Diet, exercise, stress reduction and compliance with medication are all part of the plan. If you are already physically fit, you may be wondering how else you can improve your cardiovascular [...]
If you want quick and easy meals through the week, consider some batch cooking. Roast extra sheet pan veggies, double the brown rice or make a double recipe of a chili mixture. Cooking extra when you have time will save you time later. Then when you finish up [...]
This year's theme for National Nutrition Month® is about personalizing your plate. I encourage you to work on this all year long. Every five years the USDA publishes the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The DGA are dietary guidelines based on the current body of evidence that associates [...]
Growing up in Pittsburgh, we often went to the St. Patrick's Day parade. My godfather was a city detective, and while he was Italian, his wife was Irish, and I always enjoyed celebrating St. Paddy's Day with them. Of course he would cook spaghetti at the post-parade social [...]
Are you a college student, know a college student, or are going to be a college student? I was recently a guest on SpotOn, a podcast hosted by Dr. Joan Salge Blake from Boston University. The episode was "Cooking For a Few or JUST U". We chatted about [...]
I attended a virtual conference session this week, sponsored by General Mills Big G Cereals, but was not paid for this post. The thoughts and opinions voiced here are my own. It’s really quite simple: Listen more. Talk less. Allow people to be heard. This was the nugget [...]
If you have a sweet tooth like I do, you'll want to find treats that you can enjoy regularly that won't raise your blood cholesterol or blood pressure. Sure, you can treat yourself to birthday cake or a special dessert once in a while, but it's smart to [...]
The updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans include recommendations to include fish each week in your diet. Fish is a good source of protein, low in saturated fat and cholesterol, a good source of B vitamins, Vitamin D, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids. These types of fats are also [...]
Super Bowl Sunday is a party waiting to happen for most folks, whether they are football fanatics or not. Plus, I always look forward to the commercials! As you go grocery shopping for your party goods this week, consider adding some healthier ingredients to your cart. I'm not [...]