eat smart

Eating for Energy: Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients for keeping your body healthy. It’s common feel tired during the day, which may be a result of not getting enough vitamins and minerals. Eating a balanced diet filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and protein ensures that your body gets a variety of these nutrients to work… Read more »

National Nutrition Month: Realistic Serving Sizes

Did you ever notice that a serving size was much smaller than what you would normally consume in one sitting? If so, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) noticed. The new Nutrition Facts label now includes updated, realistic serving sizes and packaging requirements based on science. 

Heart Healthy Habits: Tips to Reduce Sneaky Sodium

While sodium is a necessary nutrient that bodies need to function, it’s easy to get more than the body needs on a daily basis. Ideally, adults should get no more than 1500 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day. That limit can be easy to reach, because sodium can be found in unlikely places: packaged foods,… Read more »

Tips to Curb Cravings

What you put into your body can determine how you think, feel, and act. Controlling your cravings with healthier foods can not only help you lose/maintain weight, but also make you feel better overall. Healthy foods give you energy by providing your body with necessary nutrients. 

Nutrition Facts Label Updates Explained: Vitamin D and Potassium

The Nutrition Facts label got a few updates this year. Two important additions based on modern scientific research are the daily values of vitamin D and potassium. Vitamins A and C are no longer required to be on the label, but companies can add them voluntarily.  But, why the change? Research has shown that Americans… Read more »

Fall in Love with Heart Healthy Habits: Regular Exercise

February is American Heart Month, and throughout the 29 days of this month (yes, it’s a leap year) we will be promoting awareness and how to reduce your risk of developing heart-related illness and diseases.  Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women, men, and many racial and ethnic groups in the United… Read more »

Homemade Energy Drinks

Have you ever wondered what ingredients are in Gatorade? Have you ever had a Monster energy drink, or maybe a Propel or Red Bull? These drinks are tasty and can increase your energy before and after playing sports like soccer, basketball, volleyball, or other physical activities. We even see famous athletes drink them on TV,… Read more »

How to Make Healthier, Homemade Ice Cream

Ice cream is a tasty treat, and it cools us off after a hot day. However, ice cream can be expensive, and it’s unhealthy for our growing bodies. Most ice cream sold in the store or in the ice cream truck is full of sugar and other harmful ingredients. Those treats are also often wrapped… Read more »

Shopping at a Farmers Market

Have you ever heard of a farmers market? Maybe you’ve heard of a farmer, who is someone who grows and harvests food. Farmers markets are usually outdoor areas with sections where each farmer sells their fruits, veggies, or meat to the community to make money. It is also where artists, bakers, or makers can sell… Read more »

Scares of Fast Food

Fast food restaurants are convenient, tasty, and can be inexpensive. It’s hard to not choose an easy, quick meal when you’re on the go, but they’re not the healthiest for us. These foods are full of salt, preservatives, hydrogenated oils, chemicals, and lots of sugar. Hamburgers, french fries, onion rings, sodas, and milkshakes may taste… Read more »