Earthly Edibles

By Nicole Martinez – Guest Blogger & Student of Nutrition & Dietetics at Western Carolina University There are some foods I do not eat. Not because I don’t like them or my grocery store does not carry them, but because they contain high levels of pesticide residue. You may have heard of the “dirty dozen” [...]

I promised that I would share the winning tomato! Growing an abundance of heirloom tomatoes, I wanted to test each variety to determine which one was the very tastiest. I tried a Mr. Stripey, a Brandywine, a Purple Cherokee and a yellow grape tomato. I closed my eyes and tried to remain neutral and the [...]

If you started the Holiday Challenge on November 10th, record your weight for Week 2. Did you use the www.thedailyplate.com or another method to write what you ate and reduce the amount 100-200 calories each day? Sometimes this is challenging to do! Some steps that have worked for me to prevent hunger include lots of [...]

For many people the barbeque grill is not the same without a serving of meat. Choices should be lean, such as sirloin, pork loin, loin chops, chicken or fish. To lower saturated fat, take off the skin from poultry even after grilling and trim off visible fat. Try fish in a foil packet, this prevents [...]

As Fourth of July and summertime in general slips upon us, I think of spending more time outdoors which includes eating there also. Whether you are having a picnic or a barbeque with family and friends, make your choices healthy and delicious. Choose the majority of your meal as low calorie, seasonal veggies such as [...]

Last spring our neighbor shared some vegetable seeds to use in our garden. This included some butternut squash seeds. About a week ago we harvested our only one and I look forward to making a delicious and healthy soup with it that I have included below. To me, this soup really says autumn. The soup [...]

It has been downright hot here in the mountains. My husband had been wanting a pot of chili for quite some time and my response had been that the weather was too hot and it is a fall food not a summer food. However, with Labor Day signifying the end of summer and football season [...]

Bringing a lunch from home can be a healthy alternative to fast food or the a la carte school lunch. You may also save money in the process. When packing a lunch, think of the food groups as your guide. For example: 1. Peanut butter mixed with shredded carrots and raisins on whole grain bread [...]

As the weather begins to heat up this summer, stay cool with meals that don’t require the stove or oven to prepare. Ideas include smoothies, cold soups and wraps. One of my favorite summer sandwiches uses avocado, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers (from my garden), red onion, and alfalfa sprouts. You can include additional low fat [...]

Now that summer is in full swing and the gardens and local farms are producing an abundance of colorful jewels………why not take advantage by getting your five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day? Focus on color to get a variety of vitamins, minerals, fiber and other health benefits that plants have to [...]