Written by UConn Dietetics student Rebecca Mowrey As children begin developing food preferences during toddler and preschool-aged years, it’s normal for picky eating behaviors to arise when exploring new foods.1 Picky eating is often characterized by an unwillingness to eat new and/or familiar foods. These behaviors can make mealtimes a struggle, but there are a […]
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Get the Low-down on EGGS!
Written by Julia Gaiser, UConn Dietetics Student What’s a cost-effective and nutrition packed way to start your day? Have some eggs! Whether you like them scrambled, over- easy, poached, boiled, or in an omelet, they are an eggs-cellent food to add to your diet. For years, egg intake was questioned, mainly due to the cholesterol […]
Juicy Facts: Why Whole Fruit is Better than Juice
Written by UConn Dietetics student Emma Harvey When adding fruit to the diet make sure to grab a whole fruit instead of the juice. While a 100% fruit juice can be a convenient and tasty way to get some vitamins, minerals, and plant chemicals (phytonutrients) found in the fruit, the juice contains less fiber, is […]
Sleep Quality and Healthy Diet
Sleep is important for getting through the day. It helps you to think more clearly, to improve your overall mood, and to maintain a strong immune system 5. But there’s even more to it than that! Adequate sleep encourages the body to support a strong but sufficient appetite2, which translates into energy for bodily functions. […]
Energy Boosting Foods to Add to Your Day
Do you often feel ready for a nap or by 3pm have trouble concentrating? Well, you are not alone. Food plays a major role in regulating our energy levels throughout the day. Refined carbohydrates which consist of mostly sugars and processed grains (pastries, white bread, pizza dough, etc.) are easily broken down by the body, […]
Fall in Love with Lentils
What are lentils? Some of the most versatile and nutrient-rich pantry-staples are lentils, and they have been around for quite some time, back to 8000 BC in what is now modern-day Syria1. Since their initial usage, they have spread to many different areas across the globe and are prominent features of Middle Eastern and Indian […]
What is the Dash Diet?
Written by UConn Dietetics Intern Laura Scarfone What is the DASH Diet? The DASH diet stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The diet refers to an eating pattern designed to help prevent or treat high blood pressure (hypertension). The eating pattern focuses on whole foods higher in nutrients that have shown to lower […]
Gut Microbiome Health
Written by UConn Dietetics Intern Isabella Pratt The topic of gut health has been rising in popularity over the past few years and for good reason! Our gut microbiome is full of bacteria (both good and bad) that are the basic makeup of our health. There is so much more to learn about gut health. […]
Added Sugars vs Natural Sugars
Written by UConn Dietetics Student Caitlyn McDonagh There continues to be confusion about natural and added sugars in foods. Read on to become an expert! What are natural sugars? Natural sugars are the sugars that occur naturally in whole foods. Most natural sugars found in fruits are fructose, and in dairy products like cheese and […]
Holiday Party Tips to Avoid Mindless Eating
Written by UConn Dietetics Student Isabelle Wlodkowski The holiday season means gathering with friends and family, but it can also mean eating more than we usually do. At holiday gatherings food is often at arm’s length and one can easily be consuming more than they even realize. The food served is typically, higher in sugar […]