The United States is known for being the world’s melting pot, where diverse cultures and religions from all over the world live together. The authentic ingredients and spices I share below are ones that various cultures cook with during the holiday season. (more…)
I must confess I am a meal planner! One of the most challenging barriers to a healthy lifestyle is mastering meals that fit your diet, goals and busy schedule. We can all agree our days are jam-packed with everlasting to-do lists, so meals often get put on the backburner. (more…)
Could it be true that our happiness is dependent on what lies at the tip of our forks? It is true that our daily food choices can affect our mood and overall mental health. (more…)
If your refrigerator is anything like mine, it could use a little bit of sprucing up. (more…)
I wouldn’t call myself a HUGE Bon Jovi fan, but when thinking about February, a.k.a. heart health month, and public opinion, all that comes to mind is “You give FATS a bad name!” I am a child from the 1980’s and love some good Rock n’ Roll. (more…)
First, let me dispel a common myth: Nutritionists do enjoy sweets. Dark chocolate is pretty hard for me to resist. And sometimes I just need to make chocolate chip cookies! What I don’t love, however, is the notion of a guilty pleasure. No one should ever feel bad when they’re eating something that tastes good. So I propose taking that phrase out of our vocabulary. (more…)
Schools, Sodexo North America
With over 30 million students eating at least one meal at school each day, schools not only offer an opportunity for children to enjoy nourishing food but also a chance to learn healthy eating habits and important social skills. Meals served through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program are required to be healthy and nutritious, and they got even healthier in 2012 when new guidelines were implemented as part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, requiring cafeterias limit calories, sodium and unhealthy fats, and offer more whole grains, fruits and vegetables in every meal. (more…)
Did you know that what your children eat today can have a lasting impact on their health and well-being for a lifetime? Eating healthy, nutritious food is not only important for a child’s normal growth and development, but can also help them maintain a healthy weight and lead to a better quality of life. (more…)
Schools, Sodexo North America
Marketing and ethics are two words that some may think are too often at opposing sides of the same spectrum, especially where kids are concerned. Kids are a unique demographic to market to, but a vital one that we must be careful with if we hope to make sustainable behavioral changes that will drive positive, healthier life choices. (more…)
Founder of Green Bronx Machine
On behalf of the children, families and community of the South Bronx, I thank you for opportunity to share my story, my passion and my mission with you. One might wonder what a teacher from the South Bronx – the poorest Congressional District in America – would have to say? The answer is simple; Green Bronx Machine! Many years ago my students and I began to observe that as waistlines expanded, engagement and opportunities in school decreased, school performance suffered, and hope and ambition became minimized. Originally an after-school, alternative program for high school students, Green Bronx Machine has evolved into K-12+ model fully integrated into core curriculum. Our students grow, eat and love their vegetables en route to spectacular academic performance.