Kent State Interns

          Shorter days and dark November mornings can feel brutal, especially when you’re knee-deep in dietetic rotations and these settings don't wait for sunlight. There’s something about dragging yourself out of bed at 5:02 AM when it’s still pitch black that just feels wrong. Some mornings, I take an extra five minuted to sink into my oversized chair, coffee mug in hand, and stare at the ceiling, always wondering how humans survived before cozy blankets and caffeine existed. Lately, I’ve had to get extra creative just to make it through those early wake-ups without turning into a zombie.     One of the first things I’ve learned is to lean on light whenever possible. A few minutes with my newly acquired light therapy lamp while sipping coffee feels like it has flipped a switch in my brain. It wakes me up and makes the day feel a little more doable. Whenever I can, I also do my best to take advantage of natural sunlight, whether that’s stepping...

       As the nutrition major of the family, I am automatically put in charge of bringing the fruits, vegetables, or of course, the salad to any family gathering or holiday. This salad recipe is my favorite to bring to Thanksgiving because it is colorful, tasty, and packs in the nutrients. It combines Brussel sprouts and apple making it refreshing and light- perfect as an appetizer before indulging on a yummy and filling Thanksgiving dinner. The colors also make it a perfect dish for Christmas as well! Just half a cup of Brussel sprouts provide: ~30 calories  109 micrograms of vitamin K: essential for blood clotting and bone health 48 milligrams of vitamin C: boosts the immune system, antioxidant, increase iron absorption 47 micrograms of folate: important for cell division, red blood cell production, and heart health  30 micrograms of vitamin A: vision, supports the immune system, skin health  They boost health, support cardiovascular health, and lowe...

       Though now is a time where we celebrate our own cultures, the holidays are an important part of culture everywhere! Acknowledging different cultures can expand our world of food in ways we didn't even know existed! It can allow us to be able to create new dishes, experience different flavors, and allow us to even learn something new about that specific culture.       Typically during the holidays, we tend to stick to our ways of food due to the culture and tradition of our westernized society. Not to say in other places these attributes to the season aren't celebrated, but the difference is what we may be lacking to be able to maximize our experience during the holidays. Stuffing, gingerbread, mashed potatoes, ham and even more are all things that you would recognise as our “culturally relevant” foods during Christmas time. Oftentimes we don't think of what food might be similar or different that is eaten in other places around the world. I...

Picture this: it’s Thanksgiving. You’ve just finished your first plate of turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, green bean casserole, stuffing, and a roll. You go back for seconds on the mashed potatoes and gravy, and grab an extra roll, because how could you possibly resist?  You finish your second plate, and then they bring out the pie and ice cream. Your family members made apple, cherry, pecan, and pumpkin pies, and you try a small piece of all of them to show your appreciation for the effort and love they put into them.  You finished your dessert, and you’re so uncomfortably full that you have to unbutton your pants. You’re happy – This is what the holidays are all about. Spending time with loved ones and overindulging in comfort foods. Some people may find it difficult to maintain a positive body image during this time of year. There is a seemingly never-ending supply of comfort foods, constant talk of “holiday weight,” as well as the stressful and overwhelming emotions th...

It's finally time to start decorating for Christmas, and what's better than DIY Christmas decorations? I'm sharing one of my favorite family traditions that's cost-effective, a fun activity, and a yummy snack all in one. Cranberry & Popcorn garland is the perfect decoration to wrap around a Christmas tree or put on the fireplace mantel.  My family displays it on the table at Thanksgiving for extra use. The best part is snacking on the popcorn along the way! Cranberry & Popcorn Garland Ingredients  10 cups of Plain Popcorn (no butter)  Fishing Wire, Dental Floss, or sturdy thread  1 bag of Fresh Cranberries  Optional: 1 can of spray shellac  Instructions :  Pop your popcorn and let it cool  Discard any broken pieces of popcorn (I eat those pieces)  Cut your thread to the desired length and leave a foot on each end for hanging or tying the garland.  Thread a needle through the thread and tie a large knot on the end so the garland d...

                                                During the holidays, it is easy to indulge in our favorite seasonal dishes, from buttery mashed potatoes to creamy casseroles and sugary sweets. And honestly, I don’t believe nutrition should be the main focus this time of year, as it is important to enjoy your time with friends and family and eat delicious food; however, there is one secret ingredient that can help you feel your best throughout this holiday season, and it’s fiber.  So why fiber? Overeating is one of the most common struggles during the holidays, and this is where fiber really shines. Fiber promotes a feeling of fullness and satiety, which can naturally help to prevent overeating. It also helps to stabilize blood sugar levels by preventing rapid spikes and crashes. Additional health benefits include lowering blood cholesterol, maintaining a healthy g...

The holiday season is right around the corner! There are so many desserts to choose from to bake around the holidays. One of the desserts that I am bringing to Thanksgiving is Open Faced Apple Pie. It is way easier to make than a traditional pie and it only calls for one pie crust! This is perfect for someone who prefers the filling more than the crust. Don’t forget to add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to make it ala mode! Ingredients: 4 or 5 (Honey Crisps Apples, is what I use) ½ Teaspoon of Pumpkin Pie Spice Seasoning 1 Teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon Seasoning ½ Cup of Granulated Sugar 1 Tablespoon of Butter 1 store bought Pie Crust 1 Egg for an Egg Wash Recipe: Preheat your oven at 400 degrees (or whatever temperature your packing says on the pie crust) Wash your apples, and start cutting them thinly (you do not need to peel the skin of the apples if you do not want to!) Once your apples are thinly sliced then put then in a bowl In the bowl with the apples, combine pumpkin pie spice, gr...