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The Eccentric Use of Pinto Beans You’ll Never Guess

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Among my friends and family, it is not a secret that I love legumes. They are affordable, a wonderful convenience food, and pose a variety of health benefits due to their high content of complex carbohydrates, plant-based protein, vitamins/minerals, and phytochemicals: weight management, LDL cholesterol reduction, CVD prevention, blood sugar regulation, diabetes prevention, and treatment of gastrointestinal tract conditions are just a few of the potential health benefits of increased legume consumption. Most people know the term “beans” instead of “legumes”. All beans are technically legumes, but not all legumes are beans, since the term “legumes” also includes peas, lentils, and undried/fresh legumes (i.e. snap peas). While legumes offer a variety of health and non-health benefits, dried beans specifically have a new, unusual use: wart removal (just stay with me now). I had originally hoped there was some nutritional aspect of beans that magically caused warts to fall off, but that ju...
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The Hidden Side of Hospital Nutrition

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The Hidden Side of Hospital Nutrition When you think of hospital food, what comes to mind? Trays, picky diets, maybe something bland that barely touches the stomach? That’s exactly what I thought too… until I spent the last month living on the retail side of hospital nutrition. Let me explain. My preceptor, a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), primarily handles what’s called patient services. So at first, I assumed my focus would be on patient trays like checking safety, ensuring accuracy, logging temperatures, making sure every bite was just right. But this rotation (and honestly this internship) is teaching me that dietetics requires flexibility, and that’s exactly what I’ve been learning. The pediatric hospital I’m at has a cafeteria, The Kids Cafe, which is closing soon for renovations. That’s pushed me to dive into a side of hospital nutrition most people never see: the retail side. We’re talking grab-and-go markets, small cafés, and even a full-scale restaurant called Potbe...
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The Joys of Ghee

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What is Ghee? Well it’s a nutty flavored rich clarified butter that originated in India. Made by simmering butter it pull out the water and the milk fat that results in a milky fat with a high smoke point. But the joys of Ghee don’t just end with the idea of a richer flavor and a better cooking oil due to the smoke point. It actually has amazing health benefits. Dairy fats though they have gone under recent and past scrutiny they actually have some great health benefits and their fatty acids could actually improve your health! Ghee is unique in the way the acid chains are not only arranged but also in the way that they are unsaturated. Meaning? It can be good for anti-inflammatory processes in the body. In India they have been practicing the materia medica of Ayurveda. While western medicine may be anti fats, the practice of Ayurveda says that the milk used and the way it is processed (scary word I know) was actually dictates what use it would be most beneficial in. With over 4000 refe...
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Get into the Spring Spirit with Snap Peas!

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Springtime is here! For those of us who live in Ohio, produce can be a little hard to find, since certain fruits and vegetables are not in season year-round. Now that we are entering the warmer months of April, May, and June, that means we finally get an abundance of in-season produce options! One of my favorite seasonal foods that I can find in the spring are snap peas! While snap peas are often used as a vegetable in a culinary setting, they are scientifically considered a fresh legume. Legumes are defined as the mature, immature, or germinated edible seeds of legume plants. Dried legumes, such as beans, peas and lentils, are the mature form of legumes; however, if the seeds have not dried out, they are considered a fresh legume. Think of the soybean: in its mature stage, it’s just a soybean, which can be fermented and eaten, or even used for oil extraction. But when the seed is still immature, it is juicy, green, and is used as a vegetable. Immature, fresh legumes often have a lower...
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Farmer’s Market Haul: Eating Seasonally Through Your Local Farmer’s Markets

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Have you ever looked into what foods grow where you live? Many have not. Most people go to the grocery store and buy their produce year-round, without ever considering that those foods are not actually traditionally grown year-round. And that’s completely okay! But I want to challenge you to learn about your locally grown foods, and even try some of them! A great place to start would be your own local farmer’s market. This is perfect because most farmers’ markets are starting back up and/or moving back outside in April-June! Some local farmers/ markets near the Kent State Campus are: The Haymaker Farmer’s Market: Outdoor season begins April 4th, open from 10-1 on Franklin Ave. downtown Kent.  Thrive Together Farmer’s Market: Tuesdays from 3-6 pm, June 16-September 1st – 999 East Maine St., Ravenna, OH. Stow Community Farmer’s Market: Saturdays from 9-12:30, May 30th-October 6th – 1567 Pilgrim Drive, Stow, OH.  Hudson Farmer’s Market: 9-12:30, June 6th-October 10th – On the ...
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Egg-cellent Greek Yogurt Treats to Make This Easter

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Egg-cellent Greek Yogurt Treats to Make This Easter Easter is the perfect time for colorful, fun, and festive treats (and yes, you can still enjoy sweets while keeping things nourishing!)  These Greek yogurt-based recipes are creamy, delicious, and packed with protein, probiotics, and calcium in every bite. Greek yogurt is naturally versatile and pairs deliciously with fruits, chocolate, granola, and more, making it the perfect base for treats that are both satisfying, nutrient-rich, and fun to make. Ready to whip up something festive and tasty? Let’s “hop” right into three egg-cellent Greek yogurt Easter treats that the whole family will love! Easter Egg Greek Yogurt Popsicles Ingredients (serves 12): 2 cups Greek yogurt 2 tbsp maple syrup ½ cup diced strawberries ¼ cup sliced blueberries ¼ cup crushed granola (optional; avoid honey granola for babies under 1) Instructions: Spoon a small amount of yogurt into the bottom of your popsicle molds. Layer in berries, granola, or other t...
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Building Strong Bones One Recipe At a Time!

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Having strong bones is essential to health and quality of life in older adults, but adults begin losing bone mass after age 35, with 1 in 5 women and 1 in 20 men having osteoporosis. The good thing is you can start preventing osteoporosis right now!  While bone density is largely genetic, there are plenty of lifestyle changes you can make now to build strong bones and prevent osteoporosis.  Some of these include regular weight-bearing or resistance exercise, and avoiding or limiting the use of alcohol and tobacco products. But I would like to highlight one specific lifestyle factor that affects bone density: your diet.  There are several nutrients involved in building bone, including calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and protein. Generally, consuming a diverse and balanced diet should provide adequate amounts of these nutrients to help your body build strong bones.  Try this delicious Greek Salmon Bowl recipe to build strong and healthy bones that...
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