Kent State Interns

  Shamrock shakes are a staple during March to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. I love going out to get a sweet treat as a festive dessert, but I would rather experiment in the kitchen to add nutritional value to my favorite snacks. It is a fun activity and a tasty experience!  Ingredients:  2 cups vanilla ice cream 1 cup milk (whole or 2% for creaminess) 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract 3-6 drops of green food coloring (optional, for that festive flair) Whipped cream & Chocolate shavings or mint leaves (for garnish) In a blender, add ice cream, milk, peppermint extract, and food coloring, blend until smooth. I like to add whipped cream and chocolate shavings as a garnish!  Healthy Swaps  Add vanilla Greek yogurt in place of ice cream for extra protein and lower saturated fat.  Add ¼ cup of spinach for a hint of green. Adds vitamins, minerals, and fiber! (It doesn’t change the taste.) I like to blend well and strain for a smooth texture!  Try 2%, 1%, or...

  March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. This cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related death in the United States and is rising rapidly in adults under 50. It is one type of cancer that has modifiable risk factors related to nutrition that we can fix to decrease our risk and educate others. I lost my grandpa to colon cancer before studying nutrition and I often wish I had known what I know now. My family hates it, but I am constantly telling them to add a fruit or vegetable to their plate at every meal, buy the whole grain over the other, or sneaking nuts and seeds into anything I bake for us.  Ways We Can Decrease Our Risk: Fiber! Fiber helps reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by increasing stool bulk by absorbing water allowing waste to pass through quickly which limits carcinogen exposure to the colon lining. A fiber-rich diet supports a healthy gut microbiome. When gut bacteria ferments fiber it produces short-chain fatty acids that have anti-cancer prop...

  It’s time to spice up Lent by adding this Parmesan Crusted Fish Friday recipe to your menu lineup.  Ingredients:  4 cod fillets  1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese  ½ cup of breadcrumbs  2 tablespoons of fresh parsley  1 teaspoon of garlic powder  1 teaspoon of garlic powder  Salt to taste  Pepper to taste  2 large eggs  2 tablespoons of olive oil  Juice from ½ of a lemon  Directions:  Crust: Combine 1 cup of Parmesan cheese, ½ cup of breadcrumbs, 2 tablespoons of parsley, 1 teaspoon of parsley, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of pepper. It is best to put the mixture in a flat, shallow dish.  Eggs: In a shallow dish, beat 2 large eggs until smooth.  Fish: Pat the cod fillets dry. This will help the crust mixture stick to the fish.  Coat the fish: Cover each cod fillet with egg. Dip the cod into the egg mixture and let the excess drip off. Once the fish is coated in egg, lay it in the crumb mixture and ...

                   I like, as many others do, enjoying a sweet treat after dinner or even just as a pick-me-up throughout the day. I know this can be conflicting, as some may think that you should not eat dessert every day; however, I believe balance is key, so why not incorporate a nice tang of sweetness into your daily life? The best part is that it doesn’t have to be necessarily “bad” for you. What if I were to tell you that you could enjoy dessert every day that not only tastes good but also offers health benefits? I am talking about chocolate, but not just any type of chocolate, dark chocolate. Dark chocolate offers a multi-sensorial experience with its combination of color, snap, mouthfeel, and its array of flavors and aromas. Not only does this dessert act as a chemical mood booster, but it can also be the perfect addition to a well-balanced diet by offering health benefits. Dark chocolate with 70% cocoa content is rich in plant-b...

March is National Nutrition Month  March is National Nutrition Month!! This year's theme is "Discover the Power of Nutrition” and I think it is a great theme to show how influential nutrition can be on someone's health. Not everyone knows how powerful nutrition can truly be for someone. The saying “you are what you eat” is almost entirely true because of the effects it can do. Someone who eats fruits and veggies constantly has an overall better health than someone who eats fast food all the time. Now, with that being said there is so much misinformation out there revolving around nutrition that can really hurt someone's body in the long run. It is important for people to take advice or information from people with a background in nutrition like registered dietitians. Registered dietitians spend years understanding and analyzing how micronutrients and macronutrients affect our bodies. Influencers do not have those credentials and do not have the scientific knowledge lik...

When we think of February, We LOVE to think of how this month is about romance and heartfelt intention. It brings upon our ability to celebrate not only our loved ones, whether that may mean family, friends, or significant others, but also an opportunity to celebrate ourselves. Among many other celebratory occasions such as Black History month and Valentines Day, February is also “American Heart Month.”   Our heart has the job of pumping our blood. Specifically, 2,000 gallons (or about 7,500 Liters) every day, how crazy when put into perspective! Our hearts are specifically designed to maintain our body processes and keep us going throughout the day by using our blood as a lifeline. Unfortunately, Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. More awareness is needed on the effects of cardiovascular disease and how heart health can influence how the rest of the body functions throughout life. This observance spotlights cardiovascular disease and calls o...