Kent State Interns

sup·ple·ment ( noun) /ˈsəpləmənt/ 1.      Something that completes or enhances something else when added to it. There are several supplements available on the market, including vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, hormones, concentrates, extracts, and probiotics. They aren’t considered food or drugs, and they aren’t intended to treat, diagnose, reduce, prevent, or cure any condition or disease.  Found as tablets, softgels, gelcaps, capusles, liquids, powders, and energy bars , dietary supplements may seem like an easy way to boost your health, but a common misconception in the industry is that supplements can be a quick fix to an unhealthy diet, when in reality, they are not meant to replace healthy foods. As the definition states, a supplement is intended to be an addition , not a replacement. In this case, a supplement can be added to the diet when you aren’t getting enough from the foods you eat, in other words, not a substitute . Unlike ...

Mystery Mousse               I am super excited to share this awesome recipe with all of you! Not only is this a tasty treat, but it can also be used for educational sessions and as a fun little game to interact with your audience or peers. This mousse has a secret ingredient which is…... (drumroll please) TOFU! This recipe tastes so good and it is made with tofu which is one of the very few plant-based options that is a complete protein. This recipe is gluten free and also vegetarian/vegan as long as the brand of dark chocolate does not contain milk derived products such as  whey, casein , milk, milk fat, and milk solids. It is definitely a go to for nutrition education!               It is so fun to tell your audience that this mousse has a secret ingredient and see if they can guess that it is actually tofu! Tofu is such a versatile ingredient...

When you need to bring a dish for a family event or a social gathering with friends, it’s important to always consider if someone has a dietary restriction or a food allergy.  Veganism is a common diet people choose to follow that restricts the consumption of all meat, dairy and egg products. Dairy is also one of the top 8 most common food allergies in our country. In order to accommodate everyone's dietary needs, finding a recipe that's dairy free is a great option. Another common dietary restriction is gluten. People who have Celiac Disease follow a gluten free diet to help eliminate foods that contains gluten. Barley, wheat and rye all contain gluten and the consumption of these products should be avoided. Wheat is also one of the top 8 most common food allergies in this country. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge if anyone has a sensitivity to gluten or wheat and try to find a recipe that is free of these products. Here is a great recipe that allows people who are...

With the emerging technology, there are a lot of new applications (apps) and websites that claim to help you stay on track with your lifestyle goals. As much as these apps can be very useful, users can misuse these apps and end up with misconceptions about nutrition, which can interrupt their relationship with food. Studies have shown that health apps can create social isolation, addiction, and anxiety through peer pressure and elevated sedentary activity through increased screen time. Before considering to utilize health/nutrition/lifestyle apps or websites, it is important to understand that these apps are built to help users to reach their personal goals, not to act as the health bible. Here are some things to consider before using health apps: Brainstorm and write down your own goals. Make a list of what you personally want to achieve. It is useful to create SMART goals; Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-based. A good example of SMART goal is “lowering bloo...

Resveratrol (5,3,4'-trihydrox-trans-stilbene) is a nutrient that belongs to a polyphenols' stilbenoids group–though you may know it better as the compound that makes red wine " healthy ". (trans-resveratrol) Resveratrol, being detected in over 70 plants species, has been shown to have several health benefits; among these benefits include:  a high antioxidant potential anti-tumor activity anti-inflammatory effects cardio-protective vasorelaxant neuroprotective A common misconception of resveratrol is that it is found in high amount in red wine, when in fact resveratrol is found in discrete amounts in red wine to varying degrees (based upon the variety of wine). Resveratrol is found in it's highest amounts in grape seeds and skins. As more and more studies uncover the benefits of resveratrol, the polyphenol is becoming more and more popular in the health and wellness community. This has lead to resveratrol becoming available in the supple...

Save It, Don’t Waste It!! Food waste has become a major issue across our country. Food waste can be due to many reasons including: spoilage which can occur at every stage of production, problems during drying, milling, transporting, or processing that expose food to damage by insects or rodents, at the retail level, due to equipment malfunction which can cause a major issue if cold storage equipment breaks, if products are over-ordered, disposal of blemished produce can result in food loss and as consumers, we also contribute to food waste because we buy and cook way more than we need and dispose of the extras after multiple days. In the United States, nearly 50% of our food supply is wasted! The U.S. has plenty of food to feed everyone living here, but our abundance of food is also followed by a tremendous amount of waste. Over 72 billion pounds of perfectly good food ends up in the landfills or in incinerators every year! After researchers began looking at landfills, they f...

This blog is to help you guys make small changes in your food choices to help sustain a healthier diet. In order to assess these healthier substitutions, we are going to look at the added sugar, calories, sodium, and saturated fat content. Turkey Burgers Vs Beef Burgers   vs .                           1 patty                                                                                        1 patty  Calories: 180 kcal                                                                     Calories: 340 kc...