Kent State Interns

  The effects of climate change are being felt around the world. Environmental concerns and natural disasters are becoming an almost daily occurrence in the news and across social media.  It is up to each of us to do our part to halt the climate crisis in its tracks. One major area where everyone can make a difference is in our food choices! Shifting towards sustainable food choices is a little step each of us can take to make a huge difference!  Dietitians can play an important role in educating the public on sustainable food choices and how these can be incorporated into everyday lives.                                                        What Are Sustainable Foods?!? Sustainable foods are those produced, processed, and consumed in a way that minimizes negative impacts on: The Environment Conserve na...

  Being in the nutrition field, we've all heard of the various diets people follow that eliminate particular animal products from their diet. Vegetarians, lacto-ovo vegetarians, vegans etc. are all eliminating some or all forms of animal products from their diets. People follow these diets for a variety of reasons. The term reducetarian was coined in 2015 and has increasingly become more popular.  What is a reducetarian diet? The reducetarian diet does not follow an all-or-nothing mentality. Reducetarianism aims to eat less red meat, fish, poultry, eggs. They believe this diet has health and environmental implications. Different types of vegetarians and vegans are included in this diet. This diet differs from flexitarianism in that flexitarians eat mainly plant-based with an occasional animal product. Reducetarians are gradually working to eliminate or have very minimal animal products in their diets.  They are very mindful of the animal products they consume in regards t...

  Crockpot Szn It’s officially the time of year I dread all summer long….fall. Sorry to all you fall lovers out there, but I am a complete hater when it comes to the cooler weather. I will never be that girl who is excited to trade in her swimsuit for a sweatshirt. So if you need me I'll just be over here mourning the loss of summer for the next 9 months.  Although fall isn’t necessarily my thing, I will say a positive about the weather changing is the fact that it’s crockpot season. The crockpot gets a bad rep, but seriously is there anything better than coming home from a long day of work and dinner is hot and ready to go??? Plus you get the whole house smelling good, which is just  an added bonus.  The coziness and comfort that crockpot foods bring, is the one thing I can say I'm looking forward to with the weather changing.  For all my other crockpot lovers out there, below are my top 3 crockpot recipes for this time of year.  Pot roast Ingredients: • 1...

                                 The Buzz-worthy  Benefits of Honey Honey has been utilized since ancient times, not only as a sweetener, but has also been used for its medicinal and health benefits. Honey has phytochemicals, can function as an anti-oxidant, and anti-microbial and has probiotic properties. Honey contains all of the 9 essential amino acids, trace minerals, flavonoids, and polyphenols. Honey is made by honey bees from the nectar of a variety of flowers- coneflowers, daisies, globe thistle, and milkweed to name a few. Each providing a different nutritional profile. Honey can either be raw or processed. It is important to chose raw over processed when purchasing your honey.  Raw honey -very minimal processed. The honey is extracted from the honeycombs and poured over cheesecloth to remove impurities, s...

  An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away…. Have you ever wondered where the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” comes from??  For some, an apple a day doesn’t keep the doctor away, it just gives you a stomach ache. But really, why should we care to eat an apple a day???  Well, not that you have to have one every single day, but there really are some great nutrients packed in apples. However, the main reason for the health benefits behind apples is their rich source of phytochemicals found in them. Phytochemicals are compounds that act as protective agents. They have been found to protect against cancer cell proliferation, regulate immune response, and decrease the overall risk of chronic disease. Apples are also packed with antioxidants, which fight oxidative stress.  Now that you know why the apple keeps the doctor away, let's talk about how to actually eat the apple. With fall in full swing, it is officially apple season so there’s no excuse to not get your...

October is one week away and the vibrant celebration of Farm to School Month is near—a time to reflect on the crucial connections between local farmers, schools, and communities. At the heart of this nationwide initiative lies a profound mission: to emphasize the significance of sourcing food locally and nurturing the minds of our future generations. In this short blog, we delve into the profound impact of local produce on the economy and the invaluable lessons it imparts to students. Nourishing the Local Economy: When schools choose to bring local produce to their cafeterias, they embark on a journey of empowerment for both farmers and their communities. By directly supporting local growers, schools become engines of economic growth. This simple decision ripples through the local economy in multiple ways: Agricultural Sustainability : Local farmers gain a reliable market for their harvest, bolstering their livelihoods and encouraging sustainable farming practices. Jobs Blossom: The d...

    Is Breakfast Really the Most Important Meal of The Day?   Breakfast literally means “to break the fast.” It is the first meal of the day after a night's rest. It was stre ssed around 60 years ago, that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. As of today, many people have emphasized how important intermittent fasting . So, the question is whether breakfast is as essential as it seems?   Skipping an Egg- cellent Breakfast   The term “ eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper” has held strong although a recent study concl uded that 15% skip breakfast regularly. Adults believe that breakfast is important, yet they still skip breakfast due to reasons such as reduced appet ite, weight loss, intermittent fasting, or lack of time. As with most things in nutrition, the answer is complex. Eating regular meals and snacks allows for more opportunities throughout the day to give the body the energy and nutrients to ...