Kent State Interns

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...

  Winter months are coming, which means flu season is upon us! Chicken soup is often associated with aiding common cold and flu symptoms, but what about preventing them? Most people don’t think about getting their immune system ready with a cozy bowl of chili! A big bowl of chili filled with beans and vegetables can add a huge boost of vitamins and minerals into your diet. Chili is high in fiber, vitamins C and A, iron zinc, and potassium with the usual ingredients (tomatoes, peppers, beans).  One way to add even more immune boosting nutrients is by adding butternut squash! Most people don’t think of adding butternut squash into chili, but the sweetness pairs beautifully with the savory meat and vegetables. Here’s a recipe to try to keep that immune system strong and ready! Ingredients: 1x 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes 1x 28 oz. can diced tomatoes 2x 15.5 oz. cans of cannellini beans (drained and rinsed) 1 lb. ground Italian sausage 1 bell pepper, diced 1 onion, diced 4 cloves o...

 Thanksgiving is a time for expressing gratitude, spending time with loved ones, AND having some good eats. While the holidays are exciting, they can still be a bit stressful and navigating the thanksgiving table can be overwhelming. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while preparing for the big turkey day. Don't skip breakfast. - It can be tempting to avoid eating until it's time for Thanksgiving dinner but starving yourself in the morning can lead to trouble later. Make sure you have simple breakfast like a bowl of cereal or oatmeal with fruit or granola and low-fat Greek yogurt to keep your body nourished through the morning. Portion control is key. - With all the delicious foods and smells it's easy to want to pile your plate with everything but take a second to survey all the dishes and pick out your must-have foods and pass over the ones you can live without. Using a smaller plate can also help prevent taking more food than needed! Bust a move! - Combat the post turk...

The weather is finally cooling down, and you know what that means....it's soup season! This cozy butternut squash soup is perfect for keeping you warm and satisfied on those cold Autumn nights. Ingredients 3lbs whole butternut squash, - halved lengthwise and seeds removed 2 carrots - peeled and diced 1/4 c olive oil 1 teaspoon cracked pepper 1 large onion - cut into wedges 6 cloves garlic - minced 3-4 c low sodium chicken stock - use vegetable broth to make vegetarian! 2 beef or chicken bouillon cubes - use veggie broth or vegetable stock powder for vegetarian 1/2 c half and half or heavy cream Instructions Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a large baking pan Place squash on the pan, skin side down and add onion, garlic, and carrots Drizzle ingredients with oil and season with salt and pepper. Make sure everything is coated. Flip squash and rub any leftover oil/seasonings left on the pan over the skin. Roast about 50-55 minutes or until squash is fork tender an...