An all-too-common mantra says, “It’s too expensive to eat healthy.” It’s true that when comparing specific foods like organic fruits with conventional fruits, the former tends to be a few dollars more per pound. And when a shopping cart filled with fresh produce, poultry, and fish is compared with one loaded with boxes of macaroni … Continue reading “Strategies for Eating Well on a Budget”
During the flu season or times of illness, people often seek special foods or vitamin supplements that are believed to boost immunity. Vitamin C and foods like citrus fruits, chicken soup, and tea with honey are popular examples. Yet the design of our immune system is complex and influenced by an ideal balance of many … Continue reading “Nutrition and Immunity”
Esta página se actualizará conforme más información esté disponible. Última actualización: 4 de mayo del 2020. Según navegamos estos tiempos nunca vistos, muchos(as) se preguntan cómo comprar, pedir/ordenar, y preparar alimentos para disminuir la transmisión del nuevo coronavirus. A pesar de que no hay evidencia publicada sobre el contagio de la enfermedad de coronavirus (COVID-19) … Continue reading “Seguridad de los alimentos, nutrición, y bienestar durante COVID-19”
This page will be updated as new information becomes available. Last update: 5.29.20 [En español] As we navigate these unprecedented times, many are wondering how to safely shop, order, and prepare food to minimize transmission of the novel coronavirus. Along with important social distancing practices, this page includes some tips for when you do need … Continue reading “Food safety, nutrition, and wellness during COVID-19”
In Japanese and Chinese cuisine, dried shiitake mushrooms are a staple of the pantry. Drying is an age-old preservation technique, increasing shelf life indefinitely. But drying also intensifies the flavor of mushrooms, driving off moisture and leaving precious glutamates intact. Rehydrating unlocks all of these flavors, and best of all, dried mushrooms become meatier than … Continue reading “Marinated Shiitake Mushroom and Cucumber Salad”
An often under-appreciated food, mushrooms have been eaten and used as medicine for thousands of years. Traditional and folk medicine practitioners laud the bell-shaped fungi for their healing and cleansing properties. All varieties of mushrooms are low in calories and fat, and contain modest amounts of fiber and various nutrients. Perhaps the more interesting properties … Continue reading “Mushrooms”
Zinc is a trace mineral, meaning that the body only needs small amounts, and yet it is necessary for almost 100 enzymes to carry out vital chemical reactions. It is a major player in the creation of DNA, growth of cells, building proteins, healing damaged tissue, and supporting a healthy immune system. [1] Because it … Continue reading “Zinc”
Lentils receive their scientific name, Lens culinaris, from their curved lens-shaped seed. They are a type of legume that is native to Western Asia and North America. Lentils are one of the earliest domesticated crops, seen in the diets of ancient Rome and Egypt. Many countries enjoy lentils as a dietary staple, as they offer … Continue reading “Lentils”
Just as different foods can have differing impacts on human health, they also have differing impacts on the environment. Shifting towards a “planetary health diet” can nurture both people and planet. Human diets inextricably link health and environmental sustainability, and have the potential to nurture both. [1] Increased food production over the past 50 years … Continue reading “Plate and the Planet”
On the dinner plate “stage,” we often think about animal-based protein as the “center of attention ” with everything else—like veggies—playing a supporting role. An easy (and often cost-effective) way to diversify your diet is to flip this old paradigm by reducing the portion of meat and other animal products, and sharing the spotlight with … Continue reading “Consume less meat, enjoy more variety”
