Ever had a moment of angst in the produce aisle? You look at the cost of the organic strawberries. Then the cost of the conventional ones. And you're doing the math in your head while pinging between worry and confusion. Whether to buy organic, especially for fruits and vegetables, is a question I've gotten a lot over the years. It's something I used to wonder about too. You already know I'm no fan of the fear-mongering that often happens around food. And there's a LOT of fear-mongering...
8 months ago • 1 min read
One minute my kid's wearing size 3T overalls and pushing wooden trains, and the next he's lifting weights and drinking protein shakes. (Anyone else feel whiplash when you look at your older kid? 🥺) I'll admit I was taken off guard when my teen came home with a big ol' tub of protein powder. Honestly, I felt a little iffy about it. And I had some questions. I know a lot of you do too. Like: Is protein powder okay for kids & teens? Are there are risks? And how do you pick one?? I dug in to the...
9 months ago • 1 min read
How to Make Grape Fruit Leather in the Oven (Easy Recipe) Have you met a kid who doesn’t like Fruit Roll-Ups? I haven’t. Trouble is, the boxed kind at the grocery store usually contains multiple added sweeteners, oil, synthetic dyes, artificial flavor, and fruit juice concentrate instead of actual fruit. So I make my own homemade fruit roll-ups in the oven–no food dehydrator needed. Since grapes have such an intense, natural sweetness, there’s also no added sugar. A one-ingredient recipe!...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read
I few years ago, I vowed never to "diet" again. Because I may be a dietitian who has written about the dangers of restrictive diets, but I'm also human. And a few years ago, frustrated by a handful of new pounds, I tried a low-carb diet--and had disastrous results (read about that here). But a few months ago, I started making some adjustments to how and what I eat. I'm definitely not depriving myself. I'm not going to bed hungry. And I feel better than I have in a long time. Mild TMI Alert: I...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read
When I was in my 20s, I could wake up and dig into a plate of chocolate chip pancakes covered in syrup. Then lace up my Reeboks for a step aerobics class or strap on my Sony Sports Walkman and Rollerblade around the park. (How many '90s references can I pack into one sentence?) These days, if I eat pancakes or waffles or breakfast, I will immediately fall into a headachey stupor and be useless until I nap for two hours. But I still love pancakes and waffles. So I figured out how to make them...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read
I recently tried a new plant-based "chicken" product. It was served in a lettuce cup with fresh veggies and a yummy sauce. When I posted a photo of it on my Real Mom Nutrition Facebook page, I wasn't quite prepared for the reaction. A lot of people had strong feelings about plant-based "meats". Those are products like Impossible Burger and Beyond Sausage. They look and feel (and kinda taste) like meat, but they're entirely meatless. On the thread, some people said that going meatless isn't...
almost 2 years ago • 1 min read
Hey there, I don't know what the weather's like where you are, but here in Ohio it's getting decidedly...crisp. Which means bowls of oatmeal are replacing my morning smoothies, and my flannel PJ pants are officially activated for the season. (Because it's important that you announce "My flannel jammie pants are officially activated!" the first time you wear them.) It also means our dinners are naturally leaning toward comfort. I need all the comfort I can get for winter in the Midwest. So...
about 2 years ago • 1 min read
Hey there, Do you like the taste of plain water? Half of my family does. Unfortunately, that half does not include me...or my 13 year old. We try. We really do! We just crave a little flavor. With warm weather approaching, that means more cold drinks. LaCroix and other flavored seltzers are BIG right now. They're lightly flavored, fizzy, and just a little more interesting than plain water for those of us who are plain water works-in-progress. But are sparkling seltzers okay for kids? I dug...
over 2 years ago • 1 min read
Hey there, Last month I embarked on a "No Spend January"...with mixed results. When I ordered face masks on Amazon, I accidentally bought a pair of sneakers that I'd put in my cart weeks ago. I caved and purchased a book for my Kindle (Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult). I treated myself to a hat and t-shirt when I was in Sedona, AZ last weekend with my high school girlfriends. And we found out we need a roof which basically cancels out any savings from me avoiding random coffee shop drinks...
almost 3 years ago • 2 min read
