March 5, 2018 — Oftentimes when watching great athletic achievements or difficult sporting events, we are inspired to become more physically active. While most will not become elite athletes, understanding how these athletes became proficient in their sport can help us succeed in leading a healthier lifestyle. Big Goals Aren’t Achieved In One Day, But … Continue reading
Are you a member of the breakfast club – or do you miss out in the morning? September is Better Breakfast Month, a time to wake up to the benefits of eating a nutritious breakfast and give the meal the respect it deserves. Numerous studies support the importance of eating breakfast regularly – and the … Continue reading
August 15, 2017 — According to the CDC, 30 million people in the United States have diabetes and another 84 million adults have prediabetes. Type 2 diabetes is when the body does not utilize insulin properly and this can cause glucose levels to rise in the blood. Type 1 diabetes is less common but requires … Continue reading
How do you live your best summer ever? Is it in the summer bucket lists filled with fun activities or the fun vacations you have planned? Or is it in the simple moments where you are just enjoying a walk in the sunshine? Is it attending family events to reunite with extended family again? Living … Continue reading
Spring break is upon us, which means the sun is shining, the weather is warmer and the days are getting longer. The warmer weather also means many of us will swap out our warm beverages for cool, refreshing ones. It’s also time to start getting ready for summer bathing suit season and to start shedding … Continue reading
Most of us know what we’re supposed to do to live a healthy lifestyle. Recommendations include eating well, being physically active, reducing stress and getting enough sleep. But, we all know that is easier said than done. While cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women in the US, the … Continue reading
Robyn Flipse, MS. MA, RDN Consultant to the Calorie Control Council One of the best things about the holidays is the chance to spend time with the people we don’t get to see as often as we’d like throughout the year. But getting together with far-flung family and friends means we have to spend some … Continue reading
Robyn Flipse, MS. MA, RDN Consultant to the Calorie Control Council If you’ve been gaining weight and not getting enough sleep lately, some new research suggests the problems are very likely connected. A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that people who didn’t get enough sleep consumed an extra 385 calories … Continue reading
Falling in Love with Vegetables Fall brings cooler days, leaves changing colors and falling to the ground and a generous bounty of seasonal vegetables like spinach, winter squash and sweet potatoes. Readily available now at their peak of freshness, these vegetables are economical and easy to use in a variety of fall and winter meals. … Continue reading
I recently discovered that fast food has its very own day – November 16! While fast food often gets a bad rap for being high in calories and fat, a couple of recent studies found it doesn’t stack up so badly compared to other dining spots. In a study out just last month comparing fast-casual … Continue reading
The weather is cooling, the leaves are changing, and pumpkins are sitting on doorsteps…you know what that means – it’s Halloween season. A favorite holiday for many children, and adults, alike, Halloween is a food-centered holiday that is rated number one in candy sales in America. But don’t let the candy trick you into unhealthy eating … Continue reading
Robyn Flipse, MS. MA, RDN Consultant to the Calorie Control Council Even if the weather doesn’t vary much where you live, you can use the seasonal changes on the calendar to reboot your diet for better health. All it takes is expanding the colors on your plate to feature whatever is being harvested. I mark … Continue reading
Out of all the seasons, fall is definitely my favorite time of year. I always look forward to cooler temperatures, trips to the pumpkin patch, walking through the apple orchard, and watching college football on Saturdays. I also look forward to the comfort foods with delicious flavors that I know I’ll enjoy during harvest season. … Continue reading
You are not alone. We all have had those days and weeks where we have great intentions to get everything checked off our to-do lists and have a family dinner at the kitchen table, but those intentions seemed to get waylaid often. We end up eating in the car between the kid’s activities and then … Continue reading
You’ve probably heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. While I wouldn’t say it’s the MOST important, it is certainly a meal you shouldn’t skip. And to highlight breakfast’s valuable role in our diet, September has been designated as Better Breakfast Month. Breakfast Benefits Breakfast not only fuels the body after … Continue reading
Robyn Flipse, MS. MA, RDN Consultant to the Calorie Control Council If you’ve stepped into an air-conditioned store to get out of the August heat, then you know retailers are all stocked up to help us get our children ready to go back to school. Everything from highlighters to hand sanitizer is on the shelves … Continue reading
Warm humid weather and intense high school sports practices, sometimes twice a day, lead to a lot of sweating and risk of heat exhaustion or more serious heat stroke. While hydration may not be at the top of the list for a successful athletic performance, it should be. According to the National Federation of State … Continue reading
Pregnancy can bring joy and happiness as mom welcomes a new baby into the world. For some women, though, pregnancy can also bring on gestational diabetes. Diabetes is a serious disease in which your body cannot properly control the amount of sugar, known as glucose, in your blood. (If you have diabetes and plan to … Continue reading
The heat can, at times, be unbearable during the summer months. Most individuals find ways of cooling off by spending time in sprinklers or at the pool. But sometimes, a day at the pool can have an unintended consequence: dehydration. If it’s hot enough, lounging poolside means you are sweating as your body tries to … Continue reading
Last weekend our friends gifted us with a bag of fresh blueberries they hand-picked at an East Texas blueberry farm. And how incredibly delicious they were! Nothing is as good as fruit fresh from the tree or vine. With July the peak season for blueberries, it’s no surprise that the U.S. Department of Agriculture proclaimed … Continue reading
While summer is made for family reunions, 4th of July celebrations, camping and cooking outside; it’s not a time we think of getting ill or putting on a few extra pounds. Yet, either of these can happen easily if we aren’t smart about our choices. With summer gatherings filled with food and fun, these three … Continue reading
It’s officially summer season, which means it’s time for summer getaways! Whether you’re headed to the beach or perhaps planning a staycation at home, a change in routine can sometimes makes it difficult to maintain healthy habits. Here are some tips for maintaining healthy habits while taking some time off this summer: Get plenty of … Continue reading
May is Exercise is Medicine Month, an annual initiative of the American College of Sports Medicine to create awareness of the important role physical activity plays in promoting health and preventing disease. Research finds that exercise helps reduce risk of several chronic conditions including diabetes, cancer, heart disease and obesity. Exercise and Calories In addition … Continue reading
Robyn Flipse, MS. MA, RDN Consultant to the Calorie Control Council There are countless concoctions from around the world that play a starring role in the celebrations of other cultures, just like lemonade does in the USA on Independence Day. If you want to omit the alcohol from a classic cocktail, you can still capture … Continue reading
Let’s make a declaration – the New Year starts with spring! How can we argue with birds that are chirping outside of our windows, reminding us they have come back from the south? How can we disagree with the pinks and purples and the whites of spring blooms giving us a fresh look at previously … Continue reading
Research on regular users of low-calorie sweeteners has found they have better diets than nonusers. If that isn’t incentive to use them, I don’t know what is! Of course, adding a low-calorie sweetener to your coffee isn’t all it takes to become healthy and thin, but studies show it can be part of a healthy lifestyle … Continue reading
Robyn Flipse, MS. MA, RDN Consultant to the Calorie Control Council The global population is aging at a faster rate than ever before in human history. Right now the number of people throughout the world over the age of 65 makes up 8.5 percent of the total population, or 671 million people, according to International … Continue reading
Whether you are managing type 1 diabetes (when your body is not producing insulin) or type 2 diabetes (when your body produces insufficient amounts of insulin or insulin that does not function correctly), managing blood glucose levels is critical. Careful planning includes considering meals, snacks, and physical activity since they can all affect your body’s … Continue reading
While neighbors and friends may be jet-setting off to the tropics for a mid-winter warm-up, you can bring the tropics right into your kitchen. Now is the perfect time to purchase tropical fruits. In season and at their nutritional peak, tropical fruits are immune-boosters, thanks to their many cold-kicking vitamins like vitamin C, vitamin A … Continue reading
Around the world, every culture has put its own unique spin on Valentine’s Day, yet at the center is the act of celebrating the ones you love. Oftentimes this is demonstrated with food whether it be an elaborate dinner out, decadent dessert, a box of chocolates or all the above. But with a few tips … Continue reading
While many of you are probably looking forward to spring and summer produce, there are still plenty of wonderful vegetables that can be enjoyed during the winter months. For example, who doesn’t love a cup of homemade chicken noodle soup or potato chowder during the wintertime? Regardless of the season, you can always find flavorful … Continue reading
This year, the temperatures took a little longer than normal to realize the winter solstice had passed, but those winter temperatures have finally moved in across the country. Colder temperatures usher in the season of flu, colds, dry skin, seasonal depression and weight gain. Here are six ways to stay healthy even when it’s cold … Continue reading
On January 7, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services released the long-awaited 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Published every five years, the 8th edition of the Guidelines provides information to help Americans make healthy eating choices. As a registered dietitian nutritionist, I was not surprised that, for the most part, the … Continue reading
The food, fun and family of Thanksgiving are now history and the upcoming December holidays bring more meals, parties and gift-giving festivities. With so many opportunities to indulge in delicious foods and beverages, how can we keep healthy eating and exercise habits from falling by the wayside? Well, it’s not all that difficult if you … Continue reading
It’s a tradition this time of year – pumpkin. It often graces our holiday tables in the form of pie. While pumpkin pie may finish the traditional holiday meal, there are many benefits to incorporating pumpkin throughout the holiday season and beyond. After all, pumpkin flavors are everywhere – from coffee to bread to snacks … Continue reading
With the Holidays right around the corner, this is the perfect time to focus on food and beverage choices especially if you struggle with diabetes or prediabetes. November is Diabetes Month and according to the American Diabetes Association, there are nearly 30 million children and adults in the United States that have diabetes. In addition … Continue reading
How to Make the Right Choices Robyn Flipse, MS. MA, RDN Consultant to the Calorie Control Council It’s that time of year when our homes and offices become filled with an assortment of chocolatey, chewy and crunchy candies as we approach Halloween and its aftermath. I know I can’t resist grabbing a few fun-sized bags … Continue reading
As a registered dietitian nutritionist I am frustrated when I see headlines like, “5 Foods You Should Never Eat” or “Avoid These 10 Foods to Lose Weight.” I’ve never been a fan of categorizing foods as “good” or “bad”. One food won’t make or break your diet, cause you to gain or lose weight or … Continue reading
A cool fall day calls for a bubbling hot apple pie in the oven to warm up the kitchen. And to get the most delight out of that pie, you must take your family to the apple orchard and bring home a bucket of hand-picked apples to enjoy. There will be enough apples to make … Continue reading
Robyn Flipse, MS. MA, RDN Consultant to the Calorie Control Council It seems every food and drink is celebrated with its own day on the calendar and coffee is no exception. September 29th is designated National Coffee Day and there are sure to be plenty of people raising a mug to honor the occasion since … Continue reading
Sylvia E. Meléndez Klinger, MS, RD, LDN, CPT Consultant to the Calorie Control Council Hispanic culture has given the world some of its favorite drinks, from hot chocolate to refreshing bebidas or licuados, the original smoothies. These delicious drinks are part of many everyday Hispanic meals, but if you are ready to incorporate them into … Continue reading
August is Family Fun Month, leaving plenty of time to enjoy summertime activities before school starts again. If theme parks, baseball stadiums or driving trips are on your August schedule, then food will surely be a part of your experience. Fortunately, many of these entertainment spots have a variety of food choices so you can … Continue reading
Scorching summer days call for frosty ice cream nights. There’s nothing better on a warm summer evening, especially after a few hours of mowing the lawn, pulling weeds out of the garden or an afternoon of baseball or swimming. It doesn’t matter if the vanilla bean ice cream or the rich chocolate ice cream makes … Continue reading
Every year I look forward to the fun activities and flavors that summer weather brings. Whether it’s shopping at the local farmers market, attending an outdoor jazz festival, or catching a baseball game; the warmer temperatures provide a lot of opportunities to play outside with friends and family. But living in the Midwest, the temperature can … Continue reading
Robyn Flipse, MS. MA, RDN Consultant to the Calorie Control Council Those of us who live where there are four seasons throughout the year associate certain foods with certain seasons. A perfect example is eating frozen desserts, like ice cream, in the hot days of summer. But even if the temperature never gets too high … Continue reading
The number of calories you should consume in a day will vary for each individual. To calculate how many a person should ingest each every day depends on age, height, gender, daily activity, and whether that individual would like to gain, lose or maintain their weight. Try out this calculator to determine your daily calorie … Continue reading
While most of us sleep until sunrise, most dairy farmers are awake long before beginning their daily routine of milking and caring for cows that provide nutritious and wholesome dairy products that feed our families. While I don’t always think of the hard work that goes into that milk jug each time I reach for … Continue reading
In the summer, many of us are spending more time outside, whether it’s going for a walk or run around our neighborhood, hiking the trails near our houses, heading to the beach and lake, or just hanging out in the park. Many of us will be on the go and will need quick and convenient … Continue reading
Food allergies, intolerances and sensitivities seem to be more and more prevalent or at least we’re hearing more about them with our 24/7 news via traditional, Internet and social media channels. But what’s the difference and how can you truly know if you have one? Keep reading for the lowdown. A food allergy is an … Continue reading
Whether you are at home or at work, lunch is often a meal that has to be squeezed in around other to-dos for the day. A few easy habits can help prevent over-eating and a few more tips for your meals will help you get the most out of your day. You don’t have to … Continue reading
With summer here, so comes a renewed interest in how we will fit all of the outdoor activities into our schedules. Being social may mean you feel you have less ability to make calorie conscious decisions about what you and your family eats each day. There will be meals and days where your best intentions … Continue reading
For over 60 years, consumers have enjoyed sugar-free sodas that provide sweet and fizzy refreshment without the calories of the regular kind. From the early days of Diet Rite Cola and TaB sweetened with cyclamate and saccharin, to the modern day with diet sodas being sweetened with aspartame, the soda industry has evolved to provide … Continue reading
What if I told you that you could simply plant a garden each year and it could contribute to lower blood pressure or better health? According to the Mayo Clinic, the research on how to lower blood pressure is quite strong, – things like be at a healthy weight, eat healthy foods and lower your … Continue reading
According to Sonja Connor, registered dietitian nutritionist and president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, “Achieving optimal health is not about a specific food or time or year, but rather a life-long commitment that leaves plenty of time for the foods and activities we love.” To get started on a healthy lifestyle, consider these … Continue reading
Did you know that heart disease is the number 1 killer of women? It’s hard to believe that more women die of heart disease than cancer. In fact, ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease. That news might be heart breaking, but it doesn’t have to break yours. … Continue reading
We sat down with Robyn Flipse, a registered dietitian specializing in food, nutrition and health communications, to talk about aspartame and debunk many of the myths that surround this extensively researched low calorie sweetener. Robyn has over 25 years of experience and has written two books, The Wedding Dress Diet and Fighting the Freshman Fifteen. You can catch up … Continue reading