Eat, Drink, Live Longer
If you’re hungry for the latest science and the freshest advice on how to age backwards gracefully and feel your best from the inside out, then you’ve come to the right place. Welcome to EAT, DRINK, LIVE LONGER, where every episode unlocks the secrets to the Fountain of Youth, one delicious bite and sip at a time. Join registered dietitian, cookbook author, and veteran podcaster, Liz Weiss, on your journey to living a longer, more vibrant life.
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118: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Anti-Inflammatory Diet with Ginger Hultin, MS, RDN
05/12/2022
118: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Anti-Inflammatory Diet with Ginger Hultin, MS, RDN
Welcome, Fellow Health Warriors! Today’s show is packed with valuable information about inflammation. Our focus is on chronic inflammation, how it impacts our health, and how to prevent and reverse it through diet. You’ll learn what chronic inflammation is and why it plays a major role in many diseases. Join us to learn about the anti-inflammatory diet and how you can follow it to better health! Ginger Hultin is a nationally-recognized registered dietitian and health writer. She owns the Seattle-based virtual nutrition practices Champagne Nutrition and Seattle Cancer Nutritionists, where she helps clients solve complex mysteries with an integrative approach. She specializes in vegetarian diets, oncology nutrition, supplements, and nutrigenomics (the scientific study of the interaction of genes in disease treatment and prevention). Ginger currently serves as adjunct clinical faculty at the Bastyr Center for Natural Health, where she teaches master’s level nutrition students. She authored the Eat to Beat Disease Cookbook and the Anti-Inflammatory Diet Meal Prep book. Show Highlights: Ginger’s life in Seattle and why she is passionate about clinical and integrative nutrition and solving complex health mysteries The nitty-gritty truth about chronic inflammation, its causes, and why it can make you feel tired and fatigued over time How to recognize chronic inflammation in your body Common causes of chronic inflammation: cigarette smoke exposure, lack of physical activity, lack of sleep, excess stress, etc. How the immune system can turn against you because of chronic inflammation Categories of foods that cause chronic inflammation: excessive consumption of alcohol, added sugar, saturated fats, trans fats, and highly-processed foods Anti-inflammatory food superstars: fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, plant-based proteins, whole grains, herbs, spices, tea, and cocoa (Aim to eat more of these!) Why meal prep can be a lifesaver for those with chronic inflammation Ginger’s meal prep secrets: make a list, plan the week, and make use of grocery delivery/pickup as a timesaving tool How Ginger sets the record straight regarding gluten and dairy in an anti-inflammatory diet (Hint: Research shows that they have nutritional benefits and are anti-inflammatory.) Ginger’s research-based opinions on controversial foods, like nightshade vegetables, coconut oil, and turmeric in the anti-inflammatory diet Why cinnamon, ginger, and garlic are superfoods in the inflammatory diet How Ginger’s book is structured with information about inflammation and nutrition, meal prep tips and sample plans, and helpful recipes How you can increase the nutritional benefit by making your own sauces, marinades, dressings, and vinaigrettes Ginger’s favorite recipe in the book, Lasagna Roll-ups, which is vegetarian and plant-based Why the anti-inflammatory diet could help you live longer and enjoy a healthy life How Ginger is focusing on better sleep and stress management moving into her 40s Why focusing on familiar foods with a healthier twist is a good start to a better diet Where tofu, tempeh, and edamame fit into the anti-inflammatory diet Ginger’s recipe for with Sheet Pan Tofu and Vegetables with Simple Ginger Teriyaki Sauce A few more of Ginger’s favorite recipes from her book, like Flourless Banana Pancakes and Vegetable Fried Cauliflower Rice Ginger’s final tips on looking at science-based research and evidence about nutrition and the anti-inflammatory diet Resources: Ginger's website: Ginger on Ginger on Ginger on
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117: Longevity Kitchen: Kale Edition with Liz Weiss
04/20/2022
117: Longevity Kitchen: Kale Edition with Liz Weiss
Welcome, Health Warriors! Today’s episode is dedicated to one of my favorite anti-aging ingredients: kale. Not to be forgotten are some other leafy greens that are good for us, like collards and bok choy. We will talk about the health benefits of kale, the different varieties available at the supermarket, all about kale chips, and a new recipe for Kale and Pine Nut Pesto that I created specifically for this show. Kale has been the “veggie of the moment” for a while now, and it’s super nutritious and versatile. It can be added to soups, salads, and smoothies. Join me for a closer look at this superfood! Show Highlights: A little info about kale, a cruciferous vegetable related to cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, arugula, bok choy, radishes, turnips, watercress, and wasabi The types of kale: Curly kale can be added to salads, soups, and smoothies. Dinosaur or Tuscan kale, Italian kale also called Lacinato kale, is distinguished by long, slender, blue-green leaves that are not curly but puckered like savoy cabbage. Red Russian or Ragged Jack kale is an heirloom kale that looks like overgrown oak leaves and ranges in color from blue-green to purple-red; it has a sweeter flavor. Baby kale is the term for the young, immature leaves of the kale plant that are great for any use. Superfood nutrition and antioxidants in kale: Kale is packed with vitamin K, C, beta carotene, calcium, folate, and fiber. Kale is packed with antioxidants like beta carotene, vitamin C, flavonoids, and polyphenols, which help to slow the aging process and help reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, and neurodegenerative disorders. How kale is one of the best sources of compounds that help protect our eyes against damage and degenerative diseases Facts: only one in ten people in the US eats the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables each day! Why we shouldn’t pay too much attention to the recent Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen List of produce items with dangerous levels of pesticide residue (You would have to eat over 18,000 servings of kale daily to put your body at risk!) Ideas to add more kale to your everyday diet for dinner, breakfast, sides, and salads My favorite smoothie recipe includes orange juice, baby kale, Greek yogurt, fresh mint leaves, English cucumber, mango chunks, banana, and honey. The scoop on kale chips and my best tips for getting them not to be soggy My recipe for Kale and Pine Nut Pesto: baby kale leaves, toasted pine nuts, olive oil, mint leaves, Parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon juice, dijon mustard, honey, salt and pepper Check out the Recipe Roundup on the blog with recipes for Wild Rice and Kale Salad; Kale and Sausage Gnocchi Bake; Creamy Chicken, Kale, and Rice Mushroom Soup; and Caesar Salad with Kale and Chicken Resources: Helpful links mentioned in this episode: Cruciferous vegetables and cancer: Don't be afraid of the Dirty Dozen: Safe Produce Calculator: Liz’s Links: My website: My email: [email protected]
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116: The Impact of Alcohol on Health, and How to Calculate a Standard Drink, with Kathleen Zelman, MS, RDN
03/22/2022
116: The Impact of Alcohol on Health, and How to Calculate a Standard Drink, with Kathleen Zelman, MS, RDN
Have you ever wondered how much impact beer, wine, and spirits have on your health and longevity? The US Dietary Guidelines recommend limiting the number of alcoholic beverages we consume, but that can be pretty confusing. How do we even know how much alcohol is considered moderate and how much is too much? Or if we’re offered a cocktail at a party, how do we know how much alcohol is in it? My friend, and fellow dietician, Kathleen Zelman is joining us today to answer all those questions and tell us how moderate alcohol consumption can affect our health. She will also explain how alcohol can sabotage our well-being and longevity. Kathleen Zelman is a food, nutrition, and media communications consultant, co-host of the new podcast, True Health Revealed, and owner of No Nonsense Nutrition. Kathleen helped launch WebMD and spent seventeen years as their Director of Nutrition. Kathleen has received many awards throughout her career, including the prestigious Lenna Frances Cooper Memorial Award from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in recognition of her distinguished career and remarkable contributions to the dietetics profession. Kathleen is also a consultant for the Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS), so she is savvy on the subject of alcohol. She is here to give us the scoop on alcohol and talk about a new online calculator designed to help us figure out how much alcohol we are drinking. We will also share some snazzy ideas for cocktails and mocktails! Show highlights: Kathleen is excited about her new podcast that launched in January! She and her co-host, Dr. Tom Rifai, are doing it on behalf of the True Health Initiative, a non-profit organization that wants to ensure that they get information to consumers, translate science, and give consumers evidence-based facts. Dr. Eric Rimm, a Harvard professor and true expert on alcohol, was on Kathleen’s podcast. He said it's okay to have a glass of wine now and then. What does moderation mean for men and women, and how does that translate into beer, wine, and spirits? To find out what up to one drink per day looks like, go to to find a calculator. One standard drink is one and a half ounces of 80-proof spirits, a 12-ounce bottle of regular 5% alcohol beer, or five ounces of 12% volume wine. An exercise to do at home is to measure five ounces of wine and pour it into different glasses to see what a standard drink looks like. Become aware of what you are drinking and what the alcohol content is. Most wines have 12% alcohol, but some have much higher alcohol content- 15 or 16%. Most ready-to-drink canned cocktails are 12 ounces and have 5% alcohol content. However, some brands could contain up to 8 or 10% alcohol, so make sure you know how concentrated they are before drinking them. The information is on the label. Get to know how much you are drinking using the . Kathleen explains how it works. Having too many drinks in a row or drinking too quickly is considered binge drinking. It is always best to moderate your drinking or have your drinks with food. Why does one type of alcohol impact some people more than another? If your face becomes flushed after drinking, it is your body telling you to slow down. It means you are not tolerating the alcohol. Kathleen discusses the potential health benefits of drinking in moderation, whether or not there is any truth to the French paradox, and how drinking too much alcohol can sabotage your health. Kathleen lists the people who should not consume alcohol at all. Some tips to help you enjoy alcohol, reap the health benefits and make your drink last longer. A standard drink contains roughly 150 calories. Calories add up, so try to use low-calorie mixers, like club soda, and DON’T drink with a straw! Kathleen enjoys a tall vodka soda with a splash of cranberry and a wedge of lime. Her latest favorite is the Aperol Spritz- a serving of prosecco over lots of ice with a splash of Aperol and a wedge of lime. Kathleen and I share some recipes for mocktails. They are a good option for a “dry January” or taking a break from alcohol. Blue zones are hot spots in various places in the world where people live particularly long and healthy lives. One of the common denominators in all the blue zones is moderate alcohol consumption. Kathleen talks about the Distilled Spirits Council of the US (DISCUS) and explains what you will find on the DISCUS website. Resources: The The Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS) website is called Liz’s Links: My website: My email: [email protected] Mocktail Recipe: Pomegranate Winter Spiced Mocktail (Serves 2) Place a cup of 100% pomegranate juice, a cup of 100% orange juice, some cloves, star anise, and a cinnamon stick in a small saucepan. Let it simmer for about 15 minutes, and then allow it to cool. Pour it into a tall glass filled with ice, and garnish it with some orange slices or a wedge of orange. You can also add a sprig of mint. Or stretch it by adding some sparkling water.
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115: Longevity Kitchen: Dark Chocolate Edition with Liz Weiss, MS, RDN
03/09/2022
115: Longevity Kitchen: Dark Chocolate Edition with Liz Weiss, MS, RDN
In today’s Longevity Kitchen episode, we are highlighting one of my very favorite foods in the whole world: dark chocolate. Chocolate is universally adored and appreciated by people everywhere as the world’s favorite sweet treat. Beyond the fact that it’s delicious and versatile, dark chocolate has specific and proven health benefits. Don’t feel guilty; grab a piece of dark chocolate and savor the flavor. Chocolate comes from cacao, which is found in the seeds of football-shaped pods that grow on the cacao tree. So yes, there IS such a thing as a chocolate forest! I’ve never been in one, but I’m SO ready to go! Today I’m telling you why dark chocolate is good for us, along with a brief history of chocolate, the differences in types of chocolate, and I’m sharing some delicious recipes. I created a new recipe for Dark Chocolate, Pecan, and Dried Cherry Clusters; they are crunchy and yummy and very easy to make. I’ll also highlight a few favorites from my Recipe Roundup, which includes 40 recipes from some fellow dietitians who also love dark chocolate. Join me for this delicious adventure! Show Highlights: The basics to know about dark chocolate: Cacao is high in magnesium and antioxidants. Dark chocolate has higher amounts of cacao and less sugar than milk chocolate. The health benefits are greater with dark chocolate than other varieties because of the phytonutrients, which may play a role in cancer prevention and heart health. Other health benefits of dark chocolate include reduced inflammation, lower blood pressure, better cholesterol levels, improved cognition, better mood, better gut health, and improved blood sugar levels. There is some evidence of dark chocolate preventing memory loss and lowering the risk of Type-2 diabetes. The facts: dark chocolate has more antioxidants than green tea or red wine (The darker the chocolate, the more antioxidants.) How dark and how much? Choose a cacao content of 70% or higher, and eat about an ounce each day for maximum health benefits. We go WAY back for a brief history of chocolate, spanning the Olmec tribes of present-day Mexico in 1500 BC, the Mayans, Aztecs, and Spaniards. (It was in the early 1800s when chocolate became available to the masses, and aren’t we thankful?!) Important nutrients in dark chocolate include iron, fiber, magnesium, copper, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium. Chocolate isn’t just for desserts; there are great savory recipes for and . (I will be trying these!) My new recipe for Dark Chocolate, Pecan, and Dried Cherry Crunchy Clusters–they are made with dark chocolate chips, flaked cereal, chopped pecans, and dried unsweetened tart cherries. From the Dark Chocolate Recipe Roundup: From Laura : Dark Chocolate Orange Mousse is made with dark chocolate, silken tofu, orange zest, agave syrup, kosher salt, orange-flavored liquor, and sliced strawberries. From Jackie : Double Chocolate Banana Dessert Bread is made with whole wheat pastry flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, ripe bananas, chopped pistachios, vanilla and almond extracts, bittersweet chocolate chips, sugar, butter, and eggs. From Kelly : Vegan Turtles are made with dates, salt, walnuts or pecans, dark chocolate chips, and cayenne pepper. The differences in types of chocolate, like cocoa powder, dark chocolate, bittersweet chocolate, semisweet chocolate, unsweetened chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate (which isn’t really chocolate at all!) Resources History of Chocolate: Video of Cacao Bean Processing: Savory recipes with dark chocolate: Triple Chocolate Beef and Bean Chili: Eggplant Caponata: Dark Chocolate Orange Mousse: Vegan Turtles: Double chocolate banana dessert bread: Liz’s Links: My website: My email: [email protected]
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114: Recipes, Tips, & Strategies to Turn Burnout Into Balance with Patricia Bannan, MS, RDN
02/16/2022
114: Recipes, Tips, & Strategies to Turn Burnout Into Balance with Patricia Bannan, MS, RDN
Do you find yourself running in a million different directions all day long? Burnout is a reality for many people, especially busy women. It is terrible for our health and takes a huge toll on the quality of our lives. If you want to live a long and vibrant life, join me to learn more about the fight against burnout! Patricia Bannan is the author of the new cookbook, From Burnout to Balance: 60+ Healing Recipes and Simple Strategies to Boost Mood, Immunity, Focus, and Sleep. Patricia joins me to share her personal experience with burnout and how she turned it into balance. She’ll tell us how the foods on our plates can have a profound impact on improving our health and happiness. Her cookbook has solutions for breakfast, main meals, salads, snacks, and desserts, including her Fudgy Avocado Walnut Brownies. Yum! I tried her Zucchini and Black Bean Chilaquiles Skillet yesterday, and I’m sharing that recipe on today’s show and on my blog. Patricia is a nationally recognized dietitian and healthy cooking expert who has done thousands of media interviews, and she is a busy mom who lives in California. Show Highlights: Get to know Patricia, an East Coast girl who loves living in the Los Angeles sunshine and has combined her loves of journalism and nutrition into her work How burnout is characterized by feeling energy depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance from work and cynicism about work, and a drop in professional performance Why burnout is best visualized with a holistic approach to work, personal life, and personality type How stress and burnout are different Highlights of Patricia’s burnout experience a few years ago–and how she recovered by simplifying, prioritizing, and re-evaluating her life Why Patricia wrote a book about burnout (The facts: ⅓ of women report feeling full-blown burnout, which has only worsened due to the pandemic) Why Patricia structured her book as part health book and part cookbook Why the consequences of burnout include serious health risks and a heavy toll on longevity, relationships, and overall quality of life Tips for busting burnout: prioritize plants and find balance in the kitchen The connection between what we eat and our mood (“feel-good” foods can help!) How eating 30 different plants each week can help create a healthier microbiome in your gut (from the American Gut Project) How whole, unprocessed foods help with mood and gut health (“Whole foods make a whole person.”) How foods and healthy lifestyle factors can support a strong immune system Immune system boosters include vitamin D-rich foods like mushrooms, dairy, and seafood, along with zinc-rich foods like red meat and shellfish Patricia’s recipe for Golden Carrot Spice Muffins made with flour, oat bran, baking powder, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, honey, coconut oil, Greek yogurt, eggs, vanilla, grated carrots, and walnuts How burnout impacts our brain health and ability to focus Foods to improve focus include blueberries, olives/olive oil, and walnuts Foods for better sleep include kiwi, peanut butter, and tart cherries Patricia’s favorite recipe in her cookbook: Sheet Pan Salmon with Fingerling Potatoes, Asparagus, and Citrus Miso Sauce (This dish is a good source of 27 essential nutrients!) Patricia’s Zucchini and Black Bean Chilaquiles Skillet, a one-pot dish made with sauteed veggies, corn tortilla chips, green enchilada sauce, cheese, and toppings A sleepytime beverage: Patricia’s Tart Cherry Chamomile Tea with Oat Milk Resources: Patricia Bannan's website: Twitter: Instagram: Facebook: Where to find Patricia's book: Connect with Liz:
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113: Longevity Kitchen: Chickpea Edition with Liz Weiss, MS, RDN
02/02/2022
113: Longevity Kitchen: Chickpea Edition with Liz Weiss, MS, RDN
This Longevity Kitchen episode is dedicated to one of my favorite anti-aging ingredients: chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans. I love them so much, and they are always a go-to staple in my pantry. Join me to learn more about this superfood! Whether canned or dried, chickpeas are versatile, convenient, inexpensive, and incredibly nutritious. You can roast them, smash them, add them to soups and salads, and even add them to energy balls and desserts like cookies, blondies, and seven-layer bars. We are covering the history of chickpeas, where they are from, why they are good for the environment, and why they are good for your health. I have lots of ideas about adding them to your table! I’m highlighting a few favorite contributions from my chickpea Recipe Roundup, including my own new recipe for Sweet Potato, Chickpea, and Coconut Soup. If you haven’t been giving chickpeas the love they deserve, listen in–and be inspired! Show Highlights: The lowdown on the lovely chickpea: a type of bean (pulse) which is sustainable, easy to grow, and extremely nourishing Why chickpeas contribute to longevity, as evidenced by their place as the cornerstone of the diets of those in the world’s “Blue Zones” Why chickpeas can be a “gateway bean” that provides health benefits with just ½ cup each day Trust the science! The WHO records that 20 grams of beans daily reduce the risk of death by 8% How chickpeas play a major role in the cuisines of Mediterranean countries, the Middle East, and Africa, and are one of the oldest cultivated foods in existence today The nutrition numbers: ½ cup of chickpeas has 120 calories, 6-7 grams protein, and 4 grams fiber, along with manganese, folate, selenium, and potassium–all of which promote heart health and immunity How beans as a whole promote digestive health by improving our gut microbiome How chickpeas can lower cholesterol, help control blood sugar, help maintain a healthy weight, and help prevent certain cancers My recipe for Sweet Potato, Chickpea, and Coconut Soup: it’s made with diced sweet potato and bell pepper, red Thai curry paste, grated ginger and garlic, vegetable broth, coconut milk, chickpeas, brown rice, baby spinach, and lime juice/zest; the best part is the toppings of fresh cilantro, fresh mint, avocado, and chopped nuts From the Chickpea Recipe Roundup: From Laura @ : Peanut Butter & Jelly Dessert Bars are made with chickpeas, dates, peanut butter, whole wheat flour, vanilla, baking powder, baking soda, and salt—then swirled with peanut butter and jelly on top. From Chelsea @ : Fresh & Herby Couscous Salad is made with roasted chickpeas, pearl couscous, mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, mint, parsley, feta, lime juice, and olive oil. From Sarah @ : Roasted Chickpea Cauliflower Sandwiches are made with roasted chickpeas, chopped cauliflower, Greek yogurt, goat cheese, red pepper, shredded carrot, corn kernels, dill, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper–and then stuffed into pita bread. Resources: Recipe roundup Sweet Potato, Chickpea & Coconut Soup : Why beans are the #1 longevity food in the world
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112: What is Pre-Diabetes and How to Manage and Reverse It with Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN
01/19/2022
112: What is Pre-Diabetes and How to Manage and Reverse It with Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN
Do you or a family member or friend have pre-diabetes? Pre-diabetes is a condition that can lead to type 2 diabetes. It impacts 88 million Americans (that's one in three!) and can zap years from your life and vibrant health from those years. On today’s show, my guest is , author of The Everything Easy Pre-Diabetes Cookbook. Together, we'll explain how to manage pre-diabetes through diet and lifestyle and in some cases, even reverse it. Lauren Harris-Pincus is the author of The Everything Easy Pre-Diabetes Cookbook: 200 Healthy Recipes to Help Reverse and Manage Pre-Diabetes. Lauren is a nutrition communications specialist, speaker, spokesperson, consultant, and registered dietitian in private practice. She is the founder and owner of Nutrition Starring You, LLC, where she specializes in weight management and pre-diabetes. She is the author of The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club as well as her latest cookbook already mentioned. After growing up with weight issues and obesity, Lauren dedicated herself to combatting the growing adult and childhood obesity epidemic. She has wisdom to share about pre-diabetes, a condition that impacts 88 million Americans. Show Highlights: Get to know Lauren, a Jersey mom of two young adult kids; she is passionate about nutrition and healthy living and spends as much time as possible at the theater What is pre-diabetes? A blood sugar level that is higher than normal but not quite high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes How A1C measures blood sugar as a solid measure (5.7-6.4 is pre-diabetic) Why pre-diabetes is scary because one in three adults have it–and at least 90% don’t even know they have it Why so many people are unaware that they have pre-diabetes Why pre-diabetes is only the tip of the iceberg for what is going on with your insulin levels and your pancreas Harmful effects of pre-diabetes include elevated blood sugar that damages blood vessels, kidneys, and eyes; it can also cause neuropathy and affect your longevity and quality of life Causes of pre-diabetes can include weight gain, genetic components, high-stress levels, certain medications, lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, and more How Lauren’s action plan to address pre-diabetes includes positive steps with no stigma and focuses on what to add vs. what to take away Why it is important to add more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, and seeds Why Lauren’s plan includes ways to add better nutrition that helps you feel good, joyful movement that is sustainable, and managing stress, sleep, and mental health How to consider circadian rhythms in fueling our bodies earlier in the day vs. late at night because digestion and metabolism slow down as the sun goes down How modest weight loss can impact pre-diabetes–but shouldn’t be the primary goal How Lauren’s book is structured with 200 recipes in different categories of cuisine that feature “carb-controlled” ingredients of high fiber sources and nutrition information Why 95% of people don’t meet daily fiber intake goals, which impacts gut health and overall health Lauren’s favorite recipe: Deconstructed Spicy California Roll Salad made with romaine, cucumber, avocado, crab, spicy mayo, chopped seaweed snacks, and rice Lauren’s Spicy Chickpea Tacos with Arugula made with chickpeas, tomato paste and sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, spices, dijon mustard, taco shells, arugula, and cilantro Where sugar fits into the pre-diabetes story–the key is moderation Why the prevalence of pre-diabetes reveals that most people are not eating the right foods for optimal health Lauren’s advice about where to start: “Try to eat a fruit or veggie at every meal, or even more than one is better. More produce, more produce, more produce! If your doctor diagnoses you with pre-diabetes and only tells you to lose weight, you need to go find another doctor.” Resources: Lauren online and on social media: Find Lauren on , , and .
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111: Introducing Eat, Drink, Live Longer with Liz Weiss, MS, RDN
01/05/2022
111: Introducing Eat, Drink, Live Longer with Liz Weiss, MS, RDN
Welcome to my new podcast! This show is all about living a longer and better life, feeling vibrant and energized, and radiating good health from the inside out. On each episode, I'll be sharing simple changes to the ways we eat and drink that can add years to our lives and better health to those years. I look forward to being your tour guide on this delicious journey! Show Highlights: A little history of my podcasts: In 2008, I launched Cooking with the Moms, a podcast focused on family nutrition. From 2017-2021, Liz’s Healthy Table ran with 110 episodes! Now, in 2022, I’m launching Eat, Drink, Live Longer, which will take us down new roads related to longevity. How my website hub will still be The blog takes a new spin in featuring nourishing recipes with a grown-up focus. The website includes information about my in-person and virtual speaking engagements, my cookbooks and freebies page, and links to my social media channels (which includes my new foray into the world of TikTok!). How my cooking life has changed since my boys are grown and out of the house, along with my interest in good nutrition as it relates to lifelong health and longevity What you can expect on Eat, Drink, Live Longer: With two shows monthly, one of them will feature a guest and important topics related to the quality and health of our lives. The other show each month will be my “Longevity Kitchen,” in which we will explore topics like stocking your fridge/pantry, and recipes with superfoods like chickpeas, salmon, kale, etc. We will share important secrets to living longer on topics like pre-diabetes, stress reduction, inflammation, and more. Part of our focus will be on the common health factors of those living in the world’s “Blue Zones,” like daily movement, stress reduction, a plant-based diet, and more. (You can find out more about the Blue Zones in Ep. 99 of Liz’s Healthy Table.) Resources: Connect with me: Check out my closed Facebook group: Email me:
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110: Feeding Picky Eaters with Sally Sampson
12/21/2021
110: Feeding Picky Eaters with Sally Sampson
Why are kids picky? Is it possible to turn finicky eaters into adventurous eaters? You'll be surprised, the answer is YES! Listen in to lots of veggie talk today, because I'm going to be talking about picky eating and I'm going to be sharing two recipes from Chop Chop. One of them is for a delicious, Raw Brussels Sprout Salad and the other is for a Carrot Salad, with mint, honey, lime juice and peanuts (only if you like them). Sally Sampson will be joining me on the show, today. She is the founder of Chop Chop Kids, which is the non-profit publisher of Chop Chop, the fun Cooking Magazine for Families. This was named The Publication Of The Year by the James Beard Foundation, back in 2013. Sally has written twenty-three cookbooks, so she knows a thing or two about cooking! She's a mom of two and she's written a book called The Picky Eater Project, Six Weeks To Happier, Healthier Family Mealtimes. Whether you have picky eaters or not, I still think you're going to love this episode, because we have so many ideas for making vegetables more appealing and even including your kids in the cooking process. Listen in now to find out more! Today, Sally talks to Liz about: A life and career changing event that happened in her family. More about Chop Chop Magazine, which is distributed in Pediatrician's offices all over the country. Her book, The Picky Eater Project and how it all started. Her rules, which are neither mean-spirited, nor rigid- they involve treating children with respect. What she's noticed about kids at her photo shoots. The negative messages that parents tend to give their kids. Dealing with issues about texture. 90% of kids will eat food that they've cooked themselves. Making the dreaded green vegetable more appealing. Setting up taste tests for your kids as a fun game. The best way to cook broccoli florets. Tips for roasting vegetables. The thing about lettuce cups... The ingredients that go into the Raw Brussels Sprout Salad and why kids love it. A lazy tip to make the Raw Brussels Sprout Salad easier. Getting your child to do a Recipe Review. Letting kids learn about what they like. Sally's favorite Cookbook-The Chop Chop Cookbook. Sally's Online Cooking Club for Kids. Links: Sally's website: Sally's Free Online Cooking Club for Kids: To be part of the Podcast Posse, go to the podcast page on and there's a little button in the sidebar that says “Join the Podcast Posse”.
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109: Winter Squash 101
12/01/2021
109: Winter Squash 101
They come in a wild variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, and winter squash are everywhere this time of year. In addition to their vibrant beauty, winter squash are versatile and nutritious. The stars of today’s show are some of my favorite winter squash varieties--butternut, acorn, delicata, kabocha, Honeynut, spaghetti--and together with my two guests, we'll be sharing interesting ways to prepare winter squash that even your pickiest eaters will love. It's time for some winter squash wisdom! My first guest today is Katie Morford, a registered dietitian, food writer, and cookbook author. She has a blog called , and her recipes rock. Wait till you hear about Katie's recipe for . My second guest is the Executive Chef at , a family farm located down the road from my home in Lexington, Massachusetts. Chef Raymond Ost was on the show last spring to talk about asparagus, and he’s here again to share some of his favorite winter squash creations including a stuffed recipe. What you’ll hear in this episode: The nutritional value of winter squash: high in beta carotene, vitamin C, fiber, magnesium, and potassium. The seeds can be roasted for an additional nutrient-dense food. Spaghetti squash: less nutritious than others, but lower in calories. Katie’s recipe for , borrowed from the Foodie Physician. It has lasagna flavors but a foundation of spaghetti squash instead of noodles. How to use the microwave to soften winter squashes, and then roast or puree. Katie’s recipe for . Why delicata squash can be considered a “gateway” squash to get kids to try winter squash. Why most people are only familiar with a few of the winter squash varieties. Typical ways to prepare winter squash. for delicata stuffed with onion, panko, sage, and chestnuts. The shelf life of winter squash and storing them outside in cool weather. How honeynut squash can be used in recipes. Check out my new recipe for . Ideas for , baking, and roasting A good squash to use if you have picky kids: butternut or sugar pumpkin (Chef Ost’s favorite is to blanch pumpkin, puree it, and mix it with mashed potato) An idea for filling acorn squash “bowls” with butternut squash soup Chef Ost’s favorite with roasted squash and leeks. Resources: Katie's recipe for Delicata Squash Tacos with Quick Pickled Onions Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Katie Morford, RD Mom's Kitchen Handbook: Twitter: Instagram: Facebook: _________________________ Wilson Farm: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: Find a roundup of 17 winter squash recipes on my blog
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108: Health-ify the Holidays with Mona Dolgov
11/03/2021
108: Health-ify the Holidays with Mona Dolgov
On this week’s show, back by popular demand, is my guest from Show 88, Mona Dolgov. You’ll be inspired for the upcoming holidays with great ideas from Mona. Join us to learn more! Mona Dolgov is a nutritionist, cookbook author, and publisher with a lifelong passion for creating kitchen comfort and simple, healthy habits through her delicious recipes. Her new cookbook, Satisfy, is about to hit bookstores and your favorite online retailers, including Amazon, and she’s here today to help us “health-ify” the holidays. We have a lot in store for you! You’ll learn how to health-ify gravy, sweet potato casserole, appetizers, and a peanut butter sauce to die for. You’ll definitely want to try her ideas for this Thanksgiving. We also have desserts: mini-cheesecakes and personal pumpkin pies. You’ll learn how to make the best brussels sprouts ever in the air fryer. Show Highlights: Updates in Mona’s world: her new cookbook is out November 9, cooking classes are ongoing, and she’s working on a new cookbook for next summer; Mona loves her city apartment life in the Boston seaport area Mona’s philosophy to health-ify the holidays by lightening up dishes Mona’s Butternut Squash Soup, made with roasted butternut squash and sauteed apples and onions; the mixture is blended with broth and spices that can be customized with different flavor profiles How Mona and LIz will team up for cooking classes on Nov. 16th and 18th on appetizers and side dishes Their favorite appetizers include Liz’s Roasted Carrot Hummus, Mona’s Peanut Sauce (made with peanut butter, coconut aminos, sesame oil, ginger, rice vinegar, and honey), Asparagus Wrapped in Turkey Bacon, and Cauliflower Wings How Mona’s Peanut Sauce with fresh veggies leaves everyone wanting more Liz’s funny story about “double-dipping” Mona’s chapter in the cookbook called “Snack-ertaining,” which features her Buffalo Cauliflower Wings How the air fryer has become Mona’s best friend and a favorite time-saving tool for veggies and protein Check out the Phillips Premium XXL Airfryer giveaway in our Resources section, and use the 20% discount code “Mona20” to order yours! Liz’s favorite side dishes: Sweet Potato Casserole with orange juice, zest, cinnamon, and ginger; Brussels Sprout Gratin Why Mona makes a “Mona Salad” for many gatherings; it’s made with leafy dark greens, roasted squash and zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkin seeds, and pomegranate arils; her dressing is olive oil, balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, maple syrup, canned pumpkin, and her spice blend of oregano, basil, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper How Mona uses the air fryer for the best brussels sprouts ever: after cutting them in half, she sprays them with olive oil and sprinkles with salt and pepper; after 12 minutes, she adds minced garlic and cooks for three more minutes; she adds apples, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and a balsamic glaze at the end Why the key to lighter desserts is to make them in bite-sizes Mona’s crustless mini-cheesecakes: they are made with orange zest, sugar, and reduced-fat cream cheese and drizzled with melted dark chocolate and topped with an orange section Mona’s upside-down individual pumpkin pies: they are made with pumpkin, eggs, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and a pinch of salt; after being baked in ramekins, she tops them with a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds, pecans, brown sugar, and cinnamon Final words from Mona: “Don’t stress about the holidays. Have fun. Be mindful. Focus on the traditions and bring your family in to help.” Resources: Sign up for our Health-ify the Holidays virtual cook-along. We'll be making appetizers on November 16th at 6 pm ET and sensational side dishes on November 18th at 6 pm ET. The cost for both classes is $69.00 (cost for single classes is $39). You can sign up on . We hope to see you there. GIVEAWAY: We have the most epic giveaway EVER going on until Monday, November 22nd! One winner will receive a with Fat Removal Technology. (Retail value: $299.95). Our second winner will receive a copy of Mona's new cookbook, SATISFY: Delicious, Healthy, and Full-Filling Meals for 500 Calories or Less! To enter for a chance to win one of these two prizes, post a comment in the comments section below and tell us about your favorite holiday recipe and/or why you want to win the air fryer or Mona's cookbook. This is a U.S. giveaway only. Good luck! Find Mona online: (official release date is Nov. 9th, but you can pre-order now) Find Liz Weiss: Author, coloring book series Website: Listen to my Read my
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107: Hello Leftovers: Turn Tonight’s Dinner Into Tomorrow’s Feast with Cassy Joy Garcia
10/20/2021
107: Hello Leftovers: Turn Tonight’s Dinner Into Tomorrow’s Feast with Cassy Joy Garcia
Leftover meals get a glamorous makeover in today’s show. With super practical planning tips and creativity, my guest has the scoop on elevating your leftover game from boring to spectacular. Join us to learn more about a new way to meal-prep fantastic meals with her new cookbook, Cook Once Dinner Fix. Cassie Joy Garcia is a busy mom, meal planner, prepper extraordinaire, and healthy recipe guru. She joins me for new ways of turning tonight’s dinner into tomorrow’s feast. Whether you’re cooking chicken, beef, pork, seafood, or vegetarian fare, Cassie has you covered with creative dinner inspiration. For example, her Harvest Squash can be Monday’s dinner followed on Tuesday by Yellow Curry with Squash and Crispy Spiced Tofu. You can plan a dinner of Roasted Chicken and Potatoes with Fresh Arugula Salad on Friday, and turn these leftovers into Butter Chicken Bowls with White Rice for the next night. Cassie has pointers with every recipe in her cookbook to customize each one to your preferences and dietary needs. Show Highlights: Cassie’s life in San Antonio, where she started her healthy living blog and became a holistic nutritionist; she makes her home with two young daughters (and a third due in a few months), her husband, and two large dogs How Cassie’s Fed and Fit blog was birthed out of her personal journey of yoyo dieting and discovering the science of inflammatory foods How focusing on gut health gave Cassie a new lease on life Why Cassie’s goal was to heal her gut, reintroduce foods, and eat as many different foods as possible An overview of Cook Once Dinner Fix, which gives the benefits of a prep day without having to have a prep day! An example using chicken that’s cooked and shredded is Chicken Sloppy Joes with Ginger Carrot Slaw and White Chicken Enchilada Casserole with Tomato-Avocado Salad Cassie’s goal is to lessen the burden of getting an efficient meal on the table How repurposing the meal’s protein allows you to focus on side dishes to differentiate the meals How Cassie’s system allows her to “plate dinner with a more joyful heart” An example of a beef recipe is Garlic Peppercorn Beef Roast, which is slow-roasted in the oven with carrots and served with a horseradish cream sauce; it’s then used in Shredded Beef Ragout over Pappardelle Pasta with a rich tomato sauce How Cassie is building adventurous food kiddos in her young children by getting them involved in choosing meals and prepping Cassie’s favorite seafood recipe from the book: Dill Aioli Salmon Bake, which is a salmon fillet with a lemon dill aioli mixture served with roasted potatoes; leftover salmon is made into Salmon Cakes, which Cassie serves with pan-seared green beans Resources: Cookbook Giveaway: We’re giving away a copy of Cook Once Dinner Fix: Quick and Exciting Ways to Transform Tonight's Dinner into Tomorrow's Feast (Simon & Schuster) to one lucky U.S. winner. Leave a comment in the comments section below telling me about your biggest dinnertime challenge or dilemma and/or why you want to win this book. I’ll pick the winner at random on November 3rd at noon. (U.S. only giveaway, please.) Link to Cassie’s cookbook on : Fed and Fit website: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter:
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106: Kids, Cooking, and Sustainability with Jenny Chandler
10/06/2021
106: Kids, Cooking, and Sustainability with Jenny Chandler
Many parents fight a losing battle to get more fruits and vegetables into their kids’ diets, but there are simple ways to give kids more empowerment and control. Teaching them to enjoy cooking and eat more sustainably gives them more flexibility and a chance to explore. Join us as we dive into practical ways to get your kids involved in preparing and enjoying healthier meals. Jenny Chandler is a cooking instructor and cookbook author who lives in Bristol, England. Her latest cookbook, Green Kids Cook, encourages kids to cook and eat food that’s good for their bodies and good for the planet. The book is aimed at ages 7-14 but is suitable for people of all ages with its recipes, crafts, how-tos, tips for reducing food waste, and so much more. On today’s show, Jenny and I share some of her plant-forward recipes from the book, including Green Pea and Coconut Soup, Seeded Oat Bread, and we’ll wrap up with dessert. Of course, we’ll share tips for getting kids to cook, appreciate, love, and eat more fruits and vegetables. Jenny has been on the show before to talk about pulses like lentils, beans, and chickpeas and to talk about one of her other cookbooks, Great Food for Kids. Her goal is to help you, your children, and grandchildren get more plants on the plate. Show Highlights: Get to know Jenny’s life with her teenage daughter, a husband who makes wildlife films, and city life in Bristol that’s only a short walk to the countryside Why Jenny is passionate about writing and teaching people to eat more healthily and sustainably for regard for animal welfare What it means to eat sustainably Jenny’s mission: to teach, inspire, and engage kids in cooking skills, so they become more adventurous eaters, especially with fruits and vegetables How Jenny incorporated “theme nights” with her husband and daughter on Fridays during the COVID lockdown How Green Kids Cook teaches kids to have fun in the kitchen, explore more fruits and vegetables, and learn more about where foods come from How the book covers snacks and desserts but focuses on skills for cooking simple meals Jenny’s recipe for Green Pea and Coconut Soup, made with sauteed green onions, garlic, ginger, cilantro, frozen peas, and vegetable stock; after pureeing the mixture, add coconut milk and lime juice. (Good served cold or hot--and it’s ready in 15 minutes!) How to balance plant-forward meals for those who love meat Jenny’s tips for reducing food waste at home: Have a “use me now” shelf in the fridge. Incorporate recipes that can handle odd scraps of vegetables, like minestrone soup. Have a “clean sweep” every 3-4 days. Shop locally and more often, making it a family activity for everyone. Jenny’s recipe for Seeded Oat Bread, made with rolled oats, yogurt, baking soda, various seeds, and molasses A family favorite dessert recipe for Galette, made with fresh seasonal fruit and a simple pastry Resources: Cookbook Giveaway: We're giving away a copy of to one lucky U.S. winner. Leave a comment below telling me about the recipe your kids/grandkids love to make most and/or why you'd love to win a copy. I'll pick the winner at random on October 20th at noon. (U.S. giveaway, only.) Link to Jenny’s latest book: ) Jenny's website: Jenny on Instagram Jenny on Jenny on Twitter Liz's Links: Author, coloring book series Website: Listen to my Read my
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105: A Year of Fruits and Vegetables with Andrea Mathis, MA, RDN
09/15/2021
105: A Year of Fruits and Vegetables with Andrea Mathis, MA, RDN
September is , and if that wasn't enough, the UN General Assembly designated 2021 as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables. There’s no excuse not to elevate your fruit and veggie game! Who's with me? On today’s show, we’re talking about fresh new ways to add more fresh, frozen, canned, and dried fruits and veggies to your family’s table every season and all year long. My guest is Andrea Mathis, MS, RDN from , and together, we're turning our passion for produce into real-world recipes for you and your family. Andrea Mathis is an Alabama-based registered dietitian/nutritionist and the owner of two blogs: Beautiful Eats and Things and Little Eats and Things. She’s the mom of two little boys and the author of The Complete Book of Smoothies, which is filled with gorgeous and nutritious recipes that bring fruits and veggies to the center of the plate in easy and delicious ways. We are sharing delicious seasonal recipes and cooking techniques that will inspire you with great ideas. Most people don’t eat enough fruits and veggies, so we plan to change that with today’s show! Show Highlights: Andrea’s life in Birmingham, Alabama, with two little boys, two blogs, and a lifelong love of cooking Andrea’s cookbook, The Complete Book of Smoothies: 115 Healthy Recipes to Nourish, Heal, and Energize Andrea’s #1 tip to get picky eaters to try new fruits and veggies: pair the new food with something already familiar Why people need to know that all forms of fruits and veggies count, such as canned, dried, and frozen How Andrea uses “smoothie packs,” prepped fruits and veggies frozen in serving size freezer bags for smoothies Andrea and Liz share seasonal fruit and veggie faves: Winter Brussels sprouts, roasted or sliced thin in salads or casseroles Winter squash, baked as a bowl to be filled or roasted with cinnamon and brown sugar Spring Asparagus, roasted or blanched and sliced in salads or dredged in egg and flour to be air-fried as “fries” Radishes, roasted or sauteed with onion and garlic Summer Corn on the cob, eaten whole or added as kernels to other dishes or buttered and spiced with flavorful seasonings and wrapped in foil to be baked in the oven Peaches, sliced thin on BBQ chicken pizzas or grilled and spiced Fall Kale, in a salad or added to smoothies Pumpkin, canned pumpkin to be added in muffins, breads, pancakes, smoothies, chili, enchiladas, etc. or roasted and stuffed mini-pumpkins Resources: Andrea's cookbook Where to find Andrea: Beautiful Eats & Things: FB: IG: Twitter (BeautifulEandT): Pinterest (BEandThings): TikTok (@beautifuleatsandthings):
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104: Olive Oil: What Every Home Cook Should Know with David Garci-Aguirre
09/01/2021
104: Olive Oil: What Every Home Cook Should Know with David Garci-Aguirre
On today’s show, I'm joined by olive oil expert extraordinaire, David Garcia-Aguirre from Corto Olive Company with a primer on extra virgin olive oil, which he says is "the ingredient that farm-to-table forgot." Discover how olives are grown, harvested and pressed, how to choose the freshest EVOO at the market, how to cook with it, and get recipes galore ... and hear why David wants us all to think of EVOO as the "fresh-pressed juice of olives." David Garci-Aguirre is the Vice President of Operations and Master Miller at Corto Olive Company in Lodi, CA. With a focus on serving independent restaurants throughout the US, Corto uniquely harvests and produces fresh, premium-quality, award-winning Extra Virgin olive oils that enhance the flavor of foods. David is an olive oil guru who is dedicated to the advancement of high-quality olive oil production, research, and education. He’s educating us today about what to look for at the market to know you’re buying the freshest oil, how to store it at home to keep it fresh, and why heat, light, and air are the three biggest enemies of your bottle of olive oil. He teaches us about the latest innovations in packaging, how to use Extra Virgin olive oil to elevate everyday cooking, and why it’s a nutritious addition to your meals. David will bust some myths about olive oil and take us behind-the-scenes at Corto to highlight their gorgeous olive groves and their harvesting, milling, storing, and packing processes. Show Highlights: David’s life and work in Lodi, CA Why olive oil is the ingredient that “farm to table” forgot How olive oil is different from all other edible oils in that it’s fresh-pressed juice that retains the flavors and nutrients Why all olive oils are NOT created equal--and most olive oil in your supermarket is already rancid before you even get it home! How Corto focuses on a new technology called “vineyard-style” planting that allows mechanized fall harvests of the fruit when it’s perfectly ripe How most olive oil is produced with olives harvested by the old-style “tree-shaking” method that yields poor quality fruit not at the optimal ripeness How to tell if your olive oil is fresh by its smell and taste (Hint: it SHOULD have a taste!) David’s overview of the milling process: The fruit is crushed into a paste that’s mixed together and then separated with a centrifuge to obtain the oil at cold temperatures; the oil goes straight into stainless steel casks where oxygen can’t get to it. How the “Extra Virgin” olive oil designation is reserved for a natural, unrefined product (CA has the tightest legal standard for EVOO in the world!) Tips for buying olive oil: buy local, if possible, from a reputable company; make sure the oil is in dark glass, stainless steel, or a bag-in-box package, and always check the harvest date How flavor-lock (bag in box) packaging preserves the oil from light and air David busts the most popular myth regarding olive oil, which is that you should never saute or use high heat cooking with it Because of the many healthy compounds unique to olives, olive oil is the #1 food item studied for nutritional health in medical journals Easy salad dressing ideas using olive oil: David keeps it simple with salt, citrus, and an oil variety that pairs with his food Liz relies on the standard go-to of olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, dijon mustard, honey, shallot or garlic, and salt and pepper Unusual ways to use olive oil: drizzled on ice cream, as a dip for dark chocolate truffles, poured on popcorn, and homemade mayonnaise How uses olive oil in her rendition of Ina Garten’s recipe for gazpacho; it’s made with cucumber, bell pepper, tomato, red onion, red wine vinegar, garlic, fresh herbs, and fresh corn kernels How to introduce kids to the wonders of olive oil with creative thinking David’s final words: “Rethink how you think about olive oil. Think of it as a fresh-pressed juice.” Resources: Giveaway: We are giving away a 3-liter Truly 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil, California Grown, Flavor-Lock Box from Corto. I don't know about you, but I go through a lot of EVOO in my house, so I can attest that this oil rocks. I use it every day ... all day. To enter for a chance to win, post a comment telling me how you use olive oil in your everyday cooking or why you want to win this bag-in-a-box from Corto. (PS: US only giveaway.) (PSS: If you have an awesome recipe for olive oil lemon cake, please share it with me!) Website: IG: @Corto_Olive FB: @CortoOlive
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103: How to Raise a Healthy Eater
08/18/2021
103: How to Raise a Healthy Eater
On today’s show, we’ll be talking about how to raise a healthy eater, one nourishing bite and sip at a time. This episode is sponsored by Fresh Avocados – Love One Today®, a leading source of the healthiest reasons and tastiest ways to enjoy fresh avocados. A science-based resource, it provides recipes and articles to help make it easy for consumers and health professionals to learn more about the nutritional benefits of fresh avocados and ways to include them in everyday menus. As a mom of two grown boys, I’ve been in the family food and nutrition trenches for quite some time now, and so it’s no surprise that I’m often asked by listeners about the how-tos of raising a healthy eater especially when families are busy, kids are finicky, and unhealthy snack foods are a constant temptation. Well, on today’s show I’ll be giving you my top tips for raising healthy eaters including strategies on how to stock your kitchen as children progress from starting solids to school age and how to reduce the amount of added sugar in your family’s diet. I’m a firm believer that when families make the healthy choice the easy choice, they set a good example and help to build a foundation for life-long healthy eating. On the show, I also share a new, no-sugar-added recipe for Chewy Avocado, Apple, Banana and Oatmeal Cookie. This recipe is ideal for toddlers and kids, and it does double duty as a snack or dessert. But wait, there’s more. On the show, I’ll also tell you about this Avocado and Mango Smoothie. And yes, you guessed it: No added sugar. Show Highlights: Get my top 7 tips for raising your kids or your grandkids to be healthy eaters Set the tone for yourself and family from Day One Take a strategic/thoughtful approach to transitioning infants to solid foods Focus on fresh fruits and vegetables Rethink your drink Get Creative Eat and prepare meals together as a family And don’t deny dessert … but do pay attention to making them “better for you” and lower in added sugar CDC research shows that about a third of all US children are overweight… and that diseases with risk factors linked to poor nutrition like diabetes that were once unique to adults are now impacting our kids More research featured on LoveOneToday.com about the that suggests eating avocados may support breastfeeding by supporting the production of nutritious breastmilk. So even before the baby arrives, whether you are the mom, the dad or grandparent, you can help set the family up for success by stocking the pantry with healthy, fresh foods like avocados. Make mealtime easier with the following free resources: 9 out of 10 Americans don’t eat the recommended number of fruit and vegetables servings each day. If you could only make one change to your family’s diet, I’d steer you in the direction of eating more fresh fruits and veggies. Learn about my Fruit First strategy at breakfast. Serve fruit before things like cereal or waffles are presented. Kids will gobble it up, because they’ll be hungry. Plus, fruit is naturally sweet and kids love it Make my Whip up a fruit smoothie Smash avocado on whole grain toast Get strategies for reducing added sugar from your family’s diet NEW recipe for No sugar added Thirsty for a new smoothie recipe? Try this one from Love One Today for Tips for (so you can use them up later!) A family dinner recipe for The latest guidance from the USDA on nutrition: Resource:
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102: Michelle Dudash, RDN: Low-Carb Mediterranean
07/29/2021
102: Michelle Dudash, RDN: Low-Carb Mediterranean
The Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest diets on the planet. It’s rich in fruits and vegetables, olive oil, seafood, nuts, and beans, and it makes good nutrition a pleasure to eat. But what about bread and pasta? Are they AOK to eat as well? Join me on today’s show with guest, Michelle Dudash, RDN as we tackle questions about carbs, kids, and how to enjoy a Mediterranean-style diet with the carbs you love … but fewer of them. Michelle Dudash is an award-winning registered dietitian nutritionist, Cordon Bleu certified chef, a TV personality, and the founder of Dash Dinners Spice Kits. She’s the author of the top-selling Clean Eating for Busy Families, which was featured back in Episode 53. Michelle shares the benefits of a low-carb Mediterranean diet with recipes and tips from her newest cookbook, The Low-Carb Mediterranean Cookbook: Quick and Easy High-Protein, Low-Sugar, Healthy-Fat Recipes for Lifelong Health. We are discussing a few recipes from the book, including Simmered Tahini Chicken and an unbelievably decadent dessert recipe that is low in carbs. Show Highlights: Michelle’s life in Indiana as the mom of two daughters and a regular on local and national TV ; she spends her time in recipe development, cookbook writing, and designing her spice kit dinners How Michelle’s Lebanese heritage gave her a love for a varied diet of Mediterranean foods that explores different cultures and new foods Why kibbeh was a childhood favorite for Michelle; it’s a traditional dish made with ground meat, seasonings, and bulgur wheat How carbs fuel our bodies with energy Why kids need carbs and parents want options Michelle’s new book: a mix of recipes of different types with readily available ingredients Michelle’s favorite recipe in the book: Grilled Chicken Gyro Lettuce Wraps, which are made with chicken thighs marinated in lemon juice, olive oil, cumin, garlic, thyme, oregano, and salt and pepper--then served with a tahini sauce or cucumber yogurt sauce From the book: Simmered Tahini Chicken-- made with chicken tenders sauteed in olive oil and combined with onion, garlic, chicken broth, tahini, lemon juice, and soy sauce; to serve, top them with Greek yogurt and freshly chopped herbs Michelle’s daughters’ favorites from the new book are Fruit Tarts and Mini Molten Chocolate Cakes Michelle’s Berry Tart with Almond Flour Crust is made with butter, honey, cinnamon, salt, dark chocolate, mascarpone cheese, and topped with fresh berries Healthy salads in the book include a Lebanese classic made with iceberg or Bibb lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and a dressing made with lemon juice, mint, olive oil, and salt; the other salad is made with kale, blueberries, feta cheese, walnuts, and a basic vinaigrette Michelle’s experience in Croatia with a delicious adult beverage made from sparkling rosé with fresh herbs, elderflower liqueur, orange zest, and grapefruit-flavored sparkling water Michelle’s advice for one change you can make for better health: “Plan a family meal and sit down to enjoy it together.” Resources: We're giving away a copy of The Low-Carb Mediterranean Cookbook: Quick and Easy High-Protein, Low-Sugar, Healthy-Fat Recipes for Lifelong Health. Leave a comment below telling me about your favorite Mediterranean recipe, a Mediterranean recipe you'd love to have lightened up, and/or why you'd love to win a copy. I'll pick one lucky winner at noon on August 11th. Michelle on Instagram: Michelle on Facebook: Michelle's website:
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101: African American Cooking with Sadé Meeks, MS, RD
07/14/2021
101: African American Cooking with Sadé Meeks, MS, RD
On today’s show, I'm joined by Sadé Meeks, MS, RD to discuss the evolution of African American cuisine in the U.S.; the foods that define this creative cuisine; the vegetables and staple crops that have been an integral part of the African American table (hint: okra, sweet potatoes, kale, and corn.); how nutrition professionals can honor the traditional foodways of African Americans while emphasizing nutrition; and how African American cuisine continues to evolve. My guest is Sadé Meeks, MS, RD, a food activist and registered dietitian who was born and raised in Mississippi. She is the founder of (Growing Resilience in the South) with the mission to improve the health and well-being of communities through increased awareness of nutrition, food history, and culture. On the show, Sadé shares the history of African American cooking, traditional foods of the enslaved and how many of those foodways continue today, and she explains how to make small changes to traditional recipes to honor ingredients and flavors while reducing saturated fat and sodium. Together, we also talk about a few recipes you'll definitely want to try including Smoky Collards and Shrimp and Grits. Show Highlights: Get to know Sadé, her big Mississippi family, and why she pursued degrees in dietetics and food science How GRITS helps bridge the gap between nutrition and culture The need for cultural competence in nutrition and food science Highlights of African-American cuisine as the slaves brought their food habits to America How slaves’ diets differed according to the regions they inhabited How true African-American cuisine relies on plant-based meals, one-pot meals, and the pairing of a starch, sauce, and protein, like Shrimp and Grits How the history of fried foods and pork developed in the African-American community as a matter of necessity The story of soul food as an affirmation of the resourcefulness of African-Americans and their meager rations How Sadé learned about cooking as she grew up The importance of small changes in eating a healthier diet, especially in seasonings and cooking methods Sadé’s Smoky Collards, made with onion, garlic, vegetable stock, smoked paprika, seasoned salt, cayenne pepper, and a touch of brown sugar Shrimp and Grits: how the grits are cooked in chicken stock and milk with added salt, pepper, butter, and cheddar cheese; the shrimp is seasoned with Cajun seasoning and paprika, and baby spinach is added at the end How Sadé combines her favorite cheesecake with Red Velvet Cake for a delectable dessert Resources: Grow with the Flow podcast Find Sadé on Instagram: @SadeMeeks
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100: Healthy Aging from Your Head to Your Toes with Liz Weiss, MS, RDN and Love One Today
06/30/2021
100: Healthy Aging from Your Head to Your Toes with Liz Weiss, MS, RDN and Love One Today
For today’s 100th episode of Liz’s Healthy Table, I chose a topic that’s near and dear to my heart: Healthy Aging: From Your Head to Your Toes. The Fountain of Youth does not exist, but as you’ll learn on this week’s show, by placing certain foods at the center of our tables and living an active and vibrant life, we can help to set ourselves up for aging gracefully with a spring in our step and a twinkle in our eye. Today’s episode is sponsored by ®, a leading source of the healthiest reasons and tastiest ways to enjoy fresh avocados. A science-based resource, it provides recipes and articles to help make it easy for consumers and health professionals to learn more about the nutritional benefits of fresh avocados and ways to include them in everyday menus. Show Highlights: A discussion on nutrient density (a food that provides substantial amounts of vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and other nutrients with relatively few calories.) Avocados are nutrient dense. One serving (1/3 of a medium avocado) has 80 calories and contributes nearly 20 vitamins and minerals. Avocados contain 6 grams naturally good unsaturated fats per serving, and that fat acts as a nutrient booster in the body helping to increase the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients like vitamins A, D, K, and E. An explanation of cognitive health and how diet and physical activity can play a role. Why the antioxidant, lutein, may play a role in cognition and , plus food sources (kale, spinach, eggs, avocados). A 2019 of 40 healthy, older adults that looked at how consuming one avocado a day for 6 months impacted cognition. How following certain , including the MIND Diet, can influence health. Two recipes shared: Avocado and Tuna Niçoise Salad (hyperlink to be added when available) and . The best way to pick, ripen, and store fresh avocados. How I’ve been adding more physical activity into my daily life… and why!
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99: The Blue Zones with Nick Buettner
06/16/2021
99: The Blue Zones with Nick Buettner
In today’s show, we’re exploring the blue zones, rare longevity hotspots worldwide where people are thriving into their 100s. Where are these hot spots, and who are these people who have discovered the secrets to living longer, better lives? Nick Buettner is an explorer, National Geographic Fellow, award-winning journalist and producer, and NYT bestselling author. He has spent the past 20 years leading expeditions across six continents around the world, with three of these trips being to the world’s “blue zones.” These are places with longer-than-normal life expectancy and where more people reach age 100 than anywhere else in the world. Nick worked with his brother, Dan, National Geographic, and a team of longevity researchers to identify and explore these pockets of the world where people are living longer lives. In his current role as the VP of Product for The Blue Zones Project, Nick is responsible for taking the Blue Zone longevity lessons to communities across the US. The Project supports well-being initiatives that apply lessons from the Blue Zones to entire communities by focusing on changes to the local environment, public policy, and social networks. The Blue Zone Project uses evidence-informed, sustainable transformations with people, places, and policies to make the healthy choice the easy choice. To date, the Blue Zone Project has empowered over 5 million people to live longer, better lives. Show Highlights: Get to know world-traveler Nick, who is from Minnesota but has traveled to 45 countries and 48 states in the US The Blue Zones: What are they? How Nick and his brother, Dan, became interested in finding and identifying these places where mortality rates and disease rates are down, and longevity rates are higher The five demographically confirmed Blue Zones: Okinawa, Japan; Icaria, Greece; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California Common denominators in the Blue Zones that boost longevity and help people age healthfully: Daily movement and activity in natural ways Simple stress-reducing techniques, like prayer, naps, ancestor veneration, and gathering with friends and family A strong sense of purpose throughout all of life Wine, in moderation, as part of celebrations and family gatherings Mostly plant-based diets with smaller portion sizes Lower caloric intake A focus on family and love throughout life A strong sense of faith Healthy friends who support healthy behaviors How Nick is bringing Blue Zone living to US communities with policy change, purpose, accessible and affordable healthy food systems, policies to reduce tobacco use, lower obesity rates, engagement among citizens to eliminate isolation, and healthier places to live, work, pray, and play How Nick collects data, does research, formulates policies and outcomes, and rallies people in forming committees to achieve common goals How we can eat a more Blue Zone-like diet by reducing meat portions, adding more vegetables, and using beans consistently for protein Nick’s favorite recipe in The Blue Zones Kitchen: Sardinia Minestrone--and the amazing family story behind this recipe Why people in the Blue Zones have a different perspective on eating carbohydrates How Nick has learned the importance of gardening from his time in the Blue Zones How exercise and movement, social engagement, and healthy foods have contributed to lower rates of dementia in the Blue Zones, along with a special tea made with dandelion, oregano, and thyme Five things we can do to live a “Blue Zone life”: Set up your environment to make the healthy choice easier Be a dependable, supportive, and attentive friend Have intentionality around your sleep habits De-convenience your life so that you take extra steps throughout the day Volunteer to use your skills and passions to give back to your community How kids in Blue Zones eat with their families and eat the same foods as the adults--and are healthier than kids in the US Nick’s advice for eating like you live in a Blue Zone: “Eat food that’s good for you, tastes good, is easy to prepare, and is affordable.” Resources:
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98: Ekua Walker, NP: Raising Resilient Kids and Nurturing Families During the Pandemic and Beyond
06/03/2021
98: Ekua Walker, NP: Raising Resilient Kids and Nurturing Families During the Pandemic and Beyond
On this week’s show, we’re talking about raising resilient kids and nurturing families during the pandemic and beyond. We can accomplish this with help from good nutrition, healthy eating habits, regular mealtime routines, and help from today’s guest. Ekua Walker is a pediatric child development nurse and CEO (chief encouragement officer) who lives and practices in the San Francisco Bay area. Ekua works with families of young children and teens with a range of challenges, including ADHD, communication delays, and disabilities that impact learning. She is board-certified in primary care pediatrics; she also hosts the phenomenal podcast, Moms Changing the World, where moms of all kinds from all over the world find encouragement, tools, and inspiration to raise world-changers, one child at a time, one day at a time. In today’s show, we’ll discuss the importance of established routines, helping kids stay focused, and re-establishing social skills, along with how good nutrition and routines can help with anxiety. Let’s learn more about how we can change the world with good nutrition and strong families. Show Highlights: Ekua’s life in the Bay area, where she works in a large specialty pediatrics practice, partnering with parents for the treatment and management of many problems for kids; she’s the mom to two girls, ages 7 and 10, hosts her podcast, and loves Zumba What’s come out of the disruption of routines due to the pandemic The mental health impact of the pandemic for children and young people How we can use coping strategies like mindfulness and awareness and making space for the feelings How parents can be the calming influence when a kid’s stress level is escalating Why children need their parents to “just be there” above all else, even in the middle of stressful situations Why downtime and rest are necessities for kids and adults One habit that helps promote attention and focus is single-tasking instead of multitasking What family meals look like at Ekua’s house Ekua’s family background as immigrants from Ghana; her culture has carried over into her cooking The importance of sleep for focus; manage light and screens and use natural sources of melatonin How cooking together with kids can be a powerful teaching tool and help develop their social skills Anxiety: what it is, how it’s common to people of all ages, and foods that can help Ekua’s podcast, in which she talks to moms who are changing the world in interesting ways Resources: Moms Changing the World - Podcast Moms Changing the World (private group on Facebook -- anyone can join)
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97: Eat Like a Flexitarian...With a Side of Joy with DJ Blatner, RDN
05/19/2021
97: Eat Like a Flexitarian...With a Side of Joy with DJ Blatner, RDN
On this week’s show, we are adding flexibility and joy to the meals you feed yourself and your family. Join us to learn how to balance your plate with foods that still allow fun and freedom instead of leaving you burdened and oppressed by dietary restrictions. Dawn Jackson (DJ) Blatner is a fellow registered dietitian and author of and DJ is a certified specialist in sports dietetics and on the advisory board of Shape magazine. She’s also a celebrity diet consultant for People magazine and a trusted expert who appears regularly on local and national media outlets such as Good Morning America. DJ starred in and won the primetime, weight-loss reality ABC TV show, My Diet is Better Than Yours. She owns a nutrition consulting and communications business with a focus on real food, more fun, and no BS. DJ is a proud Chicagoan who admits to a healthy obsession with jumping rope. In today’s show, you’ll learn why a flexitarian diet is the eating style you may want to adopt, and we’ll share a bunch of recipes to curb your cravings for sugar and bring super nutrition to your table. Join us! Show Highlights: Getting to know DJ, who has been married for 17 years and is stepmom to Christian; she loves her hometown of Chicago How the pandemic spurred DJ to jump rope, which she loves DJ’s Nutrition WOW (Words of Wisdom) that come through an email every Monday How brand work gets DJ’s creative juices flowing Why DJ believes that fun and joy are critical elements of success in life How to balance your plate with your “wild child” and your “health nut” in mind every time you eat “Flexitarian”--a plant-based, vegetarian-ish eating style that doesn’t cut anything out, where meat becomes a condiment-sized part of the meal that can be swapped out for a plant protein One of DJ’s favorite recipes: Nutty Brown Rice, which is made with chopped nuts, green onion, and an egg DJ’s Chickpea Flatbread with Tahini Sauce, which is made with chickpea flour, water, and olive oil; cook it like a pancake How tahini (made with ground sesame seeds) pairs great with yogurt and lemon to make great sauces DJ’s BBQ Chicken Bowl, which is made with canned beans cooked in a skillet with BBQ sauce (but it can be made without the chicken!) How to use beans and themes in swapping out meat for plant protein by adding taco seasoning, pesto, or lemon juice and herbs DJ’s tips for adding fun to meals and reducing stress in meal planning How to break up with sugar but “own it like a boss” when you decide to enjoy a treat; DJ says it’s all about the situation and the energy with which we eat it DJ’s tips for dealing with picky eaters: Use the calendar to allow each person to pick the family meal and respectfully try to enjoy everyone’s choices. Also, have a snack list on the refrigerator of what’s in stock What’s next for DJ? Final words from DJ: “Wake up and show up. Do the work in front of you with joyful enthusiasm, and stay open to all possibilities.” Resources: Website: IG: Liz Weiss Author, coloring book series Website: Listen to my Read my
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96: COVID-19, Food Safety, and Your Questions Answered with Ben Chapman, PhD
05/05/2021
96: COVID-19, Food Safety, and Your Questions Answered with Ben Chapman, PhD
We’ve been living with the pandemic for over a year. How in the world have we survived? There has been much confusion about doing simple things like going to the grocery store and eating out. My guest, Dr. Ben Chapman, is here with the latest on food safety and COVID. He’s answering our most pressing questions about the virus and teaching us the basics that we need to know. I hope today’s show will help you feel more comfortable and better prepared for that next grocery shopping trip or an excursion to get takeout food. Dr. Ben Chapman is a professor and Food Safety Extension Specialist at NC State University. He studies pathogens and public health with the goal of less foodborne illness. He has a BS in Molecular Biology and Genetics and a Master’s and Ph.D. in Plant Agriculture. Ben’s team at NC State is involved in a cool project called FoodCoVNET, which provides evidence-based information designed to alleviate all of our fears about the food supply and community spread of the virus. Show Highlights: Get to know Ben, his work, and his family: Originally from Toronto, Ben has been at NC State University for 13 years; he lives in Raleigh, NC, with his two kids and his wife, who works in home design Ben’s research and work on how people prepare food in the interest of food safety Ben’s podcasts, Food Safety Talk and Risky or Not The website, FoodCoVNET, which is a one-stop-shop for information and answers to our questions about food and COVID The basics of mucous, spit, virus transmission, and the dangers of inhaling “shared air” How noroviruses and salmonella differ from COVID in the ways they are transmitted and contracted Why respiratory viruses like the common cold, influenza, and others don’t usually cause infection through food consumption If you can catch the common cold by touching a germy shopping cart, why can’t you catch COVID by touching something? Are we over-sanitizing? If a waitress or kitchen staff coughs on your plate and food and then hands it to you, can you get sick? Do we need to wipe down our groceries before we bring them into our home? Does COVID-19 behave like salmonella and other food pathogens? Is our continual sanitizing just “hygiene theater,” or will the sanitizing of public spaces continue? How much of a risk is it to have food made by others at a group gathering? Are the new mutations able to spread more easily by contact instead of air? Will the new variants make it safe to get takeout? Is there any difference between eating outdoors and indoors when dining out? Once we’re all vaccinated, will it be safer to eat indoors again? Should we call restaurants and ask what their practices are to prevent the spread of COVID? What is happening in the meat industry that we can feel good about how and where our food is produced? Final words on food safety and COVID: “The biggest risk in this pandemic is being around other people and shared air. These are the things that we know lead to illnesses and problems around the world. The normal everyday food safety guidelines like cleaning and sanitizing after food handling and keeping our hands clean and sanitized will go a long way in reducing our risk even further.” Resources: Ben's Podcasts: facebook: Ben on Social Media: Twitter @benjaminchapman @foodcovnet @safeplatesFSIC Instagram @barfblogben @foodcovnet @safeplatesfsic Blog:
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95: Cuban Cooking: YUM! with Lourdes Castro, MS, RDN
04/21/2021
95: Cuban Cooking: YUM! with Lourdes Castro, MS, RDN
COVID may be restricting our travel, but you can join me today on a food adventure to Cuba, a beautiful and exciting place that I’ve always wanted to visit. We are talking about all things Cuban cooking, so join us to learn more! Lourdes Castro is a fellow dietitian and cookbook author, and the co-author of a brand new cookbook, Cuba Cooks. She shares insights to traditional Cuban cuisine and what you might find if you travel across this island in the Caribbean. We’ll discuss delicious recipes that you will want to try, like Cuban Rice and Beans, Citrus Marinated Chicken, Seared Romaine Hearts, and Quick Pickled Onions. Show Highlights: Get to know Lourdes and learn about her life growing up in Miami and her work in Brooklyn as the Director of the NYU Food Lab, where she teaches food science and nutrition How COVID has given Lourdes a richer toolbox with which to teach students via Zoom How Cuban family meals revolve around beans, rice, tropical fruits, and fish, but are very “benign” in many ways and not as varied as we might assume How traditional Cuban foods are full of sweet, sour, and tangy flavors from a combination of Spanish, African, and Chinese influences How Cuban food is MUCH more than rice and beans and Cuban sandwiches How Cuban pizza became popular in the 1970s How Lourdes’ parents reacted to her visit to their Cuban homeland with her mother Lourdes’ recipe for Cuban Rice and Beans starts with garlic, olive oil, onion, and green peppers. Cumin, oregano, and rice are added and sauteed. Canned black beans with their liquid are added with water, and the dish cooks for 45 minutes. For full flavor and color, let the dish sit for about an hour before serving. (Use medium or long-grain rice, and other beans can be substituted.) Lourdes’ recipe for Citrus Marinated Chicken starts with a Mojo-like blend of olive oil, garlic, orange juice, lime juice, oregano, cumin, and salt and pepper. Puree in a blender and marinate for 30 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator. Cook the chicken quickly in a skillet for a beautiful caramelization. With Citrus Marinated Chicken, Lourdes serves Seared Romaine Hearts sprinkled with seared lime juice and Pickled Onion, which is simply thinly sliced red onion marinated in red wine vinegar. Resources: Giveaway: Cuba Cooks by Lourdes Castro and Guillermo Pernot Post a comment below and tell me about your favorite Cuban recipe or the best Cuban restaurant you've been to, or tell me why you'd like to win a copy of this cookbook. Website: Instagram: Culinary Nutrition Collaborative (how Liz and Lourdes met):
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94: Living a Vibrant Life with Amanda Haas
04/07/2021
94: Living a Vibrant Life with Amanda Haas
What is the secret to eating well, feeling great, and staying vibrant through midlife and beyond? Don’t we all want to know? Join us for kitchen inspiration to boost your wellness! Amanda Haas is a bestselling cookbook author, instructor, and mom to two teenage sons. She’s the voice behind the website and blog, Amanda Haas Cooks. She’s a past test kitchen manager at Williams-Sonoma and the author of several cookbooks, including her latest, Amanda’s motto is: “I make food that tastes so good, you don’t even realize it’s good for you.” She’s a foodie after my own heart! You’ll hear all kinds of inspiration for delicious meals and a healthy life, including Amanda’s recipe for Fall Quinoa Salad and Coconut Ginger Sea Bass in Parchment. Join us! Show Highlights: Amanda’s life in northern CA with two teenage boys, who are BIG eaters What family dinner looks like in Amanda’s house Amanda’s career journey from cooking school, writing cookbooks and being the culinary director at Williams-Sonoma Amanda’s go-to chimichurri sauce made with cilantro, parsley, basil, mint, olive oil, garlic, shallots, lime/lemon juice, and dijon mustard Why Amanda’s book includes self-care practices for midlife and beyond, along with many other helpful topics to raise awareness about feeling great Why Amanda went gluten-free because of chronic health issues and increasing pain Amanda’s advice: “Educate yourself and realize that there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.” Amanda’s Fall Quinoa Salad made with a lemon vinaigrette, arugula, roasted butternut squash, toasted pepitas, golden raisins, and tarragon How tarragon is underused and underappreciated Why herbs are a great way to get kids used to “eating green” Amanda’s Coconut Ginger Sea Bass in Parchment made with sesame oil, tamari, coconut milk, lime, ginger, garlic, honey, mushrooms, bok choy, green onion, and sesame seeds (You can substitute salmon, halibut, or other firm fish.) Amanda’s favorite dessert recipe for Panna Cotta with coconut milk, matcha, berries, and sesame seeds What’s next for Amanda? Giveaway: We are giving away one copy of The Vibrant Life to a lucky U.S. winner. For a chance to enter to win, post a comment in the Comments section at the end of this post, and tell me about why you want to win the book or the recipe you turn to time and time again that makes you feel good and gives you a sense of vitality. I'll pick the winner on April 21st. For extra entries, head to my . Find Amanda: Visit her website:
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93: Easy Cooking for Two with Jenna Braddock, MSH, RDN, CSSD
03/24/2021
93: Easy Cooking for Two with Jenna Braddock, MSH, RDN, CSSD
If you’re like me, a recent empty-nester, or perhaps newly married or cooking for just yourself and a partner, you may be frustrated with the task of cooking for two. If you’ve been accustomed to cooking for several people, you might be horrified at the food waste when it’s just the two of you. Today’s guest has all the bases covered with helpful tips and kitchen inspiration for cooking for two. Jenna Braddock is a registered dietitian and certified Sports Dietetics specialist who lives in Florida with her husband and two kids. She hosts the blog, Make Healthy Easy, and her new cookbook is In today’s show, you’ll hear Jenna’s advice for stocking a pantry for cooking for two and not a crowd. Do you wonder how to keep herbs fresh when you buy a big bunch but only need a handful? Jenna has the answer! We will discuss the benefits of cooking for two regarding less food waste and delicious recipes from Jenna’s book, like Adobo Turkey Tacos, Warm Quinoa Salad, and Mango Salsa Pork Chops. Show Highlights: Get to know Jenna and her life in St. Augustine with her football coach husband and two young sons; it’s a football-filled life! Tips for group gatherings for teenagers (think about salads and fresh fruit) What dinner looks like at Jenna’s house Why Jenna started her blog, Make Healthy Easy, which is food-focused with do-able and delicious recipes How Jenna’s cookbook provides the perfect solution for those who don’t want to cook large meals How cooking for two helps eliminate food waste The benefits of cooking for two include experimenting with different ingredients and recipes and avoiding the “condiment graveyard” in your refrigerator and pantry How Jenna’s cookbook is structured with vegetarian/vegan recipes, lighter fare, seafood, poultry, pork, and beef Tips on how to make fresh herbs last longer so they don’t end up in the trash One of Jenna’s kids’ favorite recipes: Taco Bowl with refried beans, beef, cheese, tortillas, and toppings How we can rethink grocery shopping to accommodate cooking for two Jenna’s Adobo Turkey Nachos, which are made with diced onions, broccoli slaw, ground turkey, and adobo seasoning How using key spice blends keep you from needing a ton of in Jenna’s recipe for Warm Quinoa Salad, which is made with quinoa, wilted and chopped spinach, frozen edamame, red wine vinegar, and dried cherries How Jenna’s Sheet Pan Shrimp Bowls use frozen rice as an ingredient Why freezer section fruits, veggies, and grains are perfect for easy and nutritious recipes for two Jenna’s recipe for Mango Salsa Pork Chops uses boneless pork loin chops and a salsa made with chopped mango, jalapeno, red onion, and lime juice Jenna’s husband’s favorite recipe is Chile Lime Pork Chops, which are seasoned with chipotle chile powder, lime juice, and salt Jenna’s favorite family go-to recipe is Apricot Chicken with Spinach Rice; she uses two boneless, skinless thighs from a frozen bag of chicken thighs and makes a pan sauce of apricot preserves and balsamic vinegar Resources: Giveaway: We are giving away a copy of to one lucky U.S. winner. For a chance to enter to win, post a comment in the Comments section at the end of this post and tell me about why you want to win the book or your favorite recipe for two. I'll pick the winner on April 7th. Find Jenna on the web: Instagram: Facebook: on Amazon
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92: California Vegan with Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN
03/10/2021
92: California Vegan with Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN
Today we are taking a journey to the sunny state of California. My friend and fellow dietitian, Sharon Palmer, aka The Plant-Powered Dietitian, will share news about her brand new cookbook, California Vegan. Sharon Palmer is one of the country’s top experts on plant-based nutrition and sustainability. California’s plant-based vibe stems from the colorful and incredible variety of produce available year-round, the infusion of global culinary influences from around the world, a Mediterranean climate, and a fresh and innovative attitude about food. You’ll hear about plant-forward and vegan eating, Sharon’s favorite vegan recipes from her book, including the Mediterranean Tofu in Parchment recipe that I made for dinner last night. We’ll give helpful vegan cooking techniques, and Sharon has the answers for your vegan cooking dilemmas. We’ll discuss how you can embrace a vegan diet whether you live in California, Boston, or anywhere in-between. You’ll also find out what Sharon is growing in her diverse and ever-changing fruit and vegetable garden. Show Highlights: The backstory of Sharon’s life in California as a wife and mother of two who (amazingly) blogs every day How Sharon defines plant-based eating How Sharon describes Ojai, CA, as a paradise known for small farms, citrus fruit, and avocados What’s growing in Sharon’s garden and orchard right now What to expect in Sharon’s new book, California Vegan How plant-based eating originated in the US in California, thanks to the hippie and health nut influences Sharon’s family history of growing up in a vegetarian household Reasons why a plant-based diet is a healthier way to eat to lower the risk of many diseases and disorders, besides lowering the environmental footprint Sharon’s favorite recipe from her book: Pomegranate Faro Bowl, made with pomegranate seeds, faro, mandarin oranges, cucumbers, and an herbed almond yogurt dressing Sharon’s trick for getting seeds out of the pomegranate Sharon’s recipe for Tofu in Parchment, made with cherry tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and capers How to adapt plant-based recipes for just one or two people by using versatile ingredients How to incorporate more protein into healthy vegan meals Why soy milk is Sharon’s choice for superior nutrition in a plant-based milk How to get your family on board with eating less meat Vegan cooking techniques regarding egg replacements and aquafaba (also an egg replacement) Sharon’s favorite veggie burger recipes in the cookbook: Sweet Potato Sorghum Burgers and Chipotle Black Bean Burgers Sharon’s best vegan meals in California and around the world Why plant-based eating can fit into everyone’s budget Why beans are the least expensive protein source and the most versatile ingredient of plant-based meals Resources: GIVEAWAY NEWS: We are giving away a copy of California Vegan to one lucky U.S. winner. Post a comment in the comments section below, and tell us about your favorite vegan recipes. I'll pick the lucky winner on March 24th. California Vegan: Learn more on Twitter: Instagram: Facebook:
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91: The Food and Nutrition Q&A Show with Liz Weiss, MS, RDN
02/17/2021
91: The Food and Nutrition Q&A Show with Liz Weiss, MS, RDN
A fews weeks ago, I sent a survey to my readers and listeners asking all sorts of questions including: What's your biggest food or nutrition challenge, question, or concern? The comments came flooding in, and on today's podcast, I answer and address them. With help from my Boston University intern, Jordan Ball, this episode covers everything from meal planning and confusion over carbs to tips for getting quick and healthy meals on the table and strategies for cutting added sugar from the diet. . This show is action packed! I’m joined by my trusty sidekick, Jordan Ball, a Boston University nutrition grad student who is my intern. Jordan recently helped me create a reader survey where people shared their biggest food challenges and questions. Jordan has organized the questions, so she will ask them, and I’ll answer, but we will be sure to get her opinion, too. We will address everything from meal-planning tips to questions about carbs, along with ways to get your teens excited about eating vegetables and healthy family dinner ideas when you’re pressed for time. Show Highlights: Get to know Jordan better: she’s in the second year of a three-year program and wants to combine clinical work with a private practice as a dietitian; she currently tries out her cooking skills on her fiance How do I manage to include fruits and vegetables in a busy life? Buy pre-sliced produce, use canned or frozen incorporated into everyday meals, and consider batch prepping fresh vegetables to use in quick dishes. Is it advised to hide vegetables in recipes rather than be honest with a picky eater? Rather than hide them, incorporate vegetables into pancakes, smoothies, sauces, etc., and get the kids involved in meal planning and cooking. If you have a picky eater who only eats fruit, is that cause for concern? Aim for a variety of fruits, and try “food chaining” techniques. Is it bad to sneak veggies into family meals--when they just want pizza? Get the family involved in shopping for vegetables and preparing meals; try dips with familiar foods and vegetables, and try smoothies and pizza with veggies. What is the healthiest way to prepare vegetables? Are they better for you raw? Any way is fine because each vegetable counts; remember that fats help with the absorption of nutrients from vegetables. What are new, healthy, fast, tasty weeknight dinner ideas, along with interesting and quick lunch ideas? Utilize leftovers for easy lunches the next day; try “build-your-own” power bowls with assorted items. How can I prep my weekly meals on the weekend when I have more time? Use meal planning and prepping for a couple hours on Sunday; slice and dice produce and pre-package them in the refrigerator for later in the week. Do you have suggestions for nutritious after-school snacks or post-workout small dinners? Smoothies (use almond or dairy milk, nut butter, banana, protein powder or Greek yogurt, blueberries, and cocoa powder), quesadillas (cheese, black beans, leftover veggies, and salsa), peanut butter sandwich with sliced banana or apple, or sliced veggies with various Greek yogurt or hummus dips. What are some quick, nutritional meal ideas? Pasta with meatballs and sauce, pre-made salad, roasted broccoli, tuna/salmon cakes, and veggie burgers. Are meal delivery services worth the money? They are pricey and contain a lot of wasteful packaging, but they are an easy option to get kids involved in planning meals and cooking. How does batch cooking work? It’s easy to do with friends (in non-COVID times) and allows you to put meals in the freezer for later days; most recipes are easy to double and freeze for later. What can I throw together when I’m tired and haven’t planned ahead? One idea is frozen butternut squash cubes cooked in a saucepan, then blended with shredded cheese to make a sauce for baked potatoes, nachos, pasta, and roasted broccoli. How do I plan meals with variety that everyone will eat? Try “build-your-own” nights with tacos, chili, and pizza with assorted toppings. What are tips for cooking for someone with a sensitive stomach? Try the Low FODMAP diet foods. (See Resources) How do I get off sugar? Cut down on sugar amounts in recipes; use raisins, dates, and apricots in recipes; and always read the labels for added sugar. How do I get my family to eat less meat? Use leaner cuts of meat, but make vegetables and whole grains the stars of the meal; don’t be afraid to try meat substitutes. How do I cut carbs and use less sugar? Watch out for refined carbs; you can also pair grains with dried fruits, nuts, roasted vegetables, and fresh herbs, and mix riced cauliflower or broccoli with regular rice. What can I do if I want to try new and interesting vegetables that aren’t nightshades? Try bok choy, roasted brussels sprouts or cauliflower, asparagus and snap peas, green beans, and sliced cucumbers and carrots with dips. What are some healthy fats that make good snacks? Try pumpkin, chia, and hemp seeds; other options are olives, tahini, salmon, eggs, and nut butters. How much meat is OK to eat, and which varieties are best? Go for variety, and remember that the recommendation is 5.5-6.0 ounces per day for the average adult. What is the difference between probiotics and prebiotics? Probiotics are the good bacteria in your gut that have a healthy benefit; prebiotics are foods that feed probiotics; fiber is the best prebiotic, so go for fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. What are some healthy smoothie recipes? Liz’s favorite green smoothie recipe: ¾ to 1 c. 100% orange juice, ½ c. plain or vanilla Greek yogurt, 1 c. baby spinach, 3-4 mint leaves, a 2-in. Piece of English cucumber, ½ c. frozen mango or pineapple, and ½ banana. You can drizzle honey or agave if you want, and kiwi and fresh ginger are optional add-ins. What are some unique ways to incorporate fiber into each meal? Try adding avocado, raspberries, beans, nuts, seeds, whole grain cereals, apples, and pears. Why are people so into organics and non-GMO foods? Are they worth it? If it’s a food you eat a lot of, then you might want to pay more for the organic variety; remember that non-GMO and GMO foods have the same nutritional value. What is the very best hard-boiled egg method? Liz’s version: Bring one inch of water to boil in a saucepan and place your eggs in a steamer basket into the water. Lower the heat and simmer for 14-15 minutes. Remove from heat and run cold water over the pot in the sink. Let cool for 5 minutes and then peel under cool running water. Perfect eggs every time! Resources: Podcast episodes on - - - - - Blog post:
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90: The Power of Potatoes with Amy Myrdal Miller, MS, RDN
02/03/2021
90: The Power of Potatoes with Amy Myrdal Miller, MS, RDN
Today’s show is all about one of my favorite comfort foods: potatoes. They are versatile, affordable, nutritious, and delicious. In fact, my new passion this winter is Hasselback Potatoes. Join us! Joining me for “all things spuds” is fellow culinary dietitian Amy Myrdal Miller, a farmer’s daughter, public speaker, author, and president of Farmer’s Daughter Consulting. Together, we will tell you all about potato nutrition, give you potato recipes galore, and explain why potatoes are the perfect gateway for getting other vegetables into your diet. For example, how about a potato bar with crispy Brussels sprouts or crispy shallots? The sky's the limit when it comes to potatoes! Show Highlights: Get to know Amy and her life in CA, running her consulting business and living with her husband and naughty kittens Why Amy, the farm girl from North Dakota, became a dietitian after her childhood diabetes diagnosis How potatoes fit into world cuisine, with possible origins in South America Most common potato varieties include Idaho, Yukon Gold, Fingerling, and Red Bliss (there are over 200 varieties in the US alone!) A few varieties that are well-suited for specific cooking techniques are Colomba, Sifra, Mozart, Mulberry Beauty, and Rickey Russet Dispelling the myth of “potato shame,” potatoes are rich in nutrients like vitamin C, potassium (more than a banana!), and fiber and antioxidants (in the skin) How to use potatoes with other veggies as diverse toppings Why many families are turning to potatoes as a staple during the pandemic Amy’s favorite mashed potatoes are a Yukon Gold-type with milk steeped with fresh rosemary; she also likes a preparation with extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, and pepper, or perhaps milk, sour cream, and cheese How nutrition-packed potatoes compare to rice and pasta as a dinner side dish Liz and Amy compete in a recipe smackdown to name different potato dishes and applications--with over 20 ideas in 60 seconds! Amy’s favorite potato recipe is a childhood favorite: boiled and buttered baby potatoes with fresh dill Liz’s easy prep for Potato Latkes made with pre-baked potatoes How silver linings during the pandemic have shown up with more family cooking and family connections How efficiency in water requirements, growing conditions, and space requirements have made potatoes the 4th most popular crop grown around the world Resources: A Genius Method for Making Latkes (by Joan Nathan): Potato Wonder: Potato varieties and breeding: HZPC Potato Goodness (a great resource for potato nutrition, storage, preparation): Potato recipe roundup (TBD ... Liz to add) . Join the closed Facebook group! on Amazon
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89: A New Vision for Healthy Eating in 2021 with Maya Feller, MS, RD
01/22/2021
89: A New Vision for Healthy Eating in 2021 with Maya Feller, MS, RD
Today’s show covers many different aspects of food nutrition. We are honing in on a new vision for healthy eating in 2021. Join us! Maya Feller is a registered dietitian and nutritionist from She is a nationally recognized nutrition expert and author of The Southern Comfort Food Diabetes Cookbook, which features over 100 healthy and delicious recipes. As if her life isn’t busy enough, Maya also works as an adjunct professor at NYU. She joins me today with approachable nutrition solutions and a new perspective on how all of us can eat a healthy diet during the pandemic and beyond. What you won’t hear today are diet prescriptions, strict rules, and weight loss advice. Instead, we’re looking at nutrition through a slightly different lens. We will discuss how systemic racism drives inequities in healthcare, access to healthy foods, and healthy outcomes, along with what we can do to right those wrongs and improve the health of all communities. Get ready to be empowered! Maya also explains why there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to healthy eating, and why a new emphasis on embracing and celebrating your cultural food ways can lead to better eating and better health. If your family is like a lot of families out there, where everyone has a different food preference and different food priority, Maya explains how you can still get one meal on the table that everyone will happily eat. Show Highlights: Maya’s life in Brooklyn with her husband, two children, and pets; she’s busy working from home and managing the kids’ remote schoolwork Why Maya’s work and website focus on helping people reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases and helping those who have them (diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, etc.) Why the representatives we elect into office and existing laws impact our access to healthy food; people cannot eat a healthy diet without access to safe, healthy, and affordable foods in their neighborhoods How systemic racism drives inequities in healthcare and health outcomes Why we should advocate for the collective and not just for individual needs Why there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution when it comes to nutrition and how cultural food ways are taken into consideration when defining a “healthy” diet Why your weight on the scale doesn’t necessarily predict metabolic health How the foods that show up regularly in your house can fit into a healthy eating style How a family of four with different eating styles can eat the same foods (hint: start with plant-based meals with added flavor from herbs and spices) How Maya uses plenty of herbs and spices to add flavor to family meals What Maya would do to create something delicious from a can of collard greens: add sweet onion, garlic, pepper, paprika, cumin, and hot pepper or red pepper flakes Why eating mindfully and intuitively is a trend for 2021 Small changes we can make for healthier families and communities in 2021 include the following: go outside and get fresh air daily; find your food style and modify it to be nourishing and health-promoting Maya’s hopeful messages: “I hope to see systemic shifts in which marginalized and disenfranchised communities will receive the help they need. I also hope to see expansion in the dietitian field to be more inclusive of all people.” Maya’s newest cookbook that’s in the works right now Resources: - Website Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: Maya's cookbook:
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