Category: Eating Well With Kim

by Kim Beavers, MS, RD, LD, CDE Dietitians can help you “cut through the clutter” of nutrition information that is often confusing and conflicting. The fact is there is no one diet that is right for everyone. In addition, health, lifestyle and budget all effect and alter what may or may not be best for you. RDNs can help tailor a nutrition plan specific to you and your health needs. What is the difference between a nutritionist and a RDN? • Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist because the term nutritionist is not regulated. • A registered dietitian IS...

by Kim Beavers, MS, RD, LD, CDE The month of February is American Heart month and the month of Valentine’s Day. Fiber has a long standing relationship with heart health in that it lowers cholesterol, thus a perfect topic for February. In addition to heart health, I’d like to go on record and say, eating a high fiber diet is one of the best things you can do for your overall health. One of my mentors believed that adequate fiber intake (through foods) was the key to health and decreased chronic disease. I believe that concept even more strongly...

by Kim Beavers, MS, RD, LD, CDE To be mindful is to focus on the present moment. Mindfulness is quite trendy yet also challenging for many moms – especially during the holiday season. Being mindful is particularly important in regard to eating when you consider that we make hundreds of eating decisions each day.  Mindful eating practices help to form a healthy relationship with food which is something worth modeling to children growing up in a culture that demonizes certain ways of eating. Below are some examples of mindful eating strategies. Savor the flavors of food: Use all of...

by Kim Beavers, MS, RD, LD, CDE Holidays and sweet treats fit together, but holidays and fiber, maybe not so much.  I’d like to change that – now don’t get me wrong I am a fan of the occasional sweet treat, but I am a bigger fan of health. Consider these well known facts with health in mind. Fact one: Americans eat more sugar than is recommended. The average American eats 14 to 20 teaspoons of sugar per day. Children and teens consume slightly more than adults. • The American Heart Association recommendations for added sugar are gender based....

by Kim Beavers, MS, RD, LD, CDE Food and fear are two words that do not belong together one sentence. However, severe food allergies can instill fear in both children and parents when it comes to food related events. Since eating is an everyday occurrence, it is important to be educated about food allergies and to educate those providing care for your family. Knowledge is power! According to The Center for Disease Control four to six percent of children have food allergies of some type. In a typical classroom of 25 students, at least one student is likely to...