Category: Eating Well With Kim

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...

by Kim Beavers, MS, RD, LD, CDE Headlines abound about the nutritional benefits of eating protein and I agree protein is very important. It is important in the context of a healthy diet just like fat and carbohydrates. That crazy word “moderate” comes into play like it does with all things nutrition. Marketing wants us on the extreme side of things, think of it like a see-saw—-the fun part is when the see-saw swings from high to low (eat more of this, eat less of this) while the middle balanced position is a bit on the boring side. See-saws...

by Kim Beavers, MS, RD, LD, CDE Whew… it is HOT! This makes sense of course, because it is summer in the South. That not only means heat but water as well.  Swimming, boating, sprinklers and water balloon fights abound. However as school resumes, the water of summer may be regulated to the weekend but water is essential for hydration, health and proper functioning. So, how much water is recommended? There are many variables to consider such as weather, age, clothing, equipment, activity and other foods consumed. Fruits and vegetables contain higher water content than other foods. Read as:...

by Kim Beavers, MS, RD, LD, CDE Proper food handling and preparation can make the difference between feeding your family nourishing meals or accidentally giving them a foodborne illness.  Foodborne illness is mainly contracted through poor personal hygiene in the kitchen (yikes), cross- contamination (yikes)  and time-temperature abuse (also yikes). The main microorganisms of concern are E. coli, salmonella, listeria and fungi. Fortunately, keeping your family safe, healthy and with bellies full is easy with a few kitchen safety tips. Practicing proper personal hygiene habits is first on the list to prevent foodborne illness.  Make sure to properly wash...

by Kim Beavers, MS, RD, LD, CDE Keeping salad ingredients chopped and at the ready can assure your family will get veggie variety often and ease tension on hurried scheduled evenings. Salad is something I recommend daily but it is easy to fall into a salad rut. This month, I wanted to share some “salad rut reduction techniques” with you as well as simple meal assembly strategies. Get Prepped! • Wash and dry your salad greens (lettuce, spinach, arugula or some combination of your favorite mixed greens) for the week. Place your greens in a large container, zip top...