Tag Archives: healthy eating

Seven Ways to Avoid Binging at a Buffet

Cooking over the holidays has most of us to closing our home kitchens for a few days to recuperate. If you’re still entertaining family and friends, hitting up the local buffet may seem like the best way to keep everyone fed without spending an arm and a leg. Buffets are also great for New Year’s hosts who want to set up a variety of food options for people to munch on as they count down the last hours of 2026.

buffet line

Whatever your reasoning may be, buffets seem like an answer to many holiday eating conundrums. However, they can create more problems than they solve, especially when it comes to your waistline. We’ve got tips from Brian Wansink, PhD, of the Cornell Food and Brand lab, as well as ideas of our own to help you navigate buffet-style eating.

Choose a smart seat
Where you sit can have a big impact on how much you eat. By sitting with your back to the buffet, you are less tempted to go up and grab another dish. You also may want to consider choosing a booth over a table. Wansink found that slimmer individuals tend to go for booths. This creates a more comfortable seating arrangement like what you would find at a sit-down restaurant, and can discourage you from eating more than one plate of food.

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“Don’t Eat Fast Food!” McDonald’s Tells Its Employees

Update 12/26: McDonald’s has announced it is taking down it’s employee resource site for good. Lisa McComb, spokeswoman for McDonald’s released this statement, “We have offered the McResource program to help our valued McDonald’s employees with work and life guidance created by independent third party experts. A combination of factors has led us to re-evaluate, and we’ve directed the vendor to take down the website. Between links to irrelevant or outdated information, along with outside groups taking elements out of context, this created unwanted scrutiny and inappropriate commentary. None of this helps our McDonald’s team members. We’ll continue to provide service to them through an internal telephone help line, which is how the majority of employees access the McResource services.”

A surprising new source is offering healthy eating advice: McDonald’s. The company recently launched a website with easy-to-follow, sensible dietary advice for its busy employee. But the suggestions made on the site may surprise you: In an effort to promote healthy eating McDonald’s actually casts many of its own foods in a less than positive light. As you can see here, in this image pulled directly from the employee site, the fast food retailer  has chosen some of its own food to represent an unhealthy meal:

mcdonalds eating advice

That’s right: McDonald’s, home of a 750 calorie cheeseburger, is offering its employees sage eating advice, recommending their employees, “eat at places that offer a variety of salads, soups and vegetables to help maintain your best health.” (In other words, not at McDonald’s.)While the fast food giant does offer salads many are loaded with fat and calories, including one that maxes out at 450 calories. These meals are healthier than a Big Mac, but not by much.

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The 25 Best Student-Approved Tips for Eating Healthy in College

I remember it like it was, well, about eight months ago; standing in the middle of campus, looking for a place to eat. Because this situation usually involved a time crunch, I would settle for the most convenient food option, healthy or not. It seems like a lot of college students, including myself, sacrifice healthy food for easy food as if the two are mutually exclusive. However, that isn’t true at all.

We’ve put together a list of healthy eating tips for college students based both on personal experience and input from students around the country. Try implementing a few, and see what a difference they can make!

cafeteria

Cafeteria/Dining Hall

  • Don’t overdo it on portion sizes. Studies have shown that people who take larger portions will eat more food, whether they are hungry for it or not.
  • Try not to eat the same thing every day. You may love the cafeteria French fries, but save them for a once-in-a-while indulgence.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the food in the cafeteria or dining hall. The people who prepare and serve the meals may be able to help you find healthy options. (more…)

Food Blogger Spotlight: Jennifer Drummond from Peanut Butter & Peppers

When you hear about a food blog titled, Peanut Butter & Peppers, you don’t hesitate, you just go look and wow, I’m glad I did. Peanut Butter & Peppers is the brainchild of Jennifer Drummond, who started the site in her quest for continued weight loss and desire to share healthy recipes.

What I love most about the site is how much fun Jennifer is having along the way. Some recipes are quirky (peanut butter hummus anyone?) and her commentary is honest and fresh. Plus, doesn’t her infectious smile make you want to go to her kitchen, pet her two Labrador Retrievers and pull up a chair for coffee and Meyer Lemon Snack Cake? Yes, please!

Farmers Market Finds crop

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Food Blogger Spotlight: Jackie from Tasteovers By Jackie

Food Blogger: Jackie NewgentOne of the best things about chef Jackie Newgent is that once she cooks you a delicious healthy meal, she can tell you exactly why it’s so delicious and healthy. As a registered dietician and award-winning cookbook author, Jackie is considered a “culinary nutrition, diet, and green cuisine expert.” She is frequently featured on Planet Green’s Emeril Green and Martha Stewart Living Sirius Satellite Radio’s Whole Living.

On her food blog, Tasteovers by Jackie, one of her favorite things to do is take a not-so-good-for-you recipe and give it a makeover. She never shies away from a challenge. Even decadent dishes like fettucini alfredo get a scrumptious healthy redo. Recently we spoke to Jackie about her blog.

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Food Blogger Spotlight: Kelsey Brown of Happyolks

If you haven’t visited Kelsey Brown’s blog Happyolks where “recipes and stories for happy folks” are born, you’re missing out. Kelsey and her husband treat Happyolks as a collaborative project, where he takes the photographs and she develops the recipes and shares some of the most beautiful stories you’ll read. Trust me, I read a lot of blogs but hers remains one of my absolute favorites.

kelsey-brown-happyolkds

When you visit Happyolks, expect to find whole foods recipes, breathtaking imagery, and thoughtful narrative that will pierce your soul. We had the extreme pleasure of speaking with Kelsey recently about her blog and her approach to health. Here’s what she had to say.  (more…)

Food Blogger Spotlight: Ashley McLaughlin of Edible Perspective

When I stumbled upon Ashley’s McLaughlin’s blog Edible Perspective years ago, I was first drawn to the stunning photography. Ultimately, her sunshiney personality, amazingly creative recipes, and down-to-earth writing style hooked me in.

To date, Ashley’s recipes are some of the healthiest and most delicious recipes I’ve tried from any food blog – and I’ve visited a lot. The girl taught me how to make almond butter for goodness sake! Stop by Ashley’s blog for a wealth of information on gluten free and vegan cooking, as well as desserts that always fall on the healthier side – my favorite kind.

ashley-edible-perspective

Why did you start your food blog?

Edible Perspective started after making a cross-country move to Colorado with my husband, Chris. When we first moved out west we were lucky enough to stay with Chris’s brother and wife for a few months as we furiously hunted for jobs. To return the favor to them, I cooked our weeknight dinners and decided to document my creations along the way. It was at this time when I finally decided to pick up Chris’s clunky dSLR camera and put down my trusty point-and-shoot. I never imagined what it would evolve into! (more…)

Pineapple Agua Fresca is the One Summer Drink You Must Try

When it comes to beverages I’m usually indifferent. Between drink and food, I’ll always choose the latter for my calorie splurges. But when a healthy indulgence comes along in liquid form I’ll at least consider giving it a shot.

After testing four agua fresca recipes this week – yes, four –  pineapple agua fresca was the clear winner; the absolute best! This leads me to believe if there’s one fruity drink you indulge in this summer, this simply must be it!

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Food Blogger Spotlight: Kate Webster of The Little Loaf

Kate Webster has grown quite the following with her healthy approach to baking at her blog, The Little Loaf. Based in West London, Kate enjoys finding healthier alternatives to otherwise heavy treats like cakes, muffins and breads, and shares a thoughtful story with each recipe she creates. It’s clear there’s equal parts sugar, equal parts love that go into The Little Loaf.

kate-webster-little-loaf

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kate about her blog and her healthful approach to food and life. Here’s what she had to say.

Why did you start your food blog?

Nicknamed at the age of two by a great aunt who noticed my appetite for bread was bigger than I was, I’ve always loved baking. Commercial bread can be so disappointing (not to mention unhealthy) so in 2026 I decided to start baking all my own from scratch. My boyfriend (now fiancé) convinced me to start a blog to document my progress, and the little loaf blog evolved from there. (more…)

Caprese Grilled Cheese is a Healthy Twist on an Italian Classic

The first time I ever tried a caprese salad was when I was visiting my much-more-sophisticated-than-I older cousin Billy Jo. She and her husband own an exquisite home in Houston and my sister and I were down for a visit nearly a decade ago now.

Before dinner one night, Billy pullled out the ingredients for a caprese salad – fresh mozzarella, gorgeous roma tomatoes, huge stems of basil, and a little balsamic vinegar.

Caprese grilled cheese sandwich 2

Never having seen such an adventurous flavor combination before, I watched closely as she meticulously layered the cheese with the tomato, and then the basil, over and over again until the plate resembled the Italian flag. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar finished it off before we all claimed our portion. Admittedly, my then 16-year-old self didn’t appreciate the robust, fresh flavors. But now, it’s one of my absolute favorite Italian bites. This “grilled cheese” sandwich is an homage to that salad with a bit more heartiness and the ease of portability. (more…)

Meyer Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes Are a Sweet Twist on Citrus

As a kid I was known as a pancake devourer. As an adult I’ve been deemed the “pancake queen.” Devourer, queen – either way you put it you can tell I love a stack of warm, fluffy pancakes in the morning just as much (or more) than the next girl. So, when I recently caught wind that there was a type of lemon I’d never tried – Meyer lemons – I couldn’t wait to create a new pancake recipe utilizing them as the star ingredient.

Meyer lemons get their name from Frank M. Meyer who worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the early 1900s and brought the fruit back to the U.S. from China where they were cultivated. They are still tart but lack any harsh acidity, and taste slightly sweeter than a regular lemon. (more…)