It seems as though everyone here at work has their summer vacation planned. I’ve heard about several Caribbean cruises, one fantastic-sounding trip to a resort in Mexico and a couple of guys were recently was telling me about a trip later this summer out to Vegas for a bachelor party. Now, it’s hard to imagine how these different vacations could be similar, but there is a common thread tying them all together. Any guesses what that could be?.. [More]

As most of my friends know, once summertime comes around, my grill and patio are in for a workout. I absolutely love grilling out and having friends over during these precious few warm Wisconsin days! However, some of my friends have some special diets. In fact, last summer my own mom (at the advice of her doctor) began eating according to the DASH eating plan. So to accommodate friends and family at my cookouts, I’ve been trying a few new recipes! For those of you following the DASH diet plan, try this Portobello mushroom burger recipe – it’s an excellent alternative to the traditional burger!.. [More]

You may have noticed on some food labels (mostly from candy, desserts or gum) that there is a listing for sugar alcohol. I started looking into details about sugar alcohols after one of my friends offered someone sugar-free chocolate. In response, the recipient replied “Thanks, but I can’t. I’m not 21 yet, I can’t have alcohol.”... [More]

Are any of you struggling to maintain your weight? It seems like a lot of the people I talk with are. Weight maintenance can be a tricky balancing act! To try and maintain his weight, one of my friends lowered his caloric intake a bit, but he found that his stomach was growling within an hour after every meal! My friend is a smart guy and knew he was still eating enough calories. So the other day, he came to me, wondering why he was so hungry... [More]

There are a lot of different diets out there, as I’m sure you are aware. In fact, it seems like anytime I turn on TV, a new diet is making waves in Hollywood! With so many diets, though, most of us are left wondering what is the difference between all of them? Which one works the best? When it comes down to it, most will all will aid in weight loss... [More]

Lately, I have been eating a lot of fish. Living in Wisconsin, it doesn’t matter where you go out to eat on Friday nights, fish is on the menu. Salmon, shrimp, trout, tilapia – I love them all! Fish not only tastes great but it it’s also high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids which makes it a healthy addition to most meals. Fish does contain mercury, however, and if a person has too much mercury built up in their body it can cause damage to their kidneys and brain over time... [More]

The other morning I was craving cereal. I poured a bowl of shredded wheat, and then came the big disappointment. My skim milk was expired and I had missed the sell-by date by five days! I wasn’t sure whether or not I could drink it so I decided to err on the side of caution and have something else for breakfast. Later, I did some research to see if it is safe to drink milk after the sell-by date... [More]

Earlier this week, as part of our worksite health promotion program here at Group Health Cooperative, we were lucky enough to have a health cooking demonstration by Personal Chef Laurel Robertson! She owns her business, Dinner’s On, and teaches cooking classes to the community. During her demonstration, she showed us how to create this fantastic hummus. The best part was that it was quick and easy to make!.. [More]

The other weekend, I had my friends and family over for a barbeque. As the food was cooking, we got into a conversation about some of our favorite flavors. My uncle, joking around as always, made the comment, “There are really only three things to flavor food with: salt, pepper and butter.” We all laughed, but the conversation got me thinking. I wanted to explore ways to add flavor to food without adding unnecessary fat and sodium... [More]

This weekend, I’ve offered to host an afternoon barbeque at my house. I know, it’s a bit early to start the barbeque season. In fact, I’ve got my fingers crossed that my trusty grill will fire up after this long winter. But I’m a sucker for parties and I certainly miss spending time out on the deck, enjoying good food and friends! As always, I want to offer some healthy options for the day, so I’m planning on buying apples, strawberries and bananas... [More]