Fighting Comparison

Comparison Starts Young Starting at a very young age, we begin comparing ourselves to others. My daughter started talking about what her friends are wearing and wanted to wear clothing similar to them when she was 4 years old. My son, often talks about his school work by comparing his work to others. We compare our hair, our clothes, our income, our values, our likes and dislikes, and the list goes on. In an article about teaching our kids about comparison, Abigail Dodds says, “Leading our comparisons in the right…

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Managing Blood Sugars 101

Intuitive Eating Class

Managing Blood Sugars: Diabetes Do you or someone you know have pre-diabetes or diabetes? Many of my clients who have pre-diabetes were told by their doctor that “your blood sugars are a little high”. But they are not told they have “pre-diabetes”. PLEASE advocate for yourself. Ask questions. Know what your blood sugars goals are. Fasting Goal <100 mg/dL HbA1c: <5.9% If your blood sugars are “a little high” ask, what can I do about that? Do you have a Registered Dietitian you recommend? Where can I find more information?…

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Sugar Alcohols: Are they a Sweet Alternative to Sugar?

What are sugar alcohols? Sugar alcohols are found in many “sugar free” foods and low sugar or low calorie foods and beverages.  These products include sugar-free gum and candy, no sugar added ice creams, yogurts, and puddings, and some baked goods.  Their chemical structure consists of a simple carbohydrate attached to an alcohol group.  Some examples include lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, and erythritol.  You can identify them by the -ol at the end of their name on the food label.  There has been a recent increase in the consumption…

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Chicken Sausage Jambalaya

Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

Makes 6 Jambalaya Servings Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 30 min (stove top option)-4 hours (slow cooker option) This jambalaya was a hit with my whole family!  This one dish meal is gluten-free, high-protein, and delicious and it will leave you completely satisfied!  1 jalapeno in the mix gives it some flavor, but not too much spice.  If you are concerned about the spice, you can always just leave it out! Ingredients 4 Cloves minced garlic ½ White onion, skin removed 1 Jalapeno, stem and seeds removed 1 Red…

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Sugar Addiction: What Does the Bible Say?

Sugar control

Is Sugar Addictive? Many of my conversations through the day involve talk about sugar or sugar addiction. Many of us know we eat too much, but we don’t know what is a reasonable amount and we might struggle to truly change our habits. Sometimes, people tell me they are “addicted” to sugar. I am not convinced that this is a term we should use. Yes, sugar does have some addictive properties, but as with many pleasures in this world, sugar is a delightful gift from the Lord. Have you ever…

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Let’s Stop Making Weight Loss our Main Goal

Why Weight Loss shouldn’t be your #1 Goal Over and over again we read that diets just don’t work. The data is a bit scattered here, but this article from the Scientific American published in 2020 estimated that 80-95% of people who lose a significant amount of body fat do not maintain that loss at 1 year. In a 2019 article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers found that dieting actually predicts future weight gain. I know this first hand as I worked in an Endocrinology clinic for…

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Chicken and Veggie Fried Rice

Chicken and Veggie Fried Rice

Chicken and Veggie Fried Rice I love a good fried rice, but they can be so loaded with fats and sugars!  This recipe that tastes great, and provides lots of good nutrition with tons of veggies healthy.  I love all kinds of food and this one really hits the spot if you love the flavors of Asia! You can also use chicken meat from a rotisserie chicken instead of chicken breast, this makes it extra fast. If you like this recipe you might also like this Butter Chicken! Cooking and…

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Lactose Intolerance: 12 Things You Should Know

Lactose Intolerance Things you should know How common is it? Lactose intolerance affects roughly 65% of adults worldwide! It is very common. It is extremely rare in children under 5 years old. Many people think that they have significant gut issues when it is simply an enzyme deficiency. What is lactose? Lactose is a form of sugar that occurs naturally in dairy products. It is digested by the enzyme lactase. Lactase is available as a supplement to aid in digestion of foods containing lactose. All dairy products contain varying amounts…

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Reducing Cancer Risk

Reducing Cancer Risk Healthy Lifestyle As a Registered Dietitian I must focus on good nutrition as a key in helping reduce risk of cancer and also during and after chemotherapy. Good nutrition can help improve quality of life significantly. We don’t want to forget that a healthy lifestyle also includes physical activity, stress management, building healthy relationships, and keeping up with recommended doctor appointments. Other factors that can help reduce risk of cancer are avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol, and practicing sun safety.  We also know that sometimes we do everything…

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Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal

Baked Oatmeal with fruit

Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal This baked oatmeal recipe is one of our favorite make ahead breakfast options. It has some wonderful omega-3 fats, great fiber, and is a good source of protein! Bonus: the bananas provide plenty of sweetness, so there is very little added sugar. This recipe is highly recommended by my favorite 10 year old (my daughter Claire). Prep Time: 10 minutes Bake Time 25-30 minutes Makes 6 Servings Ingredients 2 large very ripe bananas 2 cups old-fashioned oats 4 large eggs 2 Tbsp Pure Maple Syrup 2…

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