Oh yes, it’s that time of year again when the holiday festivities (aka less than healthy food choices and eating habits) kick-off with nibbles on that bucket of leftover Halloween candy, onward during Thanksgiving, and through family and holiday gatherings in December.

You’ve heard the message to reduce sugar loud and clear from nutrition experts, including in the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. And it’s sinking in. You’re trying to reduce the amount of added sugars you eat because you know that’s what is best for your health.

You hear and see media headlines galore about how sugar substitutes may impact your health or weight loss efforts, ranging from eyebrow-raising to nerve-calming.

As published in the Washington Post, November 23, 2016

As published in the Washington Post, August 2, 2016

Break the word breakfast into its two parts: break and fast.

Boy time flies when you’re having fun! And yes, I’ve been having fun writing the Nutrition Q&A column in The Washington Post. Publication of the June 1st column marks column #20. This column came to be because I and several colleagues saw a big need at The Post for a column written by a dietitian to offer readers reliable, evidence-based answers to popular nutrition questions.

To eat healthy now a days takes time, skills and effort! You’ve got to stock up, plan, navigate the supermarket aisles, chop (I do lots of chopping!), prep foods and cook. And if you eat restaurants foods (in or take out), another feat is to put together healthy restaurant meals. Yes, a constant, but rewarding, challenge!

In this blog series, How I Eat Healthy, I’ll share how I, as a mother, wife and chief of shopping, planning and cooking for my busy family, make eating healthy happen every day (or at least most days – no claims of perfection here!). I’ll offer up my time-honed tips and time-saving tactics you can use to set yourself and/or your family to Eat Well, Live Healthy! And please share your tips and tactics on twitter using the hashtag: #howIeathealthy.

#3: Chop Once, Two Tricks to Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
As far as I’m concerned (and I think many other nutrition experts would agree), if there’s one thing that’s an open and shut case when it comes to nutrition research and healthier eating advice, its – yes, eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each and every day. A few more servings, if you've got the calories to spare, will be even healther.

 To eat healthy now a days takes time, skills and effort! You’ve got to stock up, plan, navigate the supermarket aisles, chop (I do lots of chopping!), prep foods and cook. And if you eat restaurants foods (in or take out), another feat is to put together healthy restaurant meals. Yes, a constant, but rewarding, challenge!

In this blog series, How I Eat Healthy, I’ll share how I, as a mother, wife and chief of shopping, planning and cooking for my busy family, make eating healthy happen every day (or at least most days – no claims of perfection here!). I’ll offer up my time-honed tips and time-saving tactics you can use to set yourself and/or your family to Eat Well, Live Healthy! And please share your tips and tactics on twitter using the hashtag: #howIeathealthy.

#2: The Supermarket Trip: As I said in How I Eat Healthy #1 Stocking Up you’ve got to set your home up for success. Step two in this process is to shop regularly and, even more importantly, shop smart.