I have been teaching a string of cooking classes recently, and boy have I ever learned a lot! Here are the tried-and-true secrets that take a presentation from good to great...

A contest is a perfect way to boost motivation, increase participant engagement, and improve information retention. That's why I want to share an excerpt from my favorite fruit and vegetable resource, the Fruit and Vegetable Challenge Program. Check out the great new handouts and fantastic research...

Interactive displays promote engagement, boost information retention, and add visual interest to a space. So why not make one for Family Meals Month?

High-protein, low-carbohydrate diets are back in the spotlight, thanks to the Paleo, South Beach and Atkins trends. While protein is a necessary nutrient for the body in order to build lean muscle, synthesize hormones, grow hair and nails, and maintain organs, information about how much protein we really need and in what form seems to be misleading and/or lacking. Here?s the skinny?

Research synonyms for sugar and you find ?sweet? and ?dearest.? But ask most fad diet enthusiasts, and they will associate sugar with ?evil,? ?toxin,? and even ?poison.? Too much of anything is no good, but vilifying this carbohydrate without distinguishing between natural sugar and refined sugar has gone too far. Here?s the real skinny on sugar.

Not all grains are equal. Here?s the skinny on the difference between whole grain carbohydrates and refined grain carbohydrates.

There are many reasons to love this bright orange gourd. Here are the top four:

Recently, there has been a trend of putting young, overweight children on diets meant for adults. Diets are not meant for children. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends that children who are classified as overweight or obese maintain their current weight and only attempt to lose weight through calorie restriction if other risk factors for disease are present.

Are you a snacker? Most Americans are. We tend to eat throughout the day, rather than opting for three ?square? meals. You may think that snacking is a diet destroyer, but it can actually help you stay on track toward your health goal. The secret is in the snack you pick.

Probiotics are living microorganisms that are beneficial to our intestinal tract and immune system. They consist of both bacteria and yeast and occur naturally in our bodies. Their job is to help with the digestion of food, inhibit the overgrowth of unfriendly bacteria, prevent inflammation, and detoxify certain enzymes, hormones, and drugs.

Let 'em play! That's the lesson that I took away from my experience teaching culinary arts students at Johnson and Wales Denver...