A recent report by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) sounded yet another alarm about the growing crisis of antibiotic resistance. The report says that farmers give too many antibiotics to food animals like cattle and poultry. Let’s look at the problem and see how see how the choices we make at the supermarket can make a difference.

Whether you follow a low-fat diet or prefer a higher-fat Mediterranean eating style, the reality is that fat is an essential component of our food choices, necessary for good health. We’ve see-sawed between fat-free eating plans to high-fat plans that involve adding butter to coffee. Just like in so many things, the middle ground may be the right place. Let’s take a closer look at fat!

Remember the Nutrients of Concern series we ran about the Dietary Guidelines for Americans? It turns out that -- in addition to calcium, dietary fiber, potassium, and vitamin D, which are of concern for almost all Americans -- there are additional nutrients of concern for specific groups. Let's tackle them today!

It's time to talk about vitamin B12: what it does, what foods contain it, and who might not be getting enough of it...

The holidays are full of heavy meals. Now that we've got Thanksgiving under (and perhaps straining) our belts, wouldn't it be nice to lighten things up for a while? This carrot ginger soup is the answer. Light and full of vegetables, it's still hearty and warm enough to make a cozy meal on a chilly night.

Did you know that National Handwashing Week runs from December 6th through the 12th? Now is the perfect time to prepare. How will you teach your clients about proper hand hygiene?

Looking for a healthful vegetable side dish? Try the grill-steam process! Combining the hot sear of a grill with steam's gentle touch is a perfect -- and speedy -- way to add pep to any vegetable side dish.

Between celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and dietary choices, it seems like everyone knows at least a few people who are no longer eating gluten. However, just because you or a family member has given up gluten doesn't mean that you have to miss out on nutrients. Today I'd like to share a guide to a few of my favorite healthful, vitamin- and mineral-rich foods, all of which are free of gluten...

High in vital trace minerals and unique antioxidants, oats can lower cholesterol levels and help you reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. They're also naturally gluten-free! What's not to love? Let's take a closer look at these nutrient powerhouses.

Here's the last installment of the Dietary Guidelines Nutrients of Concern series. Since the guidelines advise people to "Choose foods that provide more potassium, dietary fiber, calcium, and vitamin D, which are nutrients of concern in American diets," we've focused on discussing one of these nutrients per week. This week, we're going to talk about vitamin D...

Are you ready for a tasty and warming winter soup? This one comes together in just 30 minutes! It's also loaded with healthful vegetables and tasty spices...

If Americans stick with a diet that is far lower in fatty animal products and cholesterol and composed largely of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, then they will reduce the inflammation and other chemical changes that promote colon cancer.

I just got back from the USDA MyPlate National Partners in Person meeting, and boy did I learn a lot! Much of the discussion revolved around consumers — how to communicate key health messages to them in a way that would resonate, how to keep them engaged in healthful habits, etc. I thought that you mind find this information as useful as I did, so here are my notes from those discussions…

What is potassium? Why is it a nutrient of concern? How can people increase their potassium intake? What impact does potassium have on health? Get the answers to all these questions -- and more! -- in today's post!

One of the things I love about MyPlate is its practicality. Rather than asking you to imagine your daily eating habits as a pyramid, MyPlate simply rallies its viewers to make their plates look like its own image: a balanced plate. With half the plate devoted to fruits and vegetables, and the rest divided between protein and whole grains (with some nonfat dairy on the side), MyPlate presents a healthful approach to any meal or snack...

I just got back from the 2015 USDA MyPlate National Partners in Person Meeting and I have so much to tell you!

Today, I want to talk about sweetening drinks, both hot and cold. There’s so much more to the story than sugar! Here are some of my favorite ways to sweeten drinks…

Try this tasty and sweet smoothie in your next cooking demonstration -- it couldn't be easier or more versatile!

Most Americans simply aren’t getting enough of certain vital nutrients, including calcium, dietary fiber, potassium, and vitamin D. Let's start with a closer look at calcium -- what it is, where to get it, what your body does with it, and what happens when you don't get enough...

What do you know about salt substitutes? My team and I have exhaustively researched 10 different varieties of salt and salt substitutes, and we've compiled the highlights of what we found into a handy-dandy chart.