October 2026 Newsletter, White Label Newsletter, and Toolkit

Written By Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

Happy October!

Hope you are ready for cooler weather and more great education tools.

  • A new Member Dashboard. Your libraries, videos, recipes, calculators, health calendar, linked handouts, and this newsletter now live together in one home base.

    • Faster searching. The Handout Library and the PowerPoint Library each now have a search box. We added and refreshed hundreds of handouts, bringing the collection to more than 1700 for October.

    • More PowerPoint shows, across many new categories. They are searchable, and you can see them in each category, too.

    • Eight new health calculators, built just for members: BMI, calorie needs, hydration, blood pressure, cholesterol, a heart risk score, the CDC Prediabetes Risk Test, and a MyPlate daily score.

Your October toolkit is below. We hope you are ready for fall.

Cheers!

Judy

PS Have a comment, request, or question? Email me!

📅 This month's toolkit — download your files
PDF Newsletter White Label PowerPoint White Label Canva
Jump to your libraries
Handouts PowerPoints Recipes Videos Articles Health Observances Health Calculators

Preview This Month

📄 Read this month's newsletter
Not loading? Open PDF in a new tab →
 

This Month’s Articles

Featured
Ultra-Processed Foods May Zap Attention
Ultra-Processed Foods May Zap Attention
Read more →
Episodic Binge Drinking Could Triple Your Risk of Liver Disease
Episodic Binge Drinking Could Triple Your Risk of Liver Disease
Read more →
A Common Sweetener Could Stall Your Metabolism
A Common Sweetener Could Stall Your Metabolism
Read more →
Food Order Behavioral Intervention in Prediabetes
Food Order Behavioral Intervention in Prediabetes
Read more →
Eating speed does not impact postprandial blood glucose in young women when vegetables are consumed first.
Eating speed does not impact postprandial blood glucose in young women when vegetables are consumed first.
Read more →
Quiz: Eating for Steady Blood Sugar
Quiz: Eating for Steady Blood Sugar
Read more →
Quiz: What's In Season This Fall?
Quiz: What's In Season This Fall?
Read more →
Cooking With Local Produce: A Home & School Kitchen Guide
Cooking With Local Produce: A Home & School Kitchen Guide

Fall is a favorite time of year for local produce! You get the tail end of summer plus a whole new batch of squash, apples, and pears coming into season!

Read more →
What's In Season: Early-Fall Produce Guide
What's In Season: Early-Fall Produce Guide

Fall means new fruits and veggies in season! What is your favorite?

Read more →
Apple Season Is Here: A Guide to Picking and Using Them
Apple Season Is Here: A Guide to Picking and Using Them

Fall guide to apples

Read more →
Back to School: Breakfasts, Lunches & Snacks That Actually Work
Back to School: Breakfasts, Lunches & Snacks That Actually Work
Read more →
More Legumes and Soy Foods Mean Lower Blood Pressure
More Legumes and Soy Foods Mean Lower Blood Pressure

A recently published large data analysis in the open-access journal BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health finds that eating more beans and soy foods may help reduce the chance of developing high blood pressure.

Read more →
Preservative Food Additives, Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease
Preservative Food Additives, Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease
Read more →
What's New in Your Member Area: A Whole Lot, Actually
What's New in Your Member Area: A Whole Lot, Actually

If it's been a little while since you last poked around your member area, you're in for a surprise. We've spent the last stretch rebuilding, expanding, and streamlining almost everything you use week to week — from the handout library to the calculators to how you print a lesson for class. Here's the full rundown.

Read more →
Reducing risk for diabetes is possible, even without weight loss, according to new study
Reducing risk for diabetes is possible, even without weight loss, according to new study

‍If you’ve ever known someone with pre-diabetes, they may have been told that weight loss will lower their blood sugar. While research still supports this advice, a recent study suggests that lifestyle and diet changes alone may move the needle. 1, 2   ‍

Read more →
Can Sparkling Water Boost Weight Loss?
Can Sparkling Water Boost Weight Loss?

Sparkling water is everywhere right now, and it's easy to see why: it's a calorie-free swap for soda and sweetened drinks. A recent study looked at whether the fizz itself might also give blood sugar and metabolism a boost. The short answer: maybe a little, but not enough to make a real difference on its own.

Read more →

This Month’s Recipes

Fall Chicken Sheet Pan Dinnerhttps://youtu.be/ZyoOAIvoyS4https://i.imgur.com/DswlIkn.jpeg

Fall Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

Yield 4
Author Judy Doherty
Prep time
5 Min
Cook time
40 Min
Total time
45 Min

Fall chicken sheet pan dinner - spicy tomato sauce with garlic, maple syrup, olive oil, paprika, cumin and Korean pepper drizzled over chicken and butternut squash. Baked to perfection then topped with steaming lima beans, arugula, and red cabbage. Topped with lemon or lime.

Cook modePrevent screen from turning off

Ingredients

  • 6 chicken thighs, boneless, skinless
  • 3 cups frozen cubed butternut squash
  • 4 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 pinch Korean pepper
  • 1/2 tsp crushed garlic
  • 3 cups lima beans, steamed
  • 3 cups arugula
  • 1 cup chopped red cabbage
  • 1 lemon or lime

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Cover a sheet pan with foil
  3. Top the sheet pan with chicken thighs and the butternut squash cubes.
  4. Stir the tomato paste, garlic, oil, maple syrup and seasonings well. Pour over the chicken and squash.
  5. Bake for 40 minutes or until done.
  6. While the chicken is baking chop the cabbage. Steam the beans in the microwave, covered, the last 5 minutes of the chicken baking.
  7. Top the pan of chicken with the steaming lima beans, arugula, chopped cabbage, and lime juice.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

491

Fat

12 g

Sat. Fat

2 g

Carbs

53 g

Fiber

14 g

Net carbs

39 g

Sugar

13 g

Protein

47 g

Sodium

297 mg

Cholesterol

161 mg
copyright foodandhealth.com
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @foodandhealth on instagram and hashtag it #foodandhealthrecipes
Fall Apple Salad

Fall Apple Salad

Yield 4
Author Judy Doherty
Prep time
15 Min
Cook time
5 Min
Total time
20 Min

This salad is rich in fall flavor and color. We love the crunch from the apples, toasted walnuts, and red cabbage. Best of all it will refrigerate for a day.

Cook modePrevent screen from turning off

Ingredients

  • 2 apples cored and diced, peel on
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tsp minced garlic
  • black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 4 cups arugula
  • 2 cups shredded red cabbage
  • 2 tablespoons toasted walnut pieces

Instructions

  1. Toss all ingredients together. Serve immediately or hold in refrigerator up to one day.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

132

Fat

7 g

Sat. Fat

1 g

Carbs

18 g

Fiber

4 g

Net carbs

14 g

Sugar

12 g

Protein

2 g

Sodium

19 mg

Cholesterol

0 mg
copyright foodandhealth.com
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @foodandhealth on instagram and hashtag it #foodandhealthrecipes

From The Blog:

Featured
October Resource Roundup
October Resource Roundup
Read more →
Handout: 3 Things I Like Right Now: The Power of Positive
Handout: 3 Things I Like Right Now: The Power of Positive

Our brains are remarkably good at finding what isn't working. If you give them the opportunity, they'll happily come up with five, ten, or twenty reasons to quit.

But over the years, I've discovered a simple habit that changes the conversation.

Find three things you like right now.

Not tomorrow.

Not after you've reached your goal.

Right now.

Read more →
Handout: Potassium: A Powerful Mineral for Better Health
Handout: Potassium: A Powerful Mineral for Better Health

Potassium is an essential mineral that helps regulate fluid balance, maintain healthy blood pressure, support muscle contractions, and keep nerves functioning properly. It also helps counteract some of the effects of excess sodium in the diet. Most adults need about 2,600 mg per day for women and 3,400 mg per day for men. Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, beans, dairy foods, and fish can help you meet your daily potassium needs while supporting heart, muscle, and overall health.

Read more →
Handout: Micro-Prepping: The Easy Way to Eat Well Without Spending Hours in the Kitchen
Handout: Micro-Prepping: The Easy Way to Eat Well Without Spending Hours in the Kitchen

But I am always micro-prepping, not just cooking a la minute!

It’s a simple, flexible strategy: whenever I cut up a head of kale or a watermelon, I process the whole thing and store the rest for later. I also prepare large batches of soups, pasta, chili, lentils, or pizza dough, freezing the leftovers for future busy days or keeping them in the fridge for a quick meal the next day. This method of prepping allows you to be a bit spontaneous and creative but you are always using your time wisely. Prep once and serve twice!

Read more →
Handout: Food and Mood Shopping List
Handout: Food and Mood Shopping List

Here is a shopping list for foods to keep your brain powered and your mental health looking positive.

Read more →
September Round Up - FREE NEW resources plus over 50 products from our store
September Round Up - FREE NEW resources plus over 50 products from our store

September Nutrition Education Resource Roundup - Over 60 New Products, free Handout Hub filled to the brim, September Hidden Sugar handout and special discount

Read more →
Handout: USDA "Harvest to Hallways" With $145 Million for School Meals Just Launched
Handout: USDA "Harvest to Hallways" With $145 Million for School Meals Just Launched
Read more →
Handout: Dense Bean Salad: The Meal Prep Trend Worth Trying
Handout: Dense Bean Salad: The Meal Prep Trend Worth Trying

If you have spent any time on social media lately, you have probably seen dense bean salads. These hearty salads are packed with beans, vegetables, herbs, and flavorful dressings, creating a nutrient-rich meal that can be made ahead and enjoyed for several days. Unlike leafy green salads that wilt quickly, dense bean salads actually improve as they sit, allowing the flavors to blend together.

Read more →
Menu Planning and Shopping on a Budget
Menu Planning and Shopping on a Budget

Here is a 7 day menu planner and great shopping tips to plan and make meals on a budget

Read more →
Ancient Grains vs. Affordable Staples: Smart Shopping for the Whole Grain Goal
Ancient Grains vs. Affordable Staples: Smart Shopping for the Whole Grain Goal

Ancient grains are appearing in everything from ancient grain bread to snack foods. Are they worth the premium cost, or can affordable staples help you reach your whole-grain goals?

Read more →
How to Stay Physically Active As A Family
How to Stay Physically Active As A Family

Staying physically active as a family can be a fun and rewarding way to build healthy habits and strengthen family bonds. Here are some ideas to help your family stay active together:

Read more →
Counting Down to 2027: What Every Food-Service Director Needs to Know About the New School Meal Standards
Counting Down to 2027: What Every Food-Service Director Needs to Know About the New School Meal Standards

The updated Nutrition Standards for School Meals are rolling out on a schedule, and the biggest milestone is closer than it looks. The headline changes — the first-ever limit on added sugars across the week and the next reduction in sodium — take full effect in School Year 2027-28, beginning July 1, 2027. For directors planning menus, budgets, and vendor contracts, that is not a far-off deadline. It is the school year you are buying for now.

Read more →
Protein Comparison Charts & Handouts
Protein Comparison Charts & Handouts

Here is a chart of all common sources of protein both animal and plant. It has a few surprises. Plant protein is lower in calories and higher in fiber. It is also lower in cost in most cases. Here is a printable PDF handout on protein comparisons as well as the original excel file so you can make changes. #eatrightPROnutrimag #makeevverybitecount #healthydoesnthavetobehard #simplehealth #funcionalwellness #wholewellness #wholebodyhealth #MyPlate #OnMyPlate #ChooseMyPlate #MyPlateStartSimplePROnutrimag!

Read more →
What Are Ultra-Processed Foods? A Dietitian's Plain-Language Guide (+ Free Handout)
What Are Ultra-Processed Foods? A Dietitian's Plain-Language Guide (+ Free Handout)

"Ultra-processed" is everywhere right now — in headlines, on social media, and in your clients' questions. But the term gets used so loosely that it causes more anxiety than action. Here's the clear, balanced version you can share with clients, students, and patients with links to our dietitian’s article and PDF handout.

Read more →
Introducing Our Free Nutrition Crossword Puzzle Maker
Introducing Our Free Nutrition Crossword Puzzle Maker

We just launched a free Nutrition Crossword Puzzle Maker, and it's built for exactly that moment. Type in your own words and clues — whatever you're teaching that day, whether it's MyPlate food groups, hydration, label reading, or anything else — and the tool instantly builds a complete, interlocking crossword puzzle around them, numbered clues and all.

Read more →

Cooking Demo Tool Kit:

Featured
“Build Your Own” Style Dinners
“Build Your Own” Style Dinners

Here are cooking demos designed to make family meals more fun.

Read more →
Cooking on Induction Stoves
Cooking on Induction Stoves

Using a portable induction stove for a cooking demo is a great idea. Here are the pros, cons, and success tips.

Read more →
15 Tips for Smoother Cooking Demos
15 Tips for Smoother Cooking Demos

These 15 strategies for smoother cooking demos are very easy to do and they will make your next one make you feel like a star!

Read more →
Summer Farmer's Market Cooking Demo
Summer Farmer's Market Cooking Demo

Here are ideas for cooking demos at a farmer’s marketing with minimal equipment.

Read more →
Cooking Demonstration Idea for June
Cooking Demonstration Idea for June

There are many ways to add flavor to tea without sugar, but many people still think of it as a bitter and unpalatable drink. End the misconceptions by demonstrating just how easy it is to make delicious iced tea at home...

Read more →
Cooking with White Whole Wheat Flour: Crowd-Pleasing Calzones
Cooking with White Whole Wheat Flour: Crowd-Pleasing Calzones

White whole wheat flour is super versatile and a real crowd-pleaser. Check out how it adds the perfect whole grain boost to these tasty chicken calzones!

Read more →
Infographic: Teaching an Engaging Class
Infographic: Teaching an Engaging Class

Today I took some of the key messages from one of our most popular posts of all time (Teaching a Cooking Class: Tips and Tricks) and turned them into a colorful infographic for your perusal...

Read more →
Delicious Healthy Meals: Strawberry Dessert
Delicious Healthy Meals: Strawberry Dessert

It’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month, and what better way to celebrate than with a bright new strawberry dessert? Whipped cream, mango puree, and strawberries fresh from the market all come together to make this show-stopping dessert, which is topped with toasted almonds and freshly-chopped mint.

Read more →
Cooking Demonstrations
Cooking Demonstrations

Are you ready to take your cooking demonstrations to the next level? In this post, I detail my cooking demo background and highlight some new ways to help students be creative.

Read more →
Cooking Demo Ideas from Advisors
Cooking Demo Ideas from Advisors

Our advisors weigh in with their cooking demo advice.

Read more →

NEW From Our Store:

Use code MEMBER15 for 15% off plus free shipping

Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII discovered her love of cooking at her grandmother's side, stirring raisin oatmeal on a Saturday morning. By 15 she had her first food service job. At 18 she was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America, where she graduated second in her class, then went on to the Fachschule Richemont in Switzerland to study pastry arts and baking. A decade with Hyatt Hotels followed before she founded Food and Health Communications with a single conviction: food that is good for you should taste extraordinary.

Judy holds a Master of Professional Studies in Food Business from the Culinary Institute of America, a Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University (Summa Cum Laude), two art certificates from UC Berkeley Extension, and the CIA's Pro Chef II certification. She has earned the American Culinary Federation Bronze Medal, Gold Medal, and ACF Chef of the Year award.

Today she develops every recipe on this site, shoots and styles food through her food photography and motion studio, and publishes nutrition education materials for dietitians, schools, extension offices, and health professionals through nutritioneducationstore.com. She uses the latest nutritional science and Dietary Guidelines to drive her creativity — whether that means a new twist on fajitas or Italian brownies made with toasted nuts and cooked honey. Her mission has never changed: help everyone make food that tastes as good as it is for them.

https://nutritioneducationstore.com
Next

September 2026 Newsletter, White Label Newsletter, and Toolkit