Eating Smart Blog


'Tis the Season to be Giving: A Healthy Holiday Gift Guide

'Tis the Season to Be Giving: A Healthy Holiday Gift Guide

The holiday season is here! While it is a joyous time for many, the pressure of gift-giving and the hunt for the perfect present may leave you feeling stressed and confused. The gift must be practical to avoid collecting dust in the back of a closet, but it must also show that you know and care for recipient. This holiday gift guide aims to help you find gifts that best suit your loved ones and support their health and well-being.

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Trick or Treat Yourself with Balanced Halloween Treats!

Trick or Treat Yourself with Balanced Halloween Treats!

The leaves are turning, there is a chill in the air, and the Halloween season is upon us. Halloween is known for being a holiday of enjoying sweet treats and candy, and for some, this may spark questions on the health impact of these typically sugary foods. Tasty treats can still be a part of a balanced diet. Mindfulness when making food choices and eating a variety of nutritious foods, as well as treats, are all factors that create a balanced diet and life.

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Eating Plant-Based in the Dining Commons

Eating Plant-Based in the Dining Commons

Your first year at college can be a difficult adjustment in many ways, and finding plant-based options in the dining commons can feel like an additional challenge. Luckily, eating plant-based in college is not nearly as difficult as it may seem. Here are some hacks I discovered as a first-year vegetarian that I still use today.

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Food Rainbow Series - Part 3: Eating the Rainbow

Food Rainbow Series - Part 3: Eating the Rainbow

You may have heard that one of the best ways to get the necessary amount of nutrients is by "eating the rainbow." This phrase refers to having a diverse eating pattern to maintain healthy bodily function. With over 30 vitamins, minerals, and other dietary components, it is hard to keep track of what is necessary for your body's health. A great way to simplify the process is to focus on the variety of colors on your plate.

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Food Rainbow Series - Part 2: Colors and Food Desirability

Food Rainbow Series – Part 2: Colors and Food Desirability

There are two aspects of color that affect appetite: luminance and chroma. Luminance is perceived brightness and chroma is the color's intensity. Combined, they influence both hedonic and sensory expectations but also have as much influence when analyzed separately.

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The Food Rainbow Series: Stimulating Your Appetite Through Aesthetics

The Food Rainbow Series: Stimulating Your Appetite Through Aesthetics

There are multiple factors that impact our desire to eat, including mood, environment, and food presentation. Food presentation considers color, arrangement, plating, neatness, portion sizes, balance, and even luminance to create a beautiful representation that influences your desire to eat that food. This series explores the relevance of these details and provides different tips and fun facts for your eating journey!

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Whole Grains For Your Whole Life

Whole Grains For Your Whole Life

Whole grains are universally recommended in a healthful diet, providing helpful nutrients like dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals, but they are a severely underutilized food group. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests choosing from a wide variety of grains daily and making half of the grains you eat whole grains.

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