This blueberry date salad brings a unique blend of summertime flavors and is sure to be your next favorite lunch or dinner option!

Today I have one of my favorite salad recipes to share with you! This gorgeous salad is topped with blueberries, dates, chopped cucumbers and red onion, pistachios, and feta cheese, all drizzled with a dark balsamic dressing. It’s fabulous on its own, but would also taste great topped with some chicken or chickpeas for added protein! You’ll love to add this salad to your summer lunch rotation!

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Today I want to share how I go about meal planning and grocery shopping each week. Of course there is no one right way to go about this and each person will have their own way of meal planning and/or grocery shopping that works best for them. This is simply what has been working best for me lately and if you’re looking to make a change in this area, hopefully you’ll find a new idea to try based on what I share!

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Happy Monday! I am finally back to blogging after taking a few weeks off. We went to St. Augustine a few weeks ago with Alec’s side of the family which we really enjoyed! I had never been to that part of Florida before so it was fun to see/explore.

I especially enjoyed all the fresh seafood, running on the beach in the morning (more like run/walking since it was extremely hot/humid), exploring downtown St. Augustine, and spending time with family.

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Hello friends! I hope you are having a nice week! We are getting ready to head to Florida with Alec’s side of the family on Saturday and will be there for all of next week, and then will be heading back to Michigan to go to my grandparents’ for the 4th (also will have lots of cousins/extended family there). Looking forward to the time away and all of the family time! On to some delicious eats from the past couple of weeks!

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This is part of an ongoing series I am starting called “Understanding Anorexia.” These posts (which I will continue to do every now and then going forward) will focus on different physiological, nutritional, and psychological aspects of anorexia nervosa (AN). Today we will be talking about zinc deficiency! This is a major topic to be aware of you are experiencing AN, have a history of AN, or work with people with AN.

Zinc deficiency is one of the most common micronutrient deficiencies in those with AN. Given that zinc is involved in so many key physiological processes, it is vital for eating disorder treatment and recovery to ensure that your zinc levels are in a good place. In this post, we are going to cover several topics related to zinc including:

  • What is zinc and why is it important?
  • What are good food sources of zinc?
  • How are zinc deficiency and AN related?
  • What can I do to improve my zinc levels?

Let’s dive in!


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This deliciously creamy blueberry cacao breakfast smoothie is sure to keep you feeling satisfied and energized for hours. Customize with your favorite add-ins and toppings!  

Hello and happy Tuesday! Anyone else feeling tired of the abnormally hot weather for spring? Thankfully I have the perfect smoothie to the rescue. If I want to make a smoothie in the morning or even afternoon, this is my go-to smoothie of choice. I usually have all of the ingredients on hand, it is full of nutrition, and it tastes delicious! What more could one want in a smoothie? On to the details!

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Happy Memorial Day! I hope you have been enjoying the weekend and have been able to spend some time relaxing with family and friends. I am grateful for all the Americans who have sacrificed so much for our country in the fight for freedom here and around the world. We are hoping to spend the weekend going on a hike and are planning to make some burgers topped with caramelized onions (the best burger topping!) and this potato salad. On to some delicious eats from the past couple weeks!

More overnight steel-cut oatmeal – hidden underneath all the berries is some creamy almond butter, honey, and flax seeds! I am so happy that fresh berries are back in season!

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I’ve had several people ask me recently some version of the question, “After learning all that you’ve learned in your program, what can you just not eat now??” I think they are expecting me to share something along the lines of the “horrors” of McDonald’s, added sugar, or processed foods. My attempts to answer this question got me thinking about how going through a master’s program in nutrition has actually increased my flexibility with eating and confidence that a healthy diet can incorporate all foods – hence, there is nothing that I, as a nutrition professional and enthusiast, “can’t eat now!”

So, I thought I’d share a few key takeaways of what I learned from my time in school. I’d love to hear what resonates with you!

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Chewy, sweet coconut apricot energy bites – the perfect on-the-go or at-home snack. Packed with juicy apricots, salted cashews, coconut, and chia seeds for extra texture/nutrition, these easy-to-make energy bites are sure to become something you will want to make on repeat! 

We love our chocolate-flavored energy bites over here, but recently I decided to switch it up and add a new flavor into the mix – thus, these tasty coconut apricot energy bites were born! Using only 5 ingredients and a food processor, these bites can be whipped up in mere minutes! If I’m going to take the time to prep a snack beforehand, I want it to be simple ingredient-wise and clean-up-wise. These perfectly fit the bill!

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