KTK-Nutrition

Who doesn’t like to eat out and enjoy meals with family or friends?   Many of us now bring hand sanitizer to restaurants when eating out and think we have done our “germ prevention”.   But did you know that there are many items in restaurants full of germs?   What are these items and what steps can you take to enjoy eating out without risking getting ill?   WebMD has a great article outlining these items, Germiest Things in Restaurants .    Menus:   Many times, I get to a restaurant and pull out my hand sanitizer, clean my hands, and then open the menu.   But WebMD notes some of the germiest items in a restaurant can be the menu.   Ever get a paper menu?   Paper menus are less germy than the plastic menus.         Suggestion :   Look at the menu and then wash or sanitize your hands, especially before enjoying some finger foods like many appetizers.   (See:   Healthy hints for choosing restaur...

Who doesn’t love the holidays with freshly baked cookies, eggnog, boxes of chocolates given as gifts and food buffets galore?   So how does one eat their way through the holidays without gaining 10 pounds?   The Washington Post provided some helpful guidelines in their 5 ways to fight the winter holiday bulge .          1.    Holiday Party - beverages  - Stay hydrated    Eat something before you go – don’t get to the party starving as you will then overeat.   Try some salad and some protein so you won’t be over hungry at the start of the party.      If cocktails, other alcoholic drinks are offered, have a drink or two.   But alcohol can affect your judgment and then affect how much you eat.   Rebecca Scritchfield, R.D. suggests alternating alcoholic drinks with regular beverages such as sparkling water.   Having ice water is another way to stay hydrated at a party.  ...

With the holidays in full swing, most of us will be enjoying plenty of food and treats.   As we are out and about and hosting parties and meals, we can choose foods and drinks that are gut busters or have fun but make some healthier choices.   Just making some modifications in what we order can influence how many calories we are packing in. Thirsty? – stopping at Starbucks for some caffeine?   Coffee actually has a number of nutritional benefits as does tea.   It is what is added to the coffee that can do one in.   The Center for Science in the Public Interest recently evaluated the Starbucks Venti White Chocolate Mocha made with 2% milk and whipped cream on top.   They compared it to a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder and noted the Venti was actually worse nutritionally than the quarter pounder.   Why?   Perhaps because of the 580 calories and 13 teaspoons of added sugar.    If you want the Venti, then choose to modify it by asking for ...