KTK-Nutrition

Have you heard of “clean eating”?   A fad that has been around for a while.   I have had students that say they “eat clean”.   Or they have adopted a clean eating lifestyle.   What is “clean eating” and is it good for your health?    What is “clean eating”?   Actually, it means different things to different people.   Medical News Today investigated the studies on clean eating.   They noted clean eating can lead to healthier eating but can also lead to “disordered eating”.   At its core, clean eating means eating things as close to nature as you can.   Thus, you choose “natural, nutrient-dense foods and avoid processed and refined foods”.    Following this version of clean eating can lead to healthier eating and help with weight management.   These people focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and high-quality proteins like eggs, cow’s milk, cheese, yogurt.   However, some people define clean...

Picnics.   Who doesn’t enjoy a summer picnic?   Good eating and fun times with friends.   Send your friends and family home with good treats but not with food poisoning.   I tell my students the story of my daughter going to a friend’s house for a cookout.   Everyone had a great time with their friends.   But the next day my daughter felt sick.   She talked to some friends who had gone to the cook out and they were sick too.   The cook out resulted in food poisoning for all those who attended.   What went wrong?   Why did people who went to the cook out get sick?   Surely the hostesses didn’t’ intend to make everyone sick.   So what food safety precautions can you take to make sure your friends and family enjoy the cookout without getting sick once they get home?   Eat Right, the website of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, has a great article, Keep Your Picnic Safe .   USDA also has clear guidance and four s...

Chipotle has certainly been in the news about E. Coli outbreaks at its restaurants.   What is E. Coli and what can you do to avoid getting an infection?   WebMD, CNN, CDC and others have focused on E. Coli and provide some excellent tips for consumers. What is E. Coli? It is a bacteria and the official name is Escherichia coli.   Food infections can come from animals or humans.   It is found in both animal and human intestines.    A simple way to describe it is “Poop Germs”.   Many of us can have E. Coli in our intestines and it is harmless.   However, some strains can make you sick with diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illnesses and if severe enough even kidney failure. What foods can be contaminated with E. Coli? Most commonly, E. Coli outbreaks are linked to undercooked hamburgers.   Produce can be contaminated and is the leading reason for outbreaks.   Raw milk as it hasn’t been pasteurized, and unpasteurized ...