KTK-Nutrition

Food trends come and go.   Trends from long ago like the bogus vinegar diet keeps coming back again.   What are the food trends of the Gen Z?   My daughter, not a Gen Z, sent me an interesting article, Tracking the Latest Gen Z Food Trends in 2024 .   How do their food trends differ from previous generations? What age group is Gen Z? As of 2024, Gen Z are those born from 1997-2012.   Thus, they range in age from 12 and 27 years of age.   So, some have reached adulthood.      What are their main concerns re food? Gen Zers are interested in foods that are: “healthy, sustainable, and affordable, and readily available on demand”.    Doesn’t sound like they would be growing gardens as they want food right away.   How do Gen Zers differ from millennials? Not a huge difference but Gen Z are more interested in vegan and vegetarian foods but on and off.   So more like the Flexitarian diet.   (See:   Best Diet...

So easy to grab a protein bar and think you are “eating healthy”.   But are protein bars really good for your health?   Are some protein bars better than others?   What should you look for when choosing a protein bar?   Many of my relatives eat protein bars and my sister sent me a great article, Are protein bars good for you?   Dietitians reveal the healthiest options .   This article notes proteins bars “can be a filling snack, or a “glorified candy bar.”   Which one are you eating? Do you need a protein bar? Most Americans are already getting more protein than they need.   When I had students track their diet and calculate their protein intake all were eating many more grams of protein a day than they needed.   There are great ways to add protein to your diet without eating protein bars.   Do you know which 2 foods have higher quality protein than a steak?   Eggs are the gold standard for protein quality and next is cow’s milk...

Who doesn’t love snacking?   On a recent trip to Europe, one thing we missed were snacks.   Americans love to snack.   Snacking doesn’t have to be unhealthy and actually can add some good nutrition to your day.   One of my favorite snacks is a banana.   A natural food, unprocessed, no plastic packaging and rich in potassium and fiber.   But too many Americans are eating snacks that are ultra-processed.   What is ultra-processed ?   Ultra-processed foods are those shiny, packaged products that often have little resemblance to their natural origins.   They are typically loaded with additives, preservatives, and artificial ingredients.   What are some examples of ultra-processed snacks to avoid? Mass-Manufactured Chips/Snacks:   Think Cheetos or other colorful, flavored, and heavily processed snack foods.   Sweet Buns and Cookies:     Those soft, sweet buns and sugary cookies you find at the store?   Yes, most...

Snacks – should kids have snacks?   Do snacks ruin a kid’s appetite?   Are snacks healthy?   So often I hear that kids shouldn’t have snacks.   A friend recently stated her kids are always hungry after school, but they don’t know if they should get snacks or what snacks to give them.   All kids not only should have snacks but actually need snacks.  Kids, especially younger kids, have very small stomachs.  They can’t eat large amounts of food at meals so they get hungry between meals.  USDA sets a meal pattern for child care centers and this meal plan has a morning snack and an afternoon snack.  School-age kids should have an after-school or afternoon snack every day.  After-school snacks are a great opportunity to provide kids with nourishing options that keep their energy levels up.   But this snack shouldn’t be gorging on junk food.  What are some guidelines for healthy snacks and what are some snacks kids can make for th...