Jo-Ann Heslin, MA, RD, CDN

We love to try new foods. Some are great. Some don’t measure up and some become staples in our kitchen. See what you think. Lifeway long known as a source for kefir has introduced Farmer Cheese Cups which are cultured after pasteurization with live kefir cultures making them an excellent source of probiotics. Farmer Cheese Cups are … Read More

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Americans discard over 52 million tons of food each year—that’s 400 pounds for each person. Though farms, restaurants, grocery stores, and institutional food services all have some food waste, households contribute the most, over 43% of all the food wasted is done at home. We need to be more responsible with this precious commodity and … Read More

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We love to try new foods. Some are great. Some don’t measure up and some become staples in our kitchen. See what you think.  Americans love to snack. In 2017, 55% of adults said they snacked 2 to 3 times a day and those under age 40 snacked even more frequently. In many cases, multiple … Read More

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All types of endive are the leaf of the chicory plant – curly (also called frisee), broad-leaved (commonly called escarole) and Belgian (pale to white cone-shaped head). One cup has 9 calories, 71 micrograms of folate (a B vitamin), 542 milligrams of vitamin A and 115 micrograms of vitamin K (close to one and half … Read More

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We love to try new foods. Some are great. Some don’t measure up and some become staples in our kitchen. See what you think. Finlandia,a subsidiary of Valio, Ltd., known for producing butter and quality cheese products since 1905 when a group of Finland’s dairies joined together to form a co-operative. Finlandia, founded in the … Read More

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Food makes up the largest portion of solid waste found in US landfills. In a recent study researches focused on the nutritional value of food we routinely throw away. Americans are not getting enough fiber, calcium, potassium and vitamins A, C, D, and E while at the same time throwing away tons of good food … Read More

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We enjoy trying new kitchen gadgets.  Some are great. Some don’t measure up and some become staples in our kitchen. See what you think. Microwave ovens heat by agitating the water in food. Food heats as the water molecules flip around. If cooking time is prolonged the water evaporates. The inside of some microwave ovens … Read More

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For years we have been advised to avoid saturated fats because they increase the risk for heart disease. Saturated fats are known for raising LDL cholesterol.  But, as with all health messages, it isn’t that simple – not all saturated fats are created equal. Some saturated fats are worse than others for raising LDL cholesterol. … Read More

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A food allergy is a response from your immune system. Your body recognizes the food as a threat, which causes an inflammatory response which creates symptoms that can range from an itchy mouth to hives to difficulty breathing or even death in extreme cases. A food sensitivity, also called a food intolerance, is harder to … Read More

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Mount Franklin Foods is a leader in delivering candies and nut products has introduced 3 new brands. Sweet Valley Organics offers dark chocolate covered fruits and nuts. They are USDA Certified Organic, Fair Trade Certified, kosher certified (OK), and made without preservatives.  We tasted two varieties. Cinnamon Praline Pecans– a 1-ounce serving (1/4 of the package) … Read More

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