There is so much information out there about what is healthy and what isn't, so over the next few weeks I’ll start from the beginning and talk about why eating the right foods can keep you healthy and feeling great! Today I’ll focus on the six essential nutrients our bodies need in order to function properly.

I love making muffins! They are so simple to put together and a much healthier alternative to store-bought varieties. There are almost always extra ripe bananas in my house, so what better way to use them up than by making banana muffins! Today I’ll share one of my favorite muffin recipes and why it is a nutritious option any time of day.

Have you ever tried cooking or baking with almond flour? Almond flour is made from finely ground almonds and is a lower-carb and gluten-free alternative to regular flour. Though you may be skeptical, it still makes for delicious baked goods, or can even be used as a substitute for breadcrumbs in savory dishes. Read on to find out why I like using almond flour and for some of my favorite recipes!

Sodium is something you’ve likely heard about, especially if you have high blood pressure. Sodium naturally occurs in some foods but is also added to many foods in the form of salt. I briefly mentioned sodium in last week’s post about healthy restaurant eating, so today I’ll talk more about the function of sodium in the diet (yes, we do need some!), recommendations for intake, main food sources, and how to make your food taste great without adding a bunch of salt.

Eating out doesn’t have to be unhealthy. Restaurants are getting better and better about offering foods to fit a variety of dietary choices, whether you have a food allergy or intolerance, are trying to lose weight, or manage a chronic disease. Today, I’ll focus on one of my favorite spots to eat when I need something quick: Cafe Yumm! If you haven’t been, I’d recommend trying it out; they have several locations in Oregon. They have several healthy options (as well as several less healthy options) so I’ll share my top choices with you today!

Salads are the perfect hot weather food. I didn’t start making my own salad dressings until fairly recently, but now that I have I’ll never go back to buying them at the store. Premade salad dressings are packed full of extra (mostly unhealthy) ingredients that homemade varieties are lacking. Today I’ll discuss why I like making my own salad dressings and one of my favorite simple recipes with only 4 ingredients.

Avocado toast is probably one of my favorite things in the world to eat; if you’ve never tried it, you should! Though avocados can be a bit pricey, they pack a solid nutrition punch so I think they are worth the higher price tag. Today I’ll share with you the health benefits of avocado and my 3 favorite ways to eat avocado toast.

Since we’ve been talking so much about carbs, I thought I’d share some of my favorite ways to incorporate carbs into meals and snacks. Keep reading for a few of my favorite recipes!

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is diabetes that occurs in pregnancy. Though it may be scary to hear that you’ve been diagnosed with GDM, it is common and very manageable, often with just diet and exercise. Today I’ll talk about what GDM is and how to manage it so that you can have a healthy pregnancy and prevent the development of type 2 diabetes in the future.

Eating when you have diabetes may seem like a chore; you may feel like there is nothing you can eat, but this isn’t true! Eating your favorite foods is still possible even if you have diabetes. Today I’ll discuss methods for managing diabetes, focusing mainly on making the right food choices.