It’s that time of year again, and by “that time” I mean, of course, that it’s Whole Grains Month. I haven’t been in clinical practice for several years, now, but I remember how monthly themes like this could inspire me to educate my clients. Board displays, tip sheets, trivia questions for the bold and the brainy, and presentations to employees were all part of my arsenal to get people fired up about the nutrition topic of the month.   Read More >>

It’s back to school time! For those who work in school foodservice there can be some steep challenges in feeding hundreds, maybe even thousands, of kids a healthy breakfast and lunch every day. So what is a great solution for meeting both health and happiness at school meal time? The answer…adding whole grain kid-favorites to the menu.   Read More >>

“Changing Lives, Building Knowledge, and Creating Opportunities.” This was the theme of the August 2010 American Association of Diabetes Educators Conference. In a growing and multifaceted disease, I was inspired by the approaches these educators employ to enhance the health of their patients.  Read More >>

Fiber is generally accepted as a nutrient that is important to overall good health, but for many, our knowledge of fiber stops there. I recently attended the 9th Vahouny Fiber Symposium, which was a great opportunity to learn of new developments in this exciting field.  Read More >>

Have you wondered why we are being asked to eat more whole grains? Does it really have a significant impact on our health? I was honored to be part of the Putting the Whole Grain Puzzle Together: Health benefits Associated with Whole Grains symposium, at the Experimental Biology meetings in April, that addressed these very questions.   Read More >>

How do we help our youth live healthy, balanced and active lifestyles? It takes initiative, bright ideas, and passionate commitment! I was once again impressed with the over 1,000 applications submitted for this year’s General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids Grant. These are the people willing to drive change so our children can have a healthier tomorrow.   Read More >>

Yesterday was one of my favorite days of the year! Nope it wasn’t my birthday, or anniversary, it was the first day of my Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) pick-up. It’s a glorious day each late spring that the first box of vegetation bounty arrives at my local drop site.  Read More >>

Recently I wrote a post discussing the first Minnesota Idea Open Challenge contest. Over 400 ideas were submitted to tackle the issue of: How could your community use $15,000 to help people eat smart and be active? So what was the winning concept? What is this ‘Idea Open’ anyway? So glad you asked!   Read More >>

To thank you for being on the front lines of nutrition education, the Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition is pleased to announce FREE online access to the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior for the next three months! To access this month’s dedicated WIC supplement and other valuable JNEB resources click "read more" below.  Read More >>

If your community had $15,000 to help people eat smart and be active, how would you use it? There has been plenty of discussion recently concerning the best approach to growing public health challenges in America. How are we finding solutions?   Read More >>

I’ve often heard it takes 21 days for a new habit to form. As we approach spring, how many New Year’s resolutions have actually sprung into action? A study published in the July 2009 European Journal of Social Psychology found that daily events like eating fruit at lunch or running for fifteen minutes took an average of sixty-six days to become a habit.   Read More >>

Today I ran outside with short sleeves on. This may not sound impressive, but mid-March in Minnesota is not known for tropical breezes. I came home and noticed that my entire garden was free of the snowy blanket that had engulfed it only days ago. On further inspection I noticed something amazing…a mint sprig shooting out of the dense black soil!   Read More >>

March 10 is Registered Dietitian Day! For the many RDs who visit this site each day, we salute you! I am curious if you RDs remember as vividly as I, taking the registration exam? That was the beginning of the the Great RD Adventure!  Read More >>

Whether you are a care provider or trying to negotiate care for yourself or a loved one within our current health-care system, healthcare reform is on everybody’s mind. What is a Patient Centered Medical Home and can it be the answer to more cost effective and enhanced care?   Read More >>

I’ve spent a good chunk of my career working with the Women, Infants, and Childrens (WIC) program. One thing was always missing—practical experience—until recently when we added our daughter Gia to our family. The WIC Food Package Final Rule is being heavily debated for the 9,000,000 mothers, infants, and children in who participate. As a mother, I finally have a frame of reference.  Read More >>

At a recent girlfriend gathering the discussion of, “events and the favorite foods that go with them”, was an exciting topic. We went down the line from holiday feasts, Super Bowl party snacks, and Valentine’s Day desserts. After I stopped dreaming of chocolate truffles, I considered the notion, “Can comfort foods actually be good for our health?”   Read More >>

It’s that time of year (especially if you live in the tundra north like I do) in which the daily shot of sunshine seems elusive. With the warmth and glow of the sun also comes a soaking dose of Vitamin D. Last year was a big “media” year for the usually low key D. So what's the breakdown of the recommendations and how should we be guiding our patients on Vitamin D intake?  Read More >>

This month the Bell Institute will be speaking with Dr. John Ivy, exercise physiologist and Department Chair of Kinesiology at the University of Texas at Austin. For the past thirty years he has researched simple, healthy options for building strength, endurance and muscle mass. The best part is you get to ask Dr. Ivy the questions! Submit your questions this week and tune in for the answers on bellinstitute.com!  Read More >>

Information overload is everywhere. As experts in the field of nutrition and health, we are suppose to be “on top” of the latest research. I don’t know about you, but that feels daunting in a science that is constantly evolving. At the October 2009 American Dietetic Association conference in Denver, I had the opportunity to learn, listen, and educate. One area of confusion I noticed was around the benefits of whole grain. I had several colleagues ask, “Why isn’t the fiber content similar in all whole grain products and what are the positives to increasing dietary whole grains?”   Read More >>

One of my favorite teaching tools is the “Stages of Change” for modifying health behavior. Early in my career, I would get discouraged when I didn’t see enough “progress” in some of my patients as they endeavored to make better choices. I loved how this model taught me there are victories even in the small progressions people make everyday.   Read More >>

I have a guilty pleasure of watching home improvement TV shows. I think the biggest thrill is seeing how the end result of these shows really improves the lives of the people who actually live in these houses! They have more useable space for their daily needs and for hanging out with family and friends. At the Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition we are so excited to show you our new website home!   Read More >>