Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, LD

While walking through a shopping mall food court the other day, I saw a mother sitting with her toddler. The mother had a large portion of fast food and the child’s meal was not much smaller. “...

We’ve all heard of free radicals, yet, many of us are not quite sure what they are or why they’re so scary. Free radicals are unstable molecules, produced by normal bodily functions, which can...

This year, how about giving your special someone the gift of less stress and a smaller waistline? Seem impossible? It’s not! You can do it by giving the most traditional Valentine’s Day gift there...

Recently, two studies were published that demonstrate the connection between red and processed meat and disease. One study, published in the journal Stroke and spanning 20 years of data,...

For years, research has demonstrated that omega-3 fatty acids help lower an individual’s risk for heart attack, stroke, certain cancers, depression and overall inflammation. The type of omega-3s...

If you’re a fan of my blogs, then you know that I love to talk about walnuts. They are, in my mind, one of the best foods around. Walnuts are portable, healthy and satisfying, and they provide the...

Do you think you know the difference between a bird raised on an organic farm and a bird raised on a traditional farm? Perhaps you’ve heard they are happier, better cared for, or enjoy...

Two studies recently presented at a meeting of the American Diabetes Association in San Diego show that your diet colas may actually be hurting your waistline. You might lift an eyebrow at that...

As we head into the best months of summer, we have the glorious opportunity to ditch winter hats and gloves and don shorts and sandals instead. The days are longer, there is plenty of sunlight and...

Americans love a new story about the latest and greatest super fruits. The idea that a plant or seed from Mother Nature can deliver health benefits beyond anything that we can find in a bottle is...

Every night, millions of Americans hit the sack for a 7-8 hour opportunity to recharge the batteries. As we sleep, our bodies work hard to keep our hearts pumping blood, our lungs breathing, and...

A few years ago, you could walk into any convenience store and notice a plethora of drinks promising to keep you awake, energized and alert. Today, they are popping up in bars, movie theatres,...

I have many clients in their 40s, and they all seem to follow the same trend when they come to me for advice. They tell me that their clothing does not fit the way it used to and that they have...

The food industry made a big announcement yesterday. They are going to revamp the way you look at your food by making additions to the nutritional label. 

The nutritional...

A new study in the Journal of Clinical Nursing found that children who don’t like fruits and vegetables are 13 times more likely to be constipated.  Not drinking enough water was also a...

Thanksgiving and the holidays that follow are literally right around the corner. Thankfully you’ve got plenty of tips from Dr. Oz to know what steps should be taken to make your turkey dinner a...

You may have noticed that sugar and syrups have received a lot of press recently. A lot of it is due to the corn refiners petition to the FDA to change the name “high-fructose corn syrup” to "corn...

For most of us, fall means snuggling before a warm fire, delicious hearty soups, another layer of clothing and sometimes ... another layer of fat in the mid-section. You’ve probably all been there...

Here’s a riddle: We all have it, we can’t avoid it and the better we are at managing it, they better our health will be. The answer is ... stress. When we think of ways to alleviate stress, we...

I am a dietitian. I love my job. Every day, I get to help people make better decisions about their food, and although I am not a psychologist, I’m often asked to play one. I know my limits and...

Eggs have been in the news a lot lately and not for a good reason: the recent salmonella scare has made people wary of egg consumption – people are checking their cartons at home and perhaps...

Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen often recommend getting a buddy to help with your weight-loss goals, but have you ever asked yourself, "What can my buddy do for me? Can he or she really help me reach my...

When researchers do studies on salt consumption in the United States, they all find the same trends. The salt we sprinkle on our food accounts for about 10% of our salt consumption, the amount we...

This year, my husband and I decided we would join a CSA (community supported agriculture) program. For a fee, we pick up local organically grown fruits and vegetables every Saturday. It began in...

I was recently at a friend’s house while her daughter was being served dinner. “She only eats chicken nuggets,” my friend said, “she’d eat them at every meal if I let her.” I began to think, what...

When was the last time you looked at a piece of fruit before you put it in your mouth? Or examined the deep hue of a veggie before putting it in your cart at the grocery store? It’s probably been...

As the thermometer rises, so should your consumption of water and water-rich foods. Water is essential to all body tissues and plays a key role in keeping our body running correctly. Water and...

You’ve followed him, wished him well, and hoped that he’d be successful in his quest towards optimal health.  Our Unhealthiest American has had his ups and downs and because of this, you may...

My husband and I made a major decision last fall – it would impact both the lives of us humans (me and my husband) as well as our 3 dogs. It would take time, dedication on our part and a...

Have you ever said, “I am addicted to chocolate,” or “I’m addicted to my mom’s mac ‘n cheese?” Your use of the term addiction may actually be in all in your head. A fascinating new study in rats...

The new health care bill includes a provision that many of us have never heard about, but it will affect us all – restaurant labeling. The new health care bill states that restaurants with more...

When most of us think of St. Patrick’s Day, we envision green beer and traditional Irish food like corned beef and cabbage, but you can have a great time and still be healthy by focusing on Irish...

It’s national Nutrition Month and what better way to celebrate than getting your bang for your nutritional buck all month!  Let’s start with nutrient density.  If you eat the right foods...

Have you ever found yourself looking only at the calories ON the box and not really caring what’s actually IN the box? As a society, we’ve become obsessed with how many calories we’re taking in,...

As January slips away, remember that the goals you set on New Years Day are still important. So many of us go back to old ways once the thrill and the newness of a new healthy eating or...

Steve and I will have our last 2009 pep talk on Christmas Eve. I am choosing this date because many of us choose to "blow it out" at the end of December with the promise that 2010 will start a new...

Holiday's are filled with caroling, decorations, shopping, family...and lots and lots of chocolate. Should you partake? The cocoa bean is actually chock-full of healthy benefits, most of them...

The next 3 weekends will be filled with holiday parties and most of those parties won’t have the healthiest food options to nosh on. How can you stay on your healthy eating plan and still...

You CAN have a healthier Thanksgiving. Americans gain an average of 1 pound throughout the holidays and although that does not sound like much, we tend not to lose this pound over the years. ...

Steve and I have started his journey towards a healthier way of living! We’re starting from scratch and spoke last Friday about making changes to his breakfast. First, Steve needs to...