It’s that wonderful time of year and holiday festivities are just around the corner! It’s time to enjoy our favorite holiday meals with family and friends. With all of the excitement it can also be a time of unwanted weight gain. The good news is you don’t have to completely deprive yourself of your favorite holiday dishes. Research shows that enjoying your meals in moderation is more effective in the long run, when it comes to weight management, than elimination. Also, enjoy holiday dishes at work, at home, at restaurants or where ever you are invited and just remember your portion control strategy.

The beginning of the school year means parents packing up school lunches for their children. This reminds me of my childhood when my mother packed my lunchbox with tasty treats and a satisfying lunch to get me through the day. Old habits are hard to break. The “going back to school” time got me thinking about the importance of packing your lunch box, even beyond your school yard years.



You know that fresh, raw fruits and vegetables are great tasting and good for you. But did you know that how we pair them with other foods can help us reap even more benefits from these gifts of Mother Nature? It's true!

Jennifer Lopez and Lin-Manuel Miranda were given the gift of song, and now they're giving back to those affected by last month's Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando.

By Jessie Shafer

Chef LaLa's dinner makeover draws inspiration from old family recipes and the cuisine of Jalisco, the Mexican state where her dad is from. The mood and food is light when LaLa and her family gather for a healthy Mexican meal.