Entries by Banister Nutrition

Make the Most of Your Smoothies

Making smoothies can be fun but sometimes it can be a challenge to come up with the right ingredient combos.  Smoothies can be a quick and easy way to incorporate more fruits and/or vegetables into your diet.  They’re simple and kids love them too!  With unlimited combinations, here are some ingredients that work (and taste) […]

On the Go-Be Smart, Eat Smart

Wake up. Get the kids ready for school. Take the kids to school. Go to work. Work all day. Pick the kids up. Grocery shopping. Soccer practice. Piano lessons. Bedtime battles. Sleep, and repeat! Being on the go all the time and eating out frequently can make it hard to stay on track with eating […]

Let’s Talk Diabetes: The Finger Prick

If you’re just starting to check blood glucose levels you might think, “Ouch! This kind of hurts…” I promise it gets better but when I first started having to check my blood glucose levels I hated it. The anticipation of the needle actually poking me drove me crazy. At the beginning, I would cry and […]

Research on the “Electric Salt Spoon”

Looking for a way to learn more about the sodium in your food?  The University of Kentucky is conducting a study on a device called the “electronic salt spoon”. The electronic salt spoon is being used to help families transition to low-sodium diets.  Place the spoon in the food item and it reads how much […]

Whole Grains: What are they and why do we need them?

Whole grains are frequently talked about when it comes to nutrition. Why are whole grains important and what sets them apart from refined grains? Including whole grains as part of a healthy diet has shown to help reduce cardiovascular disease, lower body weight, and reduce incidence of diabetes. Whole grains provide fiber, vitamins and minerals and […]

The Coffee Connection

Coffee has become one of the most popular drinks in the world.  What’s in coffee? Variations appear between different beans and preparation but overall, coffee is a good source of B vitamin riboflavin, caffeine, and antioxidant phytochemicals. The American Institute for Cancer Research has found a link between coffee and lowered risk for liver cancer. […]

The Growth of Organic Foods

Until recently, shopping for organic foods took a special trip to an upscale grocery store or local farmer’s market, and increased costs. As the American interest in organic foods has grown, so has availability for those foods in supermarkets. You can find a wide variety of organic products in 3 of 4 conventional grocers. Locally […]

Gardening Fun With Kids

I recently blogged about the importance of kids helping in the kitchen but why not take it back another step by letting them help in the garden? Letting kids help with gardening gives them a better insight on the importance of healthy, homegrown, fruits and vegetables and will make them more likely to garden when they’re […]

Let’s Talk Diabetes: The Diagnosis

If you read my intro blog, you saw that fear was my most prevalent emotion upon being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 13. Though I found a way to keep smiling (pictured right), I also felt anxiety, stress, confusion, sadness, and anger. It was February and I was finishing up my 8th grade basketball season.  Within […]

The Family Dinner

Not only is eating together important, but so is preparing the meal together. Getting everyone involved can be fun and it’s important to teach kids the necessary life skills of cooking. What better way than to do it as a family! We asked a patient of ours to describe how she and her husband involve […]