Cooking With The Moms

On today’s Liz's Healthy Table podcast, we’re talking about foods, nutrition, and dietary supplements that support a healthy immune system. What does science say about vitamins D, C, A, and E? What about zinc? Why is a diet rich in fruits and vegetables more important now than ever as we deal with a global pandemic? And why are the elderly at greater risk for nutritional deficiencies? Join me as we dive into these topics and more, including why you’ll never hear me claim that anything can "boost" your immune system. (I prefer the term, "support.") Anthony Thomas, Ph.D., is a Nutrition Researcher and Director of Scientific Affairs at Jarrow Formulas in Los Angeles. Anthony evaluates research for ingredient use in dietary supplement formulations, including dosing and usage recommendations to reflect scientifically supported benefits. He has authored and co-authored multiple published peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts and served as peer reviewer with relevant expertise in the field of nutrition and metabolism

They are healthy, nutrition-packed, and can be the building blocks to some pretty delicious, yet hearty meals. There is perhaps no food quite so convenient, versatile, and humble--finding a home in even the tightest of food budgets. What is this miracle food of which we speak? Beans! They come in so many different varieties, and the meal possibilities are endless. A kitchen without beans is like a day without sunshine. Beans are versatile, delicious, nutritious, and they add an endless array of recipe possibilities to meals, snacks, and desserts. I use them all the time in my everyday cooking, and so does Joe Yonan, author of the new cookbook, Cool Beans: The Ultimate Guide to Cooking with the World's Most Versatile Plant-Based Protein. If you've been cooking more and more and more these days at home, then you'll love the recipes, kitchen wisdom, and cooking advice from Joe Yonan. He's the Food and Dining Editor for The Washington Post, and as you'll discover on this week's show, he's also the master of cool

How have you been navigating grocery shopping, cooking, and meal planning during quarantine? My habits certainly have changed, and I've talked about it on the show over the past few months. So this week, I thought it would be fun to hear from three fellow dietitian friends and podcast hosts to see how they're coping with the new normal and how their cooking, shopping, and eating habits have evolved over the past few months. Tune in for tips on turning dinner into tasty lunch leftovers the next day; how to bust through dinnertime boredom by trying new "out of the box" recipes; and why you don't have to feel guilty if you're not baking your own sourdough bread. Amber Pankonin hails from the great state of Nebraska. She hosts the Healthy Under Pressure podcast, where she interviews entrepreneurs about how they thrive and grow even when faced with daily stresses and challenges. Amber has important words of wisdom for each of us about giving ourselves a break during difficult times and not feeling like we have to

Just in time for Mother’s Day, let’s all take a deep breath together and celebrate the hard work we do every day taking care of our families … by taking care of ourselves. Today’s show features self-care strategies and “you” time. Together with my guest, Heather Englund from Fit Mama Real Food, we’ll explore things like food and hydration, mindful movement and outdoor time, and fun, laughter and gratitude. Self care is important for the health of your body and your mind. Heather Englund is a self-care guru and fellow podcaster. She’s the face and voice behind the food and healthy living website, Fit Mama Real Food. On her blog, podcast, and website, she shares recipes for the entire family, tips for bringing kids into the kitchen, and quick and effective home workouts--all to help you feel and live your healthiest, happiest, and best life. Heather and I met through email and connected over our love of podcasts. In today’s episode, Heather shares self-care strategies to help us carve out that essential time fo

Join me on this week’s podcast as I clear up the confusion about the safest and most efficient way to grocery shop, food safety and coronavirus, and restaurant take-out in the age of COVID-19. My guest is Hilary Thesmar, PhD, RD, Chief Food and Product Safety Officer and Senior VP of Food Safety Programs for the Food Marketing Institute (FMI). Hilary is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in Human Nutrition and a Ph.D. in Food Technology. Wait until you hear her advice on how to handle your groceries when you get home from the supermarket, why it’s OK to order and eat take-out from your favorite restaurants, and how the supply chain is adapting to the distribution of things like milk, eggs, and toilet paper to the supermarket.  Show Highlights: Get to know Hilary, her work at FMI, her family, and her dog A recent survey’s findings about grocery shopping habits during the pandemic. How people have changed their shopping habits Why people worry about finding groceries and supplies that they need How

Today’s guest, Bettina Elias Siegel, explains why kids are bombarded with unhealthy foods and messages about unhealthy foods all day long, why it's hard to raise healthy eaters, and why the notion that kids are inherently picky is a myth. Join us to find out how you can advocate in your community for healthier kid foods in schools, restaurants, and on the playing field. Become an advocate for change and learn valuable lessons from Bettina's book, Kid Food. Bettina is the mother of two teenagers, and they make their home in Houston. Bettina recently appeared on Episode 5 of the new MSNBC series, What’s Eating America, where she spoke with chef and host Andrew Zimmern about the role of processed food in school meals.   Show Highlights: Bettina’s back story of her varied careers as a lawyer, freelance writer, food advocate, and food policy writer Why family dinner is a priority at Bettina’s home, where they eat healthy, tasty, and quickly prepared meals The lack of cooking skills and home economics education in

This week, I find myself spending more and more time at home as I distance myself from others. Due to Coronavirus concerns (and they are mighty concerns indeed), a growing number of individuals and communities are staying home. On this week's show, I talk to fellow dietitian, Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD about the importance of keeping your pantry, fridge, and freezer stocked to the brim with nourishing and delicious foods that fortify the body and the soul. Whether you are laying low to reduce the spread of the virus, are required to self-quarantine, or are not feeling well yourself, having healthy foods on hand that your family loves can help to carry all of us through this crisis. Don't panic, my friends, but please be prepared. Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD is the owner of Active Eating Advice, co-founder of Performance 365, sports dietitian to the Kansas City Chiefs, and a fellow Producer for Better Health Fruit and Vegetable Ambassador in Action. She's also one of the most clever, witty, and compassionate dietitians I

On today’s show, we are exploring the connection between diet and brain health. What is this connection? Are there foods we can eat to protect our brains against Alzheimer’s and other dementia symptoms? Let’s dive into this fascinating topic together! Dr. Annie Fenn is a physician, chef, and culinary instructor. For 20 years, she practiced Obstetrics and Gynecology with a specialty in menopause. Her career took an interesting turn, and today, she’s the founder of The Brain Health Kitchen Cooking School, the only culinary school of its kind in the country. Annie’s classes focus on fending off Alzheimer’s and other dementias with brain-healthy foods and cooking techniques. We are going to talk about the MIND Diet, which features ten healthy brain food groups that we should be eating each week. We will also cover unhealthy brain food groups that we should avoid. We’ll share a few recipes, including my take on Annie’s Moroccan Forbidden Rice Salad. You’ll definitely want to check out this recipe, along with Annie

We’re hitting the grocery store to check out the new food label. The Nutrition Facts Panel just got a makeover earlier this year, and my guest will help us decipher what we can find. From the addition of added sugars to a bigger and bolder callout for calories and serving sizes, Bonnie has the scoop on how the new food label can help you and your family make better food choices.    Bonnie Taub-Dix is the author of Read It Before You Eat It: How to Decode Food Labels and Make the Healthiest Choice Every Time. She’s also the creator of the website and blog, Better Than Dieting.com. Bonnie is a mom and grandma, a great home cook, a and great friend. Making a cameo appearance on the show is Amy Cohn, a dietitian who works at General Mills. I’m inviting her to share with us about the revamping process for the food label and how Big G is working to reduce added sugar in some of their food products. If you love to grocery shop, then this is the show for you!   Show Highlights:   Get to know Bonnie, who lives in NY

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, today’s show is all about nurturing healthy relationships. Lisa Davis joins the show to talk about aphrodisiacs, sexy superfoods, and recipes designed to keep you and the loves in your life feeling healthy, vibrant, and strong. From beets and berries to good fats and good bacteria, Lisa serves up superfoods for a super you and gives us tips for keeping your skin looking its best. She has recipes to share, including her Gluten-free Ooey Gooey Brownies made with cashew butter and dark chocolate and her Cauliflower Rice, which is brimming with colorful vegetables.   Lisa is a health expert with a master’s degree in public health, and she’s the host of two podcasts, including Talk Healthy Today and Naturally Savvy Radio. Sit back and enjoy today’s show that’s chock full of information and healthy ways to nourish yourself and your relationships.   Show Highlights:   Lisa is a California girl who has spent the last 20 years living near Boston; she loves family, outdoors, coo

We are celebrating the frigid month of January with a show about freezer cooking. Today’s show just might inspire you to get going with that new Instant Pot you received for Christmas. We are covering the process of preparing those time-saving freezer meals and using the latest kitchen appliances to put nutritious meals on the table for your busy family. Rachel Tiemeyer is the author of the new cookbook, From Freezer to Cooker: Delicious Whole Food Meals for the Slow Cooker, Pressure Cooker, and Instant Pot. The recipes are easy, delicious, family-pleasing, and nourishing. We’ll dig into Rachel’s new recipe for the humble home cook’s Beef Bourguignon, which can be made in a slow cooker or instant pot. We’ll talk about another recipe that I contributed to Rachel’s cookbook for Barley and Chickpea Soup, which is a vegetarian soup made in the slow cooker or Instant Pot. It’s chock-full of good nutrition and fiber. Rachel is co-founder with Polly Conner of Thriving Home, a down-to-earth lifestyle blog that they b

Happy New Year! It’s 2020, which I find hard to believe. It freaks me out in a way that time flies by so fast. As this year holds a big milestone birthday for me, and I mean a really BIG one, my defining word for 2020 in my personal and professional life is----celebrate. I want to celebrate so many things this year, so that’s what we are talking about in today’s show. Let’s talk about resolutions, goals, and intentions for 2020, along with a brand-new delicious recipe.   Show Highlights:   Five themes to celebrate this year: My birthday in August-- I have cool trips planned in my quest to travel more, like Prague, Budapest, Croatia, Greece, and a cruise with my husband. A healthy planet--We need to reduce food waste and make changes to the way we shop, cook, and repurpose. My action for January is composting. (Look for a new action each month!) Simple, fast, healthy dinners--This is the #1 request I receive, and I have some great shows planned. Today’s recipe is for Easy Red Lentil and Vegetable Soup, wh

You’ve probably heard the buzz about the typical American diet that’s filled with excess sugar. There are many health problems associated with high sugar intake, and sadly, these problems are showing up at younger and younger ages in America’s youth. Today’s show was all about tips and tricks for cutting added sugar from your family’s diet without sacrificing the fun and flavor of your favorite recipes.  My guest today is Jennifer Tyler Lee, author and healthy eating advocate. Her new cookbook, Half the Sugar, All the Love: A Family Cookbook, is being released later this month. You might remember her previous cookbook, The 52 New Foods Challenge, or her really cool kids’ nutrition game, Crunch A Color. Half the Sugar, All the Love is filled with 100 sweet and savory recipes that have been remastered to be lower in sugar than their original counterparts. If you crave a chocolate brownie, Jennifer has you covered with her Double-Chocolate Brownies, and just wait until you hear how she uses sweet potatoes as a s

If you board it, they will come. And if you put snacks, appetizers, and nibbles on a board, everyone at your table will eat and enjoy every bite! Whether you call them cheese boards, snack boards, appetizer boards, or charcuterie boards, Maegan Brown, author of Beautiful Boards, has the complete scoop on creating irresistible boards for every eating occasion. Maegan Brown is The Baker Mama and author of the stunning new cookbook, Beautiful Boards. She has tips for everything from creating a sensational Cobb Salad Board piled high with all the fixings to a make-your-own Pancake Board, complete with colorful berries, maple syrup, and bacon on the side! Tune in for my delightful conversation with Maegan. If you’re looking for a new way to serve food that’s fun, interesting, and easy, then this is the show for you! Show Highlights: The story of Maegan, The Baker Mama, who is the mom of four kids under age 8 and is married to her fellow foodie husband, with whom she makes her home in Dallas, TX How Maegan’s blog

Finding recipes that are easy to make, delicious, nourishing and a joy for your family and friends to eat is like hitting the jackpot … and that’s what you’ll get on the show today. Joining me is Maria Lichty from the Two Peas & Their Pod Cookbook and blog.   Maria Lichty is the voice and home cook behind the food blog and cookbook, Two Peas and Their Pod. Rounding out Maria’s pod are her husband and sous chef, Josh, and her two adorable boys, Caleb and Maxwell. Maria shares her journey from wedding day to top food blogger, her adventures in the kitchen as she feeds a household full of all those guys, and some of our favorite recipes from her blog and cookbook. We’ll end with some great cookie ideas to prepare you for holiday baking. We’ll learn about her recipe for Asian-Glazed Sheet Pan Salmon and Broccoli,  Artichoke and Spinach Dip, and many more!   Show HIghlights:   Getting to know Maria, her family, her blog, and her cookbook How Maria got into food blogging ten years ago, mainly to get through th

Today’s episode is all about comfort food recipes that are hearty, easy to make, and celebrate what’s in season. My guest is cookbook author and blogger, Tieghan Gerard from Half Baked Harvest. Tieghan’s new cookbook, Half Baked Harvest Super Simple is hot off the press, and she joins me to talk all about it! Half Baked Harvest Super Simple features recipes like Cream of Mushroom Soup with Garlic Bread Crumbs, Sesame Orange Chicken, and Harvest Butternut Squash and Apple Pizza, which are all perfect for cozy family dinners or festive gatherings. Tieghan took time off from her book launch to talk about the new cookbook, her journey into the wild world of food blogging, her Colorado barn where she cooks and photographs her recipes, and why her recipes appeal to even the pickiest of eaters. Show Highlights: Getting to know Tieghan and the food blog that grew out of her crazy family experiences What family mealtime was like for Tieghan growing up in a family of nine How Tieghan began cooking as a young teen to h

Today’s show is all about pumpkin! While this versatile and nutritious autumn fruit is best known as a front porch decoration on Halloween and a flavoring in trendy coffee drinks, it's also an ingredient that makes its way into everything from wholesome muffins and pancakes to chili, enchiladas, and mac & cheese! As a dietitian, I adore pumpkin, and as you'll learn on the show today, it turns out that my guest is even more obsessed with this fall favorite than I am. On the show today is registered dietitian, food blogger, and cookbook author Maggie Michalczyk. She lives in Chicago, where she runs Once Upon A Pumpkin, a blog that’s filled with recipes and tips for cooking with pumpkin. Maggie has lots of recipe ideas to keep you cooking all autumn long and beyond. On the show, we dish about Maggie’s recipes for Pumpkin Mac and Cheese and Gluten-free Pumpkin Chickpea Blondies, and we've got tips for roasting pumpkin and pumpkin seeds. And of course, we dive deep into the nutritional benefits of pumpkin.

Today’s show is all about the benefits of family mealtime. Sharing family meals is good for body and soul, but making it to the dinner table night after night can be a challenge. To make mealtime a regular reality, I’m joined this week by Brianne DeRosa from The Family Dinner Project.   Brianne DeRosa is the Content Manager for The Family Dinner Project. She’s the co-author of an incredible new book, Eat, Laugh, Talk! The Family Dinner Playbook. This book is over-the-top awesome with 52 weeks of easy recipes and hundreds of conversation starters and hilarious games designed specifically for the family dinner table. In this episode, Brianne and I share our family dinner experiences from childhood AND today, as busy moms. We have lots of tips to make family dinner happen more often, in spite of dealing with picky eaters and hectic family schedules. We’re cutting through those barriers today to give you easy solutions and delicious recipes, like Skillet Chicken with Goat Cheese Sauce. We’ll also tell you about T

Are you ready for food adventures from around the world? Today’s show is all about culinary travel from the spice markets of Marrakech to the island of Sicily, where a traditional pasta dish is topped with crispy bread crumbs. Join me for a whirlwind journey of flavors with food and travel writer Carolyn O’Neil, who has been a great friend of mine for many decades. Carolyn O’Neil is a registered dietitian nutritionist who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, but calls the world her home. After 20 years at CNN, where she launched and led the network’s coverage of food, nutrition, and cuisine, Carolyn is now a food and travel writer. She contributes to a number of publications including Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine and Food & Wine magazine. She has authored two cookbooks, The Dish: On Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous! AND The Slim Down South Cookbook with Southern Living magazine.  Carolyn also appears on the Food Network as the “Lady of the Refrigerator” on Alton Brown’s Good Eats: The Return!   Show Hig

Are you interested in raising plant-based eaters? From babies and toddlers to kids of all ages, prepping plant-based meals and snacks requires a bit of planning and plotting, but the payoff is a family table brimming with fruits, veggies, beans, tofu, and other plant-based foods. Joining me on today's podcast is Alex Caspero, dietitian, mom, and co-founder of Plant-Based Juniors---better known as, PBJs. She’s sharing lots of tips and words of wisdom about the food choices that exist today.    Show Highlights:   Alex’s background, her website, and her life in St. Louis with her husband and toddler son When Alex was pregnant, she looked for a one-stop website with the information she needed about a plant-based lifestyle, but couldn’t find it How PBJ was created with Whitney English to help other moms who are in the same boat that Whitney and Alex were as new moms How to tap into the PBJ community via the website, Instagram, and YouTube Why the term “plant-based” is more fitting than “vegetarian” or “vegan” The