Dear Lesley: Meat Substitutes
I have started to add more plant-based meals in my rotation. So far it hasn’t been that bad. The foods I get taste pretty decent, and the textures are good. I am not crazy about tofu because I can’t do the texture. Even though I like the foods, I don’t like the prices.
Dear Lesley: Breakfast Ideas for High Cholesterol
My husband found out at his last doctor visit that his cholesterol is too high. He was put on a medication and was told to change the way he eats. I am going to plan his meals because I know that he will struggle. He doesn’t do that good with change. He is really concerned about what he gone eat for breakfast, especially protein.
Dear Lesley: Is Bacon That Bad?
I have been doing pretty good with eating healthier. I have been working on trying new foods and you have been a big part of that. But I am struggling with giving up one of my favorite foods– bacon.
Nutrition: Food & Culture
My approach has always been to be mindful, inclusive, and respectful of the impact culture has on what a person chooses to eat and how they chose to prepare what they eat. I try not to assume that there is only one healthy way to prepare foods or that one cuisine is superior to another. I did not have to learn or be advised to be culturally competent. Though this came naturally for me, I am appreciative that more efforts are being made to expand cultural awareness in nutrition. To be honest, my insight for the need for reverence of cultural backgrounds derived from my experience as a black American and the belittling of the food (soul food) I grew up on.
Dear Lesley: Olives vs. Olive Oil
I love eating olives. I snack on them throughout the day almost every day. I eat them so much that I buy them by the gallon. I have been told that I need to cut back. I wanted to know if olive oil is healthy enough for us to cook with it every day, why isn’t eating olives every day healthy?
Dear Lesley: Low Appetite
Are there any suggestions you could give me for my low appetite? I am happy with my weight, and I have been eating this way most of my adult life. It becomes worse when I am stressed and working to meet deadlines.
Dear Lesley: Vegan Eating: Fad or Healthy?
My child wants to go vegan. Is eating all this vegan stuff a fad? How is it healthy if it is all processed to taste like regular food? Please make it make sense.
Dear Lesley: PCOS and Nutritional Wellness
I am considering getting pregnant, but I have PCOS. Would you suggest a woman with PCOS make changes nutritionally to improve her fertility
Pandemic Pounds
The number of people reaching out to me for nutrition counseling involving weight management has increased considerably. After conducting numerous consultations, I began to see a common thread. Most of the people contacting me where unhappy with the status of their physical health since dealing with the pandemic. Many of them narrated the toll the pandemic has taken on their mental health also.
Diversify Your Nutrient Intake
A balanced diet supplies the nutrients needed for the body to function properly. Healthy, balanced eating can be accomplished regardless of the dietary pattern one may choose. A well-balanced diet is composed of nutrients from high-quality proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Expanding food choices can aid in the diversification of the nutrients supplied to the body.
