Maryann Jacobsen's Blog, page 2

Pollo Asado Bowl [Recipe]

I went through many versions of pollo asado bowl before sticking with this recipe. I used to make it in the slow cooker but we burned out on that pretty quick.

This pollo asado bowl recipe started out as something for grill night, which works great. But soon I discovered I can cook it in the oven and it turns out nice and juicy. I often double the recipe to have chicken bowls all week.

In my meal plan I call them chicken fiesta bowls with beans and my no-fail Spanish rice. But you can also do ta...

Breaking the Rules of Behavior Change for Success with Michelle Segar [Podcast]

Does it really take 66 days to build a healthy habit? Will there be a time we gain enough self-control or willpower to always eat nutritiously and exercise?

My podcast guest turns everything we thought we know about healthy behavior change on its head. Not only that, but she also has the research to support it. And a new book.

Michelle Segar, PhD, is an award-winning, NIH-funded researcher at the University of Michigan with almost thirty years studying how to help people adopt healthy behaviors ...

Pasta Primavera [Recipe]

Pasta Primavera is one of my favorite recipes when spring rolls around. It’s light, tasty, and easy to add a protein if you want.

It also makes a nice side dish. And is perfect when you want to use up vegetables that are on their way out.

It’s also great leftover!

For kids who don’t want the veggies or prefer them on the side, you can serve it like it is here. My kids like to add their own veggies. But I only do this if I have time.

I’ve been making this for years and thought it was finally tim...

Learning to Love Myself Through My Daughter’s Eyes

Having children taught me that when it comes to eating well, love trumps nutrition knowledge

Before staying home with my daughter, I worked full-time as a registered dietitian. Because of my job, I thought I’d be a natural at feeding my baby.

Then my beautiful daughter entered the world, and I was as clueless as any new mother.

In order to give my daughter the best start in life, I was dead set on breastfeeding.  After seven longs weeks of nursing, pumping, and supplementing due to her slow wei...

What EVERY Midlife Woman Needs to Know About Vaginal Health with Shirley Weir [Podcast]

Women talk about lots of topics, but vaginal health isn’t typically one of them. Yet midlife is the perfect time to start the conversation because most women will experience vaginal issues. In fact, 60 percent of menopausal women have vaginal symptoms like dryness, and this goes up to 80% post-menopause.

But it’s not just about some annoying symptoms. Compromised vaginal health has many health implications for women including painful intercourse, poor quality of life, recurrent UTIs, incontinenc...

3 Telltale Signs Your Child is Developing an Eating Disorder

Every single day parents grapple with whether their child is heading towards an eating disorder or just being a normal kid. Yeah, Suzi skips meals but what teen doesn’t? Their son only wants to eat protein, but don’t all boys want to gain muscle?

The reasons parents don’t seek help vary. Maybe they hope their child will outgrow body issues or they feel they haven’t done anything to promote an eating disorder.

Parents need to know that eating disorders can happen to any child and are on the rise....

The Role Intuitive Eating Plays at Midlife with Jenn Salib Huber [Podcast]

Intuitive eating is needed more than ever during midlife. That’s because it helps redefine a woman’s relationship with food in ways that create sustainable change.

Whether it’s listening to your body, avoiding all or nothing thinking about food, or denouncing diet culture, as my guest says: “it’s really something that needs to come together for most women.”

I found Jenn Salib Huber, RD, ND, on Instagram as I started navigating midlife health and nutrition. She’s a dietitian, naturopathic doctor,...

7 Foods Every Women Over 40 Should be Eating

Making the connection between food and key nutrients women need after 40 is important. Here are 7 foods that pack a punch and alternatives that help women thrive at midlife and beyond.

At different developmental stages, certain nutrients become vitally important. The developmental stage of midlife is no different.

Therefore, every woman over 40 should make the connection between food and nutrients, ensuring her body is getting what it needs.

This isn’t about restricting food or saying every woma...

The Secret to Peaceful Holiday Eating with Kids

With many families sitting down to dinners throughout the holidays, I can already hear the food battles.

“You have to eat some of your turkey before you get dessert”

“3 more bites and you’re done”

“That’s all you’re eating, get back here!”

The holidays can be particularly hard because there’s so much going on. There’s more snacking. More distractions. And many kids simply don’t want to eat the meal adults spent so much time preparing (and that really hard for parents).

When kids don’t eat away f...

6 Hormone Tests Every Midlife Woman Needs to Know About

The claims about balancing hormones are everywhere. After all, hormones are big in the wellness industry. And for midlife women going through many hormonal changes, they matter a lot.

Yet it’s easy to get confused about whether it’s really your hormones causing problems or something else. And before spending money on some product that makes a promise, why not test your levels to see what it is you need.

This is where hormone biomarkers come in. Today I’m going to share with you six of the most i...