Maryann Jacobsen's Blog, page 3

Back-to-School Dinner Rotation 2021

School is back! Not just school as we knew it last year, but full-time school.

This is the first year my kids won’t be starting school on the same day. Big A started high school a week and a half before her brother. But starting this week they are both in school full time.

So, I’m slowly getting back to more structure and time for me to work. Summer was good but I’m always ready to get back to the routine.

There’s a little more driving for me this school year so dinners must be seamless. I’m goi...

Oat Buttermilk Pancakes [Recipe]

For years I’ve tried to find a buttermilk pancake recipe that rivals the pancakes at restaurants. Big A would rave about those pancakes, but not mine.

Of course, I prefer a nutritious twist on pancakes with whole grain oats, but they had to taste really good too.

So, I started on my find-the-perfect-pancake journey and experienced much trial and error. Eventually, I landed on this little recipe that does the trick. I’ve been making these for years.

I don’t buy buttermilk because when I do it eve...

Why Isn’t Anyone Talking About the Nutrition Crisis the Pandemic Unmasked?

It’s not just age, weight, and health conditions that put people at higher risk for Covid-19, it’s compromised nutritional status. Here’s the less-talked role nutrition plays in the pandemic and what desperately needs to change.

As a seasoned dietitian, I’m used to others viewing nutrition as an afterthought. Whether it’s the doctor who tried everything with his patient only to call me in as a last resort or the corporate project that went on for months before marketing thought to bring me in, n...

DHA, EPA, and the Omega-3 Index Blood Test [Podcast]

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, only 20% of adults and 6% of kids eat fish twice a week. That means many are falling short on the omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA. In episode 33 of The Healthy Family Podcast, Maryann shares why these fatty acids are so important and why she decided to test her levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

Many don’t know that it’s easy to take an omega-3 index test to see if your intake is providing your body with adequate levels of fatty acids. According to...

DHA & EPA Through the Lifecycle: What Families Need to Know

More than 40 years ago, research on Greenland Eskimos revealed they had shockingly low rates of heart disease despite a high-fat diet. This led researchers to look further into the consumption of long-chain fatty acids in fish as protective against heart disease.

These new discoveries brought forth another realization: mammalians’ brains are rich in a certain kind of omega-3 fatty acid: DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). In fact, after analyzing fossils experts believe that the consumption of DHA in s...

Ferritin: The Blood Test Women Should Get at Every Doctor’s Visit

It was a Saturday and I had just finished running 10 miles training for a half marathon. After I got home, I couldn’t motivate to get off the couch. The day was far from over as I had plans to go to a 50th birthday party that night.

There was no possible way for me to physically get dressed and head out for the night. I let my friend know that I wasn’t feeling well. But I wasn’t sick, just bone tired.

Four months later I discovered I was anemic. The light bulbs started to go off as I made connec...

Iron Recommendations for Babies and Toddlers

The fastest period of growth during the lifespan is the first two years of life. This is why iron demand is so high and needs close attention by caregivers.

In November 2010, the American Academy of Pediatrics released its policy statement on iron for infants and toddlers.  This report is a revision of their 1999 statement on iron-fortified infant formulas. The AAP regularly publishes policy statements on nutrition-related topics.

As for 2021, there is no updated policy statement.

Background on ...

5 Ways to Keep Kids Active and Off Their Screens During the Pandemic

Parents can help keep kids active and off their screens by making activity a part of daily life and adding a boost of motivation

This pandemic has been really long, don’t you think?

I remember in the very beginning of quarantine how many families were out walking. It was actually crowded outside which felt worrisome at the time.

Now, not so much. This is even though a good portion of kids are not in the usual routine with school. I noticed when my kids were home all day for online learning, they...

Nutrition During Menopause with Elizabeth Ward and Hillary Wright [Podcast]

What happens when two dietitian-friends who are also writers go through menopause together? They write a book, of course.

Elizabeth Ward and Hillary Wright are coauthors of the new book The Menopause Diet Plan: A Natural Guide to Managing Hormones, Health, and Happiness. Their book highlights key research regarding nutrition and hormone changes at midlife, their own personal experience, and tasty and nutritious meal plans and recipes.

Elizabeth (Liz) is a registered dietitian, writer, recipe dev...

25 Healthy Meals in 20 Minutes or Less

Everyone seems to have at least one quick and healthy meal they can whip up in less than 20 minutes. It’s the meal you make when you don’t feel like cooking or just want something fast. But you still feel good about feeding it to your family because it’s nutritious and tasty.

So I asked some fellow RDs, food bloggers, and Facebook fans what their go-to healthy meals are. And I came up with 25 quick meals that I can’t wait to try. Some of the meal instructions and ingredients are general and othe...