Maryann Jacobsen's Blog, page 8

Light Chicken Enchiladas [Recipe]

Every Monday is Mexican night and enchiladas are on the rotation. I’m not sure where the idea for this chicken enchiladas recipe originally came from, but I have been making it on and off for years. I’ve attempted a couple other chicken enchilada recipes, but they seem so involved. I asked my sister how she makes chicken enchiladas, and she lost me at, “I start by boiling the peppers.”

It’s nothing fancy but it gets the job done. It goes wonderfully with black beans. I switch between a red an...

5 Signs You’re at Midlife (and Why it Matters)

Somewhere along the line, the signs you’re at midlife happen. But it doesn’t occur at the same age for everyone. You can have a 40th birthday but still feel the same. Or you can start to feel changes as early as your thirties. Either way, there comes a day your mind and body send you signs you are in a different stage of life. These signs can start as a whisper but eventually, lead to a roar.

Welcome to the midlife health and nutrition ongoing series. After just covering puberty, I’m jumping...

10 Ways to Flight the Flu with Nutrition

There are many ways to fight the flu including washing hands, sleeping enough, and getting a flu shot. But nutrition plays a key role in keeping your family’s immune system strong. That’s because nutrition deficiencies compromise the body’s (cells’) ability to effectively ward off disease. Research shows that specific nutrients are especially important for a functioning immune system.

So with flu season upon us, here are 10 easy ways to bolster your family’s defenses with everyday foods.

1. H...

86% of Teachers Reward Students with Candy. Here’s What Parents Can Do.

You send your child off to school and see empty wrappers in his backpack. With further questioning, you discover he’s getting candy most days in exchange for good behavior and doing his work. After talking to other parents you discover that many of the teachers at your kid’s school reward students with candy.

This goes against everything you’re trying to teach him, but what can you do? How do you positively influence his school community without being labeled “that parent.”

Well, today I’m sh...

Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki [Recipe]

I’ve gone through different chicken teriyaki recipes but this one has stuck. It can be made in the Instant Pot or slow cooker, but I prefer the slow cooker. And it’s one of my I-don’t-have-to-think meals.

It takes about 3 hours in my slow cooker on high, which is perfect for those days the kids have late-afternoon activities that I have to go to. I turn it on about 3:30 so we can eat around 6:30 or 7. If we can do it earlier, I choose earlier!

Get the Do’s and Don’ts of Meal Planning when sig...

The Science of Parenting with Jen Lumanlan [Podcast]

When a couple is expecting their first child, they’re inundated with information. But then that baby turns into a toddler that has tantrums and doesn’t like the word “no.” And all of a sudden, the well of information dries up.

So where do parents turn to for advice? And how do we know what to believe? After all, expert advice is constantly changing and everyone seems to have an opinion.

Today’s guest, Jen Lumanlan, had these same questions when she started a family. This led her to get a mast...

5 Food-Related Questions Every Family Must Ask This Holiday Season

What better time to evaluate your family’s relationship with food than during holidays, when food is everywhere and stress is high. Also, many of us are around family and that can bring up old wounds. Grandma insists little Joey eats everything and it brings back memories of having to do so yourself.

Oh boy!

The key is to watch, take notes, and develop a plan. To get rolling, here are 5 food-related questions to ask yourself this holiday season.

How does my eating change?

First is to consider...

Starting Your Baby on Solid Foods? Check These 6 Myths First

When everyone is offering up advice—mothers-in-law, strangers, friends — starting your baby on solid foods can be a stressful experience.

When my daughter was almost 6 months old, I looked around for credible information on starting solid foods. This started my research focus which I continually update. My goal is always to separate fact from fiction so parents can make the best choices.

Here are the top key myths about introducing solids to baby.

Myth #1: “Spoon-feeding will cause obesity”

B...

The WHEN of Eating: 7 Benefits of Eating by the Clock

A few summers ago, I remember my kids running around the neighborhood with friends. It was time for lunch and I stopped my kids to come in and eat. One of their friends told me that he doesn’t eat lunch, just snacks all day. I realized not every family has regular meals and snack patterns and asked him to come and have a meal.

Planning and structuring consistent meals and snacks — what I call eating by the clock — has many benefits. Plus, it goes a long way towards solving family food dilemma...

Eating & Emotions, Sarcopenia, and the Weight Debate

Last week I returned from the 2018 Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo in Washington, D.C. This is an annual conference for registered dietitians. I spent one day in educational sessions and shared a booth at the Product Marketplace with Jill Castle. We sold our books and talked about the second edition of Fearless Feeding (out later this month!).

Here you can see us with two students from the Nutrition program at Teachers College Columbia University. They use Fearless Feeding as a text. W...