Enlightened Eater

Last month I had the pleasure of accompanying my travel writer daughter, Alyssa Schwartz, on a culinary tour of North Carolina’s Research Triangle –Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Durham.  Farm-to-table eateries are a real focus here and as it was tomato season, we were indeed in tomato heaven. We sampled them in one form or another […]

“I’ve  read that there’s evidence that vitamin D has analgesic effects for those with arthritis pain. Do you know anything about this?”, asks Enlightened Eater Facebook fan Alison Smiley. Alison, there is certainly a lot of scientific research being conducted on the subject of vitamin D and pain, in particular arthralgia or joint pain. Most […]

One after another, the headlines screamed, Why Breakfast May Not Be The Most Important Meal Of The Day, Skipping breakfast might not be bad for weight loss  and then finally the New York Times Magazine piece,  Is Breakfast Overrated? by Gretchen Reynolds where  she concluded,  “For now, the slightly unsatisfying takeaway from the new science […]

While ice cream may be an occasional summertime treat,  blueberries and watermelon can certainly give it a run for its money as seasonal favourites. And when you combine their arsenal of disease-fighting weaponry, their appeal can’t be beat. This recipe,   adapted from BC Blueberries,  combines both nutrition-packed favourites along with another  superstar, walnuts. If you […]

Portion distortion is definitely a major contributor to girth control issues. Even if you’re going for healthy options (other than maybe low-calorie vegetables),  large servings can make the calories and pounds add up. While everyone knows that large servings of  high calorie fare such as  cake, cookies and fried snack foods can contribute to weight […]

Fina Scroppo is one busy lady.  Over the years, I worked with her on many an occasion where she edited my nutrition columns or interviewed me for pieces she was writing. What I didn’t know, though, was about her love of cooking, especially the Italian traditions of her family.  But it’s  very evident in her […]

Maintaining cognitive function is a hot topic indeed.  From scientific research and books on the topic to  smart food choices, supplements and tonics,  there is definitely growing interest in how to maintain your smarts. One interesting area of research is the link between insulin resistance and Alzheimer’s disease.  Type 2 diabetes begins with insulin resistance […]

Food for thought has become a hotbed of research as our population ages. Statistics show that the proportion of  seniors are climbing and with these increasing  figures comes  a greater concern about  maintaining cognitive function. If you are seeking solutions to  stave off  a decline in brain power for yourself or a loved one, be […]