Hi! I’m Lauren.
I’m a registered dietitian and I have been working hard to put together recipes, recommendations, and product reviews to help you live your life well fed!
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10 Greek Yogurt Substitutes
Just because greek yogurt has moved well beyond parfait bowls and is now featured in a wide variety of recipes doesn’t mean that everyone is on board with its tangy flavor. If that’s you, here are 10 greek yogurt substitutes for you to try in your next recipe!
Banza- A Dietitian Review
If you are looking for a way to make a high protein bowl of pasta, then Banza may have caught your eye at the store. Today we are going to do a deep dive into Banza so that you can decide if this chickpea based pasta alternative is right for you!
How To Make A Creamy Smoothie
Want spoon worthy smoothies? Here are 5 tips on how to make a creamy smoothie no matter what flavor of smoothie you make!
Alpilean: A Dietitian Review
The Alpilean supplement, featured in the viral weight loss ice hack, is a supplement that claims to blast stubborn belly fat without any necessary lifestyle changes…but does it work? Let’s do a dietitian review and find out if the alpilean ice hack is right for you!
Creamy Oatmeal (10 Tips & Tricks!)
Tired of less than impressive oatmeal? Here are 10 tips and tricks to make a bowl of creamy oatmeal and start your day with a nutritious and delicious breakfast!
6 Substitutes For Chia Seeds
If you need an alternative to chia seeds then here are 6 chia seed substitutes that mimic the thickening abilities, protein and fat content, as well as appearance of chia seeds themselves!
How To Stop Snacking At Night
Have an insatiable hunger that seems to only strike at night? Instead of just looking at WHAT to eat, try focusing on WHY you feel hungry when you do. Here are five popular reasons why I see people feeling hungry in the evening and my advice on how to stop snacking at night, today!
Chia Seeds- A Dietitian Review
Chia seeds have been consumed for thousands of years as a source of soluble fiber, plant protein, heart healthy fatty acids, and energy. Here we will do a deep dive into chia seeds, the nutrients they feature, and if you should (or should not) be eating chia seeds too!
How To Choose A High Protein Snack
Protein plays a role in muscle growth, bone health, tissue development, immunity, enzyme function, and may even play a factor in weight loss! Here are some dietitian tips to choose a high protein snack that works for you, even if you are vegetarian or vegan!
Should You Buy Non-Homogenized Milk?
When we buy a carton of milk, we expect to see milk that is uniform in color, texture, and appearance. This tried and true appearance is because most milk at the stores is homogenized and actually isn’t how milk has always looked. Well, it appears that some people are missing the good ol days are there is a revitalized interest in purchasing non-homogenized milk. In today’s blog, we will do a deep dive on what non-homogenized milk even means, why people are interested in it, and if you should be buying non-homogenized milk too!
Five Tips for Nutritious Grab and Go Snacks
The fall months bring cooler weather and busy schedules. Between school drop-off, end-of-year work projects, fall sports, and the general hustle and bustle of life, it can be easy to let health and wellness fall by the wayside. During busy seasons like these, people often find themselves grazing on convenient snacks as they run out the door. Lunch boxes get filled with simple grab-and-go options, anything to fill the stomach. The bad news is that many of these convenient snacks tend to leave everyone feeling unsatisfied and hungry in an hour. The good news is with a few simple adjustments, convenient snacks can support health while fitting into a busy schedule.
Why Nutrition At Its Roots?
I am often asked about my instagram handle @nutrition.at.its.roots. This name was picked for a purpose and to tell you about it, I need to tell you a story. A few years ago, I went to the beach with my family and we spotted an ocean front plot of sand that would be the perfect spot to set up camp for the day. We plopped down next to this wonderful couple from San Diego who were just as chatty as we were. Us ladies chit chatted as the kids ran amuck in the ocean and soon we were talking about what everyone does for work. Well, as you may know, my family works in a wide variety of agricultural sectors including nut farming. When the wife heard that we farmed almonds and walnuts she was very excited because she was an avid consumer of an almond milk alternative instead of milk. She wanted to learn about how the almonds were grown and asked us, and I quote, “So how do the almonds grow? They grow along the ground on vines, right?” Y’all. My jaw hit the floor! Did she not know that nuts grew on trees?!
Tips for Strategic Snacking
Snacks seem to have earned the reputation as a "waste of calories." Well fear not, my friends, here at LTN we are HUGE snack people. Generally, the issue with snacks is not the concept of a snack itself but with the way that people choose to build that snack. Most people build up snacks in a way that simply provides calories but doesn’t necessarily maximize nutrition. They opt for drive by, convenient snacks that fill the “right then and there” hunger but are not planned out enough to hold you over until your next meal. This is often leads to “grazing” and the constant snacking on “carby things” that send us over our calorie range and give snacks a bad reputation. The best way to break out of this cycle is to start forming well planned snacks. Well-planned snacks can absolutely fit into a healthy diet and are actually very beneficial when it comes to eating healthy and losing weight.
Top 10 Fridge Stockers
We have stocked your pantry, we have stocked your freezer, now we need to get your refrigerator stocked with all the healthy items you will need to reach your goals and nourish your body well! I love to have go to healthy options in each area of my house because really, each items serves a different purpose and does better in different dishes. Freezer and pantry stocker options, for example, are fantastic for smoothies, tossing into soups, and throwing together a balanced meal when all of your fresh ingredients are gone for the week! Fresh options are fantastic for on the go snacks, quick meals, and building up balanced side dishes with some fresh, crunchy vegetables or fruits! Here are my top 10 recommendations for fridge stockers and the food items you will absolutely always find in this dietitians refrigerator!
6 Easy Hacks To Lower Calories
It’s that time of the year when calorie counting seems to be in full swing! Everyone is trying to get ready for the summer and wants to feel good in their own skin. One of my favorite pieces of advice on how to get a bikini body fast is to, 1) have a body and, 2) put a bikini on it. Seriously, you all look fantastic and are so much more than any bikini body… I encourage you to remind yourselves of that each and every day. That being said, I also support everyone who wants to pursue weight loss as long as you pursue it in a healthy and sustainable way. Well, here’s the deal, in order to lose weight you have to create a calorie deficit. In order to create a calorie deficit, you need to lower the amount of calories you consume or increase the amount of calories you burn. Do you want to lower calories without counting calories? Here are 6 easy tips to help lower your calorie intake and get you into a calorie deficit!
7 Tips for Healthy Snacking While Traveling
We all know that eating well while traveling can be a challenge. It is so easy to reach for unhealthy snacks on the go. Whether you are gearing up for a long flight or a road trip, here are my tips for making healthy choices while traveling.
5 Tips To Navigate Nighttime Snacking
We’ve all been there - sitting on the couch, enjoying our favorite show - when out of nowhere, the late-night munchies hit. It seems that no matter what you do, there is no avoiding them! Though the occasional late night snack can absolutely fit into a healthy and calorie controlled diet, they can also be a source of significant calories depending on how often we eat them and how much we end up eating! If you feel that late night snacks are hindering your progress, here are my top 5 tips to navigate night time snacking!
Top 10 Freezer Stockers
Moving on with my topic of “preparing for when you are unprepared” today we are talking all about freezer stockers! My number one tip to make eating healthy easy on yourself is to ALWAYS KEEP YOUR FREEZER STOCKED WITH HEALTHY OPTIONS! By keeping your pantry and freezer stocked at all times, you will find it much easier to eat healthy because you always have heathy options at home! We have been so engrained by todays culture to believe that fresh is best and anything not fresh is not worth it. This is harmful thinking and could not be farther from the truth!
Prep Your Kitchen For Meal Prep
How many of y’all feel like the answer to eating healthy is always to meal prep your lunches? How many of y’all feel like the answer to losing weight is to meal prep some of your meals? How many of y’all feel like you have no clue where to start with meal prep? (insert girl with her hand raised emoji). Trust me, I hear you.
Top 10 Pantry Must-Haves
I wanted to give you a glimpse into the pantry of a dietitian and share my top 10 pantry staples that I always have on hand for times like these!