Author Archives: Marilyn Magaram Center, Registered Dietitian

Breakfast Benefits

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By Alejandra Perez, CSUN Dietetic Intern

Imagine sitting at work or in your first class of the day. It is early in the morning and you are still somewhat sleepy. All you can think of right now is how much you miss your bed. Suddenly, another thought pops into your head. The student (or co-worker) next to you is eating a breakfast wrap that smells really good. Your gut lets out a loud growl. Today, like other days, you skipped breakfast because you were rushing. As the clock ticks, you get hungrier and hungrier. Only 2 more hours until you have a break and you can go eat something! Continue reading →

Season for Seasoning with Garlic

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 By Alejandra Perez, CSUN Dietetic Intern

From all the fruits, vegetables, and herbs that bloom this season, garlic is a beloved favorite. Most of us might like garlic for its sharp, savory taste but the qualities of garlic extend beyond its ability to season food. Garlic is a bundle of antimicrobial and antioxidant activity all at a very affordable price. With each bulb of garlic containing 10-12 cloves and costing about 79 cents, you are truly getting your money’s worth. In addition, garlic has a long storage life (3-5 months!) if kept in a cool, dry and dark place.1 Next time you mince a garlic clove to add to a dip, side dish, or soup, think of the following positive benefits garlic can have in your diet. Continue reading →

Processed Foods – What is okay and what you want to avoid

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By: Samantha Boucher, CSUN Dietetic Intern

For people who are conscious of nutrition, processed foods carry a scary name. They are blamed for almost everything; from weight gain to high blood pressure and possibly depression. But before we shun all processed foods from our diet, it’s important to understand what food processing entails. Food processing practices fall within different categories, ranging from minimal to high processing. Continue reading →

Going Nuts for Nuts!

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By: Samantha Boucher, CSUN Dietetic Intern

Nuts seem to be taking over the food world, with mountains of evidence supporting their health benefits. We’re seeing everything from nut butters to nut “milks” pop up on the shelves at our local grocery stores.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the health claim that states “eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.” Continue reading →

Hot Spice

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By Francisco T Rodriguez, DTR, CSUN Dietetic Intern

Imagine yourself in a Mexican restaurant waiting for the server to approach you for your meal selection.  The first thing they bring is a bowl of tortilla chips and salsa.  As you dip your chip into the mixture of diced onions, pureed fresh tomatoes, roasted chili peppers, crisp cilantro, and revitalizing freshly squeezed lime, you realize that you have just consumed what feels like piece of heaven.  But before tears of pleasure begin to fall from your eyes, a tingle begins to form at the tip of your tongue, then your lips, and then your throat.  Continue reading →

Avocado Season

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By Francisco T Rodriguez, DTR, CSUN Dietetic Intern

Now that football season has come to an end, you probably spent Sunday evening yelling, crying, and laughing hysterically at your television.  Let’s now shift our focus from football and talk about the foods you ate.  If you attended a football party, you were most likely surrounded by an array of delicious foods that you probably ate without hesitation and are now regretting such as Nachos, hot dogs, guacamole and chips, hamburgers- the list goes on.  But before you feel guilty about Sunday’s splurge, let me brighten your day up just a little bit.  Continue reading →

Tips for Mindful Eating

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By: Itzel Dzul H., B.S, CSUN Dietetic Intern

Do you usually eat while watching television or using the computer? Do you eat when you’re bored or stressed? Do you wait until you’re starving or do you continue eating until you’ve fallen into a food coma? Most of the time we miss to analyze what, when, where, how, and why we choose to eat. According to the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, practicing mindful eating can maximize health and prevent diseases, with research showing positive outcomes in, weight loss, eating disorders, diabetes management, and overall healthy eating. 1 Continue reading →

Making Healthier Choices When Eating Out

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  By: Itzel Dzul H., B.S., CSUN Dietetic Intern

Oftentimes, our busy schedule makes it difficult to make time to prepare home cooked meals. We might also find that our weekends involve going out to eat for special occasions and socializing. Next thing you know, we are eating out more often than we should. Throughout the years as a student, I learned that it is possible to make healthier choices when going out. Continue reading →

Winter Vegan Comfort Foods

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Written by Karina N. Almanza, CSUN Dietetic Intern

When I tell people I’m a vegan, 80% of them will respond, “Wow, I could never be a vegan.” The other 20% think it might be attributed to a career in nutrition as an aspiring Registered Dietitian or just all together think I’m crazy. Granted, I am slightly crazy but that’s just part of my quirky personality and has nothing to do with the title I take on as a vegan.

A vegan is an individual who abstains from the consumption of animal-related products avoiding meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, dairy products (butter, yogurt, cheese, ice cream) and honey. Continue reading →

Keeping the New Year’s Resolution All Year Round

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Written by Trisha Patel, CSUN Dietetic Intern

The holidays have officially ended and with that comes a bounty of New Year’s resolutions. Every year millions of Americans set forth with a long list of New Year’s resolutions that they hope to keep. The most popular on the list revolve around getting healthy and fit throughout the new year. The popularity of nutrition, health and overall wellness resolutions increase every year, with more and more products and plans plastered across the internet in the hopes of helping Americans maintain their goals. With all the assistance provided, countless Americans decide to “give up” on their goals by the time March rolls around. Continue reading →