Football Food for Entertaining

It's Super Bowl week! Americans love football, and football food is a big deal. So, I'm sharing some of my favorite foods for entertaining. These are great recipes to feed a crowd. Click on the recipes below to build a tasty and easy menu for the Super Bowl!

Easy Empanadas

Jalapeno Chicken Sliders

Hummus

Chicken Cordon Bleu Sliders

aka grown-up ham and cheese

Rice Cereal Bars

Brownie Football Bites
mini brownies toped with cream cheese icing

These recipes are easy to make and are great for feeding a crowd. Each of these recipes makes food that is easy to eat; no utensils needed. Try these recipes. Invite friends over. And, enjoy!

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3 Tips for Successful Television Appearances

I recently appeared on television to promote healthy nutrition. I have been on television promoting National Nutrition Month, the department and organization I work for, and healthy eating. If you think you'll never be on t.v., I wouldn't discount yourself. There are many opportunities to promote the field of health and nutrition in the media. 

I am naturally inquisitive  Every time I appear on t.v., I ask the professionals for tips on presenting on air. So if you are ever on camera, here are a few tips that I've gleaned from the professionals.

1) Be Prepared

• Contact the producer or whomever is your contact at the station. Offer sample questions to the production crew and confirm which questions they will be asking. The interviewer may go off topic at anytime. But, you are the expert. You can bring any question back to your interview points. Just go with the flow.
• Bring visual aids. Always bring more than you think you will need. The television crew can help you set up your props to make them look great on camera. 
• Arrive early. Some interviews will require a run through. If you have props, you will need time to set them up.

2) Speak Clearly

• Don't rush. Try to make about one point for every minute of your segment. My segments varied in length from 4-7 minutes. So, be prepared to fill the time without stuffing it too full of information. 
• Speak clearly; you are the expert. So, communicate your knowledge effectively.
• Use simple language. Remember your audience are viewers, not physicians. So, make sure you present for your audience. Since RDs are in the health field, some medical terminology may need to be used. Just explain all medical terminology clearly. And, stay away from medical abbreviations unless you clearly explain each abbreviation.
• Make concise points. Concise points turn into sound bites, which are a great way to promote your organization or cause. I was given several key points or phrases to include in each of the segments I was in.

3) Make Smart Wardrobe Choices

• Avoid small patterns.
• Small patterns like thin stripes tend to distort on camera and become a distraction. Instead, choose solid colors. I have also been told to avoid stark white and black because of lighting issues and color balance.
• Dress modestly.
• Avoid tight, low cut, or short-length clothes. There are always many cameras on set. The cameras are at many different angles. You want to make sure you are comfortable in your clothing choices and give a professional appearance. So avoid clothing that may become immodest when seated or from high or low camera angles. In one of my t.v. appearances, a camera man climbed on a ladder to get a better angle of the foods. Now that is dedication.
• Have a neat appearance.
• Wear makeup.The lights are bright and will wash you out. Put makeup on heavier than normal because of the bright lighting.
• Brush or comb your hair before going on camera. 

Do you have any tips for presenting on camera? I would love to hear them! Leave a comment below.

For even more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter .

Five Tips to Eat More Fruits & Vegetables

Happy National Nutrition Month! Each day this week, we will focus on one healthy habit to work on. We are taking small steps to big results!

Today, we are discussing a healthy habit, which is . . . eating more fruits and veggies! We know that fruits and vegetables are important. I'm sure you've been told to eat more fruits or vegetables in your lifetime. But, why is it important? 

Importance of Eating Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are packed with nutrients. Every color in fruits and vegetables represents a different micronutrient, vitamin or mineral, that helps nourish your body. Fruits and vegetables are an excellent source of fiber. Fiber serves many purposes including: filling us up (satiety), aiding in regularity of bowel movements, and fiber can help lower cholesterol.

How can I eat more fruits and veggies?
1) Aim for 5 a Day
How can you reach a goal you haven't set? It's impossible. So, let's set a more specific goal and eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

2) Fill half of your plate with fruits or vegetables
I love the MyPlate model of building a healthy plate. You simply take your plate and fill half of it with fruits and vegetables. One serving of fresh fruit is about the size of your fist or a tennis ball. One serving of leafy vegetables is 1 cup. One serving of sliced fruit or cooked vegetables is 1/2 cup. If you fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables, you will usually get 2 servings of fruits or vegetables per meal. If you eat 3 meals per day and have 2 servings of fruits or vegetables per meal, you will succeed (or maybe even exceed) your goal of getting five servings of fruits and vegetables per day!!

3) Choose a fruit or vegetable as a snack
Many fruits and vegetables are perfectly packaged to transport and eat on the go. Think about apples, bananas, carrots, celery, cuties, Mandarin oranges, and satsumas. One of my cousins would carry around a tomato and eat in as a snack.

4) Eat the Rainbow
As we discussed earlier, every different color in food provides us with different nutrients. So, challenge yourself to eat different colors and make a beautiful, nutritious plate.

5) Try a New Food
In my experience as a registered dietitian (RD), the most common reason I hear people do not eat fruits or vegetables is because they don't like the taste. Our taste preferences change over time, so I would encourage you to try a food you've had before and cook it differently. Challenge yourself to try a new food!


I hope you enjoyed these 5 tips on how to eat more fruits and vegetables. I hope you learned a little something. And, I hope you apply these simple steps to your life. Remember, small changes can produce big results. For more information on healthy eating, you might enjoy these posts on fiber, cholesterol, and healthy fats.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter . You can subscribe to this blog, RDtipoftheday.blogspot.com, through BlogLovin.