Part Two: What Foods Dietitians Won’t Eat and Can’t Live Without
To celebrate Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day I asked my dietitian nutritionist colleagues what foods they cannot live without.
The food I could not live without is eggs. They are such a great source of protein and I find them to be so versatile. I often cook dinner for myself and when I need something quick and easy eggs are always on the menu. I also love to make a big batch of boiled eggs at the beginning of the week so I always have a good source of protein on hand.
I can’t live without steel cut oats—it’s my go to breakfast with walnuts, seasonal fruit and soy milk. It is so satisfying, and simple. I also cannot live without peanut butter (my favorite bread spread and protein boost), and greens (I eat them every day!). The greens are so rich in nutrients, including plant calcium. And I eat seasonal produce every single day—can’t live without it! What ever is seasonal, local, and at its best. I love going to my farmers market each week.
Sharon Palmer, RD, The Plant-Powered Dietitian, author of Plant-Powered for Life,
A food I cannot live without, is blueberries. To me, they are the perfect superfood and can be incorporated into so many recipes. I have used them in stuffing, on salads, in baked goods, and even meat recipes. Frozen, freeze dried, fresh- I love them anyway I can get them!
Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, LDN
I can’t live without frozen chopped spinach. It’s the perfect convenience food for when I don’t have a lot of time for chopping vegetables. I love it in frittatas, veggie lasagna, and it even adds a nutritious boost to my turkey burgers!
Elysa Jacobs Cruse, MS RD
Twitter @elysacruserd
I cannot live without my blender – so that I can make up my smoothie to pour over my whole grain cereals every morning. The smoothie? Can’t live without plain yogurt, some type of fruit (doesn’t matter!) at least a cup, crushed.
Susan Burke March, MS, RDN, LD/N, CDE
Food, Nutrition, and Your Health” columnist for Cuenca HighLife
Sweet Potatoes – the deep orange color, savory aroma while they bake in the oven, creates it own natural sweetness and sweet syrup, creamy texture and of course the powerhouse of beta-carotene and other carotenoids, the potassium, fiber
I can’t live without cheese – it’s so delicious, is there a better reason?!
Jessica Fishman Levinson, MS, RDN, CDN
Yams, spinach, chocolate and blueberries – they fill me with love, warmth, inspiration and health. They make my tummy sing and my mouth dance for joy! And I love, love, love their power pack of nutrition and healing properties!(cinnamon and cayenne are fast becoming part of what I cannot live without )
Monica J McCorkle, MS, RDN, CDE
I love peanut butter. A PB&J sandwich is my go-to lunch for hiking and cross-country skiing. I love dark chocolate. I need a small piece every night before bed. But I gag if I eat chocolate and peanut butter together! No trail mix with chocolate and peanuts, Reese’s or peanut M&Ms for me.
Reyna Franco, MS, MBA, RDN, CSSD
I love chocolate and have it daily, but I have “trained” myself to only eat the dark stuff – at least 60 percent cacao. For a change, I will get Lindt or Vosges dark chocolate that contains subtle flavors like citrus, strawberry, mint, cayenne or curry. It’s delicious!
What foods can you not live without? And why?
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