Ask the Nutritionist

Fresh 20 Nutritionist, Allison Arnett, answers your questions about Nutrition Nutrition Questions: Answered 1. Almond Milk: A Healthful Alternative to Dairy? We often receive questions at the Fresh 20 about commercially available foods, and this week we focus on almond milk. While it can be a component of a balanced diet, depending on the ingredient [...]

written by Fresh 20 Nutritionist, Allison Arnett Michael Pollan, famed author and food activist, coined the poignant statement, “Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” This statement is true not just for meals but also for snacks that we choose during the day. Snacking in our culture is frequently used interchangeably with “snack foods” and, [...]

Fresh 20 Nutritionist, Allison Arnett, answers your questions about Nutrition 1. Is coconut oil a healthier alternative to other cooking oils like olive oil? This is a very relevant question given the abundance of conflicting information. Olive oil is definitely the healthier option. Olive oil is 78% monounsaturated fat and only 8% saturated fat. Conversely, [...]

written by Fresh 20 Nutritionist, Allison Arnett A popular debate in mom’s groups, on blogs or social media, and among celebrities is whether you should trick young children into eating vegetables by hiding them in kid friendly foods. Advocates of “vegetable deception” say that with a picky eater it’s a guaranteed way to boost nutritional [...]

Fresh 20 Nutritionist, Allison Arnett, answers your questions about Nutrition Nutrition Facts 1. Are there certain foods you should never eat together, due to different digestion times? Studies actually continue to reveal that combining foods from different food groups is more valuable than eating them separately. Our digestive system is able to handle a variety [...]

written by Fresh 20 Nutritionist, Allison Arnett Yogurt is one of many foods which often carries a health halo–meaning most people overestimate the nutritional value of all yogurts because we believe it to be a healthy food. In fact, the US Census reported a 400% increase in yogurt consumption in this country over the past [...]

Fresh 20 Nutritionist, Allison Arnett, answers your questions about Nutrition 1. Avocados: they’re so high in fat and calories, are they really a healthy item? Don’t be afraid of the high fat content of avocados. Avocados are high in monounsaturated fat; this type of fat can help reduce LDL (the bad) cholesterol and may even [...]

written by Fresh 20 Nutritionist, Allison Arnett If you are in a cold climate like much of the country, perhaps you are lamenting the lack of sunshine and missing the fresh berries, sweet tomatoes and earthy basil readily available in the warm summer months. Fear not, there are many seasonal fruits and vegetables in your [...]

Fresh 20 Nutritionist, Allison Arnett, answers your questions about Nutrition 1. How much protein does a vegetarian need? The simple answer is, a person who follows a vegetarian or vegan needs the exact same amount of protein as a healthy person (of the same age) following any other dietary plan. Protein is certainly an essential [...]