- Zero-Proofing It: 4 Recipes to Inspire
Our annual #AlcoholFreeFor40 challenge, hosted by our Eat Fit team with Ochsner Health, is truly a way to make going alcohol-free your own little self experiment. Replacement behaviors – and replacement beverages – are always key for success, so it’s perfect timing to get a little zero-proof cocktail inspiration. I had the opportunity to interview Nathan… - 6 strategies to elevate your immune system
The concept of our immune system is so vague, so abstract – we can’t see it, touch it, or hear it. It’s hard for us to visualize, yet we’re constantly in search of the best ways to support, fortify and boost it. Whether it’s the common cold, the flu or Coronavirus, these key strategies can… - What It’s Like to Take a Year Off from Booze
The following is a guest post by Melanie Warner Spencer, an award-winning lifestyle reporter, editor and photographer. She’s also the founder of the Drink Fit Club, an online community dedicated to helping people navigate alcohol free challenges via motivation, inspiration, alcohol-free drink recommendations, recipes, and bringing the party without the booze Your social media feed… - Post-workout recovery strategies that may also slow or reverse the aging process
For more on anti-aging and post-workout recovery strategies, check out my FUELED Wellness + Nutrition podcast where I’m joined by Nicholas Goyeneche, MD, triple board-certified physician who specializes in the unique field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Ochsner Health. I love when a treatment or protocol that we know is effective for one issue… - Eat Fit Candied Cashews Recipe
Ben McLauchlin of Swerve Sweetener recently joined me for a FUELED Wellness + Nutrition podcast, Giving the Gift of Wellness. He’s incredibly talented at creating gorgeous – and delicious – DIY gifts and he reminded me about Swerve’s recipe for Candied Pecans. It’s one of my all-time favorites, and it’s right at my comfort level… - 6 Rituals That Will Reduce Your Stress and Boost Your Wellbeing During the Holidays
From how we manage our to-do list to where we charge our phones at night, these strategies will help you find the peace and serenity we’re all craving this season. As we head into the holidays, it’s more important than ever to prioritize wellness, nurturing ourselves with the self-care that we need. Check out Molly’s… - Holiday Gift Guide 2020: 13 Thoughtful Wellness Gifts
After the year we’ve all experienced, let’s just say we can all benefit from giving (or receiving) the gift of healthy. And from food to fitness to relaxing and recharging, wellness-focused gifts can be tailored to suit anyone on your list. Gifting a series of fitness classes or services are easy evergreen wellness ideas especially… - Spirited Holiday with Zero-Proof Cocktails
I’m a big advocate for having zero-proof cocktail options on hand for any occasion, and the holidays are no exception. (For those not familiar with the term, ‘zero-proof cocktails’ are the same as mocktails, it just sounds better). When it comes to our guests, we don’t always know where someone’s coming from – perhaps they’re… - Vitamin D: Do you need to supplement?
I’m not a fan of daylight savings time, it feels like our winter days are just so short. The sun’s still not up when many of us leave in the morning, and it’s often dark by the time we get home. We can easily go weeks without truly getting direct sunlight. And since the sun is… - Your Wellness Should Not Be Someone’s Side Hustle
Learn more about how to make the most of social media and wellness in Molly’s interview with registered dietitian and social media expert Maria Sylvester Terry in Molly’s FUELED Wellness + Nutrition Podcast, including insights and strategies self-protection and self-preservation, how to spot non-experts claiming expertise on social media and how to find the right… - Self-preservation: How to buffer our stress response during the holiday season
Holidays can be a mixed bag for people. Sure, we get to catch up and celebrate with family and friends, but with the usual stressors of time, finances and family dynamics, it’s easy to lose sight of the deeper meaning and spirit of the holidays altogether. It’s also not uncommon for the stress of the… - Eat Fit Food Pantry Guide: Donate with mindfulness and respect
Dusty boxes of mac ‘n cheese, dented cans of ravioli and baked beans, creamed corn and cake mix past their expiration date. Certainly doesn’t sound appetizing, but sadly, this is what’s often donated to local food pantries, especially common during holiday food drives. Here are key strategies to donating with mindfulness, intention and respect –… - 9 Fundamentals for Better Sleep
For more on the Science of Sleep, check out my FUELED Wellness + Nutrition podcast where I’m joined by behavioral neuroscientist Erin Hanlon, PhD, discussing all things related to the impact of sleep on our weight, mood, energy and cravings. Here are nine key strategies for a better night’s sleep, focusing on our bedrooms, lifestyle… - 4 Reasons You Should Try Powdered Peanut Butter
Whether slathered on whole-grain toast or layered with dark chocolate in candy cups, peanut butter is a pantry staple beloved by all ages. While most know it as a jarred spread, it’s also now available in powder form, too. But what exactly makes powdered peanut butter different from the conventional stuff? Is it nutritious? And,… - 6 Steps for a Post-Halloween Sugar Detox
Things are admittedly a little different in COVID time, but typically, an estimated 600 million pounds of Halloween candy is purchased in the U.S. each year – that’s roughly two pounds per person. Sure, much of it is doled out to kids for some version of Trick-or-Treat, but much of it is nibbled away in… - Food Sensitivity Testing: What You Need To Know
Food sensitivities are incredibly challenging to detect, often far more elusive than the often more straightforward food allergies. Symptoms range from headaches and hives to grogginess and GI issues, and we often don’t realize that the chronic symptoms we’re experiencing are caused by the foods – or seemingly insignificant ingredients in the foods that we… - Side-stepping statins: Natural strategies for reducing cholesterol
For more on heart health beyond the headline hype, check out my FUELED Wellness + Nutrition podcast where I’m joined by cardiologist Richard Milani of Ochsner Health. Dealing with high cholesterol used to seem pretty straightforward: Oatmeal was good, eggs were bad. Total cholesterol less than 200 was good, higher than 200 meant, well, more… - Live longer and look younger with these anti-aging foods
If your skin has been a bit lackluster lately, it might be what you’re eating – or not eating. In fact, the use of nutrition as an antiaging tool has been termed the “inside-out” approach. So after a lifetime of attention-getting headlines about the latest miracle foods for skin and hair, I decided to turn… - 7 nighttime snacks that satisfy any craving – and are good for you, too
For more on why we often crave more at night, check out my FUELED Wellness + Nutrition podcast on the Science of Sleep, where I’m joined by behavioral neuroscientist Erin Hanlon, PhD. Nighttime eating can be an Achille’s heel for many, a time of day that feels out of control. But having a strategically planned… - Nutrition & Breast Cancer: Eat to Beat the Odds
For more on nutrition and breast cancer prevention, check out my FUELED Wellness + Nutrition podcast here, where I’m joined for a two-part series by Laura Kerns, RD, oncology dietitian with Ochsner Cancer Center. One out of every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in her life. It’s a disconcerting statistic, especially… - Cooking Oils: Top Picks and Which to Use
With so many oils to choose from, selecting the best option can be intimidating – not to mention, the answer of which oil is ‘best’ changes, depending on what and how we’re cooking. To help make things easier than ever, here’s the rundown on four top oils and when to use them, adapted from The… - Rethink Your Coffee Ritual: Top Picks for Plant-Based Creamers
I love really good coffee. But I’m also looking to shift to plant-based food and drink when possible. Whether you’re looking to dial back on animal-based saturated fat or simply incorporate more plant-based alternatives, making the swap from traditional half & half to plant-based half & half can trim two grams of saturated fat from… - 15 “Safe” Foods for the Lactose Intolerant
If you’re lactose intolerant, odds are you’ve been avoiding foods like cheese, yogurt and butter, as well as common offenders like milk and ice cream. If so, we’ve got some fantastic news – it’s highly likely that you can add some of these foods back in – at least certain types of yogurt and cheeses,… - The Sleep Revolution: Life-Changing Effects of Better Sleep
For more on the Science of Sleep, check out my FUELED Wellness + Nutrition podcast where I’m joined by behavioral neuroscientist Erin Hanlon, PhD, discussing all things related to the impact of sleep on our weight, mood, energy and cravings. When it comes to our whole-body wellness, sleep deserves an equal spot right alongside diet… - The Buzz on All Things Caffeine
For more on the whole-body effects of caffeine, check out my podcast episode on FUELED Wellness + Nutrition. Not only do I enjoy sipping a good cup of coffee, I also appreciate the slight edge of brain-boosting energy that it gives me. I generally make the right choices when it comes to health and fitness:… - Traditional Italian ingredients bring the culture of the world into our own kitchens
Planning a travel destination based entirely on cheese admittedly seems frivolous. But when the cheese in question is Parmigiano Reggiano, and the region is also the world’s only producer of traditional balsamic vinegar and prosciutto di Parma, the decision actually feels quite justified. In all seriousness, I’m grateful that my husband and I spent the… - The Healing Power of Ginger
For more on the health benefits ginger, plus turmeric and cinnamon, check out my FUELED Wellness + Nutrition podcast here. Fresh, dried, powdered, juiced or even candied, if you love ginger, you’ll love this: Five science-backed health benefits of this favorite spice, plus how to get more into our diets. 5 Science-Baked Health Benefits of… - Is the keto diet driving up your cholesterol?
For more on the influence of the keto diet on cholesterol, check out my FUELED Wellness + Nutrition podcast. It’s rare that I get an isolated about a wellness topic. If one person asks about it, odds are that others are wondering the same thing. Lately that question has been about cholesterol, somewhat surprisingly from… - Baking artisan-style bread that fits any nutritional need
For more on the beautiful art of bread baking, check out my FUELED Wellness + Nutrition podcast here where I’m joined by expert baker Morgan Angelle of Bellegarde Bakery, and low-carb baker Carolyn Ketchum, founder of the blog All Day I Dream About Food. We all have something. A weakness that can feel like it… - Unplanned Travel: The Art of Slowing Down
Lasting lessons from three months’ travel in 9 countries and 21 towns to help us feel more peaceful, breathe more deeply and soak in the energy and positivity that surrounds us For more insight on the art of slowing down, check out my FUELED Wellness + Nutrition podcast here. A friend recently compared the pace… - Get the Skinny | In the Kitchen with Kyndra Holley + Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
Kyndra Holley, from Seattle, WA – professional food blogger and International Best Selling cookbook author is sharing keto tips and tricks and delicious recipes in this week’s Get the Skinny with Molly. On her website Peace, Love and Low Carb you can find helpful resources and hundreds of low carb, keto, and paleo recipes – including recipes… - Keto + Cancer: Beyond vanity, the Keto diet shows potential for treating cancer
For more on the science of keto and cancer, check out my FUELED Wellness + Nutrition podcast where I’m joined by cancer researcher Lew Cantley, MD, Director of the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medical College. We’re familiar with the keto diet as a popular approach for weight loss, but there… - Alcohol Free for 40 2020: Post-Challenge Data Round-Up
The annual #AlcoholFreeFor40 Challenge is always just that – a challenge to the mind and the body as we commit to forty days alcohol-free, making it our own little self-experiment with pre- and post-challenge metrics. Every year, the Challenge elicits immensely positive changes in participants’ energy, sleep, appearance, attitude and mood, along with measurable, quantifiable… - Get the Skinny in the Kitchen | Molly’s Blueberry Cobbler – Made-Over by Ben!
Back in the kitchen with Ben McLauchlin of Swerve – and Ben has re-made Molly’s blueberry cobbler recipe, making it better than ever but still low in carbs and gluten-free! Blueberry Cobbler Makes 8 servings Ingredients: Filling: 3 1/2 cups of fresh or frozen blueberries 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum 1/3 cup Swerve Granular 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon lemon… - Love it, Like it, Hate it: Coffee Creamers
Coffee is one of the top sources of antioxidants. It’s linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s disease, and several reports say that coffee drinkers live longer, too. But coffee creamer can make it or break it, so today we’re Getting the Skinny with Molly on best and worst bets for… - DIY ‘Protein Bites’: 3 no-bake, portable power snack recipes
- Love it, Like it, Hate it: “Natural” Nut & Seed Butters
The peanut butter aisle used to be simple: Crunchy or Creamy. Now there’s a variety of nut and seed butters to choose from – many with the claim of “natural” – making even tougher to figure out what’s best, so today we’re Getting the Skinny with Molly on the best and worst of “natural” nut… - 8 reasons you’re just not losing weight
When it comes to living your healthiest life possible, it can be incredibly discouraging to feel like you’re really giving it your best possible effort: eating clean, exercising regularly, even keeping a food log and tracking calories burned – and still not getting the results you expect. In my years of working with nutrition clients… - Love it, Like it, Hate it: Fruit Spreads
Don’t get yourself in a jam by buying the wrong preserves! Some are made with real, whole fruit and can be a great addition to a wholesome breakfast or the perfect PB&J, but many are made with more added sugar than real fruit – and some contain no real fruit at all! In today’s Love… - DNA Diets: Everything You Need to Know
According to my DNA test results, I am sensitive to the effects of carbs, I metabolize caffeine quickly, and I am less likely to benefit from a lowfat diet. Genetic testing kits with promises of personalized wellness and nutrition are surging in popularity; thousands of us bought them as holiday gifts – but are the… - Is sleep apnea sabotaging your weight loss?
There’s no question that sleep is intricately tied to weight. How big a factor is it? Perpetual sleep deprivation can undermine weight loss efforts as significantly as adding a Big Mac to our regular daily diet. Research is so strong for the case for sufficient sleep as a weight loss aid that as a nutritionist… - Are We Too Judgy When It Comes to Food + Wellness?
We may have the best intentions, but is it possible that we can become a bit self-righteous, idealistic, elitist about our own diets and other people’s eating habits? Our relationship with food is deeply personal. Food can bring us joy – those feelings of pure bliss with the first taste of our favorite dishes. Food… - Optimal Fueling: What To Eat Pre & Post Workout
It’s one of the biggest questions we get: What should I eat before and after a workout? The answer varies widely by individual, but there a few common elements to consider: Intensity and duration of workout Time of day What else you’ve had to eat, or plan to eat Workout goals: weight loss, muscle gains,… - Blood Pressure: 5 easy ways to improve it nowIf you don’t have high blood pressure, odds are that someone very close to you does. Nearly half of American adults have it, and many have no idea. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is referred to as the “silent killer” because there often are no symptoms. Yet the condition dramatically raises the risk for heart attack, stroke,…
- Which milk alternative is best for you? A guide to 9 ‘mylk’ options plus DIY almond milk recipe
A quick scan of the milk aisle at the grocery store and it’s clear that cow’s milk has lots of competition these days, with options such as almond milk, cashew milk and flax milk. For those who wish to avoid cow’s milk for dietary, nutritional or environmental reasons, there is a milk alternative to suit… - Get the Skinny in the Kitchen with Tsunami, supporting Eat Fit Dine Out | Thursday June 6
Dine out tomorrow, Thursday June 6, at any of the restaurants & partners participating in Eat Fit Dine Out, including Tsunami! Proceeds from the Dine Out give-back day benefit Eat Fit’s nonprofit initiatives, including nutrition education, Eat Fit on menus in schools, creating Eat Fit opportunities in under-served areas, and more. Eat Fit makes it easy… - Love it, Like it, Hate it: Croutons
Croutons add texture and flavor to a salad, but most croutons also add a hefty dose of salty white carbs. But with a little creativity, there are plenty of other ways to add interest and crunch to a salad. In today’s Love it, Like it, Hate it, Molly shares some of the best and worst… - Get the Skinny in the Kitchen with Swerve: Strawberry Cake
Swerve has changed the game on the baking aisle, bringing products to store shelves that make it easier than ever to make good-for-you decadent treats. And as usual, Swerve’s Ben McLauchlin loves to step things up a few notches, treating us to this beautiful and simple Strawberry Cake. Top with Swerve’s frosting and fresh berries and… - Love it, Like it, Hate it: Vinaigrettes & Salad Dressings
We know that a hefty dose of creamy salad dressing is the quickest way to sabotage a healthy salad, but more and more options are making it easier than ever to keep a salad nutritious, in spite of creamy dressings – and on the flip side, many seemingly low-cal vinaigrettes and “light” dressings can be… - Get the Skinny in the Kitchen with Ben McLauchlin of Swerve | Blueberry Cheesecake Bar
Satisfy your sweet tooth and indulge in the season’s beautiful blueberries with these nutritious + delicious Blueberry Cheesecake Bars. Naturally gluten-free with zero added sugar, these Cheesecake Bars are the perfect make-ahead treats for spring break beach getaways, staycations, or just a delicious dessert for an everyday indulgence without the guilt. Blueberry Cheesecake Bar (GF, Low-Carb,… - Jazz Fest | Eat Fit Hidden Menu
Shhhh, there’s an Eat Fit Hidden Menu at Jazz Fest this year! We get it, not everyone wants to eat nutritiously at festivals – but for those who do, the Jazz Fest Hidden Menu makes it easy. The Eat Fit team has worked with specific Jazz Fest vendors so all you have to do is… - Get the Skinny in the Kitchen with Swerve: Low-Carb, GF Margarita Cupcakes!
Ben McLauchlin of Swerve shows us how to help keep Cinco de Mayo guilt-free and legitimately good-for-you with these low-carb, gluten-free Margarita Cupcakes! Margarita Cupcakes Makes 3 dozen Ingredients: Cupcakes: 1 cup fine almond flour ¼ cup coconut flour 1½ teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon xanthan gum ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup + 1 tablespoon… - Love it, Like it, Hate it: Taco Shells
Cinco de Mayo is coming up, but let’s be honest – any day is a good day for Mexican food. And good news for Taco Tuesday fans: tacos are among the lowest-calorie Mexican dishes. So to help you build an even better-for-you taco, we’re Getting the Skinny with Molly on her top picks and worst bets… - Get the Skinny | Eat Fit Cinco de Mayo Celebration by Jr. Chef Challenge Winner Ian Kot!
As 2019 Junior Chef Challenge Grand Prize Winner of the New Orleans Home & Garden Show in the Superdome, Brother Martin Senior Ian Kot was one of 3 finalists who competed in the Eat Fit Jr Chef Cooking Challenge this spring. His winning recipe was for Salmon Jicama Tacos + Chipotle Créma + homemade guacamole +… - Love it, Like it, Hate it: Green Drinks!
Green drinks make us feel like we’re doing something good for our bodies, but some green drinks can pack in the sugar equivalent of more than 15 sugar packets, so it pays to know what you’re really getting. In today’s Love it, Like it, Hate it, we’re getting the Skinny with Molly on the best… - Get the Skinny in the Kitchen | Lemon Cream Sandwich Cookies
Molly’s back in the kitchen with Ben McLauchlin of Swerve, whipping up a batch of his low carb, gluten-free lemon cream cookie sandwiches! Lemon Cream Sandwiches Makes 14 servings Ingredients: Lemon Shortbread Cookie: ½ cup butter (room temperature) ½ cup Swerve, Granular 1 ¾ cup of blanched almond flour 2 tablespoons unsweetened protein powder ½ teaspoon salt ½… - Love it, Like it, Hate it: Boxed Cake Mix!
Whether you’re making an actual cake or one of the many super-cute and creative sweet treat recipes that start with “a box of vanilla cake mix,” using a regular cake mix makes it a challenge to cut the sugar or make recipes healthier in any way – so starting with a good-for-you boxed cake mix… - Eat Fit at French Quarter Fest | Get the Skinny in the Kitchen with Molly & Philip Lopez of Galatoire’s
Ochsner’s Eat Fit team of dietitians has worked with restaurant vendors to incorporate nutritious, delicious dishes at this year’s French Quarter Festival presented by Chevron – just look for the Eat Fit seal of approval on menu boards! With more than 20 stages throughout the French Quarter, the French Quarter Festival presented by Chevron celebrates local music and represents every genre from traditional… - Love it, Like it, Hate it: Rice (& Rice Alternatives)
White rice is such staple in our everyday cooking, serving as the foundation for dishes like red beans and rice, jambalaya, and shrimp creole. But white rice gives us very little nutritional benefit, and packs 200 calories and 45 carbs into every cup. And then there’s brown rice, black rice, even red rice – but… - Peachy-keen ways to eat deliciously well this summer
Peaches may never make the top spot on lists of “superfood,” but the stone fruit holds plenty of nutritional benefits beneath its fuzzy exterior. Peaches are a good source of potassium and vitamins A and C, and are rich in antioxidants that have been shown to fend off obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome… - Alcohol Free for 40: 30-day challenge results in quantifiable health benefits
Wow. What an incredibly cool experience. Not only did the fourth annual #AlcoholFreeFor40 Challenge bring about immensely positive changes in participants’ energy, sleep, appearance, attitude and mood, it also resulted in measurable, quantifiable improvements in weight, blood pressure and cholesterol, inflammatory markers. All in just 30 days. Here’s a summary of our findings from this year’s #AlcoholFreeFor40,… - Where to find 5 truly healthy New Orleans smoothies
Until recently, if you wanted to have a really truly good-for-you smoothie, your best bet was to blend one at home. Juice bar concoctions often are loaded with sugar, like the “Protein Punch” blend at a local spot, for example, that has only 9 grams of protein and 112 sugary carbs – hardly a punch of… - How to have the best-dressed salad in town: One makeover that really matters
A noble, giant salad filled with greens, grilled protein and avocado slices can turn into the equivalent of a burger and fries if it’s drenched in 600-plus calories of dressing that carries with it a day’s worth of sodium and two days’ worth of added sugar. A standard serving of dressing is pretty tiny: two… - Festival game plan: How to balance indulging with healthier bites
Raw oysters from the Grandstand at the New Orleans Jazz Festival. (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune) When I use words like “healthy” and “nutritious” when talking about festivals, I prepare myself for the inevitable eye roll. I love crawfish bread, oyster patties and fried softshell anything. But I also really love shrimp remoulade,… - Build A Healthy Smoothie on-the-go
Until recently, if you wanted to have a really truly good-for-you smoothie, your best bet was to blend one at home. Juice bar concoctions often are loaded with sugar, like the “Protein Punch” blend at a local spot, for example, that has only 9 grams of protein and 112 sugary carbs – hardly a punch of… - I’m Launching a Podcast
After years of sharing nutrition, wellness, and health information on my local TV news channels and news websites, I realized I have so much more information to share on these topics I am researching. This podcast will allow me the time to dig deeper on the topics you want to know about. FUELED | Wellness… - My 6 Top Costco Finds | 2019 Spring Edition
Looking for budget-friendly finds that are fast, easy, and – yes – still good for you? You’ll want to check out these 6 Costco finds that make it easier than ever to squeeze nutritional goodness like protein and superfoods into meals and snacks on the go. Want more Costco inspo & pointers? Check out Molly’s past Costco… - Love it, Like it, Hate it: Beef Jerky, Turkey Jerky, and beyond
Jerky can make a great protein-rich snack in a pinch, but there can be a tremendous difference between brands on shelves. In today’s Love it, Like it, Hate it, we’re Getting the Skinny on what to look for – and what to steer clear of – when it comes to store-bought jerky. Nutrition Facts below… - Sleeping tips, mocktail recipes for the Alcohol Free for 40 challenge check-in
It’s the halfway point for our fourth annual #AlcoholFreeFor40 Challenge, and for many, the toughest part is over: The first weekend without alcohol, the first dinner date without a cocktail, and of course, St. Patrick’s Day, sans booze. The feedback from our 700-plus AFF40 crew has been overwhelmingly positive. The challenge is simple: Give up all alcohol… - Get the Skinny: Hogs for the Cause | Eat Fit Grilled Pork Chop Sandwich
Chef Nate Barfield of Turkey and the Wolf and his team “Pig Latin” are featuring Eat FitGrilled Pork Chop Sandwiches for this year’s Hogs for the Cause, a two-day event with tons of music & great food, with the mission of helping families who are fighting pediatric brain cancer. Friday + Saturday March 29-30 Three stages, lots of bands, hours…
Nutrition Journalist | Registered Dietitian
