My Wife the Dietitian

Is weight loss about willpower and trying harder to refrain from eating? Calories in vs calories out is a message that many dieters receive about losing weight effectively. These are two of the myths that we discuss today, along with some other top diet myths, with a leading expert in the field of health and nutrition. Ashley Koff, RD wrote the book "Your Best Shot" about GLP-1 antagonis...

As the summer weather starts to heat up, we thought we'd revisit our hydration quiz from a few years ago. Follow along and see how you do! What are some signs of dehydration? How can being dehydrated affect the body? Is the ‘gallon challenge’ really needed to get enough water in a day ? What are some practical strategies to get more fluid in your daily intake? These are some of the questions t...

What's the difference between taste and flavour? Such a great question from a listener. Sandra and Rob discuss how taste and flavour have distinct properties when it comes to the sensory experience of enjoying a meal, with all of it's complexities, including taste, texture, temperature, smell and how it looks. Flavour experience can encompass a multi-sensory sensation to help create the ov...

To our valued and dedicated listeners, we wanted to give you an update for our summer broadcasting schedule. We will be releasing one episode a week as we pause the Nutrition Nuggets episodes throughout the summer. We encourage you to meander through our library of previous content as there are lots of gems worthy of another listen. Check out some of our favourites, such as: Nutrition Nuggets 156....

On today's episode, we get to pick Dr. Dean Elbe's brain again about food and medication interactions. It's another installment of Ask the Pharmacist with Dr. Dean Elbe. We have two questions from listeners, plus, some funny stories about warning ads for different medications. We discuss some medications for osteoporosis and long-term side effects, plus caffeine and anti-anxiety medica...

What a nice surprise that Sandra got from her son last week. For a belated Mother's Day meal, Sam made an incredible salad (with many of the ingredients added that he used to hate to eat as a kid!). What ingredients made it so delicious and why was it so healthy? Tune in to hear this delicious, unconventional combination of foods that turned Sandra's dinner salad into a memorable meal. Epi...

There are five tastes that we have as humans and one helps protect us from poisonous and toxic substances. The sensitivity to bitter taste is highly individual and there are thirty different genes responsible for sensing bitter flavour. This may account for the taste preferences and dislikes for some people with a discerning palate. Many 'pickier eaters' may be 'supertasters' of bi...

Cherry season is almost upon us, so we thought we'd revisit our cherry episode from last year. Enjoy🍒 "The day when doctor's say take 10 cherries and call me in the morning" may not be far off, according to a recent Newsweek article. Taken from the book ⁠'The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth'⁠ by Jonny Bowden PhD, tis the season...summer season, that is, for cherries to be dripping off the trees. Th...

Does eating a snack before bed help you sleep? Today, we take a question from a listener about the health effects of eating before bed. Sandra and Rob discuss some of the pros and cons of having an evening snack. We talk about who may benefit from eating at night, what foods to include, plus, the health reasons and ways that the snack may benefit your sleep. Episodes mentioned include: Ep. 192. Ti...

This is one of our very first episodes from five years ago! It's a great episode on reading labels, and understanding how to make healthy choices when you're shopping. Learn what the ' nutrition facts ' are, which items to avoid on the ingredient list, as well as some tips for understanding the marketing claims used by food manufacturers.   It's a big 'nugget', but defi...

The weight loss industry and tools for the public are growing, as is the obesity epidemic. 1 in 8 North Americans are taking GLP-1s to help with appetite and weight management, as we live in a fast forward, fast food, and obesogenic environment. Today, Sandra and Rob discuss how we are living in an environment of impaired eating in so many respects, which is leading to the growing obesity epidemic...

How does eating MORE food actually help to lose weight? We're not talking about any and all food.....we're talking about food with nutritional density. Instead of counting calories and restricting every mouthful of food, so that you feel like you are depriving yourself and it feels soul sucking to get through your day, we are talking about having a plan and being organized to include all of the nu...

A fun episode with some great info for everyone. Revisited from July 2023. Today, we have a spicy conversation with retired athlete, and now dietitian, Lizzie Briasco, RD. She uncovers the layers of the mindset, identity, diet and nutrition of athletes, who have been training for years for their sport. How do they transition into life after sport? What happens with the mindset shift? Some gems/quo...

When you're getting healthier and on a new path for wellness, eating out can have it's challenges. Portion sizes of meal items, ingredients that you don't necessarily want in your food, and methods of cooking, like deep frying, can all throw your health plan off kilter. Rob and Sandra discuss some methods to navigate restaurant choices and eating out to help keep on track for health. E...

Today we help another listener, who is vegetarian and needs to increase her blood ferritin levels, as she has iron deficiency and wants to eat foods that support her iron stores. Sandra and Rob discuss ways to help with nutrition and her food choices. We look at heme and non-heme differences in certain foods, plus, various food combinations to increase iron absorption. Episodes mentioned in this e...

Revisited from April 2025 What's the difference between sugar and added sugars, and do they affect my body in the same way? This is a great question from a listener that we address today. I think we all know that there's a lot of sugar in the typical North American diet. Many of the foods that we buy from the store have an assortment of added sugars with various names and from different sources. H...

We all use granola bars or protein bars in our lunch boxes or throughout the week at one time or another. Many people rely on them regularly to help get through the workday or for recess at school. Are granola, protein, and fiber bars healthy? What are some of the differences, when comparing products on the shelf to bring home to the family? Today, we have a comprehensive discussion with Kelsey Ku...

Rye vs sourdough, which is healthier? From a heart health, blood sugar, and digestion stand point, Sandra and Rob weigh the pros and cons of using each type of bread. Episodes mentioned, include: Ep 194. Reap The Health Benefits of Sourdough https://youtu.be/Fvieoa6J38Y?si=DrirxRtyO8pbsMeC Ep 109. Healthy Cornbread Recipes https://youtu.be/SWJBfnjidPY?si=W1heV-x9Wv9E-Def Ep. 140. Easy Ways to Add...

"I'm too old to exercise. It's better to just relax and take it easy, instead of exercising, as I get older." These are some sentiments that we hear all the time and this question comes from a concerned listener, who's older mother is just not into moving her body much anymore. Sandra and Rob discuss the principles of FITT, as people get older and how this fits into a healthy...

Would squeezing citrus fruit into water provide too much sugar and negate the benefits of drinking water? This question comes from a longtime listener, who mainly drinks plain water, but also uses slices of fruit to flavour her beverage. She is wondering if juicing the fruit would add too much sugar. Sandra and Rob peel back the layers of this question to help address this listener's concerns....

Are quinoa flakes a good healthy breakfast alternative to oats for someone with celiac disease? This is a great question from a longtime listener. Sandra and Rob discuss what quinoa flakes are, their nutritional composition compared to oats, and if they are a good alternative for breakfast. Episodes mentioned, include: Nutrition Nuggets 153. Why Steel Cut Oats Are Healthier https://youtu.be/AhKxKT...

We thought we'd throw one more oldie at you. You know we love our beans so we'd thought we'd repost this episode from a few years back with all sorts of great bean ideas. We've all heard the saying...."Beans, beans....they're good for your heart..." but, many people don't know how to cook with beans and what kind of recipes to make. With so many Mediterranean cult...

Another blast from the past worthy of another listen! A listener asks, "Does fermentation and pickling foods produce the same result?" We cover what probiotics and prebiotics are, and how they are helpful for gut health, plus what helps with the balance for the gut biome. Rob questions Sandra on a variety of topics relating to probiotics. Enjoying the show? Consider leaving a 5 star review (if you...

A great episode from Jan 2024. Lots of good reminders in this one! Beginning a new year, turning over a new leaf, some people resolve to start new routines, such as eating breakfast again. The first meal of the day is a critical opportunity to set the tone of the day for including important vitamins/minerals, protein and fiber. There are many wholesome, healthy choices to break the fast in the mor...

We take a look back at our Nutrition Month episode from 2023. March is Nutrition Month!  To help with reducing your food bill, while also increasing your nutritional health with quality foods, on this episode, we discuss ten foods to consider for your weekly meals and grocery shop.   - five foods to include   - five foods to reduce  Resources: ⁠What is Processed Meat? - American Institute for Canc...