Meet Me At the Table
My goal with this blog is to bring you perspectives from my past, peppered with insights and facts on the future of food, farming and health – providing “food for thought, action and personal responsibility.” As a registered dietitian and a sixth generation farm owner in Kentucky, the connection of farm to plate is part of my DNA. I have spent my career navigating the connections between food, health, agriculture and consumer behavior. Together, we will dig into the complex and ever-changing story of who grows our food, what’s in our food, and how food affects our health and ultimately our lives.
The Viral Connection Beyond the Dairy Case — Chickens, Cows and the Price of Eggs
I’m a habitual NYT Connections (and Wordle) player, so solving the connection between words is one of my early morning routines. But when it comes to solving the connection between chickens, cows and egg prices, it’s more complicated than just matching the green or...
Healthy — An Overused and Misunderstood Word; Is Clarity on the Way?
In today’s environment, the term “healthy” is used in a variety of ways. We talk about how unhealthy we are as a society or that certain foods are healthy. We even use the term to describe a person’s appearance — “she looks healthy” — or for portion size — “that’s a...
Eating Without Fear? Reflections of the Past 5 Years of Food Trends
As we approach the halfway mark of our current decade, I decided to reflect on what I have written over the past five years about food and agriculture trends. Have we really changed? Regardless of the years or environment, there are consistent themes. The Past 5 Years...
Weighing the Risks and Benefits: Raw Milk Is a “Raw Deal”
We live in an interesting time. Advances in technology allow us to communicate instantly across the globe. The plethora of nutritional supplements and wellness venues strive to improve our longevity. Yet, decades-old technology and scientific discoveries that have...
Tips for Saying “Cheese” with a Smile and Confidence
I’m guessing that you have cheese in your refrigerator right now. After all, the facts show we love cheese. A recent Bloomberg article highlighted that our “love” for cheese in the U.S. has more than doubled since 1975, with an average of 42 pounds being consumed per...
The Pawpaw: A Fruit That Raises Curiosity About Its Future
It’s been called America’s secret fruit, forgotten fruit and for many, an unknown fruit. But for some of us, it’s a backyard fruit. When your husband forgets to transplant a seedling to the farm until it becomes a small tree, finding the native fall fruit no longer...
We Eat Because Farmers Take the Risk
Water and wind are powerful forces of nature for which we can try to be prepared. Buildings can be built to endure hurricane force winds and dams can control water depending on the volume. Farmers monitor weather conditions and can adjust planting and harvest of crops...
Should We “Press Pause” on Processed Foods?
“Words matter” is a frequent phase we hear. While the original intent may not be associated with what we eat, it certainly resonates in today’s environment. Words like “fresh,” “natural” or “local” seem to conjure up warm feelings and images of healthy foods, while...
Confident or Cautious? Checking Your Barometer on Safe Food
Bird flu, lead in cinnamon, cantaloupes or cucumbers with salmonella, and numerous food recalls have highlighted the news feeds over the past year. So perhaps, the recent 2024 International Food Information Council (IFIC) Food and Health Consumer Survey results...
Celebrating the Cow & Dairy Farmer: A Commitment to Quality from U.S. to New Zealand
I have never met a cow I didn’t like (especially if they’re black and white), but there were times when not all were in favor during my years of showing dairy. Summer days filled with training calves to lead, grooming, feeding and cleaning stalls provided lots of...