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.
Reflections of Resiliency … Actions Speak Volumes
This is not a usual Thanksgiving season. But it is our reality. Perhaps this year our celebration reflects more accurately the resiliency of our forefathers 400 years ago at Plymouth Rock than our modern, relatively-trouble free 20th century life. As described in a...
The Tale of Kale … More than a Pretty Plate!
For many, sourdough bread has been the center of focus in the kitchen during the pandemic. For me, it’s been kale! What started as an opportunity to grow a few leafy greens in our backyard in early spring — while being “confined” to home — has become a focal point of...
Beneath the “Health Halo” — Plant-Based Meat Alternatives
Note: This blog was written jointly by Marianne Smith Edge and Jennifer Garrett based on their recent article, "The Nutritional Limitations of Mimicking Meat” published in the July/August 2020 issue of Cereal Foods World. Quick, what is the first word that comes to...
Family Meals – The Link to Staying Strong During the Pandemic and Beyond
Family meals were the routine and not the exception when growing up on the farm. Over the years, work and travel schedules have definitely impacted the frequency of family meals for my husband and me. And we didn’t have the influx of children’s sports and school...
“Mind the Gap” on Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
The warning “mind the gap” is a constant reminder when one steps off a London underground train, reminding you to watch out for the gap between the rail track and platform. As consumers, we need to be mindful of the continuous gap we, as a society, have when it comes...
Food Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility – Make It a Daily Routine
Wash hands, wear a mask, put on gloves, sanitize cart, bag your own groceries, drop groceries in sun room, wipe down boxes, wash hands, repackage produce, wash hands, store items in refrigerator or pantry. These are all steps I, along with others, took to ensure...
Farmers’ Markets – A Reflection of Resiliency and Community Spirit
Visions of bright red tomatoes, sweet corn in the husk and zucchini of all shapes and sizes “dance in our heads” and on our plates as the farmers’ market season is in full swing across most of our country. In fact, the first week of August was designated National...
To Buy or Not to Buy Cage-Free Eggs? That is the EGG-CELLENT Question!
William Shakespeare may be rolling over in his grave for the altering of Hamlet’s question, but earlier this week, when another supermarket chain announced its commitment to a 100% cage-free egg supply by 2025, I had to ponder the question. Is this momentum to...
Regenerative Agriculture — Is What is Old Actually New Again?
Traveling 1,100 miles over 16 hours and six states in one day provides plenty of opportunities to view the landscape along the I-64 and I-70 westward route to Colorado from the passenger side window. For once, I did just that on a recent road trip. The temptation of...
Lessons Learned Extend Beyond the Cow: Thoughts for National Dairy Month
Regardless of our childhood and how long ago it was, we have memories that bring smiles to our faces, tears to our eyes or the realization of what we thought was bad, may actually have been good. June brings those mixed emotions for me as we celebrate National Dairy...