Browsing: Health & Wellness

As the weather warms up and the days get longer here in Mississippi, the calendar starts to fill up with backyard barbecues, porch dinners, and casual get-togethers. A go-to side dish makes the perfect addition to these gatherings. When I’m building a side-dish to bring to an event, I look for crowd pleasing flavors that highlight in-season produce. Both jalapeños and sweet corn are showing up on farmer’s market shelves in May and June. 

National Nutrition Month, celebrated every March and sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics since 1973, highlights the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. The 2026 campaign theme, “Discover the Power of Nutrition,” focuses on the preventive, protective, and restorative benefits of a healthy, balanced diet.

March is an exciting time to be in the kitchen. Hints of spring begin to appear in the grocery store and farmer’s markets begin to pop up in communities. Utilizing this in-season produce is a delicious way to save money and support local farmers. While available year-round, carrots really shine in spring when they are tender, naturally sweet, and often sold with their green tops attached. Those greens aren’t just pretty, they are edible and perfect for turning into a flavorful carrot top chimichurri. 

The New England Patriots are set to take on the Seattle Seahawks in Sunday’s Super Bowl LX showdown. The Super Bowl is expected to be watched by around 130 million people worldwide, with 1 in 4 Americans being more interested in the food than the actual game. The Super Bowl is considered the second-largest eating day of the year, with billions spent on wings, dips, and snacks, making it crucial for party hosts.

After the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, my house, kitchen, and nutrition often need a reset. I’m looking for warm, comforting, low-energy ways to nourish my body and get the new year off to a veggie packed start. The holidays are wonderful. They are full of family and yummy foods. But these foods are often very rich and low in fiber which leave me feeling sluggish and in need of some lighter fare that is still comforting and low effort.  Soups are a perfect way to tick all these boxes. Soups are warming, comforting, a great way to use up veggies from the fridge and don’t take a lot of active cooking time. My favorite soup in the new year is a hearty lentil vegetable soup.

November holds a special meaning across our state. It’s a month dedicated not only to Alzheimer’s Awareness, but also to the countless families who quietly shoulder the privilege and the weight of caregiving. And this weekend, the Mississippi Delta is opening its doors—and its heart—for an afternoon built around connection, resources, and hope.

Thanksgiving has a way of bringing out the classic comfort foods like mashed potatoes laden with butter, marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole, and thick, rich gravy. But what if the side dishes could deliver all that warmth and nostalgia without the post-meal sluggishness? This year, give your table a refresh with vibrant, lighter sides that celebrate seasonal produce and deep Southern flavor.