like flipping a switch

And like flipping a switch, it’s autumn. “I can see my breath today. Delightful.” That’s what I texted my daughter this morning. I love fall—especially in Vermont. And as I get…

throw a tantrum

When’s the last time you threw a temper tantrum? I mean really, really threw one? One of my favorite podcasters, Christine Hassler, teaches something she calls the temper tantrum technique….

(don’t) label it

Ever think about the impact of slapping a label on something? I read with interest a piece entitled, “Don’t call it ‘vegan’ and other tips from hospitals to get people…

spring cleaning | dopamine + desire

What I love about brain science: it makes us change our minds. This week, I came across a piece about dopamine on NPR that hit some familiar notes. Every night,…

spring cleaning | content + intent

How many times a day do we ascribe a particular intent to someone else’s words or actions? Or have someone else make assumptions about the intent behind our words or…

intermittent fasting: yes or no?

Intermittent fasting is a hot topic these days. There was an article in the NYT recently about how scientists have concluded the first long-term study of time-restricted eating, AKA intermittent…

empty nest = hatching plans

My nest is an empty nest. It’s been that way for almost a month now. I’m a confirmed completist and definitely believe in a Chinese expression that was commandeered by…

writing fan fiction

Fan fiction or fanfiction (also abbreviated to fan fic, fanfic, fic or ff) is fictional writing written in an amateur capacity as fans, unauthorized by, but based on an existing…

building boundaries around food

Many of us seem to have boundary issues—with boundaries. “Good fences make good neighbors,” writes Robert Frost about the stone boundaries between the poet’s land and his neighbor’s in his…

stewarding emotional eating

Stewarding seems like an odd word to use around emotional eating: emotional eating is “bad,” and most of us try to beat, control, conquer, manage, and/or tackle it—certainly not take…

2 types of summer menus

What’s on your menu for the summer? Lest you cry “click bait,” here is a link to some menus I put together for my first blog—on Chinese home cooking: here…

decision fatigue

The Cycle out of S-T-R-E-S-S eating challenge started May 1, and already, I’ve gotten some interesting emails from participants about their experience of the first week’s activity—one of which touched…

bathing suit season: to diet or not to diet?

It really is spring in Michigan (maybe? finally?) How do I know? Well, when I look out the window, I can’t actually tell what season it is—not just because it…

side effects may vary—a lot!

I’ve always had a slightly strained relationship with television, and I’ve often wondered about the side effects of watching/not watching TV. I grew up in the 60s/70s/80s, by the middle…

emotional eating | trust yourself completely

This week we finish off the emotional eating series with a look at another topic that is closely linked to emotional/stress eating: self-trust. How do you feel when you have…

emotional eating | self-empowerment

This week in the emotional eating series, we’ll take a look at another topic that is closely linked to emotional/stress eating: self-empowerment. We began this series on emotional eating three…

emotional eating | how are you hungry?

In the style of health coaching I practice, Integrative Nutrition®, we talk a lot about primary and secondary foods. The majority of my clients come to me because they believe…