When it comes to making healthy choices, there is a lot of information out there. As a registered dietitian and Price Chopper's corporate nutritionist, I can help you by sharing with you a few of the informative articles I've read lately. Have a question on anything you've read lately? Connect with me and I'll help you make food fit into your lifestyle.

Getting Nutrition The Vegan Way
Cutting out meat? You could be trimming vital nutrients as well. A vegan diet can leave your body hungry for protein, vitamin B-12, calcium, iron and zinc. Luckily, there are ways to compensate without becoming a carnivore. Vegetarians who eat eggs or dairy products get plenty of protein, but you can also choose soy products, legumes, lentils, nuts, seeds and whole grains. Likewise, calcium is found in low-fat dairy foods and dark green vegetables, such as spinach, turnip and collard greens, kale, and broccoli. Fortified tofu, soymilk and fruit juices are other options. For vitamin B-12, you could choose milk, eggs and cheese - but vegans can get it from enriched cereals, fortified soy products or supplements. Iron can be obtained from dried beans and peas, lentils, enriched cereals, whole-grain products, dark, leafy green vegetables, and dried fruit. To absorb this non-animal iron, pair these foods with those high in vitamin C, like strawberries, citrus fruits, tomatoes, cabbage and broccoli. Good sources of zinc include whole grains, soy products, nuts and wheat germ.