Sound Bites With Melissa Joy Dobbins

Who we are is shaped by how we see the world, whether that is our faith, our community, our family. They all create our culture - and culture is not limited to race, geographic location, or socioeconomic status. Understanding someone’s culture can help you support them in making lasting health behavior changes. You do not need to be an expert in world religions to allow faith to be a part of your conversation around health and nutrition. Zach Cordell is a dietitian, professor, speaker, host of The Latter-day Saint Nutritionist podcast, and author of The Creation Code. We discuss food, nutrition, faith, science, culture, family and behavior change. Get the full shownotes at www.SoundBitesRD.com/118 

Snacking, once culturally taboo, is now a legitimate pattern of eating, changing the way we eat and how we are nourished. 50% of all eating occasions are snacks, and consumers have greater expectations for snacks – seeking nourishment, optimization and pleasure. Dr. Shelley Balanko is Senior Vice President with The Hartman Group, a food culture consultancy. In this episode, we explore all things snacking, including when people are snacking, what kinds of snacks they are consuming, the motivation for snacking, and snacking preferences. For more info and resources: www.SoundBitesRD.com/117 

“Everyone is different, therefore different approaches to weight management, or an overall healthy lifestyle, are to be expected.” - Courtney McCormick, MPH, RDN, LDN, Manager of Clinical Research and Nutrition at Nutrisystem.  Nutrigenomics is the study of how genes and diet interact to influence the way nutrients cause an individual’s body to function. According to research, the human body contains about 20,000 – 25,000 genes.  It is important to understand what health and weight loss strategies work best for you. Genetic testing can be used to recommend different strategies that may help you make more informed choices and achieve outcomes that contribute to overall health. Courtney McCormick is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with a master’s degree in public health. Currently, she serves as the Manager of Clinical Research and Nutrition at Nutrisystem. In this role, she helps support the nutritional strategy and clinical research for both the Nutrisystem and South Beach Diet brands. Courtney has focus

Delve into the science, the psychology and the strategies behind good food and nutrition with Melissa, the Guilt-Free RD® - "because food shouldn't make you feel bad!" Melissa is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes Educator. She has conversations with experts including researchers, academics, authors, dietitians and more on topics such as healthy diets, weight management, diabetes, agriculture, sustainability and more. Get credible information to help you make your own, well-informed nutrition decisions based on facts, not fear. For more information: www.SoundBitesRD.com   

Too many people fail in the pursuit of a "perfect" diet. So let's ditch perfection and focus on a diet that is "good enough" - one that helps keep you healthy but also allows you to enjoy your life.  Monica Reinagel is a licensed nutritionist, chef, and host of the Nutrition Diva podcast. Tune in to hear about her Nutrition GPA™ app and 30-Day Nutrition Upgrade™ program. For more info & resources visit: www.SoundBitesRD.com/115 

“No one should have to give up their ethnic food because they have diabetes. A registered dietitian can teach them how to incorporate heritage foods into their diet.” – Constance Brown-Riggs, an award-winning registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, and the author of 3 books including her latest book, the Diabetes Guide to Enjoying Foods of the World. In this episode, Briggs shares tips and resources to help decrease the cultural divide between people with diabetes and healthcare providers. For more info & resources visit: www.SoundBitesRD.com/114

MSG (monosodium glutamate) is one of the most beloved and vilified ingredients in American history. Tune into this 3-part series on MSG & Umami to learn about the history, science and culinary applications from 4 different experts. Today’s episode features Chef Chris Koetke and Dr. Tia Rains. They discuss the past and current research on MSG and the culinary applications of MSG and umami. For more information and resources visit www.SoundBitesRD.com/113

MSG (monosodium glutamate) is one of the most beloved and vilified ingredients in American history. Tune into this 3-part series on MSG & Umami to learn about the history, science and culinary applications from 4 different experts. Today’s episode features registered dietitian Mary Lee Chin who shares insight into MSG’s connection to Asian heritage and health topics – including the question of headaches. For more information and resources visit www.SoundBitesRD.com/112

MSG (monosodium glutamate) is one of the most beloved and vilified ingredients in American history. Tune into this 3-part series on MSG & Umami to learn about its history, science and culinary applications from 4 different experts. Today’s episode features Sarah Lohman, a culinary historian and author of ‘Eight Flavors: The Untold Story of American Cuisine’. She shares how and why history has influenced our perceptions of MSG. For more information and resources visit www.SoundBitesRD.com/111

Amy Myrdal Miller is a culinary dietitian and farmer's daughter who has lived well with Type 1 diabetes for 40 years. She shares her insight and advice about the safety and culinary applications of low- and no-calorie sweeteners. “Low calorie sweeteners provide options for people with diabetes. Do you have to use them? No. But doing so gives you the opportunity to ‘spend your carbohydrates’ in other ways.” – Amy Myrdal Miller For more information and resources visit www.SoundBitesRD.com/110. 

With all the conflicting information about which foods to eat, which exercise regime is best, and how much sleep to get, becoming “healthy” can feel like an overwhelming chore or even an impossible feat. But it is possible to become healthier—all it takes is a closer look at what really matters and focusing your time and energy where it will benefit you the most. Dr. Nair’s book, Healthier You, breaks down a healthy lifestyle into proven, specific actions that make an actual difference, so you can ignore all of the expensive, time-consuming, inconvenient, and sometime dangerous practices and products that don’t.  Get more information and resources at www.SoundBitesRD.com/109.

The human brain is not wired for critical thinking and there are many barriers to changing our behavior. Dr. Jason Riis shares Nobel prize winning research to help us think more critically, and a 3-part strategy for understanding and improving behavior change efforts. Get the full shownotes and resources at www.SoundBitesRD.com/108.

"The research community has to wake up - and speak up about their research so it doesn't get misinterpreted. Better that the scientist communicates about their own research than the many other unqualified people who will - if they don't." - Dr. Taylor Wallace Can you trust research that's funded by the food industry? Do consumers really want "transparency" and what does that mean to them? Tune in to hear Dr. Taylor Wallace discuss industry funding, communicating nutrition science, and his adventures on the Dr. Oz show! Get the full shownotes and resources at www.SoundBitesRD.com/107

Get meal planning and prep advice straight from the experts - Toby Amidor and Jessica Levinson - as we discuss their new books, smart tips to get you started and answers to my recent dinnertime struggles.  Meal planning and prep saves time on busy weeknights, gets a healthier meal on the table and helps reduce food waste. It’s never too late to Do M.O.R.E. with Dinner – make this ordinary daily ritual extraordinary!  Get the full shownotes and resources at www.SoundBitesRD.com/106.

Tune in as I talk with Ginger Hultin from Champagne Nutrition about alcohol and health. “For many people, drinking can fit into a healthy lifestyle if they find the right balance. It’s important to understand the current intake guidelines and how alcohol affects your energy, weight, appetite, sleep, physical activity and stress. Is it adding to your life or detracting from it?” – Ginger Hultin Get the full shownotes and resources at www.SoundBitesRD.com/105.

“When it comes to sustainability, we need to think about the entire food system, not just the environmental footprints of individual foods. I encourage people to dig deeper into discussions of sustainable nutrition. For example, the social aspect of sustainability is critical and often ignored. Does advice to purchase one type of food or product meet someone’s budget, preferences, food culture?  We also need to look carefully at the entire food supply chain. At NCBA, we are trying to account for any and all impacts along the supply chain, right down to how many little pieces of paper are used between hamburger patties at ground beef processing facilities.” – Dr. Sara Place, Animal Scientist Tune in as I talk with Dr. Place about the environmental, social and economic impacts of livestock production systems, what ‘upcycling’ is and where ‘cow gas’ really comes from.   Get the full shownotes and resources at www.SoundBitesRD.com/104.

“Forty percent of food in the U.S. goes uneaten and ends up in our landfills. Contrary to popular belief, the consumer is the biggest culprit – NOT farmers, manufacturers or retailers. Reducing food waste is essential, and there are simple steps we can take to not only reduce food waste, but also help feed those who are hungry. Cook it, store it, share it – just don’t waste it.” – Dr. Joan Salge Blake Tune in as I talk “trash” with my friend and fellow dietitian Dr. Joan Salge Blake. We explore the topics of food waste, sell-by dates on labels, foodborne illness, and food insecurity.   Get the shownotes and helpful resources at www.SoundBitesRD.com/103

“A great diet is one that balances what we know we need with what we don't want to live without. I'd never tell some they should never eat this food or that one. It's about how much and how often. Getting healthier has to be enjoyable.” – Dr. Keith Ayoob Tune in as I talk with my friend and fellow dietitian Dr. Keith Ayoob about the sweetener stevia, umami – the fifth basic taste, and Keith’s fun workout session with Lance Pekus the Cowboy Ninja. Get the shownotes, photos and resources at www.SoundBitesRD.com/102.    

October is National Seafood Month so we are “diving” into all things seafood. If you’re interested in sustainable aquaculture, farmed vs. wild salmon, or simply want to know how to get more seafood in your diet, tune in as I talk with Egil Sundheim, an expert from the Norwegian Seafood Council, and hear all about my trip of a lifetime to Norway. We’re sharing some great resources, recipes and research on seafood. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.soundbitesrd.com/101

“Even if we’re highly informed and agree on the same information – that information means different things to each of us and we prioritize it differently.” Tune in as I talk with Dietram Scheufele, an expert in science communication who explains why information doesn’t change hearts and minds, how the current media environment affects our decision making and why language matters (and doesn’t matter).  Get full show notes and more information: https://www.soundbitesrd.com/100