Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Looks To Answer Readers' Kitchen Questions

Would some people rather give up 10 years of their life rather than be overweight? What's wrong with the word "diet"? When it comes to food, what does "moderation" really mean? "I get a lot of questions about food, nutrition, diets, weight management, cooking, and health," said registered dietitian nutritionist James Winstead. "A series of short, topical videos seems like a great way to respond to the questions, and maybe spark a deeper conversation about food, good nutrition, the importance of phystical activity, and overall health." Winstead, who is the Director of Food & Nutrition

Registered Dietitian Launches “Bite-Sized” Video Series

Would some people rather give up 10 years of their life rather than be overweight? What’s wrong with the word “diet”? When it comes to food, what does “moderation” really mean? “I get a lot of questions about food, nutrition, diets, weight management, cooking, and health,” said registered dietitian nutritionist James Winstead. “A series of short, topical videos seems like a great way to respond to the questions, and maybe spark a deeper conversation about food, good nutrition, the importance of physical activity, and overall health.” Winstead, who is the Director of Food and Nutrition

Six Tips for Pairing Beef and Wine

Beef and wine are a classic match; the meaty, complex, rich flavor of Beef pairs well with the equally complex, savory, and rich quality of wine. But how do you decide what wine to serve? Here are six tips to help you pair your Beef selection with a great wine, and perhaps impress your friends and family! 1.       The cut of Beef you choose DOES matter—Certain cuts of Beef like flank steak and chuck are often very flavorful and need a medium red like Merlot or Zinfandel. Cuts from the rib and loin—think tenderloin, strip steak, and prime rib—are best with more sophisticated, complex

California Cattle Ranchers Featured in Food52, U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance "A Day on a Cattle Ranch"

Win One of the Most Popular Small Kitchen Appliances

Slow Cookers and Fall--Made for Each OtherAlthough you can use your slow cooker any day of year, autumn seems to be the time when the idea of comfort food greeting you at the end of a long day is particularly appealing. A recent article about the history and popularity of slow cookers  noted that 83 percent of families owned one in 2011. But there’s more to the Crock-Pot®  than comfort food. Convenience is a big part of the appeal of the slow cooker, and there are lots of great recipes (

That Scenic View You’re Enjoying May Be Courtesy of Your Local Rancher

California's Grazing Lands Do More for the Environment Than You Might ThinkAuthor’s note: This is the second in a series about the challenges facing 21st century California ranchers. Part one focused on the challenges California Cattle Ranchers face because of the drought and the misinformation surrounding water use and ranching .             An impromptu conversation about the environment turned into a teachable moment for Tim Koopmann recently.

California Cattle Ranchers and the Drought: There is so much misinformation out there

California Ranchers Frustrated Over Myths Surrounding Water UseAuthor’s note: This is the first in a series about the challenges facing 21st century California ranchers. Mike Smith has about had it. So have a lot of other California ranchers. “We’ve been dealing with this historic drought for the past few years…since before California homeowners started letting their lawns die,” Smith, chair of the California Beef Council, said. “Suddenly people are waking up to the severity of the drought and their first reaction is to point fingers. California agriculture seems to be a favorite

Kern and Siskiyou County Youth Named 2015 California Beef Ambassadors

Sacramento, CA—Kern County native Abby Grisedale and Siskiyou County high school sophomore Angelee Dowling have been selected from among 24 contestants as this year’s senior and junior California Beef Ambassadors. The runners-up in the competition, held April 25 in San Jose, were Haley Kaae of Siskiyou County in the Senior Division, and Emyli Palmer of Tehama County in the Junior Division. The California Beef Ambassador Competition prepares youth in agriculture to educate consumers about beef and beef production on a statewide level. The ambassadors share personal experiences, product

Nutrition Confusion? 3 Simple Tips Make It Easy!

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Weighs InIt happens all the time when I'm out at an event or speaking to a community group about food, nutrition, and health--invariably I get the question that goes something like this: "I understand that I need to eat healthy, but my life is so busy that I kind of slack off. Isn't there an easy way to do this?"    Food is a big part of our lives, so knowing how to quickly and easily navigate some nutrition basics can save a lot of time AND make you feel and perform better. Plus, once you demystify the data, you can put some quick go-to strategies in

Three Stressful Holiday Events, Five Great Recipes, Zero Worries

Let's face it, this time of year there is a lot going on. And a lot of the "goings on" revolve around social situations and, in some cases, social obligations. In the Mad Men era there might have been a significant other at home to keep your social calendar, entertain friends and business associates, or provide that impressive center-of-the-table dish for family gatherings.    But things are a little different now. OK, you may have a significant other who has the talent to whip up a holiday gathering and take care of all the details, but chances are that person is climbing the career

Farm-to-Fork...Meet Fork-to-Farm! What Happens When Chefs Leave the Kitchen and Come Out to the Ranch?

On a beautiful spring day in Sacramento, California nearly 40 chefs from premier restaurants, meat managers from some of Sacramento's most well-known and established specialty grocers, and food industry leaders boarded a bus outside downtown's Grange Restaurant & Bar  for a 45-minute drive to a sprawling ranch in southeast Sacramento County. They had signed on to spend the day seeing a local beef cattle ranch and get a personal look at Sacramento's Farm-to-Fork movement at its most basic level.    They came armed with questions. Fifth-generation

What Do You Mean There’s A “Grilling Season”…This Is California!

Get Your Friends Together Over A Tri-Tip--California's CutIn some parts of the United States they are, unfortunately, still digging out from winter, and part of that dig-out is preparing for grilling and soon-to-be summer barbeques. Grills kept dormant through the winter have to be thoroughly cleaned and prepped for the season so they are ready to go for those first steaks and burgers cooked outdoors. You know the basic recipe…meat and fire.    But this is California, and for many of us the grilling goes on year ‘round—who needs to wait for summer? Besides, grilling is a fun, interactive