Pitt Nutrition Blog

Q: I’m new to plant-based cooking and was wondering how to best prepare tofu, or if it could be eaten raw. Also, could you suggest a recipe that features tofu? (Danielle, Coraopolis) A:  Thank you for your question! Truth be told, all types of tofu can be eaten raw but the soft and silken varieties are best when eaten right out of the package! Just drain off any excess packing liquid and you’re good to go! Invite your friends to try silken tofu as part of this bright and beautiful  Mango, Raspberry Smoothie Bowl . 1 If you’re looking to add both texture and flavor to your mixed dishes, then cooked tofu should do the trick! Try this foolproof recipe for tasty tofu every time! Step One: Drain it!  A waterlogged block of tofu won’t absorb a marinade or get crispy in a frying pan. Luckily, draining tofu couldn’t be easier! Place your tofu (the whole block or slices) on a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Then, place a heavy object (like a cast-iron skillet or a te...

The Mediterranean Diet is an elusive title for a certain way of eating that many people have heard but may not fully grasp what it really means. As a dietetics student, I get several inquiries about what I think are the “best” diets and what are the “healthiest” things to eat. It is nearly impossible to clearly define one specific way of eating that is generally “healthy” for everyone, but the Mediterranean Diet provides a general format that outlines a specific subset of eating that many people can follow to increase their overall health. The Mediterranean Diet provides a guide on how to eat specific food groups to produce a sustainable, well-rounded diet that will help you achieve a life of health and wellness, rather than restricting the things you eat to achieve short-term weight loss goals like most fad diets. So, what exactly does the Mediterranean Diet consist of? The Mediterranean Diet pyramid is a compact guide to the components and general portion recommendations for each...

  Are you thinking of transitioning to a vegan diet for the countless benefits that it can provide, but worried that it may not be sustainable for your entire family? This is a common concern, especially for families with young children who need nutrients to support growth. However, it is definitely possible for your entire family to go vegan and find optimal health. In addition to the benefits a vegan diet can provide for your health, it is also better for the environment. Large-scale factory farming is a destructive industry.¹ From the air and water pollution to the massive deforestation, it is ecologically unsustainable. More information on the environmental impact of eating animal products can be found at onegreenplanet.org . The first step in transitioning to a vegan diet is to understand exactly what this diet entails. Meat, fish, dairy, honey and all other animal products are excluded from the diet. It is important to remember that veganism and health are not synonymous,...