Good Food As Good Medicine Blog

UC Davis Health executive chef attends White House conference for a healthier America

Executive Chef Santana Diaz attended a conference in Washington D.C. to discuss ideas to end hunger, improve nutrition and physical activity, and close disparities in the U.S.

man reading a label on a jar of vegetables

Health Tips

Your guide to low sodium eating and how to lower blood pressure

Limiting the amount of sodium you eat can help lower blood pressure and lessen your chances for other health conditions. Get tips to limit your salt intake and learn how to read food labels.

Health Tips

Summer food safety tips to keep your family healthy

If you're planning a picnic or barbecue outside this summer, it's important to know how to store and prepare food to keep bacteria and cancer-causing chemicals away.

Health Tips

Why it’s important for you to drink water and stay hydrated

This may be obvious to some, but water is very important to your health. What does it really do for your body? Get that answer and more in this blog.

Entrée Recipes

Creole gumbo

This tasty creole gumbo is a popular American dish that has West African and French influence. It includes a variety of proteins and an option to turn up the heat.

Health Tips

Potato health benefits and why you should eat more spuds

Potatoes are often overlooked as part of a healthy meal. However, these starchy vegetables have a lot of health benefits and nutrients. Check out why you should be eating more potatoes.

Health Tips

Paleo diet: What it is and why it's not for everyone

The paleo diet is a popular eating trend, but it's not the best plan for everyone. Our registered dietitians explain the diet, the health benefits it can provide, and the health risks it can bring.

Entrée Recipes

Chickpea cake with spring salad, vinaigrette, and hummus

In celebration of Earth Day, UC Davis Health's Food and Nutrition Team brings you a delicious whole food, plant-based, gluten-free meal. Watch the Facebook Live as our chefs walk you through step-by-step.

Health Tips

Why is breakfast important? Our dietitian gives healthy breakfast ideas

Is breakfast really the most important meal of the day? What are some healthy breakfast foods? Our registered dietitian Melinda Gong answers these questions and more about breakfast.

Health Tips

Our dietitians celebrate a world of flavors for Nutrition Month

Our registered dietitians share some of their favorite foods from around the world in celebration of National Nutrition Month. Check it out! You may find some new dishes you'll want to try.

Health Tips

Intermittent fasting: Benefits, how it works, and is it right for you?

Intermittent fasting remains a popular diet trend. However, it may not be for everyone. Our registered dietitian takes a look at the pros and cons and explains if it could be the right eating plan for you.

Health Tips

3 tips for healthy weight loss in the new year

Don't look to diet in the new year. Instead, follow these three tips from our registered dietitian that will help you slowly lose and keep off those pesky extra pounds.

woman holding a list picking out produce

Health Tips

Meal planning tips to eat healthier and stay on budget

Do you find yourself wondering how to eat healthier at home? Our dietitian gives you some tips on how to eat well for your health and your wallet.

Entrée Recipes

Grilled chicken with roasted veggie potato corn cake, fondue and green beans

This delicious meal is perfect to cook up on those cooler days. You can serve these dishes altogether or make each piece separately to go with other dishes.

Raw salmon sitting on cutting board with garlic and walnuts

Health Tips

5 immune boosters to help keep you healthy amid COVID-19 outbreak

Now more than ever, it's important for your immune system to stay in tip-top shape during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the best ways to stay healthy is by maintaining a nutritious diet.

Entrée Recipes

Summer squash and corn medley

Cook up this colorful dish to enjoy on a warm summer evening.

Executive Chef Santana Diaz standing in front of the Tower Bridge

Farm-to-Fork

UC Davis Health chef, hospital food take center stage at Sacramento's Tower Bridge Dinner

UC Davis Health's Executive Chef Santana Diaz will be leading a team of culinary masterminds for Sacramento's annual Tower Bridge Dinner. See how they're doing it.

Vegetables on a table with woman ready to cook

Health Tips

COVID-19 nutrition: 4 tips to keep your immune system in top shape

Eating healthy and staying hydrated can help your immune system stay strong and avoid infectious diseases like COVID-19. Here are four nutrition tips to keep your body healthy.

Snack Recipes

Two delicious recipes to use 'ugly' but still good avocados

Do you have a few less-than-appetizing but still good avocados hanging around? Check out these two recipes that are great uses for those slightly brown avocados.

Mom watching young daughter eat bread and peanut butter

Health Tips

Food allergies in children: Pediatric guidelines, diagnosis and more

Food allergies are a fairly common concern for parents with young children. But how common are food allergies? UC Davis Health pediatricians explain the difference between food allergies and food intolerance.

Farm-to-Fork

'Farm-to-hospital' supports local growers while improving health

A project to promote buying local produce got a big boost as it continues to increase financial support for farmers while providing healthy and fresh meals to hospital patients, employees and visitors.

Health Tips

Ways to lower blood pressure naturally through your diet

Looking for ways to lower your blood pressure without medication? UC Davis Health's dietitian team shares tips to help lower high blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke or heart attack.

Health Tips

Foods for brain health: Keep your mind fresh and your food fresher

More and more research suggests ways we can help our brain stay healthy and functioning at its best through what we eat. Our neuroscience dietitian Erin Nella shares eating tips to keep your brain healthy.

Entrée Recipes

Minestrone soup

This tasty soup full of veggies will warm your soul on a cold day.

Health Tips

Pregnancy diet: Common myths and what you should eat during your pregnancy

Learn why nutrition is so important during pregnancy, common misconceptions to avoid how expecting mothers can consume the recommended nutrients through their diet.

Health Tips

Diet trends for 2021: Our registered dietitian details top healthy habits

A new year is underway, which means many of us are trying lifestyle changes. Our registered dietitian looks back at some of 2020's most popular diets and her hot diet trend predictions for 2021.

Video

Farm-to-Fork

Why tapping into NorCal's bounty to feed patients is so important

UC Davis Medical Center's kitchen offers organic farm-to-fork meals to patients, visitors and staff. Our partnership with local farms is the largest of its kind for a hospital.

Farm-to-Fork

Chef Santana Diaz discusses importance of farm-to-fork to our hospital

Our Executive Chef Santana Diaz grew up in the Northern California and local foods were always part of his family's cooking. See why he's made it his goal to feed good food to the community.

Video

Entrée Recipes

Flavor-bombed tofu tacos

Executive Chef Santana Diaz walks you through how to assemble the flavor-bombed tofu tacos, including how to make a chili lime glaze and cilantro lime vinaigrette.

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