Blackfoot Valley Dispatch - The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980

Dear Readers: These are uncertain times, and if you're like me, uncertainty is not one of your favorite topics. We have not yet reached the peak of the coronavirus pandemic. Unfortu... — Updated 4/7/2020

Dear Readers: This past week I attended the funeral of my best friend's brother who died suddenly of a massive heart attack. He was only 49. You don't realize how many lives one lif... — Updated 3/25/2020

Dear Dietitian, I’ve been working hard on eating healthy this year, and I read your column regularly. I have been surprised at how much sugar is in foods that I thought were good... — Updated 3/18/2020

Dear Dietitian, I’ve recently stumbled upon a few articles touting a return to the diets of the 1950s, which were influenced by war-time rationing. They say people ate healthier.... — Updated 3/10/2020

Dear Dietitian, I'm familiar with the food pyramid and five food groups used to help guide food choices over the years. I see some older references to seven food groups. What was... — Updated 3/3/2020

Dear Readers, By now, you probably know someone who has adopted a vegetarian diet. Estimates put vegetarianism at around 5% of the American population (1). That may not sound like... — Updated 2/25/2020

Dear Dietitian, I have been educating myself on healthy nutrition. There is a lot of conflicting information on the internet, and sometimes it's downright frustrating! Can you help... — Updated 2/18/2020

Dear Dietitian, I have had diabetes for fifteen years and have kept it under good control. But recently, my blood sugars have been higher, around 200 during the day. My daughter... — Updated 2/11/2020

Dear Dietitian, I am health conscious and try to get enough fiber in my diet, but sometimes I miss the mark. I noticed some protein bars have 10 grams of fiber. Are these good for y... — Updated 2/4/2020

Dear Readers, Last week we discussed U.S. News' rankings of the top three diets for overall health, so it seems only balanced to discuss the bottom three this week. A panel of... — Updated 1/28/2020

Dear Readers, Now that we are getting settled into the new year, many of us are working on getting healthier. There is so much information about diets, sometimes it's hard to know... — Updated 1/21/2020

Dear Readers, Another year is behind us, and now it's time to get back to our normal routines. Many of us, including myself, have overeaten during the holidays; it's just part of... — Updated 1/14/2020

Dear Readers, The New Year is upon us, and along with it, come those resolutions. There is room for improvement in all our lives, right? As many as 70% of Americans will resolve to... — Updated 1/7/2020

Dear Readers, I thought it would be good to end 2019 on a positive note, and according to an analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), American... — Updated 1/1/2020

Dear Dietitian, My husband has been diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. His doctor told him to lose weight, and he tries, but he ends up getting discouraged and goes... — Updated 12/23/2019

Dear Dietitian, This past weekend, a friend encouraged me to try a meatless burger. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was delicious and tasted like meat! Are these... — Updated 12/17/2019

Dear Dietitian, I have irritable bowel syndrome and appreciated your column on a high fiber diet to manage IBS. My symptoms are usually pretty well-controlled, thank goodness. I've... — Updated 12/11/2019

Dear Readers, Soon we will be celebrating one of America's favorite holidays, a day our ancestors set aside to give thanks for a plentiful harvest. It's a time to reconnect with... — Updated 12/4/2019

Dear Dietitian, I was recently hospitalized overnight for irritable bowel syndrome. The abdominal pain was treated, then I was released the next morning. I was not given any... — Updated 12/4/2019

Dear Dietitian, I recently had surgery to correct a small bowel obstruction. I have been following a low fiber diet, but now I've been instructed to transition to a high fiber... — Updated 11/13/2019

Dear Readers, It is estimated that the common cold is responsible for 150 million missed workdays each year in the United States (1). With cold and flu season fast-approaching,... — Updated 11/5/2019

Dear Readers: Have you ever endured the unpleasant experience of someone criticizing or ridiculing your food choices? One day at lunch, the dietitians were enjoying a party and... — Updated 10/29/2019

Dear Dietitian, I have a friend who drinks raw, unpasteurized milk. She claims it has many health benefits, and that pasteurization of milk is unnecessary. What do you think? Jim... — Updated 10/22/2019

Dear Dietitian, Please settle an argument between my wife and me. Our eleven-year-old son is about twenty pounds overweight. My wife, who has been thin all her life, wants to put... — Updated 10/16/2019

Dear Dietitian, My thirteen-year-old daughter started a new healthy eating program about six months ago. She seems obsessed with healthy eating and sometimes refuses to eat when... — Updated 10/9/2019