Green Bean Grove

08/31/2026

TheSeptember Step Challenge starts tomorrow! 👟

The goal is to average 7,000 steps per day throughout September, and everyone who completes the challenge will be entered to win a $25 Aldi gift card + healthy recipe packet!

There’s still time to join:

🔗 https://www.mypacer.com/challenges/bnk679mk/september-step-challenge?invitor=65ypg068

Challenge code: BNK679MK

Invite your friends and family, and let’s get moving September 1!

By participating in the Green Bean Grove September Step Challenge, you acknowledge that physical activity involves inherent risks and that you are responsible for determining whether participation is appropriate for you. Please consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new exercise program or if you have any concerns about your ability to safely participate. By participating, you voluntarily assume responsibility for your participation and agree not to hold Green Bean Grove liable for any injury, illness, or other adverse outcome related to participation in the challenge.

Join this walking challenge from Green Bean Grove with me!

08/27/2026

September Step Challenge! 👟

School is starting back, summer activities are winding down, and routines are changing but that doesn’t mean our movement has to slow down too! September is a great time to be intentional about staying active, and hopefully cooler temperatures will give us some much better walking weather than we’ve had this summer.

The goal: average 7,000 steps per day throughout September. Walk your dog, take a lap during lunch, head outside after dinner, park a little farther away. It all adds up!

Prize: Everyone who completes the challenge will be entered to win a **$25 Aldi gift card to put toward some healthy groceries!

Challenge runs September 1–30.

👟 Join the challenge here:
https://www.mypacer.com/challenges/bnk679mk/september-step-challenge?invitor=65ypg068

Download the free Pacer app and, if it asks for a challenge code, enter: **BNK679MK**

Feel free to invite your friends and family to join too — a little friendly competition never hurts!

*By participating in the Green Bean Grove September Step Challenge, you acknowledge that physical activity involves inherent risks and that you are responsible for determining whether participation is appropriate for you. Please consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new exercise program or if you have any concerns about your ability to safely participate. By participating, you voluntarily assume responsibility for your participation and agree not to hold Green Bean Grove liable for any injury, illness, or other adverse outcome related to participation in the challenge.

Join this walking challenge from Green Bean Grove with me!

08/27/2026

September is going to be a busy month for Green Bean Grove!

Here’s a little bit of what we have going on:

🍽️ KTECH Life Lab at Kids to Love – I’ll be doing an interactive nutrition and cooking session with KTECH students.

🩺 UAH College of Nursing – I’ll be speaking to two different nursing classes about nutrition, chronic disease, and why nutrition matters in healthcare.

📚 September 23 at 1 PM – I’ll be at the Downtown Huntsville Library teaching a FREE class on Understanding the Nutrition Facts Label. This one is open to the public!

AND I think it’s time for another distance challenge! 👟

It’s easy for our activity to slow down once school starts back, schedules get busier, and summer activities start winding down. But that doesn’t mean our movement has to stop!

Throughout September, I’ll be challenging you to keep moving and track your distance along the way. Everyone who completes the challenge will be entered to win a healthy recipe booklet + ALDI gift card to put toward some healthy groceries! 🥑🍎. I’ll share all the challenge details before September starts.

And as always, I’ll still be working one-on-one with my lovely clients throughout the month! If you’re interested in individualized nutrition counseling, reach out to me at 256-213-1702 by text or phone call and I can help you check your insurance benefits to see if visits may be covered.

Here’s to a busy September! 💚

08/23/2026

Fall 2026 nutrition classes are on the calendar!

I’ll be back at the Huntsville Madison County Public Library (Downtown Huntsville) this fall for three FREE community nutrition classes:

-September 23 @ 1 PM: Understanding the Nutrition Facts Label
-October 29 @ 10 AM: Nutrition Tips to Lower Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
-November 16 @ 1 PM: A Balanced Approach to Holiday Eating

All classes are free and open to the public, and you’re welcome to attend one, two, or all three! 🙂

Hopefully some of you can stop by on your lunch break for the 1 PM classes. I also know daytime classes don’t work for everyone, so we’re hoping to get an evening class on the winter schedule!

07/25/2026

I had such a great time teaching Eating Healthy on a Budget at the Huntsville Madison County Public Library this week! 💚

Thank you to everyone who came, asked great questions, and made it such a fun class. If you missed this one, I’d love to see you at my next free class:

🩺 Can Nutrition Impact Your Labs?
📅 Friday, August 21
🕐 1:00 PM
📍 Huntsville-Madison County Public Library Downtown Branch

We’ll talk about how nutrition can affect common lab values like cholesterol, blood sugar, and triglycerides and what steps you can take to improve those labs through the foods you eat. Hope to see you there! 📚🥦

06/12/2026

Good morning and happy 🌱

Today's tip might make you roll your eyes but PLEASE hear me out... try eating a serving of beans for breakfast. 🫘

Most Americans don't get enough fiber, and one of the easiest ways to close the gap is to start your day with foods that naturally contain it.

Just ½ cup of beans provides about 6–8 grams of fiber before you've even finished breakfast. That's roughly 20–30% of the daily fiber needs for many adults.

Beans also provide:
🫘 Fiber for gut health and digestion
💪 Plant protein for fullness and satisfaction
❤️ Potassium, magnesium, and other important nutrients

Need ideas?

🍳 Eggs + black beans
🌮 Breakfast tacos with beans
🥑 Avocado toast + white beans
🍠 Sweet potato + black beans
🥚 White beans alongside eggs

Will beans for breakfast magically transform your health? No.

But adding one serving of beans to your morning routine is a simple habit that can make a meaningful difference over time.

06/09/2026

💧 Free Community Class: Hydration Basics 💧

Do you really need electrolyte drinks? Can you get electrolytes from food? How can you tell if you're dehydrated?

Join me at the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library for a free class where we'll cover hydration, electrolytes, hydrating foods, and signs of dehydration—just in time for summer in Alabama.

📅 June 15, 2026
⏰ 3:00–4:00 PM
📍 Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, Downtown Branch

Bring your questions and invite a friend! 😊

06/05/2026

It's Fiber Friday again!

🍓 Fruit gets a bad reputation online sometimes, but there's a lot more to fruit than just sugar.

Fruit provides:
🌱 Fiber
💧 Water for hydration
🍊 Vitamins and minerals
✨ Antioxidants

While fruit may not be the most concentrated source of fiber compared to foods like beans, lentils, or chia seeds, it still offers a unique package of nutrients that support overall health.

One simple way to make fruit more satisfying is to pair it with a source of protein and/or healthy fat.

Some examples:
🥜 Apple + peanut butter
🥣 Berries + Greek yogurt
🧀 Grapes + cheese
🌰 Pear + almonds

Adding protein and healthy fats can help slow digestion, increase fullness, and support steadier energy levels after eating.

You don't need to fear fruit. Most of us would benefit from eating more of it. 🍎🍓🍊

05/30/2026

📚🥗 Free Community Nutrition Classes This Summer!

Looking for practical, evidence-based nutrition information without the overwhelm? I'll be teaching a series of free community nutrition classes this summer at the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library Downtown Branch, and everyone is welcome!

☀️ June 15 @ 3 PM
💧 Hydration Basics
Do you really need electrolyte drinks? We'll discuss hydration basics, the role of electrolytes, signs of dehydration, and how to stay hydrated during Alabama summers.

☀️ July 23 @ 10 AM
🛒 Eating Healthy on a Budget
We'll talk about affordable grocery shopping, meal planning, reducing food waste, and ways to stretch your food budget without sacrificing nutrition.

☀️ August 21 @ 1 PM
🩺 Can Nutrition Impact Your Labs?
Explore how nutrition can affect cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, kidney function, and other common lab values.

📍 Huntsville-Madison County Public Library (Downtown Branch)
915 Monroe Street SW, Huntsville, AL 35801

These classes are completely free and open to the public. Attend one, two, or all three. Each session covers a different topic.

Feel free to share with friends, family, coworkers, or anyone interested in learning more about nutrition!

05/29/2026

🌱 | FAQ Edition

I got this question TWICE this week, so I figured it deserved its own Fiber Friday post:

"Is Poppi actually good for your gut?"

My answer: Ican be part of a healthy diet, but I wouldn't rely on it as a major source of fiber or gut health support.

Poppi contains a small amount of prebiotic fiber, which can help feed beneficial gut bacteria. That's where the "gut healthy" marketing comes from.

However, most flavors contain only about 2-3 grams of fiber.

For comparison:
🫘 ½ cup beans = about 6–8 grams of fiber
🍐 1 pear = about 6 grams of fiber
🍿 3 cups popcorn = about 3–4 grams of fiber

That said, I think Poppi can be a great replacement for regular soda if you're looking to cut back on added sugar. Most flavors contain much less sugar than traditional soda while still providing carbonation and flavor that many people enjoy.

If you enjoy Poppi, drink Poppi! 🥤

Just remember that most of your fiber should still come from foods like:
🌱 fruits
🌱 vegetables
🌱 beans and lentils
🌱 whole grains
🌱 nuts and seeds

As with most things in nutrition, it's not about whether one food or drink is "good" or "bad." It's about the overall pattern of what you're eating most of the time.

What should I cover next for Fiber Friday: FAQ Edition?