Eat, Live, Be Well - Nutrition

Eat, Live, Be Well - Nutrition Shelley A. Rael, MS, RDN, LD, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist promoting Real World Nutrition. Healthy Sustainable Habits, Eat for Energy, Feel Great

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), Nutrition Services, Virtual Programs.

What does it actually mean to eat in a way that supports the environment?It is not about following a strict set of rules...
04/13/2026

What does it actually mean to eat in a way that supports the environment?
It is not about following a strict set of rules.
It is about everyday decisions.
Using food you already have. Freezing leftovers. Planning meals in a flexible way. Choosing local options when they make sense.
These small choices can reduce waste and support a more sustainable way of eating over time.
Get more practical and realistic tips: https://www.shelleyrael.com/blog/sustainable-food-choices

What Happens to Food When You Freeze It?If you’ve ever wondered whether frozen food is less nutritious than fresh, you’r...
04/11/2026

What Happens to Food When You Freeze It?
If you’ve ever wondered whether frozen food is less nutritious than fresh, you’re not alone.
The answer is more straightforward than it might seem.
Freezing does a good job of preserving nutrients. What tends to change more is texture, especially for foods with higher water content.
This blog breaks it down in a practical way, along with tips for freezing food at home, how long foods last, and how to reduce food waste.
Read more: https://www.shelleyrael.com/blog/freezing-food

04/10/2026

What Changed in the Dietary Guidelines and Why It Matters

Nutrition advice can feel like it keeps changing. One decade focuses on fat, another on sugar, and cholesterol recommendations seem to shift over time.

In this episode, part of an ongoing series on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, this discussion looks at what has changed since 1980 and why those changes are often misunderstood.

Topics include the shift from total fat to fat quality, evolving guidance on cholesterol, changes in protein recommendations, and the growing focus on dietary patterns and ultra-processed foods.

The episode also explores how nutrition research has evolved and why updated guidance reflects refinement rather than contradiction.

Read More: What Changed Over Time in the Dietary Guidelines and What That Tells Us About Nutrition Science

Learn more or contact me: ShelleyRael.com
Schedule a complimentary 30-minute introductory call today to discover how I can help you achieve your health and wellness goals.
Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

Soy is one of those foods that tends to get a mixed reputation.Some people include it regularly. Others avoid it because...
04/09/2026

Soy is one of those foods that tends to get a mixed reputation.
Some people include it regularly. Others avoid it because of concerns about hormones, cancer risk, or how it is processed.
But when you look at the research, soy is a nutrient-dense food that can be part of a balanced diet for most people.
It is also one of the few plant-based proteins that is considered complete, which is part of why it comes up so often in nutrition conversations.
In this blog, I walk through what soy actually is, common myths, what the research says, and how it can fit into everyday meals.
Read here:
https://www.shelleyrael.com/blog/soy-health

“Nutrition advice keeps changing” is something I hear all the time.And it makes sense why it feels that way.Every five y...
04/07/2026

“Nutrition advice keeps changing” is something I hear all the time.
And it makes sense why it feels that way.
Every five years, new Dietary Guidelines are released. There is a lot of discussion, debate, and sometimes frustration about whether they got it right.
But when you look at the history, there is actually more consistency than people expect.
This episode looks at the Dietary Guidelines from 1980 to today, including why they exist, who they are meant for, and what has stayed the same over time.
Understanding that context makes it a lot easier to make sense of current recommendations.
Listen to the latest episode of Real World Nutrition here or wherever you get your podcasts:
https://www.shelleyrael.com/rwn-podcast/ep235

What does a dietitian actually keep in their fridge?It’s not a perfect list or a set of rules.It’s just a handful of foo...
04/06/2026

What does a dietitian actually keep in their fridge?
It’s not a perfect list or a set of rules.
It’s just a handful of foods that make it easier to put meals together in everyday life.
In this blog, I share five foods that are always in my fridge and how I use them. These are simple, flexible staples that support real routines, not ideal ones.
If you’ve ever wondered what “real world” nutrition looks like behind the scenes, this is a good place to start.
Read “What’s In My Fridge” here: https://www.shelleyrael.com/blog/fridge-staples

“Everything in moderation” sounds simple. In real life, it’s not always that clear.Alcohol is one of the best examples o...
04/04/2026

“Everything in moderation” sounds simple. In real life, it’s not always that clear.
Alcohol is one of the best examples of this.
A standard drink is based on a specific amount of alcohol, but real-life drinks often go beyond that. Portion sizes, alcohol content, and even the type of drink can change how much you’re actually consuming.
And that matters for both short-term effects and long-term health.
Understanding moderation isn’t about strict rules. It’s about context, awareness, and making choices that fit your health and your life.
If you’ve ever wondered what moderation really looks like, this breaks it down.
Read more: https://www.shelleyrael.com/alcohol-moderation

04/03/2026

A Brief History of the Dietary Guidelines (1980–2025): What Has Stayed the Same?

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans have shaped nutrition policy, school meals, and public health messaging for more than 40 years. Yet every time a new version is released, it brings confusion, debate, and strong opinions.

In this episode, we take a step back and look at the history of the Dietary Guidelines from 1980 through 2025. What were they designed to do? Who are they actually for? And what has stayed consistent over time, despite the perception that nutrition advice is always changing?

This episode lays the foundation for a series exploring how nutrition science becomes policy, what the Guidelines get right, where they fall short, and why they matter in everyday life.

Read More: A Brief History of the Dietary Guidelines (1980–2025): What Has Stayed the Same?

Learn more or contact me: ShelleyRael.com
Schedule a complimentary 30-minute introductory call today to discover how I can help you achieve your health and wellness goals.
Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

Colorectal cancer has been getting more attention lately, especially with increasing rates in younger adults.I think a l...
04/02/2026

Colorectal cancer has been getting more attention lately, especially with increasing rates in younger adults.
I think a lot of people still associate screening with something to deal with later, but that shift is happening.
I have had a colonoscopy myself, and I will be honest, the prep is not enjoyable. It takes planning, and it is not something you look forward to.
But it is a day.
When you compare that to the possibility of multiple appointments, treatments, and a cancer diagnosis, it changes how that inconvenience feels.
Screening is one part of the picture.
There are also everyday factors that influence risk over time. Fiber intake is one of the biggest ones, and most people are not getting enough. Red and processed meats, alcohol, and physical activity also play a role.
This is not about focusing on one thing in isolation or making extreme changes. It is about patterns.
In this blog, I cover all of this and how you can make positive changes in a practical way.
https://www.shelleyrael.com/blog/colorectal-cancer-nutrition

Carbohydrates tend to be one of the most overcomplicated parts of nutrition.I have spent the past several weeks talking ...
03/31/2026

Carbohydrates tend to be one of the most overcomplicated parts of nutrition.
I have spent the past several weeks talking about carbs, sugar, fiber, and chronic disease. This episode brings it all together in a way that is actually usable.
Because at some point, it is not about definitions or recommendations. It is about what a meal looks like.
In this episode, I walk through how to build a balanced plate when carbohydrates are included. Not avoided. Not overemphasized. Included.
That means looking at how carbs fit alongside protein and fats, how fiber shows up across the day, and where added sugars fit without becoming the focus.
I also go through simple, realistic examples so this does not stay abstract.
One meal does not define health. One day does not define health. The pattern over time is what matters.
If you are trying to make sense of how carbohydrates fit into your day without overthinking it, this episode is a good place to start.
Listen here: https://www.shelleyrael.com/rwn-podcast/ep234 - or look for Real World Nutrition with Shelley A. Rael on your favorite podcast app/platform

I was asked recently what the most important part of nutrition is.It sounds like a simple question, but it is not an eas...
03/30/2026

I was asked recently what the most important part of nutrition is.
It sounds like a simple question, but it is not an easy one to answer.
It is not one food, one nutrient, or one rule. It is not about having one “best” way to eat. What matters most is the pattern over time.
One meal does not define health. One day does not define health. What you do consistently is what adds up.
That is where balance comes in. That is where including a variety of foods, especially plant foods, comes into play. And that is where flexibility matters, because life does not follow a strict plan.
Nutrition is not one-size-fits-all, and it is not black and white. It is a science, but it also has to work in real life.
I put all of this together in this blog to break it down in a practical, realistic way.
Read more here: https://www.shelleyrael.com/blog/most-important-part-of-nutrition

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Ready to ditch dieting and start eating?

Award-winning Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) – speaker, writer, and consultant with over 20 years’ experience helping hundreds of people lose weight without deprivation or rules.

Creator of the F.A.S.T.™ Program that incorporates Food acceptance, Accountability, Support, and Transformation to help people lose weight for good with mindset shifts about food and dieting.

Moderator and founder of the Real Word Nutrition Facebook Group helping you navigate eating healthier in the real world. Join the conversation.

Watch my free on-demand webinar Eating Is Not Cheating at EatingIsNotCheating.com