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Nutrition Commons™

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Full-Text Articles in Nutrition

Can I Freeze-Dry That? A Practical Guide To Safe And Effective Freeze-Drying, Victoria Carlile, Morgan Wayment, Jose Brandao Jan 2026

Can I Freeze-Dry That? A Practical Guide To Safe And Effective Freeze-Drying, Victoria Carlile, Morgan Wayment, Jose Brandao

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Freeze-drying can preserve most everyday foods, but not all foods work well. Whether you are preparing for a long trip or are interested in long-term storage, it is important to know which food can be freeze-dried safely and which ones should not be attempted. This knowledge helps ensure food safety, quality, and success. This fact sheet provides information on how freeze-drying works, the risks involved, and which foods can be more challenging to freeze-dry.

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Access To Healthy And Nutritious Food In Utah: Results From The 2024 Utah Wellbeing Survey, Heather H. Kelley, Palak Gupta, Courtney G. Flint Nov 2025

Access To Healthy And Nutritious Food In Utah: Results From The 2024 Utah Wellbeing Survey, Heather H. Kelley, Palak Gupta, Courtney G. Flint

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Every Utahn, regardless of income, ZIP code, race, age, or health status, deserves reliable access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally meaningful food. Yet, too many communities across the state face persistent barriers that limit their ability to eat well and live healthy lives. This fact sheet reviews results of a 2024 Utah State University (USU) Extension needs assessment that identified food and nutrition security as a high-priority issue in Utah. It explores the current landscape, identifies key challenges, and outlines strategic opportunities for USU Extension and its partners to enhance food security statewide.

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Evaluation Of Diet Quality, Physical Health, And Mental Health Baseline Data From A Wellness Intervention For Individuals Living In Transitional Housing, Callie Millward, Kyle Lyman, Soonwye Lucero, James D. Lecheminant, Cindy Jenkins, Kristi Strongo, Gregory Snow, Heidi Leblanc, Lea Palmer, Rickelle Richards Aug 2025

Evaluation Of Diet Quality, Physical Health, And Mental Health Baseline Data From A Wellness Intervention For Individuals Living In Transitional Housing, Callie Millward, Kyle Lyman, Soonwye Lucero, James D. Lecheminant, Cindy Jenkins, Kristi Strongo, Gregory Snow, Heidi Leblanc, Lea Palmer, Rickelle Richards

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Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate baseline health measurements among transitional housing residents (n = 29) participating in an 8-week pilot wellness intervention. Methods: Researchers measured anthropometrics, body composition, muscular strength, cardiovascular indicators, physical activity, diet quality, and health-related perceptions. Researchers analyzed data using descriptive statistics and conventional content analysis. Results: Most participants were male, White, and food insecure. Mean BMI (31.8 ± 8.6 kg/m2 ), waist-to-hip ratio (1.0 ± 0.1 males, 0.9 ± 0.1 females), body fat percentage (25.8 ± 6.1% males, 40.5 ± 9.4% females), blood pressure (131.8 ± 17.9/85.2 ± 13.3 mmHg), and …

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Creaciones En La Cocina Para Comer Juntos En Familia, Celina Wille, Lacee Jimenez, Casey Coombs, Heidi Leblanc, Lea Palmer, Jocelin Gibson Mar 2025

Creaciones En La Cocina Para Comer Juntos En Familia, Celina Wille, Lacee Jimenez, Casey Coombs, Heidi Leblanc, Lea Palmer, Jocelin Gibson

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Esta publicación, basada en la guía nutricional del programa SNAP-Ed, ofrece consejos prácticos y recetas culturalmente relevantes para promover una alimentación saludable y fortalecer los lazos familiares durante las comidas. Incluye conceptos básicos de planificación, un menú de muestra, guías de MiPlato e información para fomentar la participación de los niños en la cocina.

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Improving Health And Well-Being Through Shared Family Meals, Halle Larson, Savannah Daines, Stacy Bevan, Palak Gupta, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos Dec 2024

Improving Health And Well-Being Through Shared Family Meals, Halle Larson, Savannah Daines, Stacy Bevan, Palak Gupta, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos

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Shared family meals provide numerous benefits for children, adolescents, and parents, including improved diet quality, healthier weight, better academic performance, stronger family bonds, and enhanced mental health. Regular family meals help children develop healthier eating habits, reduce risky behaviors, and foster communication skills. Despite challenges such as busy schedules and differing dietary preferences, families can overcome obstacles by starting small, keeping meals simple, involving everyone in meal prep, and minimizing distractions like screens. Creating a positive, flexible mealtime routine can help integrate these valuable moments into family life.

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Food Security - What It Is And Why It Matters, Makell Corry, Palak Gupta Sep 2024

Food Security - What It Is And Why It Matters, Makell Corry, Palak Gupta

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Insufficient access to safe and nutritious foods can severely impact physical, mental, and social well-being. Without proper nutrition, focus levels, energy, and immune system support can decline, leading to long-term health challenges. This fact sheet addresses the pillars of food security and reviews government programs that help address insufficient food. It also offers recommendations of ways to volunteer to address the problem in your community.

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Reducing Food Waste At Home, Makell Corry, Palak Gupta, Jose Brandao Sep 2024

Reducing Food Waste At Home, Makell Corry, Palak Gupta, Jose Brandao

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As food is discarded, resources such as money and water are wasted by producing food that will not be eaten and then transporting it to landfills. There are many solutions for reducing food loss. This fact sheet reviews ways you can build successful habits to address food waste.

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Iron Deficiency In Pregnancy And Children, Brianna Kane, Stacy Bevan, Carrie Durward, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos Nov 2023

Iron Deficiency In Pregnancy And Children, Brianna Kane, Stacy Bevan, Carrie Durward, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos

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Meeting the proper iron recommendations is important for both children and mothers because iron is essential for growth and development. An inadequate intake of iron is the most common reason for iron deficiency. Eating appropriate amounts of iron during these stages of life is of upmost importance. Including sources of heme iron and vitamin C can help increase absorption of iron.

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Women, Infants, And Children (Wic), Palak Gupta, Carson Johnson Oct 2023

Women, Infants, And Children (Wic), Palak Gupta, Carson Johnson

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This fact sheet from the Hunger Solutions Institute at Utah State University outlines the Utah Women, Infants, and Children program known as WIC. It addresses who qualifies, the benefits, and how to access more information.

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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap), Palak Gupta, Carson Johnson Oct 2023

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap), Palak Gupta, Carson Johnson

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This fact sheet from the Hunger Solutions Institute at Utah State University outlines the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as SNAP. It addresses who qualifies and how to apply for benefits and access more information about associated programs, such as Double Up Food Bucks and Create Better Health.

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Food Assistance Programs For Seniors (60+), Palak Gupta, Carson Johnson Oct 2023

Food Assistance Programs For Seniors (60+), Palak Gupta, Carson Johnson

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This fact sheet from the Hunger Solutions Institute at Utah State University outlines the various food assistance programs for seniors ages 60 and over, such as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and Meals on Wheels, among others. It addresses who qualifies and how to access more information.

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Food Assistance Programs For Children, Palak Gupta, Carson Johnson Oct 2023

Food Assistance Programs For Children, Palak Gupta, Carson Johnson

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This fact sheet from the Hunger Solutions Institute at Utah State University outlines the various food assistance programs for children, such as the School Breakfast Program and the School Lunch Program, among others. It addresses who qualifies and how to access more information.

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Is Your Child Hydrated?, Hadyn Flygare, Stacy Bevan, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos Oct 2022

Is Your Child Hydrated?, Hadyn Flygare, Stacy Bevan, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos

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Adequate hydration is necessary for proper functioning of the body. Since children are more prone to dehydration than adults, it is essential that fluid intake and hydration status are monitored. This fact sheet provides information on daily fluid requirements for children, barriers to staying hydrated, and warning signs and impacts of dehydration.

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The Benefits Of Including Kids In The Kitchen, Cloie Malan, Stacy Bevan, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos Oct 2022

The Benefits Of Including Kids In The Kitchen, Cloie Malan, Stacy Bevan, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos

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earning to cook is an essential life skill everyone should strive to develop at some point in their life. Involving kids in the kitchen is a great way to kickstart that learning from a young age and comes with numerous benefits. Cooking with kids provides opportunities to teach them about food and nutrition. Consequently, getting your kids cooking may be a great way to raise less picky and more adventurous eaters. The purpose of this fact sheet is to explore the benefits of cooking with children and provide some helpful tips to get started.

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Create Better Health Curriculum, Casey Coombs, Jaqueline Neid Jun 2022

Create Better Health Curriculum, Casey Coombs, Jaqueline Neid

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CBH is a comprehensive nutrition curriculum designed to teach adult SNAP-Ed participants how to eat well and be active on a budget. CBH combines nutrition and physical activity recommendations from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Each lesson has three components: a nutrition topic based on the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a physical activity discussion based on USDA recommendations, and a Create recipe demonstration and sample. The components are woven together in eight lessons that are designed to keep participants engaged, while actively learning the skills needed to create a healthier lifestyle.

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How To Promote Intuitive Eating In Adolescents, Madeline Peterson, Stacy Bevan, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos, Brooke Parker Feb 2022

How To Promote Intuitive Eating In Adolescents, Madeline Peterson, Stacy Bevan, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos, Brooke Parker

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Intuitive eating is a pattern of eating that includes awareness of hunger and fullness cues and encourages an appropriate and respectful response to them. It is a non-diet approach to eating and is not focused on weight loss or weight gain—although changes in weight can occur for individuals who adopt or practice intuitive eating. This fact sheet discusses how to promote intuitive eating in adolescents as a way to build a healthier relationship with food and improve body image.

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Breastfeeding: Tools For Success, Norah Ashby, Casey Coombs, Stacy Bevan, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos Oct 2021

Breastfeeding: Tools For Success, Norah Ashby, Casey Coombs, Stacy Bevan, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos

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Every mother has a unique breastfeeding experience. Breastfeeding is natural, but that does not mean it comes naturally to every mother. The benefits of exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months and supplemental breastfeeding through the second year of life are well documented (Lessen & Kavanagh, 2015). However, there are many barriers that may prevent mothers from breastfeeding, including discomfort or pain, milk supply concerns, or simply not knowing how to breastfeed (Lessen & Kavanagh, 2015; Westerfield et al., 2018). Fortunately, there are a variety of tools that mothers can use to create a successful breastfeeding experience (Dennis et al., …

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Increasing Fiber Intake During Childhood And Adolescence, Madison Gunter, Stacy Bevan, Casey Coombs, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos Sep 2021

Increasing Fiber Intake During Childhood And Adolescence, Madison Gunter, Stacy Bevan, Casey Coombs, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos

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Fiber is an important part of a healthful diet that provides numerous benefits when adequately consumed. Yet, many individuals do not know what fiber is, let alone how to eat enough. Thus, it is no surprise that fiber has been a dietary concern among children and adolescents for over a decade, with less than 10% of youth meeting recommended fiber intakes (Finn et al., 2019; Kranz et al., 2012; McGill et al., 2015). In this fact sheet, we will discuss what fiber is, along with its health benefits, current recommendations, and strategies for incorporating fiber into your child’s diet.

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Creaciones En La Cocina Curriculum, Celina Wille Aug 2021

Creaciones En La Cocina Curriculum, Celina Wille

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Este currículo es una interpretación al español y adaptación cultural basado en su mayoría en la publicación titulada CREATE FAMILY MEALS* de Food Sense del Programa de Extensión de la Universidad Estatal de Utah (USU).

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Mejore Su Salud, Celina Wille, Laura Licon, Laura Paola Johnson, Anny Galvin Aug 2021

Mejore Su Salud, Celina Wille, Laura Licon, Laura Paola Johnson, Anny Galvin

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Create Better Health/Mejore su salud es una versión cultural adaptada de Create Better Health evaluada por expertos y escrita en español, Create Better Health es un currículo del programa Create Better Health Utah SNAP-Ed originalmente adaptado de Creates: Essentials in Creating Family Meals por Debra Christofferson, M.D.A., R.D., C.D. Los miembros del equipo de publicación de la versión en inglés son: Casey Coombs, M.S., R.D., C.D., subdirectora de Create Better Health Utah; Jaqueline Neid-Avila, M.D.A., R.D., C.D .; y editores / colaboradores Heidi LeBlanc, M.S., directora de Create Better Health Utah.

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Nutrition And Chronic Pain, Elise Withers, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos, Riley Samples, Maren Wright Voss Mar 2021

Nutrition And Chronic Pain, Elise Withers, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos, Riley Samples, Maren Wright Voss

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The internet is full of information about anti-inflammatory diets, foods, and supplements claiming to prevent or alleviate chronic pain. For those who struggle with chronic pain, sound dietary advice is essential to improve intake and ultimately decrease pain (Arranz et al., 2010). However, it’s important to note that research showing the impact of specific foods on health and the immune system is currently limited; therefore, these claims should be interpreted with caution (Elma et al., 2020; Harvard Health, 2018). This fact sheet will cover (1) how inflammation affects chronic pain and (2) how eating a well-balanced diet may help reduce …

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Tips To Safely Ferment Food At Home, Kelsie Maw, Brian Nummer, Callahan K. Ward, Melanie Jewkes Feb 2021

Tips To Safely Ferment Food At Home, Kelsie Maw, Brian Nummer, Callahan K. Ward, Melanie Jewkes

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Fermenting foods is perhaps the oldest food preservation method and has grown in popularity in recent years due to their touted “gut,” probiotic, and other additional health benefits. Fermenting at home is an inexpensive way to control what goes inside your food. Fermentation is the process of “good” microorganisms fermenting sugars and nutrients in food to produce byproducts (acids) that usually preserve the food in some manner. For example, milk is fermented to produce acids that create cheese, yogurt, and other products. In most cases, fermentation alone cannot produce a shelf-stable (room temperature) food product. Nearly all fermented foods require …

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Ingredient Substitutions And Equivalents, Ann Henderson, Suzanne Jorgenson, Susan Haws Feb 2021

Ingredient Substitutions And Equivalents, Ann Henderson, Suzanne Jorgenson, Susan Haws

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This fact sheet lists substitutions for leavening agents, liquids, sugars, flour, fats, rice and pasta, spices and miscellaneous items. Also lists equivalent measurements.

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Understanding Caffeine Vs. Kids, Cindy Nelson, Rachel Mcmaster Dec 2020

Understanding Caffeine Vs. Kids, Cindy Nelson, Rachel Mcmaster

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Children enjoy numerous foods and drinks on a regular basis that contain caffeine: soda, chocolate candy, energy drinks, and so forth. In fact, almost 3 out of 4 children consume caffeine regularly (American Academy of Family Physicians, 2020). This is a concern because studies show caffeine can affect children and adults differently, and too much caffeine can have detrimental health effects on kids. This fact sheet defines caffeine, reviews its effects and risks, identifies popular foods containing caffeine, and how to reduce consumption of caffeine.

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Preventing Allergies In Infants: What Foods To Introduce And When, Annika Israelsen, Stacy Bevan, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos Nov 2020

Preventing Allergies In Infants: What Foods To Introduce And When, Annika Israelsen, Stacy Bevan, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos

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Food allergies have become increasingly common over the past several years among children in the United States (Comberiati et al., 2019; Sicherer et al., 2017). Food allergies are a negative immune response occurring in the body after eating a specific food (Sicherer et al., 2017). Unlike food intolerances, such as lactose intolerance which causes uncomfortable symptoms in the stomach and intestines, allergic reactions to food can cause a wide range of serious and sometimes fatal symptoms (Konek & Becker, 2020). Food allergies can affect a child’s health and quality of life, while also impacting their caregivers’ lives (Sicherer et al., …

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The Female Athlete Triad In Adolescent Athletes, Elise Withers, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos, Stacy Bevan, Katie N. Brown Oct 2020

The Female Athlete Triad In Adolescent Athletes, Elise Withers, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos, Stacy Bevan, Katie N. Brown

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The number of teenage girls participating in sports has dramatically increased in the last few decades (Brown et al., 2017). With increased sports participation, the positive effects of physical activity have become obvious (Thein-Nissenbaum & Hammer, 2017). However, a set of health-related problems specific to female athletes, known as the female athlete triad (triad), has emerged. This fact sheet will cover what the triad is, why the triad occurs, and triad prevention and treatment.

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Encouraging Snap Shopper Participation At Utah Farmers Markets, A Best Practices Guide, Kelsey Hall, Alicia Meiners Sep 2020

Encouraging Snap Shopper Participation At Utah Farmers Markets, A Best Practices Guide, Kelsey Hall, Alicia Meiners

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This guide’s steps were compiled during background research for advertising acceptance of SNAP benefits using Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards and the Double Up Food Bucks (Double Up) program offered at farmers markets throughout Utah. Information in this guide will expand marketing campaigns across Utah to promote farmers markets already accepting SNAP benefits, especially to minority and low-income populations. The information, however, may be generalized to other health/food programs and to populations with low incomes in other states.

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Added Sugars: What You Need To Know, Carrie Durward, Keshele Stevens Jul 2020

Added Sugars: What You Need To Know, Carrie Durward, Keshele Stevens

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Added sugar has become a hot topic among health professionals and in the media. Based on the best available evidence, health professionals recommend that less than 10% of daily calories come from added sugar (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS] & U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA], 2015c) in order to maintain a balanced diet with all the important nutrients. In this fact sheet, we will address why and how to limit added sugar in your diet, what it is, and where to find it.

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Fasting Diets: Are They Safe, Healthy, And Effective?, Carrie Durward, Keshele Stevens Jul 2020

Fasting Diets: Are They Safe, Healthy, And Effective?, Carrie Durward, Keshele Stevens

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Diets are commonly prescribed to induce weight loss and reduce the risk of many diseases. Because a standard daily calorie restriction diet is often hard to maintain, other diet alternatives such as fasting diets were created. Fasting diets have been found to be effective, though they may not be any more effective than typical diets. Before beginning a fasting diet, it is best to seek professional medical advice to assess individual risks and circumstances. This fact sheet helps readers learn more about the safety, health, and effectiveness of fasting diets.

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Broccoli, Lisa Lewis, Emily Morales, Heidi Leblanc Jun 2020

Broccoli, Lisa Lewis, Emily Morales, Heidi Leblanc

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This guide to eating, selecting, cooking, and storing broccoli.

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