Melissa Halas, MA, RDN, CDE

Navigating mealtime while managing Parkinson’s disease (PD) can feel like no small feat some days. Many people with Parkinson's struggle with dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing. This makes many foods hard...

Getting ready for mealtime when managing Parkinson’s disease is no small feat. Symptoms can often interfere with kitchen skills such as chopping, peeling, and cooking – making your favorite recipes...

Head to the freezer and make life easier! Clients with Parkinson's disease (PD) who are trying to save time and effort often ask me, "Are frozen foods healthy?" Yes, there...

Does trying to reach your health goals have you seeing red? I tell my clients to let go of perfection and instead embrace all the colors of tasty foods! These...

When my clients get tired of brown rice and pasta, they often ask for meal ideas with whole grains. My response is, there are so many energy-promoting and tasty whole...

Embrace your inner health nut! This under-appreciated plant-based food is abundant in wholesome goodness for better health and Parkinson's disease protection. Check out the dietitian-recommended nuts my clients enjoy that...

While flav is in the name, it’s not their only end game! Besides being tasty, flavonoids also provide brain-boosting benefits that can help protect neurons and slow down cognitive decline...

Does going number 2 have you seeing red? You may have hemorrhoids – swelling of the veins within the anus and lower rectum. While this may sound like TMI (too...

Baked goods get a bad rap and are often branded as "empty calories." So when clients ask, "How can I bake and make it healthier?" I share there are plenty...

Feeling salty about cutting down on sodium? I get it. I often hear from clients that it can be a big challenge. But, living a high salt life can increase...

Editor’s note: Talk to your healthcare provider about your particular situation before starting any new supplements or diets. Are you stressed about your stress levels? Managing daily life with Parkinson's...

Getting told to downgrade to a soft-consistency diet with Parkinson's disease (PD) may seem challenging at first. But rather than glorified baby food, what if it can be a Michelin...

Parkinson’s disease (PD) may make it difficult to swallow, and your diet could need texture adjustments. In PD, swallowing impairments can vary from mild to challenging. If difficulty swallowing does...

If you feel chocolate makes everything better, you’re in my camp! While it may sound too good to be true, it offers an abundance of antioxidants and phytonutrients — powerful...

The holiday season doesn’t seem to end until after Valentine’s Day! It can often feel like a feeding frenzy, especially for sugary desserts. But the excess consumption of refined sugar...

It’s not another fad diet but a time-tested lifestyle! The Mediterranean diet for Parkinson’s is consistently suggested by dietitians as a preventative and therapeutic approach to disease management. While it’s...

Managing Parkinson's disease (PD) throughout the holidays is no small feat. Between the alcohol, sweet treats, and increased sedentary time, these sudden lifestyle changes can wreak havoc on disease symptoms...

The holiday season rarely runs smoothly. In fact, it can be quite hard. The combination of constipation-inducing medications, large holiday meals, and lengthy sedentary time may have you straining for...

Are your infrequent "number 2s" giving you the blues? It’s possible that you aren’t getting enough fiber in your diet. In case you missed it, see The Benefits of Fiber...

A few months before my family member was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD), she had difficulty sleeping through the night. First, we tried all the standard therapies I use with...