Author Archives: Toni Kuehneman

Toni Kuehneman, MS, RD, LMNT is a registered dietitian for the Alegent Health Heart and Vascular Institute. She’s worked at Alegent Health for 15 years, focusing her expertise on providing medical nutrition therapy for patients with heart disease. Like what you read here? Then join Toni at one of Alegent Health’s Heart Healthy Cooking events. She’s the face of the series, which brings together local chefs and cardiologists once a month to teach us all how to eat and live a little more heart healthy. Nutrition is actually a second career for Toni, as she has a bachelor’s degree in social work. After several years in that profession, she decided to help people in a different way and returned to college to earn her Master’s degree in nutrition from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Gluten Free?

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Toni Kuehneman

Yesterday, while driving between Alegent hospitals, I listened to “talk radio” (not sure why) but I heard the national host say that he was following a gluten free diet.  He was recommending it to everyone.  In the grocery store, I see gluten free products appearing everywhere.  Restaurant menus and ads list gluten free options.  I am wondering if gluten free has become a “fad diet”.  As a student studying nutrition therapy for managing chronic diseases, I thought a gluten free diet was a hardship.  As a practicing dietitian, my patients … Continue reading →

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A Little Dessert (recipe included)

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Toni Kuehneman

May is a busy month for families. So many happy events occur during the month; with first communion, confirmation, graduations, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day, many families gather with extended family and friends to celebrate. The most frequent question that I hear throughout the year, but especially in December and May is, “Do you have a healthy dessert?” That question puzzles me every time. For me the word healthy means health-promoting.  A food filled with nutrients like protein, carbohydrate, fiber, vitamins and minerals. So for me, the healthiest dessert is … Continue reading →

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Eating seafood: there’s a catch (recipe included)

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Toni Kuehneman

Whenever I quote the latest recommendation from the American Heart Association (AHA) or the USDA concerning seafood, I am met with the same statement, “I do not like fish”. Sometimes I wonder how this could be true. During the Lenten season, the social halls at the local Catholic Churches are filled with happy customers eating fried or baked fish and all the trimmings. Maybe it is simply that people do not like to prepare and cook seafood at home. Did you know that the AHA and the USDA recommend eating … Continue reading →

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To save a life

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Toni Kuehneman

Do you have plans for 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 5? Consider participating in the Omaha and Council Bluffs Heart Walk. What: American Heart Association Heart Walk When: Saturday, May 5, 9:00 a.m. (one-mile children’s walk starts at 8:00 a.m.) Where: Stinson Park (67th and Center, just west of Aksarben Village). Who: Anyone and everyone is welcome Cost: Free (walkers are eligible for a Heart Walk t-shirt once they have raised a minimum of $100) Click here to register online. My husband and I have volunteered for every walk over the … Continue reading →

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Let’s be the change

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Toni Kuehneman

Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported on an interesting survey.  During January 2012, at the request of Medi-Weight Loss Clinics , Survey Sampling International surveyed 325 women concerning challenges at work.  While I consider the word “diet” as a four letter word, the survey used it often.  To the many community members I meet, diet means deprivation or something that they will do for awhile.  It does not convey the lifestyle change needed to reduce weight or to maintain weight.  I prefer to use words such as: “healthy … Continue reading →

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