A dietitian's diet

Nutrition expert shares her go-to foods

One way to figure out what foods might be good for your diet is to ask your dietitian what he or she likes to eat.  Kristin Kirkpatrick, a registered dietitian at Cleveland Clinic, says walnuts are one of the staples of her diet.

"They're shaped like a brain and are actually great for brain health. We know from a large randomized study that having walnuts in a diet actually helps to reduce cholesterol and obviously reduce the overall risk for overall heart attack and stroke," she said.

Kirkpatrick says a handful of walnuts is all that you need each day to reap their health benefits. She's also a big fan of kale. She says the dark, leafy vegetable will supply you with an abundance of vitamins C, K, and folate. 

Beans and peas are also a big part of a dietitian's diet. Studies have linked them to improved cholesterol levels and reduced stomach upset.

Kirkpatrick says yogurt or soy yogurt are rich in calcium and vitamins B-2 and B-12.
Yogurt also provides healthy bacteria and improves your gut health.

"That's why I love having a yogurt at least every day because really, my goal is to keep up all of these nutrients, my probiotics and to try to do that without a pill," she added.

Kirkpatrick also says an apple a day really does keep the doctor away. She says the newest researchers finds apples improving cholesterol levels and suppressing weight gain.