From Lunchables to ‘Low Fat’: How Food is Designed to Keep You Hooked

From Lunchables to ‘Low Fat’: How Food is Designed to Keep You Hooked

What if your health choices aren’t really your own?  Join us as we explore the powerful ways for-profit interests work to shape what we eat, drink and believe through product design, marketing and public policy influence. From tobacco to ultra-processed foods, industries have long leveraged science, psychology and messaging to drive consumption and decision-making, often at the expense of public health.  Eva Zaret, MPH, of Central Vermont Medical Center breaks down the development and evolution of these profit-driven systems: from sugar research funded by corporate interests that reshaped nutrition science, to engineered foods designed to maximize cravings and consumption.  You’ll also hear how companies work to shift responsibility onto individuals through “personal choice” narratives that can be misleading. And how everyday environments, from grocery store shelves to social media, are carefully curated to influence behavior and decision-making.  This episode challenges you to think about the hidden forces at play, and rethink what it really means to make healthy choices.

Endurance Unpacked: Lessons from Ultramarathoners

How far can your body and mind really go?  Explore the world of extreme endurance running with clinical dieticians Amanda Gibbs of University of Vermont – Alice Hyde Medical Center and Joni Gerken, RD, of Adirondack Health.  Lifelong runners and endurance athletes, Amanda and Joni share their journey from traditional races to ultramarathons, events that push athletes far beyond the 26.2 miles that make up a classic marathon. Learn what it takes to train for these extreme events, including the balance of physical preparation, mental resilience, and foundational nutrition.  From running mountain trails to tackling 100-kilometer races, Amanda and Joni break down how endurance evolves with age; the role family has played in their athletic endeavors and offer practical insights that fuel performance.  From everyday balanced nutrition to race-day strategies to keep you at the top of your game, learn how these extreme athletes play the long game on the racetrack and in the kitchen.

More than a Number: Rethinking High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects millions of people. Managing it takes more than monitoring your blood pressure readings. Clinical care, nutrition, lifestyle changes and every day challenges all play a role.  Alison Hobart, FNP, a primary care provider, and Rachel Lorek, RD, a clinical nutritionist and director of Food and Nutrition Services at Central Vermont Medical Center, explain why high blood pressure is one of the most common (and preventable) chronic conditions. They break down how lifestyle changes, medication and food choices can work together to reduce a person’s risk – and how small changes can make a big difference.  Vickie Delmas, an Occupational Therapist and Provider Outreach Specialist, and Amy Rainville, a Health and Wellness Coach and Tobacco Treatment Specialist, share practical strategies for building sustainable habits that support healthy blood pressure. From accountability and behavior change to find resources through community-based support programs, they highlight how consistency and small, positive steps can lead to lasting health improvements.  Guadalupe Martinez, director of Culture, Experience and Community Health, and Erin Armstrong, LCSW, director of Health Equity for UVM Health, explore the broader forces shaping blood pressure and cardiovascular health. They discuss how access to food, transportation, housing and financial stability influence blood pressure health and risks – and why addressing these needs is essential to improving individual health outcomes.

Missed Moments: Why (and when) We Should All Choose Hospice

Hospice Care is often misunderstood, feared or delayed – and the cost of waiting is measured in missed moments. In this episode of Living Healthy Together, explore hospice through the deeply personal stories of families and caregivers, and the insights of professionals who guide families and individuals through some of life’s most intimate and ubiquitous experiences.  Leendert Huisman, whose wife Johanna passed away at McClure Miller Respite House after a long battle with cancer, reflects on his wife’s end-of-life journey. He shares how hospice care brought calm, clarity and dignity along with skilled medical care, emotional reassurance and the presence of health care professionals who knew exactly what to do during the couple’s most difficult moments; underscoring the relief hospice can bring when everything feels beyond our control.  Annie Meredith-Mitchell, RN, MSN, CHPN, program director of Hospice and Palliative Care at UVM Health – Home Health and Hospice, explains what hospice truly is: holistic, interdisciplinary care for individuals and families going through the end-of-life journey. She addresses misconceptions and makes a powerful case for why we should all choose hospice when it can offer not just comfort, but time, meaning and agency during life’s final chapters.  Kristy Brown shares her experience as a caregiver supporting her best friend Ann through years of serious illness and, ultimately, hospice and at-home care. For Kristy and Ann, hospice served as a bridge that allowed Kristy to stop being a caregiver in crisis and be present for Ann as a friend through her final hours. She also reflects on the profound impact bereavement support services had following Ann’s death.  Ezra Lebowitz, MSW, a hospice medical social worker, and Jeannie Sullivan, LCSW, a bereavement counselor and licensed clinical social worker, discuss what families struggle with as they navigate loved ones’ end-of-life journeys; and how hospice helps normalize conversations about death, end-of-life planning and grief. They emphasize that hospice reframes death not as a medical failure but a human experience that deserves care, preparation and compassion.  Together, these stories reveal hospice not as surrender, but a deliberate, life-affirming choice that honors comfort, dignity and connection until the very end.

Stroke Signs We Miss – and Why They Matter

A stroke is a medical emergency in which every second matters. This week on Living Healthy Together, we explore how awareness, rapid treatment and coordinated care and clinical support can change everything.  Genie Denton of Central Vermont Medical Center shares her powerful personal experience surviving multiple strokes, joined by her husband, Steven Harnois, a firefighter and longtime EMT. Genie recounts the subtle and often confusing symptoms that nearly went unnoticed, and how quick action and timely treatment made a life-changing difference for her.  Christopher Commichau, MD, director of Cerebrovascular Disease, Neurocritical care and the Stroke Center at UVM Health, and Jenna Wydra, RN, Stroke Program manager for UVM Health, break down what strokes look like in the moment and discuss the importance of recognizing symptoms using the ‘BEFAST’ (“Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm, Speech, Time”) framework. They highlight how a coordinated, regional system of care ensures patients receive timely, high-quality treatment no matter where they live. Tracy Madsen, MD, an emergency physician and vice chair of Research at UVM’s Larner College of Medicine, and Daniela Zambrano, MD, a vascular neurologist and stroke specialist at UVM Medical Center, discuss emerging clinical insights around maternal stroke risk. Their discussion emphasizes the importance of prenatal care and recognizing possible stroke symptoms during pregnancy.