How I make room for processed foods that fit a healthy life

How I make room for processed foods that fit a healthy life

Peggy Kraus Live Well. Feel Amazing
With the new Dietary Guidelines stirring up confusion about ultra‑processed foods, it’s easy to lump everything into one category. But a new review shows a clear difference: ultra‑processed animal products raise risk, while many ultra‑processed plant‑based foods are linked with better health outcomes. Not all processing is the same, and gently processed plant foods can absolutely support a healthy, plant‑forward life. At the end of the day, the basics still matter most: vegetables, fruits, beans, lentils, whole grains, and plant‑powered meals.
A gentle nudge, right when you need it

A gentle nudge, right when you need it

Peggy Kraus Success Starts Here
The healthy choice isn’t always the easy one. Life gets busy, attention drifts, and what you wanted for yourself slips away. Peggy In My Pocket began with one patient who needed a simple daily reminder — and it worked. Those quick texts grew into a gentle way to support you with the habits you want to build. It’s not a program or a challenge. It’s support, right when you need it.
Your 2026 health balance starts now!

Your 2026 health balance starts now!

Peggy Kraus Live Well. Feel Amazing
Every choice you make is either a deposit or a withdrawal in your health savings account. Nourishing meals, movement, and rest build your reserves; stress, skipped meals, and late nights drain them. As the year ends, this is the perfect moment to reset, get clear on what matters, and start stacking deposits again. It’s not about guilt — it’s about strategy and building the health you want, one choice at a time.
It’s choice—not chance that moves you forward

It’s choice—not chance that moves you forward

Peggy Kraus Live Well. Feel Amazing
No one’s perfect. But progress is powerful. It’s the choices you keep making that move you forward, and that’s what deserves celebrating. Thank you for letting me support you this year — in your choices, your progress, and your wins. As Jean Nidetch said, “It’s choice—not chance—that determines your destiny.”
Holiday sweets--A recipe to support your strategy

Holiday sweets--A recipe to support your strategy

Peggy Kraus Eat to Heal
Sweets are everywhere this time of year.And for most people, eliminating them isn’t realistic.Like stress, sweets aren’t something you can always avoi
Gratitude boosts health—here’s a one-minute habit

Gratitude boosts health—here’s a one-minute habit

Peggy Kraus Live Well. Feel Amazing
Gratitude isn’t just a feeling—it’s a health strategy. Linked to better sleep, stronger immunity, and lower risk for chronic disease, gratitude can reset your rhythm and help you feel good again.
Why soup is my winter superpower (+ Recipe)

Why soup is my winter superpower (+ Recipe)

Peggy Kraus Eat to Heal
Soup is my winter superpower—cozy, nutrient‑rich, and endlessly versatile. From delicata squash to lentils, every bowl expands your palate, boosts nutrient variety, and makes feeling good simple.
They sold the patent for insulin for $1

They sold the patent for insulin for $1

Peggy Kraus Live Well. Feel Amazing
On World Diabetes Day, we honor Frederick Banting’s radical generosity—he gave insulin to the world. His vision reminds us that health should be guided by purpose, not profit


This blog is dedicated to Irl Flanagan, who was my friend and grammar mentor. Over the last 20 or so years, he spent countless hours editing my manuscripts and teaching me the intricacies of sentence structure and the true meaning and the proper usage of words. 

Irl died 4 months before his 100th birthday.

About Me

I’m Peggy Kraus, an exercise physiologist and diabetes care and education specialist. My clients often tell me my superpower is helping people reverse type 2 diabetes — but the impact goes far beyond blood sugar.

After almost 30 years in cardiac rehab, I’ve seen how the American diet has affected people’s lives. I know health isn’t just about managing symptoms. It’s about reversing disease when possible, feeling strong and energized, and getting your life back.

I’ve helped thousands of people lower blood sugar, lose weight, improve cholesterol, and reduce blood pressure — all through simple, strategic lifestyle changes rooted in science and compassion.

My signature 6‑week program, 5 to Thrive, teaches the five key strategies my most successful clients use to create lasting change. And my newest program, Diabetes Rescue, is helping people move toward type 2 diabetes remission with a bold, plant‑powered approach that gives them the tools, support, and confidence to take back control of their health.

A plant‑based lifestyle is powerful. And so are the results my clients achieve.



Photo of Peggy Kraus