Posts from — June 2009

I think it’s important to share every side of an issue – at least every side we become aware of.

Here on rainbowonyourplate.com, I talk about nutrition, getting veggies into your kiddos, staying allergy safe……….

I feel compelled to share something from the other side of this healthful living adventure.  The other day I met an 87-year old woman (and I wish I caught her name so I could give credit where it’s due).  She came right up to me and proclaimed that “All this health food talk is a bunch of  *#?*!%*!!!!”  She announced that she eats Burger King and McDonalds ALL the time and doesn’t believe in “any of this all-natural health food  !^#*&!?)*#!!!!!!!”

I smiled at her enthusiasm.  Is there another appropriate response to that amount of 87-year old gusto?

I will not be going out of my way to visit the drive-thru, but I applaud that kind of conviction.

I just read a wonderful article – http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=145324. 

It explains how moms in PA are making their own baby food – it’s cheaper than store-bought; it’s healthier than store-bought; it’s actually faster to make than it is to get in the car and travel to the grocery store.

Take a look at how these women are making the most of those veggies!

I spend time on this website talking about ways to up the nutrition quotient in our lives.  I just read about a newly noted phenomenon that sounds an unexpected alarm.

Steven Bratman, MD, author of “Health Food Junkies – Orthorexia Nervosa: Overcoming the Obsession with Healthful Eating” has coined this unoffically diagnostic term – Orthorexia – to describe a pattern of debilitatingly disordered eating where healthy eating habits spiral out of control and become an obsession to eat only healthy foods.  Orthorexia can develop when a person hears strong negative messages about a food type or food group and then entirely eliminates it from their diet causing serious consequences to their health.

It’s a fascinating article and certainly promotes the notion of balance and “legalizing” all foods.  To read more, go to http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/060109p40.shtml.

I know we’re all cutting back these days, but it still feels good to enjoy a night out at a favorite restaurant once in a while.

I spoke earlier about “cleaning the plate” as in eating everything in front of you even after you’re full.  I think this happens a lot when we go out to eat, and restaurant portions can certainly be excessive.  It happens to me at least.

Here are a couple tricks to keep yourself from overriding those innate messages from your fullness sensors.

1. When ordering a meal, try splitting it with a friend – simply ask for two plates.

2. Try asking your server to place half of the meal in a “doggie bag” before it is served and you can enjoy the rest later.

It can be daunting, I know.  Keeping in mind all the items to avoid once you’ve been handed a Celiac diagnosis is no small task. 

Scott Adams has prepared an extensive list of unsafe ingredients in his on-line newsletter Celiac.com.  Print out this list and take it with you as you familiarize yourself with new key words on ingredient listings.

Can you tell how much we love giving away free samples of Indigo Rabbit cookies???

Come join us at the Whole Foods Market in Framingham, MA on Thursday, June 18 from 4-6.  Dads, Grampas, Great Grampas – all will love these wonderful treats for Father’s Day (don’t tell them how nutritious they are!).

I know the school year is coming to a fast close, but for those parents who have a little one entering school for the first time in the fall or for those whose kiddo has recently been diagnosed with a food allergy, the start of school (or summer camp, for that matter) can generate serious and legitimate concerns.

Take a look at helpful tips for parents at allergicchild.com.  You’ll also find up-to-date information on the food allergy community and new public policy advances.

Here’s something fun.

Check out the cooking demonstration videos for gluten free dishes on http://how2heroes.com.

We’re giving away yummy free samples again – this time at the Whole Foods Market in Brighton, MA on Saturday, June 13 from 11-1.  Come munch and shop.  Load up on Indigo Rabbit cookies for Flag Day!

The next time you’re in the kitchen and feel inspired to puree something colorful to blend into dinner, save yourself a step later on and puree enough for future meals.

Pick your veggies – zucchini, yellow squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, beets, broccoli, you name it.  Steam until soft and then puree them in your handy blender or food processor.

Use some for dinner tonight (pasta sauce, meatloaf, soup, stew, meatballs…) and put the remaining puree in the little sections of an ice cube tray.  Throw it in the freezer and those purees will be ready for you to pop right into your favorite dishes later on!