Posts from — September 2009

Here are some fun ways to get your little ones to try new foods.  Maggie McHugh, MS, RN, CDN, cofounder of Eating for You (and baby too), Inc. recommends reading to them…

“I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato” by Lauren Child

“The Seven Silly Eaters” by Mary Ann Hoberman

“Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss – of course!

I am the mother of 2 girls.  I used to treat patients with eating disorders.  I don’t believe in diets.  I relay these facts because I just read an article that stirs every ounce of maternal defensiveness I’ve got.

Jeffrey Zaslow of the Wall Street Journal has published a piece that investigates the tenacity of the desire for thinness.  Back in 1986 he had the opportunity to interview a group of 4th grade girls about their relationship with weight and their dieting behavior.  He was fortunate enough to have the chance the speak with some of these same individuals once again, now grown women, and follow up on some of his inqueries from over 20 years earlier.

Take a look at his article.  Then sit down with a magazine or spend 10 minutes in front of mainstream television and be a critical consumer.  What kind of messages are being conveyed concerning weight, size, good food/bad food, beauty and self-acceptance?  Then review how many of those messages are probably looking for a  female audience.

Now for the fun.  Take a look at this film produced by Dove entitled “Evolution”. 

Thoughts?

Following the pregnancy of my second child my body seemed to head into novel territory.  And, no, I don’t necessarily mean certain physical elements of me headed in unforseen directions (well, mostly not).  No, what I mean is that one result of that pregnancy and birth was an evident “lactose intolerance”.  Yogurt, cheese, pizza, ice cream, cow’s milk – you name it – no longer okay with me.

A recent piece in USA Today asserts that less than 40% of adults retain the ability to digest lactose post-childhood.  Researchers believe that “lactose intolerance” is no deviation, but rather “what’s really weird is the ability to continue to drink milk”.

Hah, I’m no weirdo!

It is apple picking time in New England.  Grab the kids and head out to one of these orchards for some fresh fruit and fresh air.

Old Frog Pond Farm in Harvard, MA

Westward Orchards in Harvard, MA

Kimball Fruit Farm in Pepperell, MA

Tougas Family Farm in Northborough, MA

This fall I am teaming up with a colleague of mine, Amanda Graves of Amanda Cooks Catering, to teach a course called “Montessori Masterchefs” at a local Montessori School.

We’re joining up with 4th, 5th and 6th graders in a food adventure that involves meal planning, food preparation, food safety and, of course, lots of nutrition fun.

We can’t wait to teach these young chefs all about high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and how to hide nutritious ingredients in their favorite dishes!

Rainbow On Your Plate has been devoted to pieces that reflect healthy eating and living.  I think it’s time I talked about our relationship with weight.

Once upon a time, PK (pre-kids), I was in private practice providing psychotherapy to eating disorder patients.  I worked with primarily women who were struggling with anorexia, bulimia and/or compulsive binge eating disorder.  It occurs to me that a technique we used during weigh-in’s is a tool I seem to implement on myself even now.

Recently, I visited my doc for my annual physical.  Of course, the beginning of a standard visit includes, among other assessments, stepping on to the scale.  Ever since those days when I worked in the hospital, when getting my own check-up I step onto the scale, turn my back to it and ask that the nurse not share the number with me.

Weigh-in’s were an excruciatingly stressful time for my patients.  I figured out early on that learning the digits on that scale NEVER helped these young women ease their eating disorder symptoms.  If the number was higher than they expected, they predictably experienced intolerable anxiety and their symptoms worsened – and the number on that scale would go down even further.  If the number was lower than they expected, they would experience a blissful euphoria and feel unable to control their desire to maintain that downward momentum, and the number on that scale would go down.  There was no winning when it came to knowing the number.

So – my odd behavior.  Do I fear that hearing the series of digits coming from the nurse’s mouth will have some terribly uncomfortable impact on me?  I’m not sure.  What I do know is that my mood (or relationship with my body) doesn’t change from day to day because of the result of a scale-stepping ritual.

There are so many ways to find comfort in our bodies and all that they can do.  It would be a shame to decide that a little machine on the bathroom floor could dictate it for us.

Many restaurants are becoming increasingly aware of food allergy issues and are getting better at publicizing allergen information in their facilities and on-line.  There is still more to be done.

Take a look at this piece in the Orlando Sentinel about the challenges faced by people with food allergies when they go out to eat   The piece discusses how many restaurants are now publishing information on allergens and some are even providing special menus, but eating out can still be pretty scary for those living with food allergies.

(Oops!  The link to this article seems to be broken.  We will see if we can find it in the archives).

With just a little thought, you can easily fit bursts from all 5 food groups into the day for you and your family.

Add dry powdered skim milk to anything you might be baking (try it!).

Take a can of cannelini beans (full of protein and fiber), puree them, and add some to a favorite soup (even chicken noodle!).  It adds richness, major nutrients, AND no taste difference.

And, a favorite of mine, add shredded or pureed carrots, summer squash, zucchini – you name it – to pasta sauce, casseroles or baked goods!

Click here for even more ideas.

This is so overdue. 

Bureaucrats are finally starting to debate out loud about the food served in our public school cafeterias.  And Whole Foods is getting involved too! 

See where we are in this piece from the New York Times.

A recent article in the Los Angeles Times highlights new research suggesting that early exposure to certain allergens could help protect kids from developing food allergies.  Click here to take a look.