Parental Rights Questioned Due to Diet

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Sharon M., MS RD

I belong to an on-line vegetarian group.  I have access to a wonderful group of professional folks who know how to plan well-balanced vegetarian meals.  But recently, a few members have stated that they have been approached by a vegetarian parent to help them establish that vegetarian diets are healthy in an effort for that parent to obtain custody of their child.  Evidently, the meat-eating parent thinks that the diet is unhealthy for their child.

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Edible Weeds

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Sharon M., MS RD

Weeds in your yard? Don’t worry they might be edible! I recently attended a garden tour of an organic garden with weeds. I took photos so I wouldn’t forget and have posted some common one that you would find in the Long Beach area.

Many know the dandelion is all edible. I’ve even seen it sold at a local farmer’s market. It can be bitter, but edible. A recent website also focuses on edible weeds.

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Food for Your Face

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Sharon M., MS RD

Cucumber Mint Facial Tonic

In Aruyveda medicine, the belief of not putting anything on your face that you wouldn’t put in your body is a is a basic tenent. Several months ago, I wrote on super foods that we should all incorporate into our bodies. A lot of these foods make wonderful facial masks and help improve your skin. As I make my own face toner, I reflect on the benefits of the ingredients for my body. The recipe I’m providing comes from a local who taught classes on natural skin care. So, for you do-it-yourself-ers I have provided the recipe to make your own facial toner to help tighten your pores and nourish your skin at the same time.

    Cucumber Mint Facial Tonic

(Use Daily)

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Mood Food

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Sharon M., MS RD

Feeling sluggish or down in the dumps?  Your diet might be to blame.  There are a few foods that can help you with a perky attitude.

Omega-3 Fatty acids – Includes cold water fish, such as salmon and sardines, flax seed, walnuts, nuts and seeds.  The fat in these foods help the brain cells and neurotransmitters function properly and possibly help some folks with depression.

Soluble Fiber Foods – Includes oatmeal, barley, beans, fruits and some vegetables.  These foods help regulate blood sugars.  The soluble fiber forms a gel in your GI tract that slowly release the sugar from some of these foods into the blood stream.  It helps you from feeling hungry too quickly.

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Soaking Flour/Grains

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Sharon M., MS RD

Soaked Flour Pumpkin Muffins

I’ve recently have taken some classes on making better bread.  Going back to scratch cooking has been something I’ve hesitated doing since it can be time consuming.  It does require some planning, too.  In taking on this effort, I have learned some valuable information.  I’ve known for a while that the flour we use in grocery store is inferior, but I didn’t know to what extent.  So I’ve learned how to grind my own flour.  I’ve also learned the concept of soaking grains and flour.  This has become an important part of the nutritional aspect of baking bread products.  Soaking grains and flours can help release the phytonutrients (the plant nutrition) that the body can use more readily.

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Journaling: Writing Your Way to Better Health

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Sharon M., MS RD

Are you stuck in the same exercise routine? Are you struggling to eat better?

A landmark study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that writing exercises (aka journaling) can help alleviate symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. This is why writing or journaling is one of the foundations of weight loss and health. I have a friend you says that some of the hardest writing she has done is about her health. I can’t disagree; this is a tough process for some.

But don’t fear: there are several types of journaling that might be beneficial for you to meet your health goals:

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Worth a Hill of Beans

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Sharon M., MS RD

(Yes, I borrowed the title…I’m not that clever)

When I told some folks at work that I eat a plant-based diet, automatically the conversation went to what I eat for protein.  “Oh are you eating Gardein?” Because I don’t like most of the meat-substitutes out there, I use beans as my primary source of protein.  For reasons I’ve explained in one of my previous blogs, I avoid canned beans when possible.  So, I thought I would share the benefits of this nutritonal powerhouse, the bean.

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Garden Passion – Update

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Sharon M., MS RD

I thought I would share my current gardening passion and the progress that has occurred with my garden gutters. My seeds have started to sprout! The photos below will show the progress that has been made in about 2 months. Just so everyone is aware, it has been a warmer winter in So Cal.  I did plant some heirloom variety lettuces in one of the garden gutters.  I planted strawberry seeds in my other garden gutter.  You can see the photo of the small strawberry seed that are just starting. The benefit: I’ve not seen bugs; this includes slugs and pill bugs which usually eat tender seedlings.

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School Lunches: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Sharon M., MS RD

When I started this blog it was not intended discuss my experience in working with school lunches several years ago. However, the recent media blowout over a school girl’s lunch has me on edge.

It all comes down to misunderstanding and the school’s inability to handle the situation appropriately:

The girl’s teacher should have handed the child a carton of milk to round out the turkey-and-cheese sandwich and banana she brought from home. Instead, the teacher erred by telling the tyke to get a cafeteria lunch, Barnes (Hook County Superintendant) said.

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Meal Wars – Part 5: The Child Who Sneaks Food

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Sharon M., MS RD

This is the last of my 5 part series on feeding children. When in doubt, always remember the parent and child responsibilities. The parent plans the meal, prepares healthy options, and provides a positive environment. The child will choose whether or not to eat, what to eat (from the healthy options you provide), and how much to eat based on scheduled meals and snack times.

In this last series you will see a lot of overlap between this type of behavior and with “the child who overeats” (see previous blog Meal Wars – Part 3).

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