Category Archives: Nutrition

Mood Food

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

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

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

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

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

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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GMO’s in My Foods?

Several years ago I received the book Seeds Of Deception by Jeffrey Smith and was dismayed, to say the least, at the frequency of genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) in the food we eat. What upsets me even more is that manufactures don’t even have to label it on the package or tell us that the potato we eat might be modified with a fungicide in it.

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Super Snacks for Kids

These snacks are great for kids (and adults) to graze. They combine a variety of options that include carbohydrates with protein, fiber and/or healthy fat. There is one on this list that even your pickiest eater should enjoy.

 

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Meal Wars – Part 4: The Child Who Asks for Snacks All the Time

Some children ask for snacks all the time. In this series, I have provided parents with some ideas to help you and your child cope between meals:

1. Provide regular meal and snack times. This will save you the worry that your child is going hungry and will help your child to curb a frequent snacking habit.

2. Children frequently mistake being tired or bored for being hungry. Help your child work out what they are truly feeling.

Ask if they are really hungry, but fight the urge to tell children, “You are not hungry.”

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Meal Wars – Part 3: The Child Who Overeats

As a parent, always remember to refer to the responsibilities that you and your child have. So here is some strategies to help you with the child that overeats:

1. Stay Positive – don’t judge, criticize, overreact, or call attention to your child’s overeating.

2. Tune in to your child’s emotional life – Stress and unhappiness can lead to overeating. Make time to talk to your child about their day. Listen to their problems and work together to address them. You may need to see professional help if necessary.

3. Fix and serve health meals and snacks (in reasonable portions) at regular times.

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