Tag Archives: nutrition

Have Health, Will Travel

Many folks that I teach bite their nails due to the anxiety of traveling.  They are not sure about how to manage their diet when traveling.  Whether it is for business or pleasure, folks who have developed healthy eating habits find it a struggle to maintain those habits on the road.

Here is my number one tip for healthy people who travel: PLAN!!!  In today’s environment there is a fast food joint on every corner.  This certainly doesn’t make it easier for us to eat healthy. But planning isn’t necessarily for the folks trying to keep the pounds off.  It’s also for folks with specialized diets, ie. Vegetarians, gluten-free, etc.  Planning your meals will help you determine what you are willing do that is healthy and what you willing to splurge on.

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In Season: Berries

The time is NOW! Berries are available now through the beginning of fall. If you are growing a berry bush, i.e. raspberries or blackberries, you might have seen them already on your vines. But peak time does vary depending on the berry. Strawberries and blueberries are at their peak now, while blackberries and raspberries will be at their peak in August going into the fall.

These fruits are great raw or cooked, especially as a pie. Among the first people to appreciate these fruits were Native Americans, who ate them, cooked them, dried them for adding to winter soups and stews, and even used them as medicines, dyes, and food preservatives.

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In Season: Artichokes

My artichoke plant in the front yard.

In all honesty, artichokes are probably a spring crop, but here in So Cal, they are ready for me to eat 🙂

A single artichoke is actually an unopened flower bud from a thistle-like plant, Cynara scolymus.  It’s a member of the daisy family.

They were avidly cultivated in the fifteenth century in Florence and was reputedly taken to France by Catherine de Médicis, wife of Henry II.  The French, Italians, and the Spanish continue to be the leading growers and consumers of artichokes.  It was European immigrants who brought artichokes to the United States in the nineteenth century to Louisiana and then later to the mid-coastal regions of California, where the cool, foggy climate is ideal for growing.

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Parental Rights Questioned Due to Diet

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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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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Finding Your Passion

Garden Gutter

Sharon, ever since you mentioned that you should find your passion, I can’t stop thinking about it! I keep thinking what is ‘my’ passion?

These were the words from a woman in my class. Let’s not jump to conclusions here…I will be the first one to tell you that I’m not the expert. It didn’t occur to me to pursue a “passion” until I was in my thirties after I got married. Now, your thinking, “What does this have to do with nutrition?” Here’s how:

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Meal Wars: Part 2 – The Child Who Refuses to Eat Healthy Food

I have a picky eater at home, no doubt about that. But I find it’s not always my son (wink, wink). However, that being said, it’s always important to be a good role model for your kid(s). If you don’t like broccoli and say that at the dinner table, then your child will demonstrate that behavior.

One of the best authors on this subject is Ellyn Satter. She wrote several books on infant and toddler feeding. She emphasized the parent responsibilities of providing the what, where, and when food will be served, and children choosing whether, what, and how much to eat from the healthy choices you provide, as a parent.

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Is Junk Food Dangerous?

If you haven’t been watching Dr Oz on television, then you might not have heard about the high levels of arsenic in apple juice.  Apple juice made from apple juice concentrate, 60% of which comes from China, has been linked to high levels of arsenic.  Why is this a concern?  Arsenic along with other heavy metals is known to cause cancer.

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The Hazards of Canned Food

Since I have a family, I have become more discerning about the food I make for them.  Yes, I cook more than we eat out.  I could usually use convenience foods to get the job done. However, I recently found out that varies canned foods I buy at the supermarket might not be the best choice for me and my family.  Canned beans and tomatoes save me time in the kitchen, but may be putting my health at risk.

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