Thoughts…

I Refuse To Put Your Teen on a Diet

I Refuse To Put Your Teen on a Diet

Dear Parents, You or your doctor believes your teenager may be overweight or obese. I know how concerned you must be. The teenage years are tough enough. I’m happy you reached out to me for help, but I want to make sure you understand how I work with teens. Here is what I WILL NOT do: 1. I will not put your teen on a strict, calorie-controlled diet and have him or her weigh and measure every single morsel of food. The research has repeatedly shown that diets do not work and actually lead to further weight gain and potential eating disorders. About 95 percent of people who lose weight […]

What If I Moved In?

What If I Moved In?

(This blog post originally appeared on Huffington Post) After I teach my picky eater program in people’s offices, many parents ask (some beg) me to move into their homes. Lately, I’ve started thinking about a “break-your-picky-eater-from-the-inside” job. It wouldn’t be hard. I’d need about a week. Step One: What’s the problem? I’m going ask you about your picky eater, but truthfully, I already know what you’ll say. Chances are you are cooking two, three or four meals and snacks to get the kid “to just eat something.” I’m almost positive you have distracted, negotiated, begged or bribed your kid to eat because sending him or her off to bed without dinner […]

A Letter to Your Kids’ School

A Letter to Your Kids’ School

I wrote this letter for The Huffington Post because it is time for change.  Parents all over the country are frustrated and upset about the amount of sugar being handed to their kids at school.  And these are reasonable parents who understand and practice moderation in how they feed themselves and their kids.  Every celebration at school involves some sort of cupcake, cookie or candy.  And with about 25 kids per classroom, that is a lot of sugar handed to kids throughout the school year for birthday celebrations alone.  There are plenty of non-caloric ways to celebrate kids.We need a lot of foot soldiers to solve our nutritional issues in America.  If […]

A Huffington Post Article on Soccer Snack Insanity

A few days ago The Huffington Post published an article I wrote here about the snacks parents are bringing kids after their games.  C’mon folks!  Why all the sugar after soccer?  This is something that has to end and can with your help.  I am sending letters to my local soccer group to set standards on what can be brought to our fields. I encourage you to do the same.  Feel free to use the article I wrote as help and support for your message.  Parents that would never think about stuffing themselves with sugar after their workout should insure their kids aren’t either.

Soccer Snack Response

This is a terrific letter I received from a parent about the letter to the editor I wrote in the Laguna Beach Independent this week. —————————————————————————————– Melanie, Great letter in the Indy this week,  I really appreciate you taking a public stance on this topic. I have always despised snack time for many reasons–garbage, kids care more about the snack than the game, etc.I’d like to change the attitude and focus of the “Parent Snack” in all sports.  Instead of it being viewed as a treat for after the game I want the snack to be a source of energy and hydration during the game.  Your recommendation for fresh fruits […]

C’mon! Soccer Snacks!!!

Youth soccer season is in full force.  Along with shin guards and shiny uniforms our kids are getting snacks and plenty of them.  If the snacks were fresh fruit and water, I wouldn’t be complaining.  Parents are complaining to me all over the country about other parents who are bringing cupcakes, candy, donuts, brownies and sugar laden juices.  Pumping our kids full of sugar after soccer is a physiologic mistake and sends the wrong message to our kids about taking care of their bodies post exercise.    If snacks are to continue, all leagues should set a “fresh fruit and bring your own water policy” to stop our kids from refueling […]

A Peruvian Nutrition Clinic

For the past two weeks I forged ahead alone far, far away from our house (an hour walk there and back) to the nutrition clinic where I worked with a Peruvian nutritionist.  Before I went, I was looking forward to the experience and had done some research on the nutritional issues in Cusco.  I knew iron deficiency anemia was a huge problem.  Being here six weeks, I could now see why.  We have been pumped with so much rice, corn and potatoes that it isn’t even funny anymore.  The clinic is called MONET and basically is like the American version of Early Intervention, WIC and a cooking class all in […]