Do your kids eat school lunch? Do you pack their lunches? Feel free to share your thoughts with me about what you do and why. Here is an article I wrote on the topic for our local paper, The Laguna Beach Independent.______________________________________________________ FOOD FOR THOUGHT ON LUNCHES published September 10, 2010 Laguna Beach IndependentYou might have read that the U.S. Senate approved the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which allocates $4.5 billion to feed more children and bring more healthful nutrition standards to schools. Would it surprise you to know that $4.5 billion equates to only six cents more per child per day? Current reimbursement rates give schools $2.68 for each […]
I was at the store reading a food label for Trix cereal. I went home and wrote this letter to the CEO of General Mills because he needs to hear from me. ______________________________________________________________________________September 7, 2010General Mills Kendall J. Powell Chairman, President and CEO 1 General Mills Blvd. Minneapolis, MN 55426Dear Mr. Powell,As a pediatric dietitian, I want to thank you for some of the cereals your company sells. Because I provide nutritional counseling for children from birth through adolescence, I carefully consider each and every product I endorse based on my clients’ needs. These are the General Mills products I promote most often:Cheerios: This is a good source of fiber, […]
There is a television in the locker room at the pool we went to this summer. I estimate that I walked my children through that locker room 18 times in the six weeks we used the pool. More often than not, there is the same girl glued to that television watching The Tyra Banks Show. From now on, I will refer to her as Young Girl because she is one. I estimate she is 11 or 12 years old. Any thoughts or comments on this scenario so far? Here is what I predict the experts might say:Pediatrician: Why does this locker room have television? Shouldn’t Young Girl be in the […]
When people find out that I am a dietitian, they always ask me what I eat. I guess its similar to asking a dermatologist what her favorite potions and lotions are for her face or a trainer what his or her workout routine is. I respond that I eat most everything in moderation, but I am not a big fan of pork products, especially pork rinds. Lima beans are tough for me and green peppers on a pizza are not my vegetable of choice as a topping. I can be a committed vegan, but if you occasionally ask me out for chicken wings, I will not fight you on it.I […]
I am pleased to share the response I received from the letter (my blog entry: Crayola Colored Yogurt) I sent July 10th, 2010 to the CEO of Au Bon Pain. To catch new readers you up to speed, I wrote a letter to the CEO of Au Bon Pain about my concern with the artificial dyes they use in their yogurts. I will have you know, this conversation is not over. ____________________________________________________________________________________July 28th, 2010 Dear Ms. SilvermanThank you for taking the time to write to Sue. She sent along your note to me and asked me to get back to you. You are clearly a loyal patron of Au […]
Here is what supermodel and new mom Gisele Bündchen said to Harper’s Bazaar UK on August 2, 2010:“Some people here [in the U.S.] think they don’t have to breastfeed, and I think ‘Are you going to give chemical food to your child when they are so little?’” adding “I think there should be a worldwide law, in my opinion, that mothers should breastfeed their babies for six months.” Here is the letter I am sending to Gisele: Gisele, Congratulations on your new baby boy Benjamin! I heard you had a home birth. And we all know you have chosen to breastfeed. Well good for you Gisele. Nice nutritional choice. Let […]
Michelle Obama is pushing for a complete overhaul of our school breakfast and lunch programs and all of us can and should play a role in this change. Here’s how. Take a look at your child’s school breakfast or lunch menu. Do you think the food is healthy? Are there changes you would like to see? Do you feel comfortable with your child eating the food the school offers? So many parents across the country have told me how dissatisfied they are with school food. They want a change, but don’t know how to go about making change happen. Start here. 1.) Gather a group of like-minded parents at your […]
This is a great response from the diet and fitness expert on CNN Health. The question is SHOULD I PUT MY 11-YEAR-OLD ON A DIET? People call me about this issue all the time. http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/expert.q.a/07/23/child.diet.jampolis/index.html
My mother is a sweet sweet soul, but she has a problem. She eavesdrops. She does not actively look for conversations to listen in on; they seem to find her. Here is a recent one.SCENE: A summer day at a local Trader Joes. A delicious aroma fills the air. An employee is preparing roasted asparagus topped with Parmesan cheese for customers. A mother with her two sons approximately 3 1/2 years old and 18 months old pushes her cart over to the sample table to assess the situation. My mother is behind her and hears the following conversation: 3 1/2 year old son: “Mom, can I taste that?” Mother: “That’s asparagus honey. […]
Here is the copy of a letter I wrote to the CEO of Au Bon Pain today. The Michael Jacobson link can be found here for your reference.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-f-jacobson/food-dye-color-me-skeptic_b_629847.html __________________________________________________________________July 10, 2010 Sue Morelli, CEO Au Bon Pain 19 Fid Kennedy Avenue Boston, MA 02210 Dear Ms. Morelli, As a pediatric registered dietitian I have always been impressed with Au Bon Pain. Your food has terrific flavor and an impressive menu to choose from. When I worked at the University Of Chicago Medical Center I chose lunch from you many more times than I did from the hospital cafeteria or from a packed lunch from home. And please know I have […]
