the humanist imperative to nourish and care for our children accordingly
05 May 2012 2 Comments
in nutrition, health Tags: Childhood obesity, frances moore lappe, Health, John Robbins, Michelle Obama, Obesity
Wednesday morning, upon logging in, I was greeted by the juxtaposition of the following messages in my inbox:
Race to Fight Childhood Obesity from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation;
Censored: Michelle Obama‘s Biggest Mistake from Ragen Chastain’s blog Dances with Fat;
Lock-In Drill from my daughter’s high school; and,
What is the Optimal Diet for Human Beings from Ocean Roberts and the Food Revolution Summit.
Where shall I start? To begin with, for context, let me say that on Wednesdays, I am not at the Health Center, and an eating disordered client who I work with privately on that morning needed to reschedule. So, though I receive an onslaught of topic-related information constantly, I had on that day more time to slowly digest these matters that are so relevant to what I do.
Frances Moore Lappe receiving the 2008 Humanitarian Award from the James Beard Foundation (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Ragen’s offering attracted my attention first. I have referenced her work previously in post. A committed activist and a powerful voice in distinguishing the difference between health and weight issues; preventing fat shaming; and, shining light on the lies and manipulations of the weight loss industry, I can always count on her to keep me informed of something meaningful. Here, I learned that Michelle Obama was planning to go on the show The Biggest Loser to thank the contestants for being role models. Ragen’s reaction was quite pointed and the story of what happened when she and film maker Darryl Roberts (America the Beautiful) tried to field a response to the media is quite interesting. read here . However, it was this comment that contributed to the theme of my day.
The worst thing is that all this focus on the weight of individuals is distracting us from the systemic issue of lack of access. Many people do not have access to the healthy foods that they would choose to eat–including foods that are not genetically modified or full of hormones or government subsidized high fructose corn syrup. Many people do not have access to safe movement options that they enjoy, or to affordable evidence-based health care. But as long as we focus on little Johnny’s BMI, we don’t have to address the real problems here and we can just keep shaming and blaming fat kids and adults and misinforming them and everyone else about the odds of becoming permanently thin.
I strongly share Ragen’s sentiments in this regard. It took only a few clicks on the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s page to confirm this dismissal of the larger issues. The articles in their In the News column included, Schools Find Active Kids Make Smarter Students and Virginia Legislation Calls for School PE Guidelines. Both are sad statements about the current state of affairs on such seemingly obvious matters. I applaud the work of the Alliance which I have discussed before, post, but I am often sad to see theirs and others’ amazing talents and resources going toward small, simplistic efforts to repair an intuitive intelligence that was broken by bad policy making and vested interests disenfranchising the well-being of the citizens of the world.
I also have a visceral reaction to the term the fight against childhood obesity. Obesity is not the only consequence our children are suffering–it is just one of the manifestations of poor nutrition and the ignoring of all the ingredients that contribute to both physical and emotional well-being in early stages of development. If this was only about obesity, my daughter would not have had to unfortunately participate in a lock-down drill. Furthermore, fierce language is not what is needed in this regard even when details may make us wish to brandish our childhood obesity fighting swords.
Which brings me to the last email from Ocean Roberts–and mention of this is of a very timely matter. Ocean Robbins is the son of John Robbins, a visionary on environmental, nutritional and animal rights issues and the author of Diet for a New America–who long ago left his post as heir to the Baskin and Robbins Ice Cream business. Ocean and John gathered an amazing line up of individuals for a worldwide week long broadcast of interviews called the Food Revolution Summit. Unfortunately, these come to a close Monday, May 7th, but if you register before then, like now, at here you can catch the remaining ones for free or purchase the entire set to have for your collection. These are really important, brilliant and caring people speaking in regard to all aspects of nourishment–and courageously addressing the truth that our own government is subsidizing the food that is making us sick and fat. Which is why Michelle Obama’s efforts though well–intentioned seem even more inappropriately misplaced.
On that Wednesday morning, I was so fortunate to hear a really beautiful interview with Frances Moore Lappe, who has certainly had a strong influence on my own path. I will leave you with her words.
“We don’t have a shortage of food, we have a shortage of justice. As we shift to focus on our relationships with each other, and with the earth, as we align our lives and our economy with what is true about our nature and is harmonious with the wellbeing of nature, we find answers to so many of the questions we face today. Hope is not what we find in evidence, it’s what we become in action.”
So, I hope the connections make some sense and perhaps my title of this piece suggests such a shift of intention toward the task at hand.
Would love to hear from you.
In health, Elyn
My Plate
My Plate Haiku
Are we what we eat
Or do we eat what we are
Are they the same thing?
by Julie
private health
29 Apr 2012 2 Comments
in childhood nutrition, childhood obesity, food marketing, food politics, health concerns, nutrition and health, nutrition, health, overweight and obesity Tags: Health care, healthy people 2020, Mountain Dew, Pepsi, Public health, soda, sugar sweetened beverages, Tazo Tea
My dilemma was really excited. We hadn’t been to a conference since our fall outing to the one on bariatric surgery (How Can You Say No To A Brownie?) Usually I try to keep my nutritional dilemma quiet and out of sight. But, last week as I was heading to a meeting of the New York State Public Health Association I figured nothing would be too controversial, so I relaxed my grip on it a bit as we headed out– actually in the same direction where my dilemma and I had also attended the coming out party of the Sprout Veggie Mobile (No Passing). It was an unusually warm morning so I opened the window, and my dilemma, riding shotgun, stuck its head out into the fresh air, giddily taking in all the sights and smells like a golden retriever.
We arrived at the requisite hotel, easily found both a parking space and the right room, and settled in. I applauded the availability of Tazo Tea and decided to forgive the choice of bad white bagels as the alternative to sugary breakfast pastries. I knew there was some consciousness on the part of the Association to be mindful of the food so I appreciated the effort.
The title of the conference was “Transforming Communities through Public Health Practice”. This was not the most exciting event that I had ever attended. Even the keynote speaker, Michelle Davis, Deputy Regional Health Administrator for the US Department of Health and Human Services, said to the audience at the end of her informative talk that she hoped she hadn’t bored us too much.
As I sat through the morning speakers I did check the program agenda to remind myself of the focus of the day and why I had chosen to apply my limited continuing education benefits here. Though I mainly do my nutrition and health thing privately within the confines of my small offices, working with one member of the public at a time, I am always conceiving of ways to promote messages and to expand options and opportunities regarding health to a larger audience. I love any chance to practice what I have just termed stealth health–introducing information or programs that enhance well-being in both supportive and unsuspecting ways. Here was an opportunity to listen and learn from others who are out there doing community transformation each in their own wonderful way and that is what motivated my choice–to be with my peeps–like-minded people, good people out there doing great things in this arena.
So, as an attendee I learned of the new goals of the Healthy People 2020 initiative; I heard about some worthy activities happening on the local scene; and, I sat in on an interesting session that reviewed a relatively well-funded menu labeling education campaign that encouraged consumers to choose fast food meals containing 600 calories or less. The initial results were apparently somewhat disappointing though the evaluation data was limited. The research ironically showed that those who did not receive the message curtailed calories more than those who did.
I thought I had my dilemma well-leashed at this point, but in retrospect I realize it was already starting to whimper and whine. However, it was not until I attended the first afternoon session, ”Development and Implementation of Formal Policies and/or Local Legislation to Increase the Availability of Non-Sugar Sweetened Beverages in Public Buildings: Reports from the Field” that its bark became disruptively loud. The session was facilitated by two women who had overseen a project of the NY State Association of County Health officials wherein monies and other resources were allocated to a handful of county health departments to assist their county governments in achieving this goal.
Poised and polite they effectively reviewed how the different counties applied their efforts which really required that sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) become less available. They described media campaigns, seltzer water promotion activities, revenue concerns, working with government officials from the top down and with procurement managers from the bottom up. They discussed vending contracts and how these are virtually impossible to change until the contract runs out. They explained the challenges, push back and resistance that each county encountered and the small changes that were made. This was absolutely a positive action and these were good people, doing really good work yet needing to play nice politics with good public dollars. I suppose I know this is how the process works but the cumulative view of the public health community working so hard for such small gains–even in the public sector–turned my dilemma rabid. It circled wildly, foamed at the mouth and even raised its hand and expressed its opinion. To calm it back down, I had to go get it a fruit kabob at the next break.
Who do we still have to convince at this stage of the game that vending machine revenues will not outpace health care spending? Who do I need to invite into my office to hear the daily stories of health compromised by tepid health care policies and timid action? How many cases of people addicted to Mountain Dew, Pepsi and other such SSBs must I detail as evidence to show how they suffer from rotted teeth that cannot be repaired; ravaged digestive systems bandaged with a plethora of damaging antacid medications; excessive weight that has literally brought them to their knees; anxiety propelled by excessive caffeine; and, destroyed glucose control that relegates them to a life with diabetes? Is it not tragic how many are children and young adults are already affected?
I always tell my clients that if I was the ruler of the food planet, I would remove sodas immediately. There is a heavy toll on health from such irresponsibly marketed products available for consumption with the clink of just a few coins in most public places–not only here but around the globe. And, though soda addiction knows no boundaries, as usual, the poor, are disproportionately affected. Recently, a client of mine told me that the school bus company that he works for removed soda vending from the employee break room. Cannot our own government agencies venture such a commitment? Bearing such witness, I am perforce required to display the amount of sweeteners in various SSB bottles wherever I may be. Right now in the lobby of the health center I have such a display with associated handouts. People truly gasp when they see the load of sugary stuff that otherwise stays dissolved in the highly acidic medium.
This week, just a few days after the episode at the hotel, a fifteen-year-old boy who has lived a large part of his life in a home for trouble youth was brought to see me–ostensibly for his high weight problems. I am not sure how he was referred to me, but there he was– with a case manager and another boy who came along. We had a pretty good chat and among other things, we talked about his soda drinking. I told him I really felt sodas were toxic substances that deserved some type of poison label. He asked me if I had a Sharpie. I said of course, dug it out for him–and he drew me a page full of well-executed skulls and crossbones. I thanked him profusely for his contribution to my crusade. Who knows, perhaps through this experience of participation he will become a stealth health advocate. When we were done, I gave him and his little buddy two water bottles that I had actually picked up at the conference.
Afterwards, I realized my dilemma had been watching the whole encounter from under my desk. It pawed at me and looked me squarely in the eye. It bemoaned that private health is truly a deeply public health matter and visa versa, and with its tail between its legs it quietly crawled away.
Let me know what you think about this issue. Thanks.
In health, Elyn
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-1282/How-a-Sip-of-Soda-Affects-Your-Health-Image.html
http://www.nplanonline.org/sites/phlpnet.org/files/Beverage_Industry_Report-FINAL_20110907.pdf an in depth look at the soft drink industry by the National Policy and Legal Analysis Network
http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/default.aspx
My Plate
My Plate Haiku
Lagoon watercress
Peppers my tongue
With spring joy.
by Roxanne
if you knew then
26 Mar 2012 2 Comments
in food and eating, health concerns, nutrition and health, nutrition, health Tags: comparing college aged and adult eating habits, diets of college aged students, eating in college, nutrition questionnaire
About thirteen semesters ago, when I was working at a college, I decided to see if I could put my finger on the pulse of the food attitudes of emerging adults. I figured what better group to study than those who were sitting in that precious space between carefree existence and burgeoning responsibility–and whose habits would markedly define the next generation of health and eating. As I had only newly forged my way into being the first nutritionist on the campus, I was also eager to see what the possibilities were for my work there.
Wikipedia)
So, I designed a little questionnaire and managed to have it distributed to a subset of different types of students–150 in total. I made sure to include freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors; male and female athletes; and, dance, exercise science, business, chemistry and of course, some token english majors. I found the first student I could who expressed to me an interest in the field of nutrition and together we collected and, in a totally unscientific manner, collated the data.
The results were fascinating, or well, somewhat interesting. However, not really being a researcher and without any tools for sophisticated analysis-and because it was awhile ago–I can’t describe what they were. Though the nature of the questions was probably pretty depressing for the young cohort, I recall being tickled pink to learn that in response to question #33, about 15% of students knew there was a nutritionist on campus. Well, at least the smart ones figured it out when they got my questionnaire. It must have been the English majors.
Recently, I came upon my modest tool of inquiry and wondered would it be interesting for others to ponder the questions I was probing then. So, here, in an altered, abridged and more grown up version, I present the questionnaire, in my continued quest to see what may have relevance for the masses. Or, to perchance find the ultimate answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything regarding how and why we feed ourselves. It may, in the fashion of Douglas Adams’, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe, take 7 1/2 million years to find the answer, which might just as likely turn out to be 42. And, while the ultimate question may likely remain unknown, here is my little stab at it. Ready?
1. How much do you think about your food choices?
2. If your diet was a class project, what grade would you give it?
3. What do you believe are your best/worst eating/food habits?
4. Does nutrition information interest you, confuse you or bore you to tears?
5. Do you think that eating better could improve your well-being or prevent certain health conditions? What might inspire or motivate you to change?
6. Do you follow any special or defined diet?
7. What health issues are present in your nuclear and extended family?
8. Do you think that you have any health issues that may be related to your diet?
9. Do you think your eating habits might catch up with you someday?
10. What motivates or affects your eating behaviors? Health, weight, performance, pleasure, convenience, finances, cooking skills, boredom, stress, emotional issues?
11. Do you believe that you have or are sensitive to any of the following addictions? Caffeine/Nicotine/Alcohol/Drugs/Sugar/Food
12. Have your parents influenced your food and eating habits? Positively or negatively? Which parent most influenced your eating habits?
13. If you have children, or if you may someday, do you think ideas about good nutrition affect how you do or will feed them?
14. Does anyone else in your life influence or affect your eating habits? Who? Positively or negatively?
15. Do you feel badly about how you eat? Are you at peace with how you eat?
16. Do you wish you would care more or care less about food and eating matters?
17. What do you hunger for? What food(s) is most important to you?
18. Have you consciously or unconsciously made small or large changes in your approach to eating? How has your eating changed through the years?
19. If you knew then, what you know now, would you have approached feeding/eating differently?
20. Do you know what kale is? If yes, have you ever eaten it?
33. Do you know there is a nutritionist asking you these questions?
So, if any of these questions have provoked in you anything new or meaningful, let me know. What else might we be asking? As always, sharings are greatly welcomed.
By the way, it turned out that many students–perhaps inspired by my survey–did take advantage of the opportunity to meet with me–and working with them was a real pleasure. They came to discuss their own issues or to explore nutrition topics in conjunction with a class project or campus activity. They possessed a lovely blend of personal insight, intellectual curiosity and social and environmental awareness–all necessary and exquisite ingredients in this continued exploration of nourishment–and the future of eating.
In fact, the student who helped me in that little endeavor has already gone on to establish herself quite strongly in the health and nutrition firmament. Check out the incredible work of Sara Eddison at http://astonesthrowtohealth.com/ There is hope.
In health, Elyn
In honor of the subject of my last post, Dolls with Faith, which was about Eating Disorders, I left the My Plate empty. In response to that, my friend Anne-Marie wrote, I think this post speaks to something in each of us that is afraid to be seen for fear of not being accepted for who we truly are. And, she offered this gorgeous My Plate Haiku to replenish that which was empty.
My Plate
In the dark places
I ask courage to believe
I am beautiful.
by Anne-Marie
dolls with faith
03 Mar 2012 4 Comments
in body image, eating disorders, health concerns, nutrition, health Tags: dr. deah schwartz, Eating disorder, eating disorder awareness week, mentor connect, national eating disorder association, one big roof, ophelia's place, shannon cutts
Moth by Sandy Mudge
The other day I took a walk around my picturesque village. I was thinking about it being Eating Disorder Awareness Week and wondering what I would write about. I knew I wished to offer something for this annual recognition week that starts in the last week of February–but I wasn’t sure what. Passing the old Victorian houses that line the narrow lanes of this old place, I was feeling perhaps more like a gothic romantic than a modern nutritionist.
This year, the theme that informs the week is “Everybody Knows Somebody”. This speaks to the fact that given the high prevalence of eating disorders in our society, chances are everybody most likely does know someone–whether they realize it or not. Eating disorders are intangible in their essence. They share many elements of an old gothic novel–a vampire story perhaps.
When eating disorders tighten their grip on an individual–as undernourishment and starvation deepen–they can figuratively and literally suck out the life blood. But, outward appearances usually do not identify those with any of the different complex types of eating disorders which we simplistically categorize as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. Related and variant disorders exist as well. And unfortunately, just as with vampires, we may not realize until it is too late, that we actually know someone who is affected. Recognition of these conditions and resources dedicated to their treatment are abysmally low and this is why Eating Disorder Awareness Week is extremely important.
Though my job is to help people re-nourish, balance intake and make peace with food and eating, I recognize that sustenance needs to occur on many levels. Working with those who suffer, I get to be privy to the underside of these debilitating conditions. When I am up close and personal with my clients, I more easily see that they are not fully embodied, as their illness has detached them from their physical form. It is subtle of course, but they have a fragile, ethereal quality. This does not dismiss the fact that people with eating disorders tend to be extremely intelligent, highly productive, deeply empathic and exceedingly capable.
What is most painful for me to witness is the profound isolation, loneliness and secrecy that these disorders engender. This cruel disease finds its oft very lovely victims scrounging for food at markets alone late at night; avoiding the pleasure of sharing satisfying meals with friends; preparing meals for their children yet not partaking themselves; and, loathing self so profoundly that they apologize for the space they inhabit. The survival of these disorder depends ferociously on the preservation of deep and dark secrets.
Frustrated by my knowing that there are many right in my little community who suffer alone and invisibly; and that there is a serious dearth in services–even more so since New York State cut funding to eating disorder programming a few years ago–I just recently have reached out to form a small program in conjunction with a local Holistic Health Center. I forced myself through my own usual hesitation and trepidation led by one strong intention–to see if I could create a space where people could find a place for a moment of peace, where they could allow themselves to be safely seen–and to share in a cup of tea. The first session was attended by seven courageous people who came out of the woodwork where they usually hide. http://www.oneroofsaratoga.com/home/one-big-roof (Connecting with Your Body)
The work of two women inspired me to even consider this. One is Shannon Cutts, a survivor of her own 15 year-long battle with anorexia and bulimia, who wrote the book Beating Ana and started the program Mentor Connect. She brought to the table the healing component that emphasizes the importance of social relationships as an antidote to the pervasiveness of these illnesses. I recommend her work highly as a complement to all other care. http://www.key-to-life.com/
The other is Mary Ellen Clausen (and her husband Dan) whose own lives were touched by their daughters’ eating disorders. On a wing and a prayer, they created a welcoming space called Ophelia’s Place, where people could just come for some coffee, chocolate, comfort and care. From the ‘Our Journey’ page on their website, “We are learning to listen harder, “fixing” less, and believing that the struggle is where the healing begins. We are learning to “model” healthy behaviors and challenge the “norm”. We are learning to replace blame and judgment with love and unconditional support. We are learning forgiveness. We are learning that recovery is a process and part of that process is an understanding that living life can and must co-exist through the eating disorder.” http://www.opheliasplace.org/
This message is important for me to touch base with as I continually try to anchor my own work in this area. Today, with a client of mine I tried to fix too much. This is a frequent challenge for me–meeting the mandate of reaching for adequate nourishment with some sense of urgency and being prescriptive–while also trying to provide that crucial piece of support and mirroring forgiveness. I find this work very humbling and it demands leaps of faith for all involved.
It turns out, that when I returned home from my walk, I happened to check my little Facebook page. My friend Susan had posted a link to the website of a mutual friend of ours who I had not been in touch with for many years. One click on http://web.me.com/dollswithfaith/Fine_Art_by_Sandra_Mudge/My_Albums/My_Albums.html led me to the fantastic, whimsical, provocative and sacred creations of my old friend and incredible artist, Sandra Mudge.
With a portfolio of paintings, collages and photographs–and some other media I am not quite sure of–it seemed to me that Sandra’s heavenly work captures the delicate and ethereal essence of eating disorders–exactly that which I was trying to express–something more representational than descriptive. In the fine art section are a series of pieces of beautiful dresses–doll clothes of taffeta, silk and lace adorned with fragile firefly and butterfly wings…but they are empty of the little girls who should be wearing them –who should be fleshing them out with life, vitality and childhood innocence.
However,as Sandra, Mary Ellen, Shannon and many others continue with their powerful talents to ‘transform helplessness to hopefulness’; and, when faith is summoned, and stories of recovery are shared, more ‘dolls’ can be restored to their full life potential–and they can then take flight.
Please check out Sandra’s page and all the mentioned websites; and if you are someone who is dealing with an eating disorder, please seek help, have faith and never give up hope. And, as always, responses are welcomed and respected. Do you know somebody?
In health, Elyn
Related Posts: Stopping Traffic, Muse of the Girl
http://www.missrepresentation.org/
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNxtrxVEGFo
My Plate: Today is empty
my plate
dietary linfluences
20 Feb 2012 2 Comments
in childhood nutrition, food and eating, nutrition and health, nutrition, health, sports nutrition Tags: Boston Celtic Paul Pierce The Truth on Health, Jeremy Lin, jeremy lin foundation, linsanity, Michelle Obama, the truth on health, white house nutrition initiatives
Linsanity. I am all over it. Jeremy Lin–Harvard graduate, undrafted player, turned New York Knicks phenomenon. Like I just learned that he’s a point guard. And, no, I haven’t seen him play yet–but that’s due to us not having much accessible TV in my home and something about a broadcasting contract between MSG Sports and the local cable company. So then, what do I know? I know he grew up playing basketball at his local YMCA; his other favorite sport was soccer; he does yoga; he has a charitable foundation; and, most importantly– what he eats per day to meet his protein requirements. Oh, and that he has a weakness for In-N-Out Burgers.
This 6-foot-3 and 205-lb rookie player has come charging onto the scene fueled with 205 grams of protein per day–as recommended by his personal trainer. Regular humans need about .4 to .7 grams of protein per pound depending on a variety of factors which include activity, age, state of health and a degree of imprecision in calculating optimal protein requirements. However, superlative athletes can extend their intake higher, and Lin’s 1.0 gram of protein per pound is probably both generous and acceptable. Sports that involve a lot of impact and pounding necessitate a large degree of repair nutrients which protein delivers–and with the compacted NBA season this year resulting in less rest between games, it seems like the players are taking quite a beating.
This means that to start him on his way each day, Lin aims for 50 grams of protein at breakfast. To reach this amount, he eats five eggs along with a serving of another protein like ham or turkey. The rest of his daily diet includes lean proteins from chicken, fish and milk-based protein powder, lots and lots of vegetables which he derives often from big salads, and a modicum of starchy carbohydrates. I was surprised at the lack of more carbs but I think they were just not clearly described in the plan that I saw.
I did not really intend to write about what Mr. Lin is chowing down–despite my being very interested in athletes’ diets. I enjoy hearing about those who credit their success or long, injury-free careers to their attention to nutrition–and will gladly delve into any Sports Illustrated Magazine that makes me privy to some piece of information about a sport celebrity’s care and feeding of their body. And, with professional sports’ fierce competition, more athletes are turning to such measures to improve their edge. I am also a champion of such stars who use their celebrity to promote healthy behaviors and give back to their communities.
I would love to be a sports nutritionist for a professional organization. I did once serve in that role for a college women’s basketball team. When I joined them for a team building day–which included games and a high ropes course– my life felt a bit endangered. These tall amazon women felt entitled to some payback for my moderating their carefree college eating experiences. They were only Division 3. Maybe, if they were more assured of a high paying basketball contract they would have better appreciated my input and might have caught me in that game where you stand in the middle of a circle, lean back with your eyes closed and trust that the others will gently receive and carry your weight.
I digress. Anyway, since I am not a highly paid sports nutritionist, my attentions go to the more pedestrian aspects of how the mere mortals are eating. The little tidbit that really led me into this linsanity was a NY Times article this week about Jeremy’s grandmother, 85-year old Lin Chu A Muen. Though she lives in Taiwan, when Jeremy was a baby and young child, she came here and cared for him in the California home where he was raised. Apparently, one of the budding basketball star’s favorite dishes that she prepared for him was fried rice with egg and dried turnip. For me, right there was the story.
I extrapolated from this one sentence mention a whole message about childhood feeding–and grandmothers. I thought I would just use it to advance my personal theory that the whole ruckus about feeding kids is overblown and that kids will just eat good healthy food if that is what is presented to them–without a myriad of choice and being catered to and if served with love–just as Lin Chu did for little Jeremy–dried turnip and all.
This seemed like a good way to present my adopt a grandmother feeding initiative. I have long observed that there are many from the older generations who really know how to cook–but no longer have anyone to cook for. Connecting these grandmothers (and grandfathers) with households that lack such important know-how would be a brilliant solution to the current childhood culinary and nutritional crisis.
My thesis was advanced when quick research revealed that Lin’s family doesn’t cook much and so he eats out for most of his meals. I assume that this describes the situation when living at home with his parents–after Grandma returned to Taiwan. It seems like once Lin Chu left, this family of ninth-generation descendents of immigrants from the Fujian province in southeast China, like many other American families, became clueless in the kitchen and In-N-Out Burger replaced the dried turnip dish.
One could probably argue that little Jeremy might not have grown so tall without the addition of such burgers to his diet and that a continued dietary of dried root vegetables, starch and a touch of egg protein could have deprived the New York Knicks of the divine lintervention he seems to be providing. His current protein intake far exceeds that of his ancestors. However, that raises other philosophical, ecological and nutritional issues.
I suppose he is living on his own now somewhere in the vicinity of New York City. Though he can probably afford it, his new-found fame probably makes it difficult for him to frequent the local burger joint, and besides, I don’t think we have In-N-Out Burgers here in New York. Jeremy might just have to take his eating back into the home and to find a grandmother who can prepare for him the sustenance he requires. Unfortunately, it looks like it’s too late for him to draft his own grandma for the program. Apparently, Lin Chu is too busy hanging out in sports bars in Taipei watching her grandson play basketball.
Knicks fans and Michelle Obama, what do you think?
Sunday’s stats: Knicks 104–Mavericks 97 Jeremy Lin: 28 points; 14 assists (7 turnovers–and that doesn’t mean apple)
In health, Elyn
http://digg.com/newsbar/topnews/jeremy_lin_s_workout_routine_daily_diet_biggest_weakness
http://happydietitian.wordpress.com/2012/02/14/whats-jeremy-lins-diet-like/
http://jeremylinfoundation.org/
http://truthonhealth.org/ Boston Celtic Paul Pierce’s Child Health Initiative
swept away
12 Feb 2012 9 Comments
in childhood obesity, food and eating, health concerns, nutrition and health, nutrition, health
I don’t work in the easiest of places. I often dream that I have a job–well, I wouldn’t even call it a job because it would be so pleasant–working in a spa in Cabo San Lucas in Mexico–pushing the little buttons on the blender at the organic juice bar in the crystal waters of the pool. My own Vitamin D needs amply fulfilled by that luscious warm sun as I dispense my little quinoa pearls of wisdom to my very well healed clients. My muscles are toned by long walks on the sandy beaches and I teach mindful eating classes using the freshest and juiciest mangoes just picked from a nearby tree to seduce my students’ senses.
Such imaginings deepen my own diaphragmatic breathing and soften my gaze until that little bubble on the electronic medical record program on my computer informs me that my first or next patient has arrived.
I do not wish to complain. I consider it a privilege to do what I do. Still, I believe I sit in a rather unique position as far as seeing the magnitude of the health crisis that is upon us and the consequences of our communal diet and way of life. So often, when I am following the story about food, diet, weight etc.–no matter where– it seems either abstract and haughty in that scientific or academic way; or judgmental and blaming. The sensationalized situation becomes very up close and personal and takes on a different hue in my little office–where day after day I receive a fair amount of clients– often in quick succession. Sometimes, I wish I could give the scientists, academics and critics a peek in.
Most people don’t ever get to see a nutritionist. It is unlikely that you have. It is not like going to the dentist–which is a rather prescribed semi-annual event (except for the millions who unfortunately don’t have access to dental care) the doctor or the therapist. Perhaps it should be. It would be a lot more fun to come see me twice a year than the dentist. Access to nutritional services is usually reserved for those with a few types of medical conditions or for those with enough money and energy to fine tune their bodies.
Interestingly, nutritional services have historically been provided in-house in the community health center where I work, along with some other ancillary services like podiatry, opthalmology, social work and dentistry. This multi-service type facility is actually rare in our health care environments. Its purpose is to facilitate access to care for patients–and access indeed they do. My clients do not have cars parked in warm and dry garages that they hop into. Instead they walk; they trudge; they take a bus– or two; or call and wait for medical transportation. I am continually shocked that so many arrive at my door to discuss this abstract concept called nutrition. Though any patient is eligible to see me, my schedule is padded with the extreme cases that the doctors are more apt to refer. Extreme becomes a relative concept–and many nutritional concerns are overlooked.
As I navigate the raging waters,the intensity increases imperceptibly at some times and quite obviously at others. Like natural phenomena that are categorized by a numerical rating system–hurricanes, white water, etc.–I think our health issues may require something similar. I wonder if my office chair should indicate what kind of conditions it can endure and if it should come equipped with life jackets. Some of what I encounter has to do with sheer weight but not all of it–though I now rarely have a day without clients over 300 lbs.
Off the top of my head, let me see if I can briefly describe somewhat generally what cast up on my shore just within the last two weeks. A 19 yo male–366 lbs; a 29 yo woman, 5’2–378 lbs; a 32 yo woman on high blood pressure meds; a 35 yo male on a statin; a 7 yo boy with compromised growth due to ADD meds; a 13 yo boy on reflux meds; a 28 yo male with a blood pressure of 160/110; and, a 23 yo male-390 lbs who barely leaves his home. This is a very tiny sampling. It excludes the middle-aged diabetics and hypertensives, pregnant teenagers, and folks with mental health and substance abuse issues whom I see regularly.
Then, there was a 15-year-old girl with triglyceride levels of 442 (which I would have not believed except that she had a prior lab with a similar result)–when normal is less than 150. She entered my office at 3 PM with her parents. When I asked her what she had eaten that day, she told me a bottle of Mountain Dew, a granola bar and a Snapple Iced Tea. She had bought all of this just before her appointment. She had not gone to school that day. She had already finished the soda and the granola bar–showing me the wrapper. Her dad was holding the iced tea that they were still sharing.
Within six minutes of our acquaintance she informed me in no uncertain terms, that no matter what I may say, she was going to have Burger King on Friday. The mother challenged me on why I was asking her about shopping and cooking. This was near the end of an already very long day–my late day. It took me about fourteen minutes to discover that this child drinks close to twelve cans of soda on many days. Diets high in sugar are a cause of high triglyceride levels. Though I was grabbing onto my chair, and despite the fact that finally the mom smiled at me–it was too late. I capsized.
Though, this family seriously challenged my inner buddha, for the most part, I find my clients present themselves authentically– and that their eating behaviors and nutritional problems are consequences of many various conditions that they did not know how to or did not have the resources to control. Like most of us, they were living the hand they were dealt and were eating the food that they could and were generally unaware as to what could go so terribly wrong. Despite my sympathies I still feel like a ship wreck survivor. Some serious stuff is going down and people are hurting.
However, the universe works in mysterious ways. Exactly one week after my encounter with the girl with the dangerous triglyceride levels, another family presented–this time a mom, dad and their twelve-year-old son. This family a few months earlier had awoken on their own to their capacity to make better food choices. They joyfully filled my tiny space and shared the amazing changes they had made. They described how they felt, how their bodies had responded and the new foods they were eating. The boy was pleasant and confidently told me that he no longer drinks soda. He plays some sports for fun, loves to move and is in a dance troupe with some friends. They have made some videos on you tube. As they spoke, I crawled onto the dock, shifted the lever on my chair to the lounge position and laid back to bask in the afternoon sun. There was nothing for me to do but listen and affirm. Now, this I could do.
In health, Elyn
Please drop or throw me a line!
My Plate Food Related Something or Other
My Plate
Drink tea and nourish life.
With the first sip joy.
With the second, satisfaction.
With the third, danish.
wings of desire revisited
05 Feb 2012 2 Comments
in food and eating, health concerns, nutrition, health, overweight and obesity Tags: Super Bowl Sunday food
Today, Super Bowl Sunday, I am chewing my cud pondering some new posts. While I do so, I offer you my last year’s consideration of the big game day. Unlike last year, I am going to a party later. Yes, I was actually invited. Interestingly, the hostess has just participated in Vegan Week (see Be Kind to Animals) and I believe is looking at the usual SBS menu with a more critical eye. Actually, I think she is experiencing a little inner dietary transformation. Last week, the Village Veganistas enjoyed a full seven days worth of incredibly delicious and beautifully prepared fare that included every micronutrient, phytonutrient, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and soluble and insoluble fiber in the book. Though she has sent me a quasi-apologetic warning regarding today’s offerings, I plan to arrive without judgment–and a bowl of kale chips. Here is to watching men running fast and gracefully and occasionally catching a well thrown ball.
sweet luna
I have been hiding under the covers since before the Super Bowl game. This was not the weekend for peace-loving nutritionists. Too much head bashing and too many food blitzes for my liking. A few days prior to the game I was in the supermarket. I saw a shopping cart filled with about twelve cartons of frozen pepperoni pizza. I thought it was being used to stock the freezer section, until I saw a guy proceed with it to the check out line. It vaguely dawned on me that this might be due to the game. I then saw legions of 2 liter soda bottles marching out the door along with armored tanks of beer. Little bags of celery sticks were unwittingly running behind. Little did they know they would soon meet their fate, drenched in fat laden dip, in mouths that mindlessly devour whatever comes near.
While often feeling like the nutritional equivalent of Florence Nightingale, ready to mend and tend with soothing bowls of oatmeal and blueberries, this is a battlefield I will not administer to. Spectators and players alike are not innocent victims. They participate in this bloody sport of gladiator gore and gluttony of their own volition. The players come to score while the spectators come to gape and gorge.
Being big is an asset in football. However, even that begs a hefty question. How big is big enough? In 1970, only one player in the NFL was over three hundred pounds. Now 532 players, or 25% of the league claim that distinction. This excessive mass is detrimental to the players and to their opponents alike. It is well documented that these very large offensive and defensive linemen suffer serious health consequences related to their size and eating behaviors after their careers end, and increasingly, while they are still active players. Even in this well padded professional sports league with all the resources in the world, it is only recently that nutrition is being carefully considered. How do you promote strength and power in these guys without jeopardizing their health, and prevent turning them out to pasture to fend for themselves–often sooner than later.
So, if the guys with the big contracts hardly get the support they need, the shlubs on the couch in the den eating with pure Pavlovian abandon are entirely on their own when it comes reckoning time. Is it just me, or has the ferocity of the Super Bowl Game Glutton Fest actually increased in the past few years? Genteel women– including some of my own friends– now converse about watching the game, what team they are for and what they are serving. We have now been seriously programmed with Big Brother intensity to associate this event with bingeing. The Bowl brimmeth over.
While under the blankets with a flashlight, I read that the day of the game is called “Restaurant Christmas”. An article in my newspaper about local food establishments anticipating the big day, described a restaurant that “uses a computer spread sheet to track orders and strategically positions 15 employees to produce and deliver the restaurant’s maximum capacity: 300 wings and seven pizzas every 15 minutes. They expect to churn out more than 5,000 wings and in excess of 100 pizzas.” I think that means 2,5oo chickens and many tomatoes were sacrificed for the game plan just at this one place. Again I ask, can this possibly be?
I don’t mean to sound like a party pooper, though that’s not really a big problem ’cause I didn’t go to any party to poop on–though I did surprisingly actually have two invites. One was from someone who doesn’t really know me, and should be glad I didn’t show. However, the whole scene just exaggerates our already extreme daily eating that severely compromises our health. If this was truly a one day event that would be one thing, but sadly, it isn’t. Or, if our health care system just had to carry the weight of a few shoulder injuries and some bruised egos, but that is not the reality either.
So, like that other February icon, Puxatawney Phil, I must try to venture out from my hole. If I don’t see another major food holiday in sight, maybe, just maybe, I can just predict a salubrious spring.
I would love to hear from you. All SBS food observations welcome.
In health, Elyn
My Plate Food Related Something or Other
My Plate
Vegan Week
Eat food
Lots of It
Only Plants
Kvetch a little bit
Laugh heartily
faur faur away
17 Jan 2012 7 Comments
in food and eating, food politics, nutrition and health, nutrition, health Tags: George Crum, Real Wild Foods Inc, Snack food, twinkies
Recently, I read about someone who was working on an environmental project in the Maldives. After a day of difficult field work, the writer said the group enjoyed kicking back by relaxing on a boat and enjoying a snack of faur. Ah yes, faur, that local favorite made from betel leaves, cloves and nuts.
Now, of course we here–here being the US of A–do snack on some natural foods like fruits and nuts, but in thinking about the Maldivians floating in those beautiful turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and about other cultures as well, I got to wondering, what would be our native snack if one day all of the giant snack food manufacturers just got so sick of themselves they just fell down belly up.
What soothed and satisfied us before a certain Mr. Herman W. Lay began hawking his wares? Around here, I suppose we had products made of maple syrup like maple cream which is yummy; and, had apples and pumpkins made in to pie–and beef made into jerky. And, what about the potato chip? A nice tuber scrubbed clean of its earthen sod, sliced thinly and cooked to a crisp in a pot of oil. Could that not count as native fare?
Legend has it that the potato was first chipped by a Native American chef quite close to where I live. I could bike to that sacred ground–or walk there in pilgrimage if really gastronomically inspired. The story goes that George Crum, annoyed by a customer’s complaint about the dinner potatoes being cut too thick, responded with a plate of very thinly sliced, translucent, barely there taters. The rest is history.
It turns out that the first product Mr. Lay began to sell was the potato chip–about sixty years after that restaurant mishap. So, one could argue that the potato chip–along with the corn chip–were indigenous snacks until they were co-opted by Frito-Lay. They may in fact have originally had some nutritional benefits as might faur– though my brief research suggests that betel leaves are not without their own set of problems in excess as well.
Somehow, with the mass introduction of packaged snack foods we began to seriously stray from our more nut, seed and fruit-eating behaviors. While families in Afghanistan still relax–if they can–with pistachio nuts and dried apricots, things here have never been the same since the arrival of Bugles. I remember seeing my first bag of Bugles at my childhood friend Susan’s house. Once trumpeted onto the communal palate it seemed there was no turning back. I suppose the same could be said for all of our modern snacks including the once seemingly indomitable Twinkie which is eighty years old already.
Surprisingly, I actually don’t encounter the Twinkie much on my nutritional beat. It is either so ubiquitous that it doesn’t register on my radar screen or it does not command valuable prime shelf placement anymore. And, amid the thousands of diet recalls I demand from my clients, I hardly ever hear mention of them. Little Debbies seem the more popular portable snack cake these days. Now that I think about it, the Twinkie despite its iconic reputation, is rather tame and boring in comparison to more obscene or more seductively marketed snack newbies. I guess this explains why it may be on the smush-ing block–and not because it has 37 artificial ingredients.
However, it is the chemically laden nature of most of our snack foods that have granted them predominance and permanence in our lives. If you doubt this issue of purposeful manipulation by the food industry, take a look at this 60 Minutes segment http://blackgirlsguidetoweightloss.com/video-clips/video-vault-inside-a-lab-that-creates-chemical-flavorings/ or, at this dissection of a twinkie at http://blog.fooducate.com/2010/06/11/a-visual-of-twinkies-37-ingredients/
But, getting back to my original query, if just say, Bugles, Twinkies and all the other thousands of products that dominate the snack manufacturing world were suddenly to go extinct, what would we do? What could we reach for that would be grown from our regional environments and get the dietary industry’s seal of approval? Could a chomp on some Eastern White Pine needles substitute for pretzel sticks? They are an excellent source of Vitamin C and can be made into a tea as well. Would we dig our teeth into some bark which was actually a food source for the native tribe for whom the glorious Adirondacks that tower nearby were named. Actually, the name Adirondack literally means bark eater for the sustaining dietary practice the tribe was known for.
It turns out my musing about what we are munching on is not without some precedence. Recently, I was so glad to reconnect with an old college friend who was in my nutrition program. Even way back then, I knew she was a wise woman. Now, she is Vice President of a company called, Real Wild Foods, Inc. As part of the wild foods movement, the company promotes the preservation, tasting and enjoyment of North American indigenous foods and is dedicated to sustainable harvesting methods. The assortment of these micro-nutrient rich foods include preserves, jellies, syrups, mushrooms, teas, vegetables and vinegar made from some familiar and many unfamiliar but common vegetation. Just to meander through the beautiful company website at http://www.realwildfoods.com/ will give your imagination a glimpse of different possibilities in how we could be deliciously nourishing ourselves with nature’s natural snack foods.
Neither is it without some prescience. I just received some writings of Mayan elder, Carlos Barrios, a ceremonial priest and spiritual guide who is learned in the interpretation of the Mayan calendar. In his clarification of the 2012 prophecy, he states it portends a time of transformation rather than an end of the world– and that we need to be prepared for this by focusing on acts of unity. Amid his recitation of a few required actions, I was a bit surprised to see him advise, “Eat wisely–a lot of food is corrupt in either subtle or gross ways. Pay attention to what you are taking into your body.”
http://www.seri-worldwide.org/id435.htm
Sounds wise to me. Sometimes I wonder if just like peak oil will we reach peak adulterated food which will necessitate that we find our way back to what the native Hawaiian’s call Aloha ‘Aina—love of the land that feeds us.”
In health, Elyn
my plate
My Plate Haiku
Are we what we eat
Or do we eat what we are
Are they the same thing? by Julie (who is living and eating in Spain right now)
Thanks to David, Joel and Roxanne
Related Post: The Twinkie Affair
The Twinkie Affair
11 Jan 2012 8 Comments
in food and eating, food politics, health concerns, nutrition and health, nutrition, health, overweight and obesity Tags: Vegetarianism
Today, I was about to sit and write about a little train of thought that had been following me around this week. I thought I had some more serious things I wanted to discuss, including returning to the subject I raised in To She Who Loves Us Before She Meets Us, on the consequences of taking away women’s power in the birthing of babies. But, I figured I would just tap out this other idea first even though I was questioning its relevance, significance and general cohesiveness.
I had planned on talking about the very interesting work of an old friend of mine, whom I had recently reconnected with. Quite coincidentally, just as I had cleared away my other duties of the day and was gearing up for a mid-afternoon snack to fortify my writing, I got an email from this very friend, asking if I had seen Mark Bittman‘s tofu recipe in the NY Times today. She sent me the link.
After returning from snacking, cleaning the cat litter box, emptying the compost and bringing in the spring water I curled back up on my computer and found myself in the Dining and Wine Section of the Wednesday Times. I did not see the tofu recipe, but was quickly sucked in by a few other articles.
One was about a spontaneously created cafe in the Hurricane Irene flood ravaged town of Schoharie, NY. My life was touched some by the hurricane so the story of survival in Schoharie is meaningful to me. Apparently, miraculously, food provided by angels from near and far has swirled its way into the town, first amassing under a cluster of trees and then with the coming of winter in a local DAR Hall. The combined offerings–which just still keep arriving– give those whose homes and lives were affected a free lunch and a sense of continued community. Just as spontaneously as this epicenter of nourishment created itself, so did a sign that named the cafe, Loaves and Fish.
Next, were an amusing piece about a vegetarian New Yorker on assignment in the Midwest–the meat capital of the country; and, also–though no mention of tofu–a Mark Bittman editorial on the decrease of meat consumption in the past few years. Of course, those would speak to me.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/10/were-eating-less-meat-why/?emc=eta1
Just as I was about to get back to work, one more thing caught my attention. By the time I hit the publish button tonight, this may already be old news to you, but apparently, Hostess Foods is declaring bankruptcy and the fate of the Twinkie is in serious jeopardy. Before my eyes I could tell the food world was in a tizzy. The article actually interviewed a renowned baker and pastry chef who I know from my own little community. That seemed silly. What would he have to say about Twinkies?
Image via Wikipedia
http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/imagining-a-world-without-twinkies/?ref=dining
But me? Don’t I have to say something academic, relevant or amusing about the Twinkie affair? And, don’t I have to say it really soon or my writings will be considered as fresh as a stale pastry? Unlike Twinkies, my words do not contain the ingredients that will ensure their shelf life into the next millenium. Instead, they will be moldy by Monday. Well, here it is. You have heard it here probably second, third or fourth. I have no quick or witty assessment of the situation and I will probably defer to those who do.
It is a dilemma that stories from the food, nutrition and eating world amass very quickly. My queue of articles that I want to address or reference gets longer and longer every day. Pete saves podcasts for me or reads me articles straight from his Kindle, friends from afar send me links to interesting or absurd articles, radio stories infiltrate my driving commute, my professional networks post really relevant material and blogs I follow are deserving of mention. On top of that are the real life stories that I am privileged to hear from my clients everyday. No story is purely personal. There is always a larger cultural context. There is much to react to. I cannot keep up.
So, for now I must continue at my own small town pace. I thank you for your patience. I’ll get back to the piece that includes my old friend, a Mayan elder– and, actually, now that I think about it, it may have everything to do with Twinkies; back to the mommas–and, as I have promised before–all the menopausal women. I am attaching a few things that I have been sitting on that may be of interest to you now. Time for dinner.
From my high school boyfriend’s brother: An article about the problem with valuing food as a commodity. http://monthlyreview.org/2012/01/01/food-as-a-commodity
From the blog, The Black Girl’s Guide to Weight Loss: The story of a personal trainer who spends six months overeating to purposely gain weight and six months trying to lose it in hopes of understanding the experience of others better–so that he may help them. http://www.fit2fat2fit.com/
From my high school friend: An NPR story about a woman very openly sharing her weight story and her awareness of the role of shame in her struggle. http://www.npr.org/2011/07/25/138606501/one-womans-struggle-to-shed-weight-and-shame
In Health, Elyn
A once upon a time Twinkie eater. How about you?
my plate
My Plate Haiku
Spread peanut butter
On whole grain sweet dark bread
Raspberry jam-yum.
by Barb–who is currently doing an Ayurvedic cleanse and dreaming of this.
walt whitman and mark bittman
03 Jan 2012 9 Comments
in food and eating, food politics, nutrition and health, nutrition, health
Give me juicy autumnal fruit, ripe and red from the orchard;
Give me a field where the unmow’d grass grows;
Give me an arbor, give me the trellis’d grape;
Give me fresh corn and wheat–give me serene-moving animals, teaching content--Walt Whitman
my plate
