A new study finds that there may be a link between a “Western” (aka junky, highly processed) diet and ADHD in kids. The researchers followed 1800 kids until the age of 14 and found that the kids who ate a more processed food diet, high in saturated fat, salt and sugar and low in fresh fruits and vegetables were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than the kids who ate a healthy diet rich in unsaturated fats, fiber and whole grains. Now, it’s hard to say if kids who have ADHD are more likely to eat the junkier diet — maybe they are more picky or parents dealing with the diagnosis have enough on their plate without the time to cook fresh foods — or if it’s the other way around. No matter. It’s worth trying to get everyone in your family eating a healthier pattern, rich in whole grains, fruits and veggies and the healthy fats from vegetable oils and minimizing the amount of drive thru, takeout and eating out. This diet is healthier for everyone’s hearts and waistlines and it may even lower the risk of ADHD in your kids.

Tags: ADHD, Healthy diet, kids, processed foods, saturated fat, sodium, sugar, Western diet

I love fresh food and decided last year to begin growing my own produce.  Now, I do not have a green thumb and am sorry to admit that I have contributed to the demise of many beautiful flowers and plants.  In trying to figure out why, I read that it might not be me at all, it may be that my soil is not nutrient rich.  So, for the past year, I have thrown all my produce scraps, lawn clippings and stinky organic fertilizer on my soil plot to get the soil rich with nutrients and ready to plant seeds this fall.  I know, It is a very lazy way to manage a compost heap, since all I do at the end of each day is toss my produce scraps over the fence, hoping it hits the soil.  I also occasionally spread some putrid smelling organic fertilizer and my husband dumps all the lawn scraps on my pile.  Well, I am surprised and overjoyed to report to you that about two weeks ago my mom discovered that my soil plot/compost heap was already growing tomatoes, cantaloupes and butternut squash.  We could not stop laughing as I have not planted anything yet.  They are growing from my table scraps.  So, if this is something you have dreamt about — maybe try it yourself.  I call this method, “gardening for dummies.”  As a result of the many tomatoes that I pick from my garden every other day, we eat tomato and fresh mozzarella salad every day – I want to share the recipe with you.  Let me know what you think.

Fresh Tomato and Mozzarella Salad Recipe

1 cup organic cherry or plum tomatoes cut in half

2 oz fresh mozzarella cut into cubes

1 tbsp fresh basil leaves chopped

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/2 tbsp kosher salt

Tags: baby fat diet, compost, family health, fresh mozzarella, fresh tomato salad, gardening, healthy eating, weight loss

Weight Watchers? Jenny Craig? Low fat? Low carb? Count calories? What’s the right approach for taking off the pregnancy pounds? The answer is: it depends. The method that will work for taking off the weight is the one that will fit into your life and with your personality. Perhaps you need structure with the food all preportioned so you don’t have to read labels or prepare meals. Or maybe you need the flexibility to eat out. Perhaps you’re not a planner or your day is very chaotic and it’s easier for you to take it one meal or one snack at a time.    

I have two friends that are working on taking off their pregnancy weight and both have 50-75 pounds to lose. One is counting points with Weight Watchers and the other is ordering food from Jenny Craig. Both are losing weight. Maintaining the weight loss is the challenge ahead.  

I am working with a client who finds counting calories to be most effective. She’s lost 17 pounds so far. She follows a schedule of breakfast (400 calories), snack (150 calories), lunch (400 calories), snack (150 calories), dinner (500 calories). The calories come from foods with a good balance of high fiber carbs, protein and unsaturated fat. She keeps a food journal to stay on course but is getting fatigued of it.  

All three approaches are fairly healthy but the key is that they need to be able to work it into their life so they can do it for the long term and maintain the weight loss. Studies support the idea that various diets can be effective for taking off the weight — whether it’s low carb, low fat, or counting calories, they may all work. To keep the weight off, the key is to eat in a way you can stick with for the rest of your life. That’s why keeping weight off is much harder than losing it. For tips to help you find that balance and keep the weight off - no matter which method or diet you choose - read The Baby Fat Diet.

Tags: counting calories, low carb, low fat, take off pregnancy pounds

A new study from Johns Hopkins University finds that eating a high fat diet when nursing may lead to an overweight baby and potential health problems, like diabetes, later on.  The research, done on rats, is preliminary, however, knowing that breastmilk composition varies based on the mom’s diet, it seems feasible that too much fat would impact baby’s weight. Interestingly, the researchers found that the diet during nursing made more of a difference on the baby’s weight than the diet during pregnancy. Bottomline: Eating a high fat diet isn’t good for you or your weight loss efforts anyway. So, if you’re nursing, stick to a healthy, well balanced diet, like the one we recommend in The Baby Fat Diet. You’ll get leaner and your baby will be healthier for it.

Tags: baby fat diet, baby's weight, breastfeeding, diet, high fat diet, Johns Hopkins University, nursing

If you’re in a food rut, where you eat the same few things week after week, a great way to break free is to go to a farmer’s market. Explore the beautiful and often different (from the grocery store) produce then take something new home and look up a recipe online. I found some absolutely amazing looking Rainbow Chard at the farmer’s market and found a simple recipe online that even my kids would try. I chopped the chard and sauteed it in a little olive oil with minced ginger until the chard wilted down and then drizzled on a touch of real maple syrup. Another new veggie we tried was kohl rabi, which looks like a giant radish on the outside but is white fleshed and crisp on the inside. Peel, chop and toss on your salad. It reminded me a little of fennel or celery root, but I liked the flavor better. And by having the kids come to the farmer’s market with me, they were anxous and willing to try all our new pickins. Talk about breaking free of a mac & cheese food rut and exploring new, healthy foods. 

I still have a bunch of kale we bought and plan to bake it into “kale chips.” Really it’s spraying the kale with olive oil, sprinkling with a pinch of salt and baking in a 450 degree oven for 10-15 minutes until crispy. My kids can’t wait to try kale chips! Ahh, the power of marketing.

Tags: farmer's market, food rut, kale, khol rabi, rainbow chard