My Professional Resolution

Happy New Year everyone! Welcome to 2012. I suspect many of you have made New Year's resolutions. I have two resolutions for 2012...one personal and one professional. My personal one is to slow down. I am always rushing. Rushing my kids to get to school. Rushing to pack lunches. Rushing my dog to finish the walk. Rushing to clean up the house. Even my handwriting is rushed. When I worked at The University of Chicago Medical Center my reviews stated my clinical judgment and recommendations were right on, but my handwriting in the charts was "difficult to read." Perhaps this was because I managed 300 patients a day and my pager went off many times an hour. I had to rush to get the work done. Computerized charting systems were just being implemented when I left. I type quickly. I could have benefited.

My professional resolution is to be grateful and thankful for those people, schools, restaurants and businesses that are doing a great job educating or feeding the American people. I read loads about nutrition. (Those of you that have hired me as your dietitian will be glad to know that fact.) I read the current research and attend professional conferences, but also spend a great deal of time on blogs, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and reading health news. There are so many people bashing the food industry, government, school lunch programs, and restaurants. I do not disagree with what some of these amazingly bright people are saying. We need their voices heard. But I have decided to take a positive stance in 2012 and point out all the good that is taking place in food and nutrition in our country. So if I see something remarkable, I am going to share it with you. If you see something remarkable, please... share it with me and I will spread the good news to others.

My first thanks for this year is to a restaurant...The Natural Cafe. I was visiting one of my best friends in Oak Park, California last week and we took the kids (ages 8, 7, 5, 4) to eat there.

http://www.thenaturalcafe.com/index.php

I wish this restaurant was everywhere. I have been there three times and every time...delicious AND nutritious. If you are vegan...you will love that sauteed tofu. If you eat meat...that turkey burger is divine. Everyone loved their meal. So THANK YOU THANK YOU to The Natural Cafe. Keep doing what you are doing to provide food that is nutritious and delicious to everyone that walks through your doors.

Take A Seat

Peas of Mind in San Francisco, California asked me to write a blog for them and I gladly accepted. Thanks Jill!

Here is their website:

www.peasofmind.com

Here is the blog I wrote:

Take A Seat

We recently checked in with one of our biggest supporters, Melanie R. Silverman, a Registered Dietitian who specializes in pediatric nutritional care. We asked her what was on her mind these days. Her answer: "meal time" and here is what she had to say about it:

Meal time behavior and manners is probably something you hope your child develops, but let’s be face it, on the big list of what you want for your child, health, happiness and a college education certainly beat good manners at the table. What if we considered moving the importance of meal time behavior and manners up the list because I am beginning to believe that the health, happiness and college education you want for your child starts at the kitchen table. Here is how it works…

1) Watch your snacks. If dinner is at 6:30pm and you gave a few handfuls of cheesy crispy kiddie crackers at 5:00pm to “hold them off”, you are in for it; they are not going to eat and those cheesy crispy kiddie crackers just displaced your dinner. Spread out your meals and snacks by at least two to three hours so the kids come to the table hungry and do a decent job eating the nutritious food you prepared.

2) Sit together. Make sure that everyone in the family is seated together at the table. While kid tables are adorable, don’t separate the kids from the adults during meal time. Gather around the table as a family. Eat. Talk. Laugh. Meal time should be fun.

3) Correct behavior. Kids learn by observation. How will they learn to use a fork, drink from an open cup, cut their food or place a napkin in their laps if you do not show them? Meal time also gives you an opportunity to spend time with your kids which teaches them how to talk, listen and communicate effectively.

So how do these three tips get your child healthy, happy and into
college? If your child is coming to the table hungry because you spread the snacking out, the probability goes way up that he or she will actually eat the nutritious food you took time to prepare. Your child is now healthy! Research has shown time and time again how valuable the family meal is for children because shared meals can provide a sense of community, love, and support. Your child is now happy! Colleges are looking for people with high cognitive abilities that can also relate well to people. Eating as a family at the table gives your child exposure to both aspects of development. Your child is going to college!

Pull up a chair to the kitchen table and have your child take a seat. The meals you provide are so much more than just calories.

photo credit: kitchen table from www.thekitchn.com

Melanie R. Silverman MS, RD, IBCLC is pediatric registered dietitian and lactation consultant in Laguna Beach, California. You can learn more about her private practice atwww.feedingphilosophies.com and what her feeding philosophies are at blog.feedingphilosophies.com

The Frozen Pop Problem

I had a phone call from a Texas mom last week. She was concerned about the interaction she had with her child's camp director at the end of the summer and wanted my professional opinion on it. Her seven year old had attended a day camp for six weeks. He adored this camp and so did she. She had no complaints...except one. Every single day after camp the kid was given a bright red, green, yellow or purple frozen pop as a snack. She knew those frozen pops had high fructose corn syrup, artificial dyes and preservatives.

At the end of the six weeks, she approached the director. The mom raved about the camp, the counselors and the activities and ensured the director she would recommend the camp to all her friends. She then mentioned she had one suggestion for next summer. The conversation went like this...

Mom: (ever so sweetly) "Perhaps you could offer frozen pops as a special treat next year...like on Tuesday and Thursdays and replace other days with healthier snacks for the kids."

Director: (stunned... with an immediate response) "Oh nooooooooo way. Do you know what moms say is the highlight of summer camp on our evaluations? Those frozen pops. The kids are hot and sweaty at the end of they day and they need those frozen pops. They love them!"

The mom went on to explain her concern with the ingredients and the director sat their stoic, completely unaffected by her concern. In the end, the director told the mom she'd take her concerns into consideration and get back to her. She never did. Feeling defeated, the mother called me. I suggested the following:

• Write a letter to the director and her supervisors and anyone else you can find in the organization with your concerns about the pops.
• Be absolutely lovely in that letter, but provide solid references and research explaining the concern with the ingredients. (I gave mom some support references)
• Offer many cold snack ideas
• Hold on tight. See what they say.

This Texas mother is not alone. I hear similar complaints all the time. You ready for these? Teachers are handing out cookies and fast food coupons to students for A's on math exams. Vending machines are chock full of candy and chips at schools and gymnastic gymnasiums. Parents are bringing candy and juice to the soccer or baseball fields for four year kids after games. Let's be honest parents. Most four year old kids don't even need a snack after games. How much are they exerting themselves? And what message are we sending here parents?

"Go play soccer four year old kid. Get some exercise. It's really good for your body to grow up to be big and strong. Now...here is some candy and juice for being physically active."

What? I don't remember learning that candy and juice were optimal foods post workout in my sports nutrition classes. What a mess.

We have a long way to go to change the way food is viewed and used in our country. We need to join together, stay strong, talk and write to solve the problem...one frozen pop at a time.

Let's Change School Food

Here is a recent blog I wrote for Peas of Mind terrific food company in San Francisco focused on healthy frozen foods that are not only nutritious, but delicious. THANKS Peas of Mind for asking me to blog and for all the wonderful work you do to keep kids healthy.

Here is the link:

http://bit.ly/mdGw4v

Here is the article:

We are thrilled about the changes happening to school food menus across the country, like the addition of Veggie Wedgies in place of the deep-fried standard!

At the same time, there are more improvements to be made, but what specifically is next? That is the big question. So we turned to our friend and pediatric dietitian, Melanie Silverman, to hear her opinion on the topic and tips on how to keep the momentum going. Here is what she had to say:

On December 13^th, 2010 President Obama signed the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act. Believe it or not, there had not been a change in school nutrition standards in 15 years so we were long overdue for change. The gist of the bill is this:

1. Schools will receive 6 cents more reimbursement per meal.
2. Foods offered will have less sodium and fat and more fruits and vegetables.
3. Policies will be made to help schools send consistent messages about healthy eating, which includes what is available in school vending machines and school stores.
4. Processes for children who are eligible for school meals will be simplified.
5. Farm-to-school pilot programs will be started.

Many say, and I do agree, the bill falls short in terms of reimbursement for meals. I have heard experts suggest that we need an additional dollar per meal to elevate school lunch to where it needs to be. Six cents is a long way from a dollar so what are we suppose to do to move the process along? When my clients complain to me about their kids’ school lunch programs I suggest this to them: get involved!

Here is what we can do:

1. Look at your kids’ school lunch menu. Ask your kids what the problems are and take notes.
2. Talk to other families about their issues with the school lunch program and suggest changes. Start small. Simple changes like removing sugary drinks or changing white bread to wheat bread can make a big difference.
3. Keep in mind, money is the issue so your challenge is to come up with cost conscious changes that the school districts can feasibly do.
4. Contact the school administrators to set up an appointment to voice your concerns and offer suggestions.
5. Write your local papers and officials and let your voice be heard that you want change.

Recently, I heard an excellent idea from a local mom in my community. She suggested providing cut up fruit and vegetables trays on the tables for kids during lunch. The problem was the labor involved to cut those fruits and vegetables. Food service personnel are busy preparing meals and have little to no time to peel carrots and slice apples. A super savvy mom came up with the idea that school parents or community volunteers could come in and help with preparing the fruit and vegetable trays and labor would be free. This is the type of innovative thinking we need in school lunch.

I applaud the efforts in Congress passing the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act, but we cannot sit back and wait for the six cents to become a dollar; we have to put our minds together now and make the change happen ourselves.

Melanie R. Silverman MS, RD, IBCLC is pediatric registered dietitian and lactation consultant in Laguna Beach, California. You can learn more about her private practice at www.feedingphilosophies.com and what her feeding philosophies are at blog.feedingphilosophies.com

How to Nutritionally Charge A Lunch

My kids are attending camp this summer. Many parents I know (myself included) pack lunch for their kids, but some do not and order lunches. Here is part of an e-mail I received directed towards those parents that may order lunches.

"We have heard your requests and have worked hard to provide your campers with a more nutritionally balanced lunch. Please take a look at all the new items. Also new this year, we are offering an alternative lunch everyday. If you see something on the menu that your child may not eat, you may opt to order an alternative lunch for that day which consists of a bagel, cream cheese, chips, fruit, drink and dessert"

Let me make something clear. My intention is not to slam the camp. My kids LOVE this camp. I LOVE this camp. I think blogging about this situation is important because lunch revamping is hip and cool right now and more importantly, necessary. If you are currently trying to change your kids' school lunches you must know by now the process takes time and money. Here is this camp's one week cycle definition of "more nutritionally balanced" lunches:

Monday: mac and cheese, dinner roll, fresh fruit, wafer cookie

Tuesday: cheese enchilada with Spanish rice, garden salad, ranch dressing, churro

Wednesday: cheese pizza, ranch dipping sauce, oven baked fries, carrots, cucumbers and fresh fruit

Thursday: pancakes with syrup, hash browns, eggs, sliced tomato, cucumber, honeydew and cantaloupe

Friday: chicken nuggets, fries, tomato and cucumber chopped salad, pineapple and watermelon.

My comments will begin on a positive note. There are quite a few fruits and vegetables offered on these menus and that is good news for the kids. When I read this menu and saw all the fruits and vegetables it made me think of Weight Watchers for some reason. Have you heard about their new program? You can have unlimited fresh fruits and vegetables. This is pure genius if you ask me. I mean how many oranges can a person eat? Two, maybe three if you are hungry? Three oranges is about 250 calories. After three oranges you are probably full, bored of the flavor and tired from peeling so you stop eating. I liked seeing all those fruits and vegetables on the camp menus. Nice work camp.

My constructive criticism lies in the fact that I think these menus still have a long way to go. They can be nutritionally charged. If they hired me to revamp the lunches, here is what I would do:

Monday: whole wheat macaroni and cheese with spinach, whole wheat dinner roll with olive oil for dipping, fresh fruit bowl

Tuesday: cheese and finely chopped (I mean really finely chopped) mushroom enchilada, brown rice and black beans, and sliced apples

Wednesday: whole wheat vegetable pizza, garden salad with Italian dressing (made with olive oil), orange slices

Thursday: blueberry whole grain (add some ground flax) pancakes with syrup, scrambled eggs, sliced tomato, cucumber, honeydew and cantaloupe

Friday: baked chicken strips, sweet potato fries, carrots and olives, oatmeal raisin cookie

The alternative lunch of a bagel, cream cheese, chips, fruit, drink and dessert seems like a load of carbohydrates and empty calories. Why not offer a whole wheat pita with cheese, carrot and cucumber slices, fruit salad and milk (no dessert unless it is Friday when I think everyone should get that oatmeal raisin cookie I propose).

My changes to this menu are expensive and there is more food preparation required but this is what has to happen to revamp lunches. Chef Ann Cooper and Jamie Oliver would like my revised menu. So would Michelle Obama. I appreciate the camp's effort, but they can take it much further. I'm packing my kids lunch this summer.