Hey Laura, What...?

I could have sworn I posted this already, but I can’t find it in my archives anywhere, so I’m putting it up (maybe again). I wrote this for a friend’s website a couple of years ago. She had just read Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto, and was inspired to clean up her family’s diet. I’ve been on that path for a while already, so I agreed to be her food guru.

Now that I have my own guru website, it’s only fitting that I borrow my article back and post it here!

Clean Food is Dirty!

I have an egg dealer. I found her on CraigsList. Every week or two, I meet her at her downtown office in the middle of the workday for my goods. I slip her some cash - $2/dozen (the best...

Rumbly in my Tumbly writes:

Hey Laura, my doctor recently diagnosed me with GERD and a possible ulcer. My doctor put me on medication to begin the healing process in my stomach, but I see this as a short term plan.  I’d like to take care of it with lifestyle change as much as possible. What foods might be particularly good for my stomach, and body in general right now as it tries to heal?  Any other advice for dealing with this issue?

This article has a comprehensive overview of peptic ulcers, including both conventional and complementary treatments. Here’s a clear cut article on GERD management.

Dietary measures
Interestingly, the efficacy of “The Ulcer Diet” (ie: bland, non-fatty...

My friend Heidi blogged an excellent piece called: On Picky Eaters: How to Develop a Sense of Food Adventure.

I immediately emailed her and asked her if I could link to it. It’s like Heidi did my work for me today (which is lucky, since I’m still overwhelmed with unpacking boxes in my new house!); I couldn’t agree with her more, and am pleased that she agreed to let me share this article with you. Her family feeding guide is a great addition to my other kid-and-food related stuff.

My thoughts
Practices at my house are very similar to Heidi’s, although we are big-time snackers here. My 4.5 year old is very sensitive to blood sugar fluctuations, so I make sure she has a nibble of something...

Heather writes:

It seems that every time I make bacon I get a headache shortly after dinner.  I did a quick google search and it seems it might be caused by the nitrates in the bacon.  Have you heard of this?  What else might have nitrates in it I should avoid (I get headaches a lot)?

It could be the nitrates, although there hasn’t yet been a satisfactory study showing a connection between nitrates/nitrites and headaches. 

Even uncured, “nitrate-free” bacon contains naturally occurring nitrates and nitrites from the celery juice or salt used to preserve the meat. This labeling loophole makes cynics out of a lot of folks, but some people swear they feel a difference between the two. This...

Michelle writes:

Preface:  I don’t know how to cook, I am not creative in the kitchen.  I need someone/something to tell me what to do and how to do it.  I can prepare food and am good at following directions :)

Planning dinner around my house can get stressful and often times leads to just going out to avoid the whole process - what do we have?  what do people want to eat?  what do I know how to cook?  what can be made in the next 5 min since I’ve put this off until 5:30/6 and now everyone is starving and cranky?! (okay, deep cleansing breath . . . )

I know meal planning is key to avoid the last minute panic, but I know I can’t do it on my own.  So, I am looking into meal planning help...

“Afraid to be Hairless” writes:

Is there anything I can do to lessen my postpartum hair loss?  After the birth of my fourth child, my hair is falling out in droves.

Ah, one of the most annoying side effects of the postpartum experience (aside from, you know, having a baby that keeps you up all night!). Right now you’re paying for that luxurious mane you most likely enjoyed for most of your pregnancy. See, when your pregnancy hormones kick in, they kind of put the growth cycle of most of your hairs in a holding pattern: most of it is growing, rather than resting. When your hormones drop after the baby is born, all those hairs get the signal to shove off.

Most likely, what you’re...

Kat writes:

I’m an almost 30 year old mom to two little girls.  And for some reason, I still get breakouts! Wasn’t that supposed to end in highschool???  Anyways, any perscription medication always said to ask a doctor if pregnant or nursing- I’m not pregnant, yet, but plan on having at least one more baby.  Plus, I’m trying to do everything a little more naturally.  Any tips on what to do with my blemishes?

Before you try anything else, a simple (if not easy) and safe solution may be to clean up your diet. We all know that what we put into our bodies affects what our bodies look like, and this rule includes the skin, not just the waistline!

Don’t be SAD
The Standard American Diet...

Heather writes:

What do you think about vitamin supplements?  We’ve been giving Lily a multi-vitamin daily since she was about 2 and was not eating much.  We still do, just because I think it probably makes up for the stuff we miss.  I don’t take any vitamins, except for iron a week or so before I go give blood (if I remember).  I was really good about taking my pre-natals, but have never been very good about vitamins, should I try and make them a part of my routine?

Probably not. Study results are mixed as to whether taking a multivitamin is more likely to benefit your health or kill you.

Haha! I’m sure that there’s a middle ground where the occasional vitamin pill to “fill in the...

Sophia writes:

I’m a vegetarian.  Thus far, so is my 1-year-old daughter. 

Anyway, a big source of protein for her (now that she’s about 70% on solids), is soy.  I do have some concerns now though, since I’ve been coming across some literature suggesting that soy could be harmful to babies- particularly baby girls- in their future years.  Your thoughts?

You’ve probably been reading about phytoestrogens. Here is a thoughtful article discussing the issues. Mark’s Daily Apple, a primal eating blog that I’ve been enoying lately, gives a nice summary as well. Basically, the plant estrogens in soy mimic estrogens in the body and can contribute to cancer risk and tumors. Studies also show that...

Anonymous writes:

I read somewhere that there’s no medical/health reason for a woman to have a period every month.  Even one of the nurses at my gyno’s office mentioned that she just takes her birth control pills continuously so as not to have one.  I can’t put my finger on why, but this seems strange and wrong to me.  However, I have nothing to back my opinion except that that’s how women were designed and it’s best not mess with Design (and maybe that should be reason enough).  I have never taken my pills continuously, though it’s extremely tempting as my period wrecks havoc on my whole body.  Every month I get sick to my stomach, lose my appetite, and energy, and get cramps...

Ever since the USDA did away with actual food on the

Food

I’m sorry, My Pyramid, it simply hasn’t made sense to me. Look:

I like what University of Michigan Health System has done with their Healing Foods Pyramid.

It doesn’t have the look of something sponsored by the Dairy Board or Big Agribusiness, for one thing. Dairy products and lean meats are optional (in the fine print); this eating plan represents a plant-based, whole food diet.

It’s very much along the lines of the way we eat at my house already!

While it still toes the “saturated fats are bad for you” line and suggests low-fat dairy products (two areas of disagreement for me), it is still far superior to the heavily...

This is an indirect question brought up by Katie’s comment to my GMO or No? post. Since my family is starting to dabble in pescetarianism, I was curious too.

Which is better for you and/or the environment? Farmed fish or wild fish? Do we have to sacrifice the health of our bodies for the health of the environment?

I started out by reading this Whole Foods Market article on Seafood Sustainability. It has a great FAQ at the end that probably covers everything I’m going to talk about here, so if you only read one thing, read my post of course. But if you read two things, read the Whole Foods article too! ;)

The problem with wild-caught fish
Longlines, dredging,  and drift nets are the...

Laura Z. writes:

My daughter and her husband use an awful lot of coconut oil in their home.  She believes that coconut oil is one of the “good oils”, but I am alarmed because when I read the label, all I see is saturated fat—and we all know saturated fat is unhealthy.  So what’s the scoop on coconut oil?  Why is is touted as a health food?  Is there really a good version of saturated fat?  My daughter said I really ought to ask you, and that you would probably know!

Hi Laura! I know your daughter quite well, so let me tell you and our readers a little bit about her eating philosophy. To a certain extent, she adheres to the Weston A. Price way of eating:

Eat whole, unprocessed foods.
Eat...

Mitzi writes:

You have been a great help so far from my diaper issues to bug lotion. NOW HOW do I get my child (2 years and 3 months old) to eat breakfast? He doesn’t eat anything. He will snack but won’t eat. I have tried just about everything I can think of to give him but am out of ideas.

He will “snack” on toaster strudels but won’t eat them up. He will snack on fruit but nothing that fills his tummy up.

He tends to get grumpy and whiney and will only eat junk food when he is really hungry as that is fast and he knows he likes it. I would like him to not be a picky eater so that I can buy him a bigger variety of food. Veggies would be nice too!

I knew Mitzi has some special...

Kristina writes:

Hey Laura!
My husband and I recently decided that we want to lower our food budget, without any loss to our health.  The problem is that it seems like cooking/eating healthfully is always so much more expensive.  Any tips or suggestions?

Then she ups the ante:

My husband will NOT eat leftovers that have to be refrigerated, so making something at the beginning of the week, and just reheating it several times throughout the week doesn’t work for us.

Before you judge, Kristina’s husband is a great guy who definitely pulls his own weight in the kitchen. He’s not just saddling Kristina with his gustatory whims unfairly; he does a lot of cooking himself!

Lowering your...

Harmony just had a baby and her (still-also-nursing) 2 year old daughter is going a bit crazy in the transition. While a lot of the manic energy and behavioral issues can be explained away by all the upheaval in their home right now, Harmony’s gut feeling is that there is a nutritional element involved as well. Since Harmony’s family eats very clean already (very little refined flours and sugar, small amounts of organic dairy), she asked me to look into what happens to kiddos when they are overdosing on fruit. Here’s what I found and emailed back to her.

The fruit thing you’re probably thinking of is salicylates - naturally occurring chemicals in…pretty much everything. NOT fun to try to...

A friend writes:

So, at my son’s 18 month checkup, my doctor told me that there’s no point in nursing anymore because “don’t you know there’s no nutritional value to him anymore?” I was irritated because I’m pretty sure that’s not water coming out of my boobs! But I don’t have anything to back me up on that and hope you can help. Also, what are the nutritional needs of a toddler anyway? He eats well, but I definitely rely on nursing him to fill in the gaps. What will he need if/when he does wean? By the way, we’re mostly vegan but for an egg here and there.

Allow me to clamber up on my soapbox and rant a bit. It absolutely infuriates me to hear about doctors making offhand comments that...

This question has been at the forefront of quite a few conversations I’ve been having with people over the past couple weeks, so I thought I’d write up a Gluten Free Beginner’s Guide, Laura-style.

*****  Here’s my standard disclaimer: I’m not a doctor. Nothing I say here should be used to self-diagnose. If you suspect you have a gluten allergy you need to talk to your doctor. You should also embark on dietary modification adventures with care; talk to a certified nutritionist for help!  *****

I have the privilege of experience with gluten (and much, much more!) elimination diets because I seem to give birth to babies with Multiple Food Protein Intolerances. That means that my breastmilk...

Heather writes:

Hey Laura, what is a good brand of Cottage Cheese to buy? I have just recently re-discovered this amazing low calorie snack and am in love! Should I opt to buy only organic straight from the farm or is the store brand (not the low fat) equivalent? I am not looking to body build, just eat a healthy snack. Also ... how much of this delicious stuff can I eat?

Mmmmm…cottage cheese! I love mine with ketchup on top. :)

As far as quantity goes, my mantra is “everything in moderation.” If you are just eating cottage cheese as a snack, then eat a snack-sized portion, not a whole meal-sized serving. Have some fresh fruit or veggies along with it to help fill you up with fewer...

Kristina writes:

I’m looking for some satisfying, but healthy snack options…carrot sticks may be healthy, but they’re not very satisfying.

You’ve got a good start with the carrots. Studies have shown that low calorie, high volume foods like vegetables help people feel fuller sooner, without the extra caloric load.

However, the key to a satisfying snack is protein.

Protein keeps you feeling satisfied longer than anything else you can eat. In fact, starting your day with a high protein breakfast (eggs are great!) will help you not be desperate for a snack come 10am.

The golden snack combination is a food with high water and fiber content (most vegetables and some fruits),...

Kael’s Momma sent this one in and it’s a good one! What are some good prenatal and postpartum supplements?

******I’m not a doctor! I’m not even really an expert; I just pretend to be one for our mutual edification and entertainment. Don’t be stupid: Listen to the real experts in your life, including the truest authority on yourself: Your Self.*****

When you’re pregnant, good nutrition is more important than ever. But good nutrition can’t be gotten in a pill, and there’s some contention whether there’s any benefit at all to prenatal vitamins. Potent vitamin supplements can also exacerbate nausea, and some care providers recommend suspending your use of a vitamin until the first trimester...

Tricia writes:

Hey Laura, what would you feed an extremely picky child whose diet includes chicken noodle soup, macaroni and cheese and yogurt? (considering that she needs to add more calories to her diet)

*****Standard disclaimer: I have no credentials for handing out nutritional advice, but here is some info I’ve compiled that can help!*****

My first advice is my best parenting advice: “It’s probably just a stage; just wait it out.”

That said, there are definitely things you can try to improve her nutrition, even within the constraints of her approved food items. I’ll also give you tips on helping expand her gastronomic horizons!

Chicken noodle soup is an amazingly nutritious food...

Good for you for making the switch! Grass-fed beef is better for you, better for the environment, and definitely the more humane choice. And, thanks to the likes of Michael Pollan and Food Inc., it’s getting easier to find local sources.

If you need help being convinced, the Mother Nature Network has an excellent article outlining the Top 10 reasons to eat grass fed meat and AmericanGrassFedBeef.com explains the significant health benefits of going grass-fed (did you know that grass-fed beef has up to half as much saturated fat as grain-fed, and up to 6 times the amount of cancer-fighting omega-3s?).

Now that everyone is rarin’ to get that beef in their bellies, how about some links to...