Look! It's Dad!

Imagine my surprise when I ran into the actual “Dad” from the book, Sh*t My Dad Says, at the West Hollywood book fair. “Dad” is Sam Halpern and father of Justin Halpern, author of the #1 NY Times bestselling book, Sh*t My Dad Says.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Sam is also a successful author. I recommend reading his newly released book, A Far Piece to Canaan, the adventures of two boys in rural Kentucky.

Sam’s favorite food is his wife Joni’s lasagna. Yum. Lasagna. Good thing he likes to work out at the gym with Joni, the great cook. Sam needs a lot of strength to take Angus, their hundred pound dog, for walks. The cats in his neighborhood are grateful and breathe a sigh of relief that Sam stays in shape. They know that Sam is in shape if he is able to stay upright, when Angus sees them.

Does Your Chicken Have Salmonella?

Getting salmonella is nothing to cluck about. The current outbreak of salmonella in the Foster Farms chickens is a very potent strain and may be resistant to antibiotics.

The symptoms of salmonella include fever, bloody diarrhea and painful stomach cramps. If your immune system is weak, it could be life threatening.

You can’t see bacteria, so prevention is key.

• Keep your refrigerator 40 degrees or cooler to keep potential bacteria from multiplying.
• Avoid cross-contamination. Wash hands with warm soapy water. Bacteria could spread from contaminated cutting boards and knives. Keep raw chicken and their juices away from ready-to-eat foods.
• Thoroughly cook chicken until it reaches 165 degrees to kill bacteria. It may be necessary to invest in a food thermometer.

Protect you and your family. Be safe.

Skinny Jeans or Chocolate

Do you want to wear your skinny jeans or eat chocolate? Tough call. But there are a couple of options.

Is Chocolate Your Friend?

1. For some people, it’s all or nothing. Once they take a bite, they can’t stop eating until it’s all gone. If this is you, it would be better to avoid temptation. Keep it out of the house. Even one whiff could mean that all bets are off.
2. Enjoy chocolate in moderation. Everyone following 1,800 calories in The Food Is My Friend Diet can eat 160 calories of whatever they want, after the basic calories are consumed. 160 calories isn't a lot, but it’s enough to satisfy a sweet tooth.

To get the most out of your treat, savor it. Look at it for awhile. Smell it. Then take a tiny bite and let it melt in your mouth. Make it last as long as you can. You will be surprised how satisfied you will feel and proud of yourself for taking control.

It’s easy to wolf down a big piece of chocolate cake, when the going gets rough. But with some practice, you will be able to take charge, be in control, and fit into those jeans in the back of the closet.

Salt. A Little Dab Will Do You

Are you a salt addict? Many people salt their food before they even taste it. With the average sodium intake being 3,400 mg a day, it may be time to stand away from the salt shaker. As it turns out, too much sodium can put you at risk for stomach cancer. Some people are salt sensitive and blow up like a balloon after a salty meal, which may put you at risk for heart disease.

The current guidelines recommend limiting sodium to 2,300 mg a day. It's 1,500 mg a day for certain conditions, such as high blood pressure, kidney problems, or being over the age of 50.

To limit sodium in your diet, it's important to read the labels on canned food, frozen food, and processed food. It's even more important to watch restaurant food. Eating out can push your daily limit of sodium over the top. Soy sauce and canned soup are obvious sources of sodium, but did you know that bread and rolls are also high in sodium?

A little dab of sodium is necessary, but the dabs quickly add up. Instead of salt, flavor foods with fresh herbs and spices, such as cilantro, cinnamon, or turmeric to add powerful phytonutrients for added health benefits.

Dieting for Diabetes

Have you recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes? Or have you had it for awhile and struggle to maintain normal blood sugar levels?

There are three important factors that can help reduce blood sugar and ultimately prevent side effects:

1- Lose weight, if needed. Extra weight (fat) increases inflammation. Maintaining a normal weight may help.

2- Focus on physical activity. Movement reduces blood sugar and burns calories. There’s no such thing as too little. A fifteen minute walk after lunch and dinner will do wonders to lower blood sugar.
3- Eat fewer carbohydrates. Carbs raise blood sugar. Think about your diet. Are you eating too much rice, bread, pasta, or sweets? Measure your portions.

Test your blood sugar two hours after you eat. If it’s more than 180 mg/dl, try eating fewer carbohydrates next time. If you eat fewer carbs at meals, you will be eating fewer calories. Eating fewer calories will help you lose weight. It’s a win-win for your weight and your blood sugar.  If you have questions about diabetes or losing weight, see a registered dietitian/nutritionist. We are the nutrition experts.

Prevent Foodborne Illness with the 2 or 1 Hour Rule

Obesity a Disease?

AMA says obesity is a disease

The American Medical Association is the latest in a growing list of groups that have  classified obesity as a disease. Whether or not one believes that obesity is a disease, there is reason to believe that the new policy will pave the way for prevention and better treatment that will ultimately save billions in health care costs.

Since the 1980s, the rates of obesity have been steadily increasing along with a rapid rise in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes currently costs the US a staggering  $174 billion a year. The first line of defense for treating pre-diabetes is weight loss and increasing physical activity. Obesity is a complex issue and impossible to fix in the one hour nutrition education session allowed by many insurance companies.

The time for registered dietitian nutritionists to shine is now. They can make a difference and save our country billions in health care costs. Prevention is the answer. Insurance reimbursement for lifestyle intervention/weight loss programs should be a priority – if not from a social welfare point of view, then certainly from a financial one.