Your Questions Answered by Elizabeth Ward
My 8 year old was recently diagnosed with inattentive attention
deficit disorder (ADD). This condition also affects her eating. She
does not eat much food (a slow eater and easily distracted) and her
variety is minimal. She will not eat meat and eats little dairy. She
has very limited sources of protein: some cheese, peanut butter, milk
and protein fortified meal replacement bars. She does eat a variety of
fruits but only baby carrots and red pepper for vegetables. Is there
hope? I fear at 8 she is setting up a life long pattern for poor
eating.
-Amy
Amy, there is hope! You're right to be concerned, but your daughter may be doing a better job with getting the nutrients she needs than it appears to you. I highly recommend seeking the help of a registered dietitian (R.D.) who specializes in pediatrics. An R.D. can tailor an eating plan that fits the needs of your child now, and as she grows. If you have a children's hospital nearby, give them a call and see if they have dietitians who consult with people on an outpatient basis. Get a referral from your pediatrician - the visit(s) may be covered by insurance. If you don't have a hospital near you, use the American Dietetic Association's free referral service at www.eatright.org. On the home page, click on Find a Nutrition Professional and you will be prompted about how to proceed to find a dietitian near you.
Is there a greater gain to drinking red tea or
white tea as compared to black tea? Does tea have an effect on clotting time for those of us who are on coumadin?
-Francis
Dear Francis,
Red tea is from a different plant than white, green, and black teas so you cannot compare the benefits. Black, green and white tea contain powerful antioxidants called flavanoids that have been linked to a reduced risk for heart disease, certain cancers, and diabetes. As for your question about mixing tea and coumadin, please consult your doctor.
My husband was just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. It runs in his family. I would like to find a dietitian in
the Winchester area who can explain
what kind of diet he should be on.
Do you have any suggestions and do
you have suggestions for books to buy.
He also has auto-immune disease called
pempighoid...Thanks for your help.
-Ruthann
Dear Ruthann,
TBullous pemphigoid is a chronic blistering of the skin. It ranges from mildly itchy welts to severe blisters and infection, and may affect a small area of the body or be widespread. BP is an autoimmune disorder, meaning it is caused when the body's immune system malfunctions and produces antibodies that attack healthy tissue, cells and organs. Some patients with BP have other autoimmune diseases such diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Certain medications (furosemide and penicillins for example) and trauma can trigger BP. Winchester Hospital has outpatient dietitians that can help your husband. You can also go the American Dietetic Association's web site, www.eatright.org, to get a free referral in any area of the country. Get a referral from his doctor so that his insurance will pay for the visits. As for books, I love anything by the American Diabetes Association. Go to www.diabetes.org for more information.
How many calories you need a day for a healthy diet?-Marie
Dear Marie,
That depends on your age, your gender, and your level of physical activity. In my book, The Pocket Idiot's Guide to the New Food Pyramids, I provide a chart that serves as a guideline for figuring out the number of calories you need to maintain your weight. For example, a very active 40-year old man is able to take in about 2,800 calories a day to keep his weight stable, while a sedentary 60 year-old woman may need only about 1, 600 calories a day to maintain her weight. If the man was interested in losing weight, he would need to reduce his calorie consumption and increase physical activity. Since the 60-year old's daily calorie level is already low, exercising more would be the best option. Once you determine the right calorie level for you, the book advises you on how many servings you need from each food group for a healthy diet and lets you know exactly what the serving sizes are.
How concerned should I be about Listeria as a pregnant woman? What can I eat for lunch as an alternative to luncheon meat?
You should be concerned, but not overly worried about Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that causes listeriosis, which may result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or other serious health problems. Unpasteurized dairy foods, including milk and cheeses, such as Brie, feta, Camembert, Roquefort, blue-veined, “queso blanco,” “queso fresco” and Panela; refrigerated pates or meat spreads; and refrigerated smoked seafood, such as salmon, trout, whitefish, cod, tuna, or mackerel (most often labeled as "nova-style," "lox," "kippered," "smoked," or "jerky.") may contain harmful levels of listeria bacteria. Refrigerated smoked seafood is safe when it’s part of a cooked dish, like casseroles, however. Hot dogs and luncheon meats, including deli ham, turkey, bologna, and salami may also contain listeria. To reduce the risk, you could reheat these foods until steaming hot, but that seems like too much trouble to me. Try sandwiches made with leftover chicken or turkey; lean roast beef; or light tuna fish (not white, or albacore.) Eggs are also an excellent alternative to deli meats. Make an egg salad sandwich or wrap, or chop eggs up and add to salads. Vegetarian wraps made with hummus, tabooli, and Feta cheese are delicious, too.
I am trying to figure out how many calories exclusively
breastfeeding a 3 month old would be so I can figure out how many
calories I need to lose weight. I have 10 more pounds to lose to be at
my pre-pregnancy weight (even though my breasts feel like they weigh 2
1/2 pounds each!) I am 31. My pre-pregnancy weight is 135 and I am
about 145 now. I am currently working out about 4-5 days a week either
on the bike for 20-30 minutes or running 3 miles. Plus I do about 45
pushups 2-3 times a week. Plus, I have a 2 1/2 year-old son.-Jennifer
You're doing a great job fitting exercise into your busy schedule. My first piece of advice is go slow with your weight loss - don't lose more than 4 pounds a month. If you lose weight too quickly, you can jeopardize the quality of your breast milk and become fatigued. After accounting for your weight and activity level, and the fact that you are nursing, I used MyPyramid to calculate the calories you need to lose weight gradually. Your body needs an extra 500 calories a day for milk production. You need about 2,200 calories daily for weight loss. Keep in mind this calorie level is a guideline: if you start losing weight too quickly, eat more (assuming you don't increase your exercise). Since you already have another child, you know that post-pregnancy weight loss can be slow, so stay the course: it will happen! For more information about constructing a healthy 2,200-calorie/day diet, see my latest book, The Pocket Idiot's Guide to the New Food Pyramids.
What are the best snacks for kids?
Sandy, Kansas City, MO
Think of foods that are part of healthy meals, and you have your answer.
The best snacks are mini-meals, not meal-wreckers like chips, candy, and cookies.
Toddlers tend to eat small meals because of their tiny tummies;
older children may need more snacks during a growth spurt;
and some kids hardly snack at all. No matter the situation,
the between-meal foods you offer to children should be as nutritious
as possible. That way, you won't need to worry if your child cuts back
at his next meal, which he will naturally do when he is not as hungry
as usual. The following foods are among the delicious and nutritious noshes for kids (and adults!):
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Do you know the glycemic index on Muellers Low Carb Pasta? Is that a good alternative to regular pasta?
Lyn
Hi Lyn,
I do not know the glycemic index of Muellers Low Carb Pasta, but I can tell you a few things about the glycemic index (GI). It is a system for ranking carbohydrate-containing foods by the amount they raise blood sugar (or glucose) levels after eating. Foods with a higher GI score result in higher blood glucose levels, while low GI foods make for lower levels of glucose in the blood. Low GI foods, such as many vegetables, fruits, legumes, and dairy products tend to be better for you. But a low GI score doesn't automatically mean a food is good for you. For example, candy such as jelly beans and gum drops have a lower GI than carrots and watermelon.
So what's the GI good for? That's debatable. Eating a diet rich in foods with a low GI may help reduce the risk of developing diabetes, but the jury is still out on that one. Some studies suggest low GI foods help reduce levels of triglycerides (fat) in the bloodstream while increasing "good" cholesterol also known as HDL or high density lipoprotein. A recent study from the University of Minnesota found that reducing the GI of a low calorie diet did not increase weight loss in overweight adults who were already on a reducing diet.
While the GI seems poised for the next so-called revolution in dieting, remember that calories count above all when it comes to weight control and overall health. Still, it pays to choose foods that are the most nutritious and lowest in GI, whether you want to lose, gain, or maintain your weight. When it comes to pasta, I recommend reasonable portions of the regular version or the whole wheat variety.