I'm a wellness professional!

[paperwings]

Hi guys,
I've never posted on this side of the board (I honestly didn't even notice it because I am so FLIGHT focused!), but I wanted to let you know that I am a chef who specializes in organic and healthful cooking. I'm a personal chef to many people who have health issues like weight, high blood pressure, allergies (like gluten-intolerance, etc) and I also work with people who are going through treatments like chemo.
But, my first goal is always to make delicious and healthy food!
So, just wanted to throw that out there in case any of you wanted to chat about wellness in terms of diet, organics, etc....

Thanks!

-Lauren

[LeslieDEN]

Howdy, Lauren,

I've got a question I've always wanted to ask somebody in-the-know (sounds like you are in the know!).

I don't worry a lot about fats and stuff, but what has concerned me a little when I look at nutrition info on packaged and fast-food restaurant food is the tremendous amount of sodium. I mean, it looks like if you have a can of tomato soup and a bottle of Coke, you've just about doubled your recommended daily allowance. (OK, that's an exaggeration, but you know what I mean? Seems like salt -- and lots of it -- is everywhere, in everything!)

I don't restrict my sodium intake (yet), but it's always in the back of my mind ... we're warned that high sodium is bad for us, yet it seems to be unavoidable, especially if you're a lazy packaged/fast-food person like me.

Do you have any thoughts on sodium -- restricting intake, good (i.e., yummy) substitutes, etc.?

(Disclaimer in case of liability: I understand I'm not looking for health/medical advice, just the thoughts of a professional chef who specializes in healthful cooking.)

Thanks! Glad to have you here!

Leslie

[JPenny]

I NEED a chef at my house, BAD!!! I don't post often here, because I don't fly often. But I love the community here, and often lurk. Lynda, I need to lose weight too. I've been swamped with writing projects that have kept me tied to my computer (often into the morning hours every night, to get away from the kids). As a result, my sitter just keeps getting bigger, though I'm not eating much. I'm also 40 now, (nearly 41), so that doesn't help either. Of course the six children have contributed to my current condition, which I HATE (my condition, not the children!)!!!!

So, Lauren, when can you move in? I need a fulltime chef for the entire family, as well as a personal trainer. Do you think you could do both? I can't pay you much, and you'd have to endure the insanity of a middle-class house full of eight noisy people, half of which have ADD. On second thought, could you do it for free?

Seriously, a little motivation would go a long way on this board. We did the weigh-in thing, but all of us putzed out after a week or two. Any ideas from anyone????

Jean in SC :hyped::hyped::hyped:

[Rebecca]

Sounds like an interesting nichel, Lauren. Thanks for letting us know! Do you always draw job offers like this?:eek:

Nutrition is a huge subject at our house and I love the challenge of packing as many nutrients into meals as I can. But yes, tastiness matters! It’s not health food if nobody eats it.

The burning question: Is organic really better? I’ve been buying organic carrots, apples, lemons, yogurt, lettuce, and chocolate … in season I get all fresh stuff from our local farmer’s market even though it’s not organic, thinking that “fresher” is worth the tradeoff. Can we trust the “organic” label, and is it worth the extra cost?
:confused:

[Agne]

Lauren, your job sounds very interesting. I recently graduated in food science and technology and human nutrition was one of my favourite subjects. I've never bought organic products but I believe they're healtier, given that they're obtained without chemical fertilizers, preservatives, or artificial colourings - that means higher costs for the producers, and higher prices for the consumer. This is the cause of the extra cost.
I would like to trust the organic label. But I heard of some producers here in Italy that sold uglier or deformed "non organic" apples as organic apples. A new law about organic food has come into force lately and maybe will discourage that kind of swindle.

[paperwings]

I really and truly think that organics are better and not only better for YOU but for the environment.
The whole labeling thing is tricky because of all the stuff that has been going on with the USDA and organic labeling standards, but, all in all I'd say you can trust it for now.
I wouldn't, however, jump to buy organic products from all the big businesses. Like now it seems every big company has some organic products, like Heinz "organic" ketchup, etc...It's probably better than the non-organic but I'd rather buy from smaller companies that are really serious about organics, not a company like Heinz that is obviously just using it as a marketing ploy. There's a big difference.
It is more expensive, absolutely, but I think certain things are worth it.
For instance, when people ask me what organic products they should buy if they can only buy a few I always say dairy and poultry (and other meats).
Organic dairy is hormone and antibiotic free. The other stuff is full of chemicals AND the animals in most traditional dairy farms are treated horribly. Chickens live crammed together, sitting in their own filth, most often their beaks are cut off and they are producing more eggs than they are supposed to naturally.
Don't be fooled by packages that only say "natural" and "cage-free" because if it doesn't say "USDA 100% Organic," plus anti-biotic and hormone free, it isn't.
In terms of it being better for you I think there is no question. Chemicals, pesticides, herbicides compared to food grown with none of that? It's just common sense.
Now, I'm not saying that you will dodge cancer and other diseases by eating organic but, it couldn't hurt! Plus, the food quality is just better.
Anyway, I could go on and on forever....there is so much to talk about!

But, I think if nutrition is important to you (especially if you're a woman), I can't stress organic dairy enough. It actually tastes better too!

About salt....you need salt, just not an excessive amount, obviously. I know a lot of people eat fast food and packaged food because it's easy but it probably has the highest soduim.
Personally, I eat very little packaged food and I don't think I've had fast food for 15 years!
Granted, I make most everything I eat so I have the advantage :)
But if you're looking to cut down on salt I'd say just cut out a few things that are packaged, snack foods etc...
And soft drinks are pretty chock full of sodium (plus other weird stuff).
Fresh foods (fruits, veggies, whole grains) are always better.

I'd love to come be your personal chef Sean and JPenny! Just what do I tell my husband??


oh and Agne...I thought organic food labeling in Europe was better than the US...I thought I had read that somewhere!

[noflyingfan]

I have a question. I am severely lactose intolerant, so I have a hard time getting the nutrients found in dairy foods. I use soy products, but of course they're not quite the same. How do you suggest I deal with this problem healthfully? Right now, I take a lot of Lactaid and eat the dairy anyway (mostly with no problem), but I wonder if this is really a good idea to pump myself full of it. If dairy isn't something my body wants, should I really keep eating it?

[paperwings]

nofly-
In terms of nutrition you can find plenty of foods that have calcium and vitamins other than dairy.

Calcium-fortified soy and rice milk
Cooked collard greens, kale, broccoli, okra, mustard greens, bok choy
Calcium-fortified orange juice
Plus, a lot of things are fortified with vitamin D.

Subbing soy or rice milk for regular milk is great.
Your body rejects dairy for a reason so if you feel discomfort I'd say skip it.

[paperwings]

hubby is a film editor...maybe I'll get him to change careers :cool:

[Rebecca]

Thanks for the very complete answers, Lauren. This is very informative!

I sometimes feel a bit lonely on my whole-food crusade (don’t even start on artificial sugar and fluorescent blue cereals :fuming:) but it’s nice to know you’re out there, too!!!

In your trip journal, will you share with us something about the food in Costa Rica?
:sunshine:

[Agne]

oh and Agne...I thought organic food labeling in Europe was better than the US...I thought I had read that somewhere!

I don't know very much about organic products except for what we learnt at school. What I know is that at first many italian farmers pretended to be "organic" farmers to receive subsidies from the State;there were lots of false organic products in the shops. That's why I didn't trust the organic label. But this happened before the european laws.

[paperwings]

beau-
that is awesome that your kids don't go for the fast food. I don't have kids yet but I'm sure I'll be a crazy mom who restricts junk food and fast food, at least the non-organic kind. I would even be fearful of leaving them with my in-laws in knowing that they'd probably pump them full of Oreos and hydrodgenated cheese product. ew.

I think the key to low salt snacks is to be really label conscious or make them yourself. Popcorn (not the microwave stuff, just the plain ole kernals) is a great snack that doesn't need much salt. I actually flavor mine with dried herbs and a little parmesan cheese.
Most people automatically salt their food even before they taste it. I've learned that you always need some salt to bring out the flavor of your food but not to the point of the food tasting like salt. If you're cooking, depending on what kind of food it is, adding a little lemon juice at the end of cooking really brings out the flavor, especially in soups and stews.
Also, don't underestimate fresh and dried herbs. They can add so much flavor...add dry herbs at the beginning of cooking, fresh at the end....
I have TONS of recipes if you (or anyone else!) ever want any.

And chocolate, in moderation, is actually good for you...dark especially-it's an antioxident.

[paperwings]

I sometimes feel alone in the crusade too! My inlaws think I am a wacky hippie (and I don't even listen to the Grateful Dead...).
I have convinced my own parents, however, that organic is the way to go.

I get worked up about fake sugars and all that too....Was trying to convince a friend to lay off the 50 packs of Splenda a day!

I will def. report on the food in Costa Rica (assuming I get there...look, I have to say that, in classic FF form). I hear it's quite good.

-Lauren

[WillFlyToDisney]

Me too on the Splenda!! Just curious - what don't you like about Splenda? I won't let my kids have anything with any artificial sweetener in it - aspartame, saccharine (did I spell that right?), and even splenda. They all give me migraines anyway. My kids eat healthy most of the time anyway - by their own choice. Abbey does have a Burger King habit but only eats the meat out of the burger and maybe a handful of fries. Her favorite food (at age 7) is a tossup between broccoli and zucchini. My oldest (age 12) is an aspiring chef and has learned pretty healthy eating habits from watching Emeril and Rachel Ray cook with lots of veggies. :thumbsup:

Candy just sits around our house - no one really eats it. We have a rotation going. We throw out the Christmas candy on Valentine's Day, the Val Day candy out on Easter, Easter candy out on Halloween and Halloween candy out on Christmas. Cadbury eggs though rarely make it to the candy dish!

[WillFlyToDisney]

I'm just wary of anything that has been "chemically altered or created" that we are expected to ingest. I never trusted Chemistry anyway... :angel:

[paperwings]

You guys are right on about Splenda. The whole "it's made from sugar!" thing is such a scary marketing ploy.
Personally I think all fake sugar is scary.
Actually, the best sweetener I've found is agave. If you don't know it it's a honey like substance made from a cactus plant. It is really sweet and while caloric, has a lower glycemic index so you don't get a sugar spike in your bloodstream. Definintely less addictive than sugar too.
I think a lot of people have sugar addictions so the Splendas and NutraSweets are seemingly perfect for them.
I actually think they taste really weird!!
It really bugs me how certain fad diets (like South Beach and Atkins) include fake sugars.
Oh I could rant forever but I'll spare you...
-L

[paperwings]

Wow for real? Or maybe you're just teasing me....
Oh it's basically just my issue about marketing things that aren't healthy and promoting the whole "diet" thing which I think is unhealthy in itself.
I just think it shouldn't be about being thin and dieting and ingesting chemicals for the sake of saving calories..I think this teaches bad diet behavior. And I think it's common for some to abuse natural sweeteners, like my friend I mentioned before who drinks 20 iced teas with Splenda a day. She abuses it because she thinks it's absolutely healthy since it's not caloric.
People need to learn to eat healthfully and when it comes to sweets they can do so even with a few delicious NATURAL sweeteners. Doesn't have to be the choice between processed white sugar and chemical sugar.
But I'm a natural and whole foods advocate so I have strong feelings against certain things. Not trying to be preachy, it's just my personal opinion. Ok, not so much a rant.....:rolleyes:

[WillFlyToDisney]

That is exactly why I enjoy my daily dose of PEPSI (not the icky Diet one) with all natural SUGAR in it. :thumbsup:

[paperwings]

Fair enough...I still aint gonna eat Splenda though!
And I agree, fats are a whole other bad ball of wax.....

[EyesSkyward]

Sean, do you eat lettuce, tomatoes, melons, mushrooms or peanut butter? There's chlorine in them as well in the form of chloride.

Yup. And, of course, salt has plenty of chloride in it too, along with sodium (a potentially explosive compound).

All of which pales by comparison to dihydrogen monoxide (http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html). Americans consume tons of this stuff, often without really bothering to notice, despite the fact that it kills thousands in the US each year.

- Jeff

[JPenny]

Wouldn't your hubby like to DIRECT and FILM a movie? I think our family would make an interesting documentary. Kind of like the Munsters, only real, not fantasy. We've got everything going on here--teenage girls, tweenies, all the way down to preschool. Music lessons, speech therapy, animals . . .

On a serious note, what are your thoughts about ADD and nutrition?

Jean

P.S. I do love my family!:grouphug:

[EyesSkyward]

It's been known to render buildings uninhabitable

Tell me about it. I had some bad DHMO contamination in my living room, caused by a faulty air conditioning unit. Wound up having to replace all the flooring. :fuming:

- Jeff

[paperwings]

You are a brave woman Jean!
I'm terrified to just have one!:eek:

I definitely think there is a connection with food and ADD (as well as other attention issues).
One of my clients has an autistic child and the improvement we've seen just by eliminating gluten and dairy from her diet is amazing.
I'd say most traditional doctors never prescribe dietary changes but there is medical evidence that this can be helpful.

Check out this article...I really like the website too, lots of great info.

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/T040400.asp#T040408

I'd say in general, cutting out most sugars and junk is always helpful..and getting kids tested for food allergies is really important!

My sister-in-law's 2 kids have had serious ear issues for years, operations, tubes, etc...and their doctor never once mentioned possible food allergies or elimination diets.
I keep telling her to try eliminating dairy from their diet and she won't even try it. Not to say that this is the answer but what if it helps? She thinks all "holistic" approaches are fruity and trusts her doctor. Personally, if my kid were suffering so much I'd look to other alternatives. Couldn't hurt, right?

I'll tell my husband about his new possible documentary project....
His last one was about basketball so it's kind of similar, right? Lots of players for one team....:)

[Lynda]

We nurses have the most unhealthy eating habits in the world I think.

We often do not get breaks so pick up anything ready prepared and preferably loaded with sugar just to keep us going. ( Least that is what it is like in the UK)

When I get back from the US I am really going to take control of what I eat, you all have managed to motivate me at last. Keep this food talk going and maybe I will lose this excess 50 pounds this year.

The talk on sugar alcohols and chlorine is really quite scary. I always notice the foul smell of the water in Orlando but did not realize what it was. I am glad I decided to stick to bottled water.

I am Lactose intolerant too, I am also allergic to Alcohol.

[WillFlyToDisney]

I had a friend that years back balked at her doctor's suggestion that her daughter had ADD. She tracked what her daughter ate and her actions for several hours afterwards. She found that certain types of oils (specifically whatever they use at Wendy's on their fries) and most red and yellow food coloring drove her kid up the wall. Once she completely eliminated those items her daughter's diet ADD symptoms disappeared.

I definitely avoid anything red, orange or purple in the drink aisle because it has that same effect on my girls - they bounce off the walls more then if they have a ton of sugar or caffeine. I about had a fit when I came home last nite and saw ORANGE SODA in the fridge. Those are going to be chucked in the trash before the kids get home from school. :angel:

Jean - if Lauren's hubby comes up there to film your brood then you guys have to take a trip to the ocean to see us!!!

[WillFlyToDisney]

I think red is the color that is made from crushed beetle shells. I know yellow is made from coal tar.

Eeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwww

[WillFlyToDisney]

It is actually a food allergy and a reaction to the chemicals. Both of my daughters and I get migraines when we eat foods with MSG too.

Ken - always trust a Mother's intuition. About 7 years ago I had a Med Student blow me off once at a walk-in kids emergency clinic and I about ripped his head off demanding tests on my 6 day old lethargic baby (Abbey). He told me that "babies sleep alot" and that she was fine and didn't need any tests. He made a big deal out of how the blood tests would hurt the baby and went so far as to accuse me of being a bad mother for demanding tests. When the results came back the white blood cell count was thru the roof and he called our regular Pediatrician who had Abbey admitted to the hospital immediately (where she stayed for a week!). Young Doogie Howser tucked his tail and after berating him again I told him to NEVER underestimate a Mother's intuition that something was wrong with their child. I sure hope he learned his lesson!

Sorry that I digressed - chemicals are bad. Sugar is good.

[WillFlyToDisney]

Actually I am drinking Aquafina right now.

0 Calories. Sodium Free.

I won't drink Dasani if I can help it. Curses to Delta and their stupid Coke endorsement. Dasani has sodium. The label says it is a "negligible amount" but I challenge anyone to do a side by side taste test with Dasani and Aquafina.

Pepsi is probably something like this - Sugar, Caffeine, more Sugar, more Caffeine, carbonation. :thumbsup:

[LeslieDEN]

I think red is the color that is made from crushed beetle shells.
Mmmmmmm, crushed beetle shells.

Snopes says it's true.

http://www.snopes.com/food/ingredient/bugjuice.htm