Just got home from a long day talking about nutrition! After hearing a talk on integrative medicine, I’m all pumped about healthy foods. Especially while snacking on two powerhouses: strawberries and almonds that I brought from home!
Lunch was catered by Revolutionary Soup and very healthy as well!
There was a delay in plate delivery, so I had a black bean + spinach wrap on a napkin with strawberries
And a cup of tomato basil soup
And then a salad once the plates arrived!
And finally, a little peanut butter cookie.
I enjoyed all of the talks today so much. Among a few clinical talks, the highlights for me were:
First a talk on raising healthy eaters and parenting tips (what perfect timing!). The RD works in a counseling center and sees eaters of all ages, but said the biggest factor in raising kids with a healthy relationship with food was to create a firm division of responsibility:
Parents decide the what, when and where of feeding
Kids decide the how much, what and whether of eating
Crossing this line too far [in either direction] creates power struggles, picky eaters and more. It was a really good message to keep in the back of my mind as I move into parenthood this year.
We also learned all about the move that Martha Jefferson Hospital went through last year in the foodservice department. What a logistical nightmare! David, the foodservice director there, should get a medal for all the work he put in to building a new system from scratch. And all the healthy options – like whole wheat made-from-scratch wood-fired pizza! It was weird to think that sometime this year I will be a patient at that hospital. I hope the food is good!
And finally, a talk on integrative medicine, which is something I’m very interested in. I love hearing case studies about how dietary changes – both adding and subtracting – change peoples lives.
Happy to be out in the big green world after a day inside!
Caroline @ After Dinner Dance says
Raising healthy eaters has to be one of the most tricky subjects! I grew up as an extremely picky eater. I didn’t really eat any vegetables until I was at least 22..
KathEats says
I didn’t really either. Liked broccoli in ranch dressing, corn and canned green beans. Mayyyyybe a little lettuce. I hated everything else until the end of high school.
And I DO remember being forced to take one bite of a vegetable before I left the dinner table. Complex?
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
That’s really cool that they talked about kids – something you’ll be dealing with in the future!
Rachel says
ahhh strawberry craving!
Katy @ Couch To 5Katy says
What is in that black bean wrap besides black beans and spinach? I may need to eat that for dinner tonight!
KathEats says
Mushrooms? The beans were cooked and saucy
Catalina @ Cake with Love says
I love reading articles on interactive medicine maybe you can make a post and describe in more details about what you have talked? love the parenting tips too!!
KathEats says
It’s waaaay too complicated to share simply – she had me lost at times! This is their website with links to additional resources if you want to read more about it: http://healthyvim.org/general.html
Stephanie @ Legally Blinde says
All of that sounds so interesting!! I’ve thought a lot about the quality of hospital food and how sad it is that there are often not healthy options in a place where the main objective is (or should be) to promote health. Looks like a very tasty lunch, too!
KathEats says
I told David to make sure he had lots of signs that his pizza was made from scratch because that’s not something I would ever eat in a hospital, but his techniques are on par with most gourmet pizza restaurants in town!
Stephanie @ Legally Blinde says
That’s really awesome and so encouraging to hear – I hope this becomes a trend in more hospitals. And I think you’re right – he should definitely display signs to inform people about the great quality of food that’s accessible to them!
Erin says
I’m from Richmond, VA and my mother had to have a triple bypass several years ago. The hospital with the big heart center has a McDonald’s in it. Conflict of interests?? Blows my mind that hospitals put fast food restaurants inside them.
Jessica says
Ellyn Satter is pretty well known and popular in parenting circles. If you’re interested in her theories, you should check out her book Child of Mine: http://www.amazon.com/Child-Mine-Feeding-Love-Sense/dp/0923521518
KathEats says
Funny you recommend that because so did this RD and I just ordered it! She sore by Satter and recommended “Child of Mine” and a book called “Raising A Spirited Child” by another author, which I also ordered
Kim @ Spoonful of Sass says
Was the speaker Ashley? I worked with her and the counseling center lots as an intern for my major project! I felt so privileged that they were all so knowledgable.
KathEats says
Yes!!
jennie says
Do you order all your books from amazon?
KathEats says
Pretty much. I have Amazon prime and get them used with prime when I can
Johanna B says
The wrap looks good. Never thought of putting beans in a wrap unless they were “refritos” (homemade of course). I get so many great healthy ideas for my meals from KERF. Thanks again.
Cait's Plate says
Those peanut butter kiss cookies are SO good!! I love them!
Raising healthy eaters is something I think about a lot. I definitely want my kids to value nutrition but it’s definitely tricky not to push them too far one way or another!
Annette @FitnessPerks says
From the above comments, I learned all about Satter and her books –and the idea of division of responsibility when I was getting my undergrad minor in nutrition science. Fascinating stuff-and makes sense!
Johanna B says
My grandson was one year old last Saturday. Therefore, I am interested in raising a healthy eater (at least when he’s at my house). Fortunately, my daughter wants him to eat healthy as well so it shouldn’t be a problem for grandma to do the same.
mary @ minutespermile says
good rules to keep in mind. makes me think back, and thank my mom for ingraining some healthy habits in my life at a young age!
Kristina @ Love and Zest says
Sounds fun! I love going to trainings. Have you read the book Child of Mine by Ellyn Satter? I believe she coined the division of responsibility in feeding. It’s such an excellent read, and I’m not even a mother 🙂
KathEats says
Just ordered it!
Angela says
Oh man this post brought up the memories from my childhood. I was always forced to sit at the dinner table until I finished my meal. Thank goodness my dog loved canned green peas and carrots because I sure didn’t. 😉
Molly @ RDexposed says
I’m seeing some Ellyn Satter talk in there!
Björg says
That sounds so interesting !
Such an interesting topic 🙂
Maura @ My Healthy 'Ohana says
Great advice about raising healthy eaters!
Andrea @ The Skinny Chronicles says
I just had my first fresh strawberries of the season and I am pretty much in heaven. Also just ate a mango, inspired by you of course. Just looked so good in your photo a while back that I had to go out and buy one!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama says
As someone who has toddlers it’s an ongoing experiment to get my kids to eat right. They are only offered nutritious foods but it pains me when they don’t want to eat yummy vegetables. However, I don’t force anything and let them make the decisions. I grew up hating all vegetables except raw carrots and now that’s all I eat!
j3nn says
I just bought a quart of organic strawberries last night. I can plow through it in a day if I allow myself to. At least they aren’t wasted! 🙂
Mekaela says
Kathy, Integrative Medicine is actually exactly what medicine I want to go in to. I am so very interested in how food and lifestyle changes can simply heal a person as opposed to the medication healing. Were you given any resources in your meeting as to p[eople Imay be interested in talking with?
I thank you for any and all help! Hope all is well!
KathEats says
We weren’t, other than a printed presentation, but check out their website which has a lot provided: http://healthyvim.org/general.html
I think it’s an awesome field!
Elisabeth says
I just spent the last couple days at a conference/meeting for my profession, too (Clinical Laboratory Science) – I love learning & miss taking college classes, so it’s a good chance for a few ‘mini’ classes. 🙂
Carrie @ Nutrition by Carrie says
This seems to be a theme…the instructor for my Nutrition Ed class gave a lecture based on Ellyn Satter yesterday (she has two young kids and raves about her), and two of the speakers at the Washington State dietetic conference I went to early this week talked about her. I just ordered two of her books for reference purposes.
Jen says
I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about Integrative Medicine/Nutrition lately. What is it exactly though? A focus on using food and lifestyle to “heal” versus traditional medication routes?
Amelia says
What a wonderful food philosophy for parents. That’s right up my alley.
Angel7 says
I enjoy reading about integrative medicine as well, because it does change peoples’ lives.
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
tomato basil soup was something I ate all the time when pregnant and I don’t think I’ve had any since…almost 6 years! whoops.
Integrative medicine, food and food choices and food as medicine, and having it changing lives and aid (or hinder) the path to overall health and wellness; such a great topic.
As is the parent-child food choices topic. So much in this one post, Kath!
jassy @ Healthy Egg says
it’s really important to start young 🙂
Jenn says
The patient food at MJH is …okay (“hospital food”). It’s better when you order from the fourth floor “Martha’s Cafe”.
So far, I’ve been blessed with a good eater. Levi at 17 months still eats everything. He’s not into some textures and occasionally he gets tired of a food, but otherwise eats well.
jenna k says
thanks so much for posting that website! my goal is to start med school next fall. i came close to applying to a grad nutrition program, so i’m very interested in keeping a “healthy living” approach when i start practicing medicine.
that talk on keeping kids eating healthy is very interesting. my niece is almost 3, and i’ve often wondering why my sister lets her wander away from the table when she has barely eaten. but after reading that i realize my sister (mainly) only feeds her whole grains, fruits/veggies, lean meats, etc, and that she will eat anything healthy (when she feels like eating). she’s a bit on the small side for her age, but she loves produce- even decided to go as a strawberry for halloween last year! 🙂
[email protected] Broken Cookies Don't Count says
It great to get caught up on nutritional info.
Tracy says
My youngest 2 are twins (12 yrs old now). One is a super adventurous and a great (healthy) eater and the other is the pickiest kid you could imagine! I obviously always offered them the same foods, times, etc. but some of it is just inherent.
Pam says
I’m so glad Integrative Medicine is getting more notoriety these days. Food is our first medicine, if we go back to that, in many cases, we can avoid clinical medications. That’s awesome you got to attend a talk, sounds like a lot of great info. Wonderful they walk their talk by serving healthy food at the meeting as well!
Aggie says
It’s been really interesting raising my kids to eat well. If there is one thing I’ve learned is to just keep exposing them to different foods (not necessarily force them)…their moods, tastes, and sense of adventure change all the time and if you catch them at the right time and place they might try something you never would think they’ve tried! I have mom friends who tell me all the time their kids don’t like certain foods (sliced apples, waffles, eats only rye bread, eats only non-baked chips…the list goes on) but then they will take whatever they are offered at a play date or birthday party and LIKE it. Its really hard to raise kids, but I think sometimes as parents we get caught up with what our kids aren’t eating and just not encourage to try new things.
I love trying new things out on my kids, even if they don’t end up eating it – totally frustrating at times but so worth it when your kids start asking for roasted cauliflower at dinner (?!?!) and green monsters for snacks.
My kids are definitely not perfect eaters, but I never give up 🙂
Erin says
The best way to get my two-year-old son to eat different things is to let him help make it, or to at least let him serve himself. The toddlers serve themselves at daycare and he eats everything there, including the broccoli they cook until mush to avoid a choking hazard. At home, he’s much more selective, but if I let him help me, he’ll usually at least try it.
Kim says
Hi Kath, on the topic of feeding children- I just finished reading French Kids Eat Everything. I have a very picky toddler and I found it to be really interesting to see how they compare American kids to French kids and the way they are taught to think about food. It was a great, quick read if you’re interested!