Nutritional Nuggets
Expert Louise Goldberg answers your questions!
As we’ve become more aware of GMOs in
foods, my husband and I started focusing more
on organics and local food. But we continue to
be challenged when it comes to corn. We don’t
go out to eat that often, but the family loves
a good Mexican restaurant. I’m sure they’re
not serving organic chips and salsa! And then
there’s packaged snacks or things the kids eat
with friends. How can we best avoid GMOs
without entirely changing our lives?
Robyn O’Brien offers great advice in her book,
The Unhealthy Truth, “Take baby steps. It’s important to remember not to make “perfect” the
enemy of “good.” Do what you can, when you
can. Target the 80/20 rule…do as much as you
can to try to reduce your families’ exposure to
these substances 80 percent of the time, then give
yourself a ‘free pass’ for the other 20.”
My almost 2 year old has been eating pureed
food and nursing only but I’m ready for her to
move on. I waited a long time before offering
non-pureed foods and now she refuses to eat
them when I offer. Could it be a sensory problem?
There is a relatively small window of time when
kids are open minded about trying new foods.
Between 12-18 months they start to realize they
can say no to foods (and everything else!). If
progression has not been made prior to that, it
can definitely be more challenging to make advances. Continue to offer but try not to pressure.
Put small finger foods in front of her or textured
foods she can put her hands in and feed herself
28
(e.g. lumpy sweet p otatoes). If nothing changes,
consider consulting with an occupational therapist who can evaluate if there is a real underlying
sensory issue at work.
I’m looking for a food-based supplement or
multi-vitamin for our family. Healthy eating
is a priority, but I know there aren’t as many
minerals in our food these days. I’d like to find
something that doesn’t break the bank. Can
you recommend something and also explain
what the benefits are?
Because food-based supplements are considered
dietary supplements, there is no regulation by the
Food & Drug Administration, which means there
are no guarantees that what the company says
is in there truly is. The companies only have to
prove their safety and efficacy if there are complaints. Does your family really need any supplement? Depending on the quality and balance
of your diet your children are most likely getting
good nutrition. If, however, you note signs and
symptoms of a deficiency (e.g. quick to fatigue
may be an iron or folate deficiency) or their
growth is affected, work with the pediatrician or
dietitian to evaluate current intake for gaps in nutrients. If you need to supplement, focus on just
what your child needs instead of overdosing with
a multivitamin.
Our editors suggest trying:
Rainbow Light, which is food based and
affordable - or New Chapter, which is
made from organic vegetables and herbs.