Friday, October 16, 2009

filed under: eating right kids

What are some tasty “good cholesterol” recipes for children that can lower LDLs and triglycerides?

Haylie Pomroy: On my website, you can find recipes for dinners, snacks, breakfasts, and lunches. All of these are really well-balanced and conducive to a healthy metabolism. With LDL and triglyceride levels elevated in our kids, we have to look at why the body is not breaking down those valuable fats. It is important to enhance their metabolism and stabilize their blood sugar throughout the day — no spikes and dips!

Watch out for:

â?¢ Added sugars
â?¢ Refined carbohydrates
â?¢ Fruit juices
â?¢ Nitrites in meat products
â?¢ Make sure breakfast contains each of these ingredients: a whole fruit, protein, and a whole or sprouted grain

Haylie Pomroy provides nutritional counseling and wellness consulting for clients who wish to actively enhance their health. She is an accomplished practitioner, speaker, writer, consultant, product developer, and researcher who has been featured several times on national television. Haylie practices in CA and CO and resides in Los Angeles with her two beautiful children. Haylie proudly works with the East West Essentials line of doctor’s wellness products. For additional nutrition tips and recipes, become a fan of Haylie on Facebook. HayliePomroy.com

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

filed under: eating right kids

In today’s age of fast food, a la carte school menus, and highly
processed foods, what are strategies for incorporating cholesterol-healthy
diets into our children’s lives?

Haylie Pomroy: This is not as hard as you think. Here are four tricks to managing cholesterol and improving your child’s diet:

1. Make sure you have a whole fruit at the meals you do have control over, like breakfast and dinner.

2. Try to get nuts and seeds, preferably in the raw form, like raw almonds, in every day. Try adding things like raw cashews as a homework snack or raw sunflower seeds in their cereal in the morning. The combo of fiber, protein, and healthy fats make these so good for a healthy cholesterol.

3. Try to add olive oil in where you can. Add a little to the peanut butter in a PB and J sandwich, or to your mayo in a turkey sandwich.

4. Try to get in small, frequent, protein-based snacks to keep the blood sugar stable. This makes a huge impact on how the body metabolizes cholesterol.

Haylie Pomroy provides nutritional counseling and wellness consulting for clients who wish to actively enhance their health. She is an accomplished practitioner, speaker, writer, consultant, product developer, and researcher who has been featured several times on national television. Haylie practices in CA and CO and resides in Los Angeles with her two beautiful children. Haylie proudly works with the East West Essentials line of doctor’s wellness products. For additional nutrition tips and recipes, become a fan of Haylie on Facebook. HayliePomroy.com

Monday, October 12, 2009

filed under: eating right kids

Should toddlers be eating meat? What is the best choice? — Jennifer

Haylie Pomroy: I started meat with my first at about 2 years old and my second at about 16 months — she was just chasing us all down for it a bit earlier.

I was a huge fan of the book Vegetarian Baby because it gave me so many great vegetarian-based protein options for my little ones. I did avocados, beans, lentils, nuts and seed butters, quinoa, and sprouted grains. I do not like to see toddlers eating a lot of soy products.

When it was time, I introduced organic ground turkey, lamb, buffalo, and chicken all in small portions to my kids’ diets. When it came to sliced meats, I really stuck to the nitrite-free versions.

Haylie Pomroy provides nutritional counseling and wellness consulting for clients who wish to actively enhance their health. She is an accomplished practitioner, speaker, writer, consultant, product developer, and researcher who has been featured several times on national television. Haylie practices in CA and CO and resides in Los Angeles with her two beautiful children. Haylie proudly works with the East West Essentials line of doctor’s wellness products. For additional nutrition tips and recipes, become a fan of Haylie on Facebook. HayliePomroy.com

Friday, October 9, 2009

filed under: eating right kids

Can you give us some menus for working moms? — Jennifer

Haylie Pomroy: I so get it!!! I have a trick that I do to make life a bit easier for myself. There are 5 things I have on my school lunch grocery list that I actually keep in the visor of my car. If I grab these by late Sunday, I can pack lunches in 3 minutes or less. I often pack Sunday night after everyone has gone to bed, and pack for a couple of days at a time (of course, leaving them in the fridge).

Five things that make lunches super quick:

1. Whole fruit
2. Nitrite-free sliced meats
3. Organic yogurt or string cheese
4. Whole grain crackers or pretzels
5. Pre-washed organic veggies like baby carrots or celery

Haylie Pomroy provides nutritional counseling and wellness consulting for clients who wish to actively enhance their health. She is an accomplished practitioner, speaker, writer, consultant, product developer, and researcher who has been featured several times on national television. Haylie practices in CA and CO and resides in Los Angeles with her two beautiful children. Haylie proudly works with the East West Essentials line of doctor’s wellness products. For additional nutrition tips and recipes, become a fan of Haylie on Facebook. HayliePomroy.com

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

filed under: eating right kids

Should I be concerned about my toddler eating genetically modified foods? — Catherine

Haylie Pomroy: There are more and more studies showing the potentially negative effect on the immune system and overall negative health impact of consuming genetically modified foods.

Personally, I feel that the younger the child, the more concerned I am with the consumption of these foods. I am most concerned with feeding genetically modified soy-based products to kids. If soy is in the ingredient list and it does not say “non-GMO,” then we try not to use it. I have sincere hormone concerns with these foods. Corn is a rough one to stay away from because so many products have a corn base in them. Genetically modified corn has a quicker rate of sugar delivery into the body though, and can really lead to spikes and dips in little ones’ blood sugars.

Haylie Pomroy provides nutritional counseling and wellness consulting for clients who wish to actively enhance their health. She is an accomplished practitioner, speaker, writer, consultant, product developer, and researcher who has been featured several times on national television. Haylie practices in CA and CO and resides in Los Angeles with her two beautiful children. Haylie proudly works with the East West Essentials line of doctor’s wellness products. For additional nutrition tips and recipes, become a fan of Haylie on Facebook. HayliePomroy.com

Monday, October 5, 2009

filed under: eating right kids

Is it dangerous to associate dessert with being “rewarded”? Example: Eat your food and you’ll get a cookie! – Amy

Haylie Pomroy: I don’t know if I would use the word “dangerous,” but it’s not a good idea in my opinion. There are many books out right now about children being “punished” by a reward-based society. They are all interesting philosophies, but the way I see it is that desserts are desserts, and when we have them, we make it a celebratory event. Unfortunately so many kids get dessert in their lunches every day in the form of cookies, cakes, or even candy.

Just look at our adult dieting population and you will find that many diets teach us to have chocolate bars or puddings or cookies as snacks! The kids and I will have fruit with dinner and often sprinkle it with a bit of raw sugar or homemade whipped cream. We try to reward with words or time together or a movie, etc. I guess the danger in rewarding kids with treats is that they will be like so many of the adults that come into my office and are really struggling with wanting to continue to reward themselves with junk when they have been pulled off a big project or meeting, or are just wiped out. Their sincere struggle is that they don’t like the way that junk makes them feel, or the weight it makes them gain, or the health problems that reward system is causing them.

Haylie Pomroy provides nutritional counseling and wellness consulting for clients who wish to actively enhance their health. She is an accomplished practitioner, speaker, writer, consultant, product developer, and researcher who has been featured several times on national television. Haylie practices in CA and CO and resides in Los Angeles with her two beautiful children. Haylie proudly works with the East West Essentials line of doctor’s wellness products. For additional nutrition tips and recipes, become a fan of Haylie on Facebook. HayliePomroy.com

Saturday, October 3, 2009

filed under: eating right kids

Given tightened budgets, what organic packaged products should I choose for my kids? — Catherine

Haylie Pomroy: With organics, I always try to go dairy first, eggs and meats second, fruits and veggies third, and grains last.

Things like yogurts, string cheeses, and milks are a must. These products are high in fat, where most chemicals are stored, as well as the bulk of excess hormones and cortisol (the stress hormone).

According to The Daily Green, not all foods need to be purchased organic.

Don’t Waste Your Money on These Organic Foods

Why Buy Organic?

Buying organic makes sense for the health of the earth, farm workers, and the health of your family … But if you’re pinching pennies (and who isn’t these days?), choose from this list, based on the Environmental Working Group’s latest compilation of government data, of conventionally grown produce with the least pesticide residue.

The 15 fruits and vegetables on this list were the least likely to have pesticides detected on the parts you eat, after typical washing, whether or not they’re certified organic.

thedailygreen.com

Onion

Onions don’t see as many pest threats, which means less pesticide spraying. Look for onions that are firm, have a distinctive smell, and show no visible signs of damage or soft spots. Store in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator.

thedailygreen.com

Avocado

Avocados have thick skins that protect the fruit from pesticide buildup. Look for avocados that are still somewhat unripe and firm to the squeeze; they’ll ripen nicely on your kitchen counter in a couple of days. Store at room temperature. Although you’ll be using only the meat of the avocado, it’s always a good idea to rinse them before you slice them open.

thedailygreen.com

Corn

Sweet corn may take a lot of fertilizer to grow, but you’re unlikely to end up with any pesticides on the kernels. There is nothing — we mean nothing — like fresh corn on the cob from a local farm stand in late summer. Buy it fresh and local, and boil it that day for the best results. Just be sure to wash the corn before boiling.

thedailygreen.com

Pineapple

You won’t be eating the tough pineapple skin, which protects the fruit from pesticide residue. As with all your produce, you should rinse the pineapple before cutting. Although tempting, this is one fruit that you won’t want to choose if it has a strong, sweet smell. This usually means that the pineapple is overripe and has even begun to ferment. Like all other fruits, avoid any that have soft spots, and in the case of pineapples, damage to the rind. Store in the refrigerator crisper.

thedailygreen.com

Mango

Sweet mango flesh is protected by its thick skin from pesticides. Still, you’ll want to rinse under water before cutting open. Depending on the variety of mango, look for those that are bright in color, such as red, yellow, or orange. It should have a distinctive “fruity” smell. If there’s no ripe-fruit aroma, steer clear. Mangoes should be slightly firm, but yield to your touch somewhat — the softer the mango, usually the sweeter it is. If the mango is too soft, there’s a good chance that it will be rotten inside. Store in the refrigerator crisper.

thedailygreen.com

Asparagus

Asparagus face fewer threats from pests such as insects or disease, so fewer pesticides need to be used. Look for firm spears with bright green or purplish compact tips. Plan on a 1/2 pound per person, and for more uniform cooking, select spears of a similar thickness. Store in the refrigerator vegetable crisper and give them a good rinse before using (even if you’re going to boil them).

thedailygreen.com

Sweet Peas

Sweet peas are among the least likely vegetables to have pesticide residue, according to the Environmental Working Group’s latest survey of government data. If you’re not growing sweet peas in your garden, then look for full, green pea pods at your local farmers’ market, farm stand, or grocery store.

thedailygreen.com

Kiwi

Kiwi peel provides a barrier from pesticides. Give them a rinse before cutting. Here’s where your nose plays an important part when choosing fresh fruit. Sniff out kiwis that smell good. They should be plump and yield to a squeeze, like a ripe pear. Steer clear of those with moist areas on their surface or any skin bruising. If unripe kiwi are all that are available, simply take them home and place them in a paper bag at room temperature with other fruits that need more time, such as bananas or pears. Store in the refrigerator crisper.

thedailygreen.com

Cabbage

Cabbage doesn’t hold onto so many pesticides because a ton of spraying isn’t required to grow it. What it does hold onto is beta carotene: It’s a superfood! Look for cabbage heads whose leaves are tight, and be sure the head is heavy for its type, and firm. For most cabbage varieties, you’ll want to make sure the outer leaves are shiny and crisp. Savoy is the exception to this rule, as it forms a looser head and the leaves grow crinkly naturally. You’ll want to avoid any with leaves that show signs of yellowing. Bok choy should have deep green leaves with their stems a crisp-looking white. Discard the outer leaves of a cabbage before using. You can wash and spin most cabbage leaves just like you do salad greens. Store in the refrigerator crisper.

thedailygreen.com

Eggplant

Maybe it’s the thick skin, but eggplants are among the least likely to be contaminated by pesticides, according to the Environmental Working Group. Look for firm and glossy eggplants to know they’re ripe and undamaged. Because they grow to various sizes, choose one proportionate to the dish you’re preparing.

thedailygreen.com

Papaya

Pesticide residue stays on papaya skin, so be sure to give them a wash before slicing open. Papaya colors usually range between yellow and green. Look for those that are slightly soft and show no signs of bruising or appear shriveled. If they’re not fully ripened, you can toss them in the brown bag along with your unripened kiwi fruit, peaches, and pears. Once they’re ripened, store in the refrigerator crisper.

thedailygreen.com

Watermelon

With that rind, watermelon has a natural defense against the onslaught of any chemical. Look for a firm, whole melon without any soft spots.

thedailygreen.com

Broccoli

Conventional broccoli doesn’t retain so many pesticides because the crop faces fewer pest threats, which means less spraying. Look for tightly bunched flower buds on the broccoli stalks that are immature. In other words, try not to buy them if their little yellow flowers have opened. Color-wise, the broccoli should be deep green and the stalks should be firm and not rubbery. Before use, wash in a cool water bath and change the water a couple of times in the process. Store in the refrigerator crisper.

thedailygreen.com

Tomatoes

Tomatoes were on the 2008 Dirty Dozen list of foods with the most pesticide residue, but the latest update finds them cleaner than most. Why? The Environmental Working Group isn’t sure. If you aren’t growing your own, look for fresh in-season tomatoes at local farmers’ markets and farm stands. Look for glossy, firm skin — and don’t hesitate to try a delicious heirloom variety that might not look like a typical tomato!

thedailygreen.com

Sweet Potatoes

Not only are sweet potatoes unlikely to be contaminated with pesticides, they’re also a superfood, packed with Vitamin A and beta carotene. It’s hard to go wrong choosing a hardy sweet potato. Just make sure it isn’t beaten up or rotting, and choose a size that matches the meal you’re preparing.

thedailygreen.com

Haylie Pomroy provides nutritional counseling and wellness consulting for clients who wish to actively enhance their health. She is an accomplished practitioner, speaker, writer, consultant, product developer, and researcher who has been featured several times on national television. Haylie practices in CA and CO and resides in Los Angeles with her two beautiful children. Haylie proudly works with the East West Essentials line of doctor’s wellness products. For additional nutrition tips and recipes, become a fan of Haylie on Facebook. HayliePomroy.com

Thursday, October 1, 2009

filed under:eating right kids

What’s the most effective way to get a VERY picky toddler to try a new food? — Amy

Haylie Pomroy: There are three little tricks that I like to have my clients use:

1. I have a lot of my clients try new fruits and veggies in a frozen form. 
I know this sounds kind of funny, but organic fruits and veggies don’t have as much instant impact on the taste buds. Things like organic peas or blueberries can make their way down to the belly before their flavor comes through in the mouth. Frozen string beans, carrots, strawberries can be interesting to a toddler. I would get my little ones to eat frozen sweet potato spears long before I could ever get them to stomach sweet potato baby food in a jar. A little trick, but it can work very well.

2. Do a one week sugar sweep. 
Although we try to eat really great foods at home, there are times when our busy hectic schedules allow for more processed and packaged foods to sneak in. In my household, we regularly do one week sugar sweeps. This is where we only eat real foods for one week.  Things like fruits and veggies, organic meats and dairy, whole and sprouted grains, etc. My kids are old enough to look at packaging of things like peanut butter and apple sauce and see what brands do not have any sugar added. This seems to cleanse the palate and open the kids up to more variety and healthier foods. It is a great one for Mom as well. Really watch those baby foods. Many of our toddlers become picky eaters because they are being fed a ton of added refined sugar per day in some of their foods. This can make for a very picky palate.

3. Consider a children’s-based probiotic. 
These are the good gut bugs that are taken in supplement form. These can enhance digestion, can reduce inflammation in the gut, and encourage the appetite for healthy foods. This trick has brought many clients with picky toddlers huge success.

I do have a motto in my house: I tell my kids that I am perfectly okay with them not liking something. They have to try as many bites as they are old before they can decide that, though.

One note — very picky eaters might be suffering from food allergies. If you suspect this is the case, see your doctor. 

Haylie Pomroy provides nutritional counseling and wellness consulting for clients who wish to actively enhance their health. She is an accomplished practitioner, speaker, writer, consultant, product developer, and researcher who has been featured several times on national television. Haylie practices in CA and CO and resides in Los Angeles with her two beautiful children. Haylie proudly works with the East West Essentials line of doctor’s wellness products. For additional nutrition tips and recipes, become a fan of Haylie on Facebook. HayliePomroy.com

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

filed under:grocery logic

You can make grocery shopping easier, more fun — and teach your kids about nutrition while you’re at it!

Haylie Pomroy: I don’t have many friends that like to grocery shop — though I do have one that makes her lists and delegates each kid to find or hunt down items to return to the cart. When I heard about this idea, I decided to take it and turn our grocery adventures into a hunt for healthy foods.

On the drive to the store, I will ask my kids questions like: Did you know the higher up the ingredient list an item is, the more of it there is in a product? So for example, if you are comparing two loaves of bread and both contain the word “sugar” in the ingredient list, the one that has “sugar” lower down the list would be the better choice.

Or I will do things like ask: Who wants to pick what veggie we are having for dinner or what fruit we are having for dessert?

Now my oldest is 11, and I actually give him a mini grocery list and have him venture out into the store to find items to return to our basket. My little one stays in the same aisle for her safety and the sanity of others. Both, however, since a very young age have been on the “hunt” for very healthy foods.

Four healthy things to have an older child hunt for:

1) Ask them to find a loaf of bread that does NOT have the word “enriched flour” in the ingredient list.
2) Ask them to get 1 dozen eggs that are not cracked and are grade A, large brown, and organic.
3) Ask them to find an apple sauce that does NOT have the word “sugar” in the ingredient list.
4) Ask them to find a peanut butter that only has peanuts, oil, and salt in the ingredient list.

Five healthy things to have a younger child hunt for:

1) Ask them to find their most favorite fruit in the whole world.
2) Ask them to now find that favorite fruit that is ripe and ready to eat today.
3) Ask them to now find that favorite fruit that is not quite ripe so they can eat it in a few days.
4) Ask them to find their most favorite vegetable in the whole world.
5) Ask them to find a vegetable that their most favorite animal in the whole world might like to eat. Ask them if they might like to pretend to be that animal and eat it too.

I know that grocery shopping can be a chore, and with kids in tow, it can even be very stressful. Getting kids fired up about eating healthy foods and making good food choices is a gift that you can give them that will carry through their whole lives. In my family, we don’t shop, we “hunt” down healthy food!

Haylie Pomroy provides nutritional counseling and wellness consulting for clients who wish to actively enhance their health. She is an accomplished practitioner, speaker, writer, consultant, product developer, and researcher who has been featured several times on national television. Haylie practices in CA and CO and resides in Los Angeles with her two beautiful children. Haylie proudly works with the East West Essentials line of doctor’s wellness products. For additional nutrition tips and recipes, become a fan of Haylie on Facebook. HayliePomroy.com

Monday, September 7, 2009

filed under:eating right kids

Haylie Pomroy: Our kids are bombarded with junk food options every day. They see it in commercials, at some schools, maybe even in their lunches. I get a lot of referrals in my practice for childhood obesity, diabetes, or just picky eaters. With my own kids as well as with my clients’ kids, I like to try to empower them with knowledge about foods that are healthy to choose.

Even when my kids were teeny tiny, I would talk to them about the impact food has on the body. I would say, “Gosh, they can run so fast or jump so high because they have eaten something healthy.” Kids of all ages can begin to see the relationship between healthy choices and healthy bodies. My niece and nephew, pretty grown-up kids, were over the other day, getting ready to jump on the trampoline, and my nephew said to me, “Aunt Haylie, what foods can I eat to jump higher?” Here are a few great and healthy things to teach kids to look for in their food choices.

Proteins
Proteins form the building blocks that build the house we call our bodies. I talk a lot to kids about strong muscles, bones, hair, and teeth. When mine were little, sometimes we would take bites of healthy proteins at the dinner table and then I would have them see if it would make them jump higher or run faster or challenge them to arm wrestling. To this day, my son is very aware of how his protein intake plays a roll in his sports performance. Great foods that have tons of protein are organic chicken, turkey, dairy products, nuts and seeds, beans and legumes. I have a great list of protein-rich foods on my website, hayliepomroy.com.

Healthy Fats
With the fats, I always talk about brain power and good moods. The healthy fats are so important while kids are laying down so many new tracks neurologically in those ever-growing brains. We talk about smart lunches and study snacks in our house.

Pistachios, almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, avocados, and nut butters are some great healthy fat-based snacks. I had a diabetic client of mine e-mail me the other day. I began seeing him when he was eight, and he is now away at college. He was all fired up because he was taking a science class and he told his professor that he had already learned about how fats work on the brain way back when he was eight (insert proud tear here).

Natural Sugars
I like to talk to my kids about times when sugar can actually be good for you: when you get it in the form of “natural” sugars. For my kiddos, this is kind of a fun one because in many schools, teachers and staff are beginning to talk to kids about sugar being bad for them — our schools don’t even allow cupcakes or cookies at birthday parties anymore. My kids feel awfully smart when they say, “Well, my mom is bringing a ton of sugar to my party: fruit.” Whole fruits contain lots and lots of this wonderful natural sugar! Whole fruits provide vital nutrients to keep up with kids’ rapid rates of growth and development. I don’t advocate a lot of fruit juices for kids, though, because in this form, the sugars become too concentrated. If you must do juice, I suggest you half it with water.

The other day, my daughter crawled up into my lap and said, “Mama, I want to stay little forever — can I have some caffeine?” I just cracked up, it was so cute. I am sure somewhere along the way I had told her that drinking coffee would stunt her growth, and obviously she was listening!

Haylie Pomroy provides nutritional counseling and wellness consulting for clients who wish to actively enhance their health. She is an accomplished practitioner, speaker, writer, consultant, product developer, and researcher who has been featured several times on national television. Haylie practices in CA and CO and resides in Los Angeles with her two beautiful children. Haylie proudly works with the East West Essentials line of doctor’s wellness products. For additional nutrition tips and recipes, become a fan of Haylie on Facebook. HayliePomroy.com