Weight gain in pregnancy is a hotly contested issue and many moms-to-be are confused by the conflicting messages they receive regarding how much weight they should gain. How much is too much? What is a healthy weight gain and should moms-to-be follow the proverbial principle of “eating for two”?

It may surprise you to learn that the “eating for two” philosophy has long been dismissed as a sensible approach to healthy weight gain in pregnancy. Most health care providers (more…)

Dr. Steven Pratt came out with a book SuperFoods Rx: Fourteen Foods that Will Change your Life awhile back. But when the book came out, it was at the same time that others were hitting the shelves extolling the virtues of salmon, yogurt and blueberries — namely Dr. Perricone’s famous anti-inflammatory skin diet. I checked them all out, yet at the time it felt like a fad. But in my ongoing quest to strive to ingest only whole foods and foods that actually nourish and help, I revisited Dr. Pratt’s book.

His book is still a great resource. He outlines with medical backing why each one of his SuperFoods - is well, super - and also includes recipes created by Golden Door’s chef, Michel Stroot. Here’s Dr. Pratt’s SuperFoods list: (more…)

I don’t say this nearly enough but, “God bless my mother!” I can’t remember a day that went by as a kid that she didn’t haul her tired self out of bed to make sure I had breakfast before I went off to school. And I’m not talking a bowl of Tricks, we weren’t allowed to eat the sugary stuff. No, I had oatmeal, Cheerios or eggs and toast with my coffee (I’m Italian, the espresso started early). She always told me breakfast was the most important way to start the day. And, um, 40 years later, the American Heart Association is backing her up on this. (more…)