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Ask Lori

Q&A Contact

As a nutritional consultant, naturally, I receive questions from people in general conversation about nutrition.  I hear the same questions frequently and therefore decided to dedicate a website page to the answering of these questions for others to read.

If you post a question to me through this website I reserve the right to post it here along with my no-nonsense answer and any feed- back I receive about it.  As I mentioned, it will be a no-nonsense answer, so please don’t expect a sugar coated response and please don’t be offended by my straight-to-the-point attitude. I am dedicated to helping people learn what they need to know to maintain and restore optimal health.

I will provide other resources when I feel they will be of help. 
In posting a question to me, you will acknowledge that my response is my opinion.  I am not a medical doctor and do not diagnose, prescribe for, treat, or cure any illness or disease.  Everything I write or say is my opinion based on my knowledge, experience and the written words and experiences of many great nutritionists and authors.

Have a question for me? Fill out the form on my Contact page.

I will email you an answer, and may or may not post it to this website's Q&A page.

If I chose to post your question on the website your privacy will be protected.  I will not use your full name and I absolutely will not reveal  your address, phone number or e-mail address to anyone.



 


Q&A

Look over the questions below and you may find the answer your looking for.
If not go to my Contact page and send me your question and it may get posted here to help others.

Q). ..teenage acne

Q). ..is about protein shakes

Q).
..about being a vegetarian

Q). ...about food and migraines

Q). ...about food combining

Q). ...about diet sodas and aspartame

Q). …about acne and acne scars

Q). ...about milk causing ear infections

Q). …having difficulty getting my 4 year old to eat healthy food…

 


Nov 2010
Dear Lori,

My son is 15 and is starting to really show the signs of puberty on his face, in the way of acne outbreaks.  It has gotten to the point that he is self-conscious and we are looking for ideas of how to clear his skin.  But we are hesitant about using prescriptions, such as Acutane, because of probable dangers to his health.  Can you help him?  What would you advise?

Thank you,
Louise F. (MD)



Dear Louise,

Acne is definitely a common problem for teenagers, in fact up to 90% of teenagers will experience acne outbreaks.  Though it will often cause self-conscious feelings and embarrassment, it isn’t worth the possible side effects of prescriptions, so I agree with you to look for natural ideas.   I will recommend several approaches:  topical skin care, and nutritional intake; including supplements.  These should be used simultaneously.  Acne should be fought from the inside and outside.

Teenage acne is usually a response from increased hormones, particularly testosterone.  Because of the sudden increase in hormone activity, oil glands become very active and produce more oils than usual.  Dirt, dead skin cells and oil become trapped in pores causing inflammation and infection.

So firstly, the skin should be cleaned more often than the teenager is used to having to do.  I recommend gently washing morning, after school and evening before bed with a wash cloth and hot water.  The gentle exfoliation helps slough off dead cells and clean out the pores.  I also recommend trying a diluted ratio of pure essential lavender oil or tea tree oil.  Both can have a burning effect on the skin used straight, therefore, wet a cotton ball with water first and use only several drops of the oil.  They are both great against infection and shouldn’t have any detrimental side effects.  They are naturally antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral.  They should only be used topically.

Though the body, during the teen years produces more testosterone causing overactive oil glands, the body, if toxin free, could flush these hormones more rapidly, reducing the effect of the hormones on oil glands and consequently the skin.  Usually by the teen years, the liver and digestive system is, however, toxic.  The liver can’t work fast enough for the new active hormone production if it is already burdened.  Therefore, I would recommend a cleanse.   For more information on an herbal cleanse, please e-mail me.  But basically a good herbal and fiber cleanse, helps scour the proverbial pipes and clean out the internal toxins.  The skin is the largest organ of the body and is an outlet for toxins.  The skin is only as healthy as the blood flowing beneath it.

Nutrition is the third punch in the fight against acne; however, it shouldn’t be mistaken for the least important.  The cliché “what you eat is what you are”, is valid.  Every bit of food or drink that goes into the body has an effect on the cells. 

Sugar foods, including soda and energy drinks, and foods with hydrogenated fats, such as chips, cookies and other packaged snacks,  foods that are deep fried such as fries and other saturated fats such as meat and dairy are the biggest culprits toward a toxic load for the body.  These are also inflammatory causing foods.  So to reduce the inflammation and to reduce toxic load on the liver and digestive tract, reduce or eliminate these foods.

In addition to reducing toxic foods, increasing healthy foods such as  vegetables and fruits is of the utmost importance.  Remember that every living cell in the body requires living nutrition to be the healthy cells you want.  It is like a military.  Give your soldiers good weapons and they can win the war.  Give them old broken weapons and they can’t.  That is how it is for your cells.  Each is like a soldier in your army.  If they are given living nutrition (raw produce) they are equipped to fight disease and illness.  If they are given dead (boxed and over -cooked) food, they will succumb to disease and illness and even acne; suboptimal health.  So each day, you should feed your body, your cells, your soldiers what they need to be as healthy as possible: raw carrots, apples, oranges, bananas, celery, spinach, broccoli, cucumbers, kale, etc.  Good smoothies for breakfast (not with milk or yogurt), good salads for lunch and plenty of veggies for dinner as well.  And don’t forget to drink plenty of purified water throughout the day.  Water flushes toxins out,  carries nutrients and keeps cells plump and hydrated.  Don’t underestimate the importance of good water.

A good supplement is also advised to help ensure that your body receives what it needs.  I never recommend synthetic vitamins or minerals, but only whole food supplements.  Good greens or reds and a good probiotic will help boost the immune system and the digestive system. 

I know that is a lot of information, but it is a good 3 punch system that should help a lot if your teenager has the ambition for good health, including healthy skin.

Good luck and best of health,
Lori
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Nov 2010
Lori,
My question pertains to protein shakes. I started working out and have added protein shakes to my regime. As my health is of the utmost importance, I wanted to check to see if this is part of a healthy plan.
J.C.


Hi J.C.,
I’m glad your priority is your health. Weight lifting can be an excellent part of a healthy lifestyle. It is wonderful for muscle and bone health. However, having said that, the supplements that often go with that lifestyle are not good for a healthy body.

Protein is essential for growth; however, it is important to ingest your protein from natural, whole food sources. Don’t underestimate the power that an abundance of raw plant foods have on growth and development (including your muscles). Every body is different. Some bodies develop more than others. That is ok. What isn’t ok is to force growth with supplements.

Some of the dangers of protein shake supplements are:

1. Stressful on your kidneys and liver and other organs.
2. Some excellent studies have shown too much protein creates an environment for cancer.
3. Using shakes as meal replacement usually means not getting enough of essential vitamins and minerals from a healthy diet rich in a variety of raw fruits and vegetables.
4. Many protein shake supplements tested have shown levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury in them, all of which are toxic and burdensome on organs.

Be comfortable with your body’s natural development. If you are healthy and engaging regularly in weight lifting and cardiovascular exercise, you will look perfect!

Best of Health,
Lori
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Hi Lori –
I have a question about my teenage daughter. She is 14 and is apparently deciding that she wants to be a vegetarian. Is this healthy? Is it something I should be happy about or not? I am worried that she is doing this because of either weight or because of an ideal about cruelty to animals. I am concerned that she isn’t going to get enough nutrition and or too thin. She isn’t overweight now, perhaps slightly, but nothing significant at all. How should I handle this? Do you recommend that people be vegetarians?
S.K.



Hi S.K. –
First of all, being a vegetarian isn’t something that I necessarily suggest. I work with people on a very individual basis. Everybody is different from each other and reacts differently to different foods. Also, some people benefit more or less from different foods.

As a parent of a teenager who is consciously making new food choices, it is important to know that she is eating. Make sure she doesn’t show signs of bulimia or anorexia. If you can rule out an eating disorder , the next step as a parent is to be sure she is eating a healthy and balanced diet.

Balanced has different meanings for different people, so let me explain balanced in my opinion. Balanced is plenty and a variety of vegetables and fruits with beans, raw nuts, seeds and whole grains. Dairy is not something I suggest and I don’t necessarily recommend meat. However, having said that I don’t recommend hands down, that everybody becomes a vegetarian. I have seen “vegetarians” who think they are vegetarians because they don’t eat meat, but they don’t even eat vegetables. That is an example of unhealthy eating…subsisting on pasta, bread and french fries.

So if your daughter wants to become a vegetarian, sit down and talk with her about why and ask her what she plans to eat, specifically. 

If her daily meals look something like this: a poptart for breakfast, a cheese sandwich with chips for lunch, a candy bar and soda as a midday snack and pizza or french fries for dinner, then you should be concerned.

However if her daily meals look something like this: a fresh made smoothie followed by oatmeal for breakfast, a salad with a baked potato for lunch, a handful or two of raw almonds as a midday snack and a bean wrap with salsa for dinner, and plenty of purified water throughout the day, then you have nothing to be worried about. There may be instances where a B supplement or iron (during menstruation) may be necessary. But not always, and I always recommend that people look for non-synthetic vitamins and minerals from very reputable companies. Otherwise I think it is a waste of money and detrimental for their health.

Good luck, and with any more questions, or if I haven’t fully answered you, please let me know.

Thanks,
Lori
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Dear Lori,
I have been suffering regularly from migraines for almost 10 years now.  I don’t get them every day, but about 2 or 3 times per month.  Sometimes one lasts for 2-3 days.  And sometimes they are quite debilitating where I even get sick to the stomach.  What is going on and what can I do to get rid of them?  I really don’t want to be dependent on medications – over the counter meds don’t even work most of the time, they might dull my headache a little, but they usually don’t take it away.  What do you suggest?

Johanna F. (PA)



Dear Johanna –
Sorry you are suffering from migraines.  They can be complicated so be ready to do your homework. 

The first things I would ask is are you a smoker, do you consume artificial sweeteners, do you consume caffeine and / or do you consume a large amount of alcohol, especially red wine?

If the answer is yes to any of the above, you need to commit to making changes.  Your body is telling you something.  Artificial sweeteners are the most dangerous additive in our food supply.  Do not drink diet sodas.  If any product advertises sugar-free, check the labels.  If there are artificial sweeteners in it such as aspartame, avoid it like the plague.  If you smoke – QUIT.  The sooner the better.  If you are a caffeine consumer, you need to cut back to a minimum or quit.  Red wine in general may not be harmful but the preservatives in most of them can be debilitating for some people.  If you love your red wine, consider looking for an organic brand – something without the chemical preservatives.

Also, food allergies and sensitivities can cause migraines.  Some of the foods which more commonly cause problems are firstly, as I mentioned above, artificial sweetener products, also processed food which is often laden with chemicals, inorganic food which has been sprayed with herbicides and pesticides, sugar, chocolate and dairy.

The menstrual cycle may also be indirectly to blame.  During the menstrual cycle hormones circulate through the body and if your liver is burdened or toxic it won’t flush excesses as it is supposed to.  If this is the case the mutated and excess hormones, estrogen in particular will cause menstrual symptoms such as pms, acne and headaches.

Because there are so many possibilities as to why you are getting migraines, you would be wise to begin a journal.  You should record daily your food and drink habits.  Include your meals, your drinks, your gum, your mints (gum and mints can be a big culprit as most people use sugar-free brands which contain aspartame).  Also include your menstrual cycle.  Make sure you also consider your eyesight, so include computer time or extended periods of reading.  And make sure you pay attention to your body signals and record how you are feeling – good and bad- and be descriptive. 

In the meantime, beginning healthier habits will help strengthen your liver which has the burden of filtering all toxins and wastes.  And remember that medications are burdensome on the liver, so you are wise to wish to avoid them as much as possible; they can certainly exacerbate the problem. 

Best of luck,
Lori
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Dear Lori,
Hi – I am wondering about food combining.  Can you tell me what it is exactly and why it benefits people?  I’ve heard a little about it, but I wonder how it supports a healthy diet. 
 

Thanks, Betty (VA)

 

Hi Betty,
Thank you so much for the question.  Yes, the concept of proper food combining is becoming more main stream and rightly so.  It is a valuable bit of knowledge for one who is seeking a healthier way of eating.  Proper food combining is about streamlining digestion.  Digestion is something we take for granted, but it isn’t always that easy for the body when we eat indiscriminately.  In a nut shell, proper food combining is eating in such a way that the body can easily and efficiently digest the food, thereby reserving as much energy as possible.  Digestion is the single most energy consuming activity that the body must perform.

The two biggest examples of proper food combining is eating protein and starch foods separately and eating fruit alone and on an empty stomach.

Protein and starch foods digest differently from one another.  Starchy foods begin digesting in the mouth and utilize an alkaline digestive juice, where protein foods utilize an acid digestive juice.  As we learned in high school chemistry class, an acid and alkaline, when combined, neutralize each other, rendering each useless.  When this happens during digestion, the body must utilize a lot of energy to continually try to digest these foods.  Eventually it must move food out of the stomach incompletely digested.  A testament to the countless bouts of indigestion is the millions of dollars spent on digestive aids each year. 

Heavily concentrated starch foods and heavily concentrated protein foods should all actually be eaten separately.  This goes against much of what we learned at the kitchen table as we grew up.  We typically ate meals such as meat and potatoes or chicken and rice or fish and rich or macaroni and cheese or egg and toast.  These meals not only were never fully digested, they robbed us of valuable energy our body would have used more wisely doing things such as keeping our selves healthier. 

Eating fruit alone and on an empty stomach is also extremely important when trying to eat healthier.  Fruit is the only food that requires no digestive efforts while in the stomach.  It moves into the small intestines rather quickly compared to other foods.  Within 20-30 minutes fruit is ready to move out of the stomach and into the small intestines where nutrients can be absorbed into the blood stream.  If, however, other food is eaten with the fruit or too closely ahead of the fruit, the fruit is not able to move along as it needs to.  If it is held up in the stomach by these slower moving foods it will actually begin to rot.  Not only will the duty of having to find a place for the rotting food provide a burden on the body, the nutrients that one expected to receive from the fruit are no longer available. 

The best rule to follow is to eat fruit first thing in the morning.  The body can reserve energy because the fruit doesn’t require any digestive efforts by the body and there is nothing else in the stomach to hold it up.  Therefore, one gets plenty of nutrients and utilizes no energy.
As far as the protein and starch goes, eat them with veggies.   You don’t have to eat meat at every meal.  And when you wish to, leave out the starch foods.  This may take a little bit of getting used to but it is well worth the effort.  Chicken with steamed broccoli and a large salad makes a delicious meal.  As well, does sautéed mushrooms with a salad and steamed vegetables or a baked sweet potato with a salad and vegetables.  Again, this may take some getting used to, but you need to evaluate your priorities.  I see many people who think eating food the way they always have is the most important thing until they are sick, then they re-evaluate their priorities. 

Good luck with proper food combining and best of health,

~ Lori
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Dear Lori,
I am wondering what specifically it is about diet sodas that are so unhealthy.   I know it is the aspartame but what about that is so bad for you.  I drink these because of the calories.  People have advised me to stop, but nobody can tell me why.  Thanks.

~ Jill (Maryland)


Dear Jill,
Good question and good friends.  You would be wise to listen to them.  Kick this habit. 
Aspartame is one of the most dangerous substances added to our food supply and accounts for over 75% of adverse reactions of additives reported to the US Food and Drug Administration.  Many of these reactions are very serious including seizures and death.

Aspartame is not only found in diet soft drinks, but also in instant breakfasts, breath mints and gum, cereals, cocoa mixes, coffee beverages, frozen desserts, gelatin desserts, wine coolers, children’s vitamins, etc.  So check labels.  It is a poison. 

It is comprised of aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol. Excess free excitatory amino acids such as aspartic acid in our food supply can cause serious chronic neurological disorders and a myriad of other symptoms such as MS, memory loss, hormonal problems, hearing loss, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, hypoglycemia, AIDS, etc.
Phenylalanine is an amino acid usually found in the brain.  Excess levels  have been shown to cause a decrease of serotonin in the brain, which in turn can lead to a host of emotional disorders.

Methanol or wood alcohol is a deadly poison.  Methanol breaks down into formic acid and formaldehyde in the body.  Formaldehyde is a deadly neurotoxin.  Methanol is considered a cumulative poison due to the low excretion rate.  It builds up faster than the body can rid itself of it.  Some symptoms of methanol poisoning are headaches, ear buzzing, dizziness, GI disturbances, memory lapses, behavioral disturbances, vision problems.  Formaldehyde, a carcinogen interferes with DNA replication, causes birth defects, etc.
Diketopierazine (DKP) is a bi-product of aspartame metabolism and has been implicated in the occurrence of brain tumors.

Some of the most serious problems that can occur by ingesting aspartame are birth defects, cancer, including brain cancer, diabetes, epilepsy and seizures. 
On top of all this, it really doesn’t help at all with weight loss.  Though it doesn’t contain calories, it is a toxin which accumulates in the cells.  It actually contributes to weight gain.  It goes into the liver and creates an energy consuming burden on the liver.  Metabolism slows down resulting in stored fat.  Whenever the liver is overloaded, there is a tendency to gain weight.  Aspartame also causes unstable blood sugar levels (it is not ideal for diabetics), increasing the appetite and cravings for sweets. 

There is no good reason to consume aspartame containing products, not only are they poisonous, they do not at all assist in weight loss, in fact they contribute to weight gain.
Good luck kicking the habit.  You really need to do it.  Start out by decreasing your intake of these soft drinks and substitute them with water as often as necessary.
 

Best of luck and health,
~ Lori
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Hi Lori,
I was referred to you by my friend's aunt.  I've just gotten over a really bad breakout on my face.  I had some scars before but I dealt with them because they weren't that bad.  Now I have tons of scars and I just wish for the day I can wake up and feel comfortable not putting cover up on.  Is there anything I can put on the scars to have them start to fade?  I've been trying to change my diet up the past couple of months eating more veggies, but I do also have that junk food in there as well.  What else can I do to have the scars fade?

~ Kelly (PA)

Hi Kelly,
Thanks for your question.  I realize you are concerned with acne scarring.  Let me ask you several questions though.  Firstly, are you still getting acne?  If yes, how much, how often, what kind (cyst-like, black heads, pimples...) and where on your face?  My second question is what is your diet like?  Please don't feel bad about this question and be as honest as possible.  That way I can be more of a help to you.  What is a typical days' menu like for you.  Why don't you tell me what you ate and drank yesterday.  Include everything: snacks, drinks, desserts, mints or gum etc.  Also, how old are you?  I have some ideas for you but it will be easier for me to help you if I know a little more about your situation.  Looking forward to helping you.  I'm pretty confident that you will eventually enjoy healthier looking skin.
 

~ Lori


Lori,
Yes I still get some.  I just got one on my chin and right cheek.  I get cystic acne and sometimes just small pimples usually everywhere like my chin, the sides of my mouth like sorta on my cheek, on my cheek, my forehead, on my temples, etc.  Well my diet- for the past like 3 months I've been trying to eat healthy and change my diet.  For breakfast I'll usually have eggs and a glass of water.  Lunch, most of the time, I get a bologna and American cheese sandwich on wheat with mayo.  Dinner, I go to our international station at school where it's usually pasta and veggies, or a type of salad.  Every meal I have a glass of water also.  My snacks are pretty junky actually.  I do have cookies in my room and crackers.  I have soup a lot.  I do have bananas and strawberries in my room though!  Thank you so much for trying to help me out!  I really appreciate it!
~ Kelly (PA)

Okay Kelly -

Let's get down to it!  Acne is often a result of hormonal changes as with puberty or menopause or during menstruation.  Healing your skin needs to be handled from the outside and inside simultaneously, focusing on the later.  That means changing your diet.  There is no getting around that part of the plan.  The skin is the largest organ of the body, weighing about 9 lbs. and therefore is a common outlet for accumulated toxins.

The following changes may seem difficult at first, but keep it up and your positive results will further motivate you. My suggestion is to begin each morning with a glass of purified water.  Then have about 3 - 4 servings of fresh fruit.  Throughout the day drink about 7 more glasses of purified water and incorporate 4 - 5 servings of raw vegetables into your daily diet.  Cut out the sugars (including any artificial sugars).  No soda or diet soda or cookies, donuts, pastries, etc.  Back off of the processed foods, dairy and meat.  Cold water fatty fish like salmon or halibut is good.

Some supplements that will support this healthy change and help clean out the toxins are a good probiotic, a liver cleanse, a good fiber supplement, and flax seed oil (from the refrigerator section of the health food store).  (All of these can be found in a health food store)  The liver cleanse is especially important as the liver is responsible for moving out excess estrogen after menstruation.  If the liver is toxic, the excess estrogen circulates through the body causing menstrual/hormonal problems such as headaches, PMS and yes, acne.

When you are feeding your body correctly, new skin will begin to replace old scar tissue.  What happens is, in the basal layer of skin, new plump, moist skin cells are produced.  They then travel upward toward the epidermis, which is the layer of skin we see.  This process takes 3 - 4 months, so as you begin a healthier lifestyle and regime, be patient if you don't see immediate results as it may take 3 - 4 months.

In the meantime you can topically treat your skin with lavender and tea tree oil.  (They are both essential oils which can be found in the health food store).  They both are antibiotic, antiseptic, antiviral and anti-fungal.  Use them on your skin with a cotton ball, but start out by diluting them with a bit of water as some people find their skin is sensitive to these oils.   I use tea tree oil at night before bed and you can use the lavender oil for scarring.  You can also mix the lavender oil with vitamin E oil and a bit of wheat germ oil which is good for scarring, but be careful as the oils may clog pours and cause more breakouts.  I would try first without the "carrier vitamin E / wheat germ oils".  The scarring will eventually fade as you continue a healthy regime because the new cells will move up and replace the old tissue.  But as I said, you need to incorporate the healthy eating as an essential and main part of this plan.  The skin heals from the inside out - not the outside in.  There is no magic pill or creme that can tackle this problem alone.  And keep in mind that a beneficial side effect of this whole plan is also a healthier, more energetic body.  Please keep me posted on your progress.

I wish you all the best of luck and health,
~ Lori
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Dear Lori,
I read something on your website about milk causing ear infections, I have a 2 year old who gets them also and she is a milk drinker.  Should I stop giving her milk?  And if so, how will she get her calcium?
Sincerely,
Brenda L. (MD)

Hi Brenda,
In my opinion your daughter will benefit greatly if you take her off of dairy milk.  Dairy milk is the number one allergen for children and ear infections are a common side effect of drinking it.  Dairy milk is by nature designed for baby cows, who grow much faster and larger than humans.  They are then weaned off of it just as we are weaned off of our Mother’s milk when we reach one or two years of age.  Aside from the fact that milk’s calcium and protein isn’t ideal for humans, it makes no logical sense to give our children the milk made by a cow for a cow.  As for how to get calcium into your daughter; fruit and vegetables contain calcium in the form our body benefits from.  Green leafy vegetables contain an especially large amount of calcium and sesame seeds contain more calcium than any other food.  Please keep me posted on your progress. 

Best of luck and health,
Lori
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Dear Lori,
I recently decided to try to establish a healthier lifestyle for my family but I am having difficulty getting my 4 year old to eat anything but chicken nuggets and mac-n-cheese.  How can I get him to eat healthy food. 
Ida (WI)

Dear Ida,
I hear this question often so don’t feel bad, but I will be blunt with you.  You are the Mother.  Does your child cross the road alone?  Doubtfully.  Do you allow your child to smoke cigarettes?  I hope not.  Do you tell your child when to go to bed?  To brush teeth?  To bathe?  I think in most aspects of his life you are probably in charge and usually for his well-being and safety.  Well, you need to take charge of what he eats, not only because you are in charge but because you care about his health.  Tell him that.  Does he do the grocery shopping?  Does he plan the list?  Does he cook?  Ok.  You can see where I am going here.  You put out the food you want him to eat.  He will not starve himself to death.  If he skips a day of eating, he’ll be ok.  He’ll eventually start eating bits of healthy food.  And I promise you this, he will be a lot better off eating a little bit of salad than a whole plate of macaroni and cheese.  He’ll be getting some nutritional value which will serve his body well.  The mac ‘n cheese will provide him with no nutritional value.  His body will have to utilize more energy just to do something with it than he will receive from it.  Our children are smarter than we think, so let’s educate them.  Teach him why you want him to eat healthy, model good eating behavior and keep the junk out of the house and the healthy food available.  Good luck!  You can do this.  Remember why you want to and be strong. 
A good book for you would be “Disease-Proof Your Child, Feeding Kids Right”  by Joel Fuhrman, M.D.
Best of Luck and Health,
Lori

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