THE BOOK
Introduction
As a family physician, I have counseled many patients on lifestyle modification and dietary recommendations for reasons of preventative medicine, weight loss or maintenance, and chronic disease treatment. I have found that there is a vast array of misinformation all around us, with TV, internet, social media, supplement companies, weight-loss programs, food and beverage corporations, even healthcare practitioners often providing biased information with promising claims and little to no scientific medical evidence to support such claims. This is confusing and misleading for consumers. I have also found that individuals tend to be more successful in implementing changes when they have concrete recommendations on what to do and how to do it.
We are seeing more and more preventable diseases beginning earlier and earlier, even in childhood, directly as a result of what we eat. There is a strong link with our dietary habits and those of our families. As children, we learn directly from those who feed us. Thus it is very important for all caregivers involved to be aware of current dietary recommendations for children. Not only is the concern about what we are consuming too much of, but also what we are not consuming enough of. I wrote this book with hopes of providing a clear understanding of WHY what we eat is so critical to our health and the health of our environment, as well as HOW to incorporate what I call the most important dietary factor, “Vitamin V” – VARIETY, into your child’s diet and your own. I also felt it important to discuss several topics that often come up in discussions centered on nutrition in the WHAT ABOUT sections.
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” - Hippocrates (often referred to as the Father of Medicine)
Please note that this book is for educational purposes only and not intended to replace regular medical care. Do not discontinue any prescription medications, add or remove supplements, or make drastic changes to you or your child’s diet without consulting with your personal health care provider.