Take two apples, and call me in the morning
As a dietitian working predominantly with obese children and adolescents, I use all my creative resources. Working with children, you need to be a disciplinarian, a friend, a good listener, fun, and energetic. Most of the time I’m successful — last week all of my patients lost weight and continued on their slow and steady weight loss or maintenance track (kids need to lose weight more slowly than adults). But occasionally, I also treat patients who are either unmotivated to change, underprivileged, or come from broken homes where good food is not accessible. This population is challenging because I have to get super duper creative! Sometimes, on days when I’ve exhausted all of my resources, I think to myself, “wouldn’t it be much easier to give them a prescription to treat their illness, tell them the dose and when to take it, and be done with it?” Could it really be that simple? A food prescription?
A recent article in the New York Times, “Eat an Apple (Doctor’s Orders),” suggests that a prescription for fruits and vegetables may help to fight obesity. Doctors at three health centers in Massachusetts have been dispersing $1 coupons to each member of a low income family, to local farmer’s markets, in an effort to promote healthy meals. Because these kids have little access to fruits and vegetables, the doctors believe this program will increase intake. On the other hand, skeptics believe that although the efforts are good, people will continue to eat salty and sweet snacks on top of their fruits and vegetables and therefore stay obese.
While these “food prescriptions” won’t cure obesity, at least it promotes local farming and gives families access to fresh produce. And physicians getting more involved may help with behavior modification. I do believe though that registered dietitians need to be involved, too. Patients need to be educated on healthy eating and why fruit and vegetable intake is so important. This prescription thing is definitely not a cure, but it is a step. And that’s what we need to do — make positive steps.
What do you think: Are prescriptions for healthy food an answer to the obesity epidemic?
As a dietitian working predominantly with obese children and adolescents, I use all my creative resources. Working with children, you need to be a disciplinarian, a friend, a good listener, fun, and energetic. Most of the time I’m successful — last week all of my patients lost weight and continued on their slow and steady weight loss or maintenance track (kids need to lose weight more slowly than adults). But occasionally, I also treat patients who are either unmotivated to change, underprivileged, or come from broken homes where good food is not accessible. This population is challenging because I have to get super duper creative!
Q: I am trying to find a healthy cereal for breakfast, but there are a thousand brands on the market and I don’t know what to chose, what should I be looking for?
--Tamar, 21, San Diego, CA
Q: I was recently diagnosed with diabetes and was told that I need to watch my carbohydrate intake. My doctor said to substitute my usual snacks with nuts, but I noticed I have been gaining weight and I need to lose weight. What should I do?
--Suzanne, 32, San Jose, California
Q: I know I am supposed to eat fruits and vegetables because they contain a lot of vitamins, but recently someone told me that they contain phytochemicals. What are those? -Regena, 19, Queens, NY
Q: I’m a first time marathon runner, and I’ve been logging some pretty long runs in this hot weather. I don’t want to get dehydrated so I have been drinking a ton of water, but recently someone told I can drink too much water, is that possible? —Jessica, 26, West Palm Beach, Florida
Q: I’m a HUGE salty foods fan, however I can’t seem to find many salty foods that are healthy for you. Any suggestions? —Brittany, Knoxville, Tennessee
Q: I love ice-cream in the summer. I probably eat it every day so the other day I bought sugar free ice-cream, is that better for me? - Melissa, 28, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Q: I always order edamame when I go to a sushi restaurant, but I worry about the sodium content. Is it healthy? -Katie, 23, New York City
Q: I just started to eat fish and I would like to grill some in the summer, but I have never purchased it before. How do I know fish is fresh? - Allison, 31, Bristol, Rhode Island
Have a question for us?
What do you get when you combine the best diet and nutrition info with the latest beauty and fashion news? Skinny in the City! Sign up to get FREE exclusive tips that you won't find on the site, or anywhere online!
Don't be a hog - Share us!
