At the Go Green Expo last month, I had the opportunity to learn about a ton of really cool eco-friendly products. One item particularly struck my eye: Good For You Girls.

Moms, if you have a tween or teen daughter, you’ve probably caught her sneaking some of your blush or eye shadow, right? Or begging to use your foundation to cover up that dreaded pimple that popped up the night of the dance? Well, Good For You Girls’ philosophy is that beautiful skin is natural skin. Created by moms, this natural line of skin care is perfect for your daughters and made without toxic chemicals.

The products were created with organic extracts (think organic chamomile, calendula, and lavender extracts) and essential oils (like avocado and jojoba oils). They’ve got a gel cleanser to wipe away dirt, a blemish wash to clean pores, and a moisturizer to keep skin hydrated (with no oily residue!). Check out their site to learn more about Good For You Girls, and see a list of ingredients to avoid when buying skin care products.

-Nicole McGovern

Here at KIWI, we get a ton of products sent our way–food, toys, cleaning supplies, etc. The problem is we’ve got such a small staff, we can’t possibly use, eat, or play with every item that comes through our door (although we may want to!). So a few weeks ago, we cleaned house. Everything was jam-packed into in our prop closet (seriously, we could barely walk in there!). So we researched a few charities and decided to make some donations.

City Harvest is a food rescue organization that aims to feed New York City’s hungry men, women and children. They’ve got a great community food program where they deliver meals by truck, bike, and on foot. We donated nearly 80 pounds of food and drinks from our closet! For more info, or to donate something from your pantry, visit City Harvest.

Grand Street Settlement offers programs from early childhood (Daycare, Pre-K) and youth development (Summer Day Camp) to community support for adults and seniors (Baruch Elders Services Team (BEST) Program). They also provide services for low-income families and individuals. We donated a ton of beauty, bath and hygiene supplies for their “Take Back the Night” event for teens and tweens. If you want to volunteer or make a donation yourself, check out Grand Street Settlement.

Even after that, we had just a little wiggle room in our closet. Next up, we’re donating baby items to Room To Grow, a nonprofit that provides essential baby items and support to parents raising their little ones in poverty. For more info, visit Room To Grow.

Seriously, it feels so good to give back!

-Nicole McGovern

KIWI is excited to be one of the sponsors of this FREE upcoming event on Sunday, February 7 at noon: Mama Moves Post-Natal Fitness and Pilates at Nimble Fitness.

Personal trainer and pre/post Pilates instructor, Charlotte Blake, will be offering a post-natal FREE Pilates class that will launch a regularly scheduled Mama Moves Pilates class on Sundays at noon. (Read more about why KIWI loves Charlotte.) Nimble is a unique fitness facility, offering integrated personal training, cutting-edge classes, and holistic workshops and seminars.

This exciting event will be an hour for you to rejuvenate your body, ask questions, meet other moms, learn about pelvic floor and diastasis rehabilitation, and connect with your NYC mom community. Bring your baby (although not required), a blanket to rest your baby on, small toys for your little one, and wear comfortable clothes. You will walk away feeling more limber and more connected with your community, resources, and body. You’ll get a goody bag that includes the latest issue of KIWI, too!

Space is limited, so RSVP with Nimble Fitness: info@nimblefitness.com, 212-633-9030.

Have fun!

-Sarah, KIWI editorial director

When I first started dating my partner, I thought I’d hit the jackpot. Not only is he a funny, smart, wonderful guy, he also has a degree from culinary school. Can anyone say gourmet meals at home?

I still think I’ve hit the jackpot, but after dating him for a while, I noticed that the way I was eating had changed. Whenever we cooked together, he’d serve me up a plate as full of food as his (even though he’s nearly twice my size). And when we’d go out, he’d want to have three-course meals filled with butter, salt, fat, and all manner of delicious, unhealthy things. I quickly learned that my appetite–and my waistline–just couldn’t keep up.

Turns out, other women have the same problem. It’s no surprise that women with children naturally gain weight after giving birth, but a recent study has shown that childless women who have a partner also gain a significant amount more than single gals. The reason? Behavioral changes. Whether it’s more date nights out at restaurants or an unconscious attempt to eat as much as their better halves, women tend to gain weight simply by having a partner in their lives.

So this year, I’m going to keep reminding myself that I don’t have to keep up with my guy’s endless appetite. And if I want to have a Waldorf salad for dinner while he has two cheeseburgers, that’s OK (although I still might steal a couple fries off his plate!).

-Michelle, KIWI Editor

If you (or your kids) are dreaming of sleeping in dorms, eating in cafeterias, or going to school with thousands of more students than you could imagine while in high school; then, we want to make sure your college experience is as green as can be. Sustainability on college campuses is on the rise, but how eco-friendly is your dream school? Good news: our 2008 Green College Report is available online. Even better, we just launched our online survey for colleges and universities to apply to enter our 2009 Green College Report. We’ll be featuring this report in our September/October 2009 issue of KIWI Magazine in addition to providing you with our complete online version.

Click here to join our 2009 list.

– Stephanie, KIWI staff and believer that every college and university can practice sustainability

Join chefs from KIWI® Magazine and Whole Foods Market® in exploring culinary regions of the world through food and festivity. Each camp incorporates exciting global foods and facts. We’ll crank up the heat and get hands-on as we make international dishes from places such as Mexico, Morocco, China, Italy and Japan. The camps culminate in an around-the-world cooking competition. Explore continents and countries one plate at a time!

The Whisk and The Spoon
The Learning Kitchen at Whole Foods Market, Princeton
3495 US Route 1 South
Princeton, NJ 08540
Phone 609.799.2919

SESSION I:
Half-Pint Voyager: 2 ½ to 4 years
11am – 12pm
June 29 and 30
Jr. Jetsetters: 5 to 7 years
11am – 12:30pm
July 1 to 3

SESSION II:
Globe Trekkers: 11 to 14 years
11am – 2:30pm
August 24 to 26
Jr. Jetsetters: 5 to 7 years
11am – 12:30pm
August 27 and 28

To enroll in KIWI Kids’ Camp, Please register online or if you want to register over the phone or have additional questions please email Nirit Yadin nirit.yadin@wholefood.com or call 609.799.2919 ext. 305.

If you tried our suggestion for walking meditation that’s great, we hope it went well! If walking meditation however was not your child’s, partner’s or your cup of tea, no worries; there are many ways to meditate. Another great option is guided meditation. The best part is it allows you to be creative in what you choose to guide you and your family. There are a number of different options, one of which I’ll mention in a moment my favorite of which I’ll mention in a moment.  If you do go the traditional route and use a guided meditation CD, there is certainly one that will fit your family’s relaxation needs!

All you and your child will need for guided meditation is a comfortable and quiet place to sit or lie down, a blanket and/or pillow, and the meditation CD of your choice. To prepare your family for your meditation session, allow them to participate in deciding which meditation tape you use. Whether you take a visit to your local bookstore or do some online shopping, your child will be more eager to participate if they feel that there little voices were heard.

My favorite option for a guided meditation CD is to choose the audio version of your favorite children’s book, fairytale or folklore. If you don’t already have one in your home, two of my personal favorites are The Velveteen Rabbit and Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates.

Regardless of what you use to guide you with your meditation, make sure you choose a room that is quiet and where you will not be disturbed. Dim or turn the lights off for a greener meditation and enjoy this special, and most importantly quiet, time with your family.

– Sara, KIWI intern and mindfully meditating

Here at KIWI, moms are very important to us and to the future of our green babies.  Give your mom an easy, inexpensive Mother’s Day gift by nominating her for our Moms of the Revolution contest. Share her story on how she is revolutionizing the way kids in your community eat. Revolution Foods and KIWI have teamed up for this wonderful, inspiring contest and it does not come as a surprise that others are appreciating how important this contest is. TreeHugger, a well known website focusing on going green, has just mentioned our MOTR contest and we could not be more thrilled! Thanks for your support TreeHugger!  Check it out.

– Brittany, KIWI staff and wishing all moms a happy mother’s day

Well, we want to know how! Simply enter our contest and  you could be the next Mom of the Revolution. 5 Moms will be selected to be featured in KIWI Magazine, receive a free KIWI subscription, and a one year supply of healthy lunchbox snacks for their family. One of the 5 Moms will win the GRAND PRIZE OF $3,000 in cash to help fund their own healthy School Lunch Revolution.

Hurry, contest ends May 30th, 2009.

Share your story today.

– Stephanie, KIWI staff

The official Earth Day is fast approaching and even if you believe as we do, that the Earth should be celebrated every day, there’s nothing wrong with stopping on one particular day and considering our relationship with the planet. And what better activity on Earth Day, than to open our children’s hearts to the environment by settling in at the library or at home with a beautifully written and illustrated book. Here are some of our favorites for various ages:

Young children

• The Tree by Dana Lyons

• The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

• Almost Gone: The World’s Rarest Animals by Steve Jenkins

Tweens

• A Hot Planet Needs Cool Kids by Julie Hall

• Make It! by  Jane Bull

• Gaia Girls (series) by Lee Welles

Teens

• Generation Green: The Ultimate Teen Guide to Living an Eco-Friendly Life by Linda Silversten

• The New 50 Simple Things You Can Do To Save The Earth by Sophie Javna

• What Do You Stand For? For Teens: A Guide to Building Character by Barbara Lewis

Our top pick?

• An Environmental Guide from A to Z by Tim Magner. Right now, you can get it at 25% off the cover price by entering the code, “celebrate” during checkout.

-Lynn and Corey Colwell, mother-daughter duo and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family.

The rain outside is another reminder that April has arrived. It’s the week of Passover and Easter and all I can think about is planning my Earth Day celebrations. Last April 22nd we celebrated Earth Day with our list of top 22 fun ways to celebrate our planet.

This year, celebrate Earth Day by volunteering at a local, organic farm or donating to an environmental organization. KIWI will be attending the 1st Annual Earth Day Festival at Carusi Middle School located at 315 Roosevelt Drive in Cherry Hill, NJ on Saturday, April 18th from 11am – 3pm. On April 22nd we’ll be digging in the dirt at Mill Creek Farm located at 49th and Brown in Philadelphia, PA.

What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day?  Tell us by posting a comment below

– Stephanie, KIWI staff and lover of Mother Earth

Do we really need an excuse to eat chocolate? Well it seems we have more and more reasons to eat it these days. Most people don’t realize that chocolate, much like fruits and vegetables is plant derived. Dark chocolate bars, with high-cocoa content, are loaded with something called epicatechin. Epicatechin is a particularly active member of a group of compounds called plant flavoniods. Flavonoids help protect us by exhibiting anti-oxidant activity in the body.

And here is more good news, some of the fats in chocolate are actually good for you! The fats in chocolate are 1/3 oleic acid, 1/3 stearic acid and 1/3 palmitic acid. Oleic Acid is a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat that is also found in olive oil. Stearic Acid is a saturated fat, but one which research is shows has a neutral effect on cholesterol. Palmitic Acid is also a saturated fat, however this one does raise cholesterol and increases the risk for heart disease. That means that only 1/3 of the fat in dark chocolate is bad for you. Not bad when you consider that alternative sweet treats such as baked goods are often loaded in partially hydrogenated fats, and excessive amounts of plant fats such as soy and canola oil which promote inflammation in the body.

In a study published in the journal Hypertension in August 2005, researchers from Italy found that dark chocolate may lower blood pressure in people with hypertension. The research also found that levels of LDL cholesterol in these individuals dropped by 10 percent. Another study showed that flavonoids in cocoa prevent fat-like substances in the bloodstream from oxidizing and clogging the arteries which will make blood platelets less likely to stick together and cause clots.

While a little dark chocolate can be good, a lot is not better. Chocolate is still loaded with calories. If you’re going to put more chocolate in your diet, you’ll have to cut back somewhere else. Don’t forget that a balanced diet, full of other plant based foods, and plenty of exercise is still the key to heart health.

So remember, pure cocoa powder ranks the healthiest amongst all chocolate products, followed by dark chocolate and milk chocolate. The way that cocoa powder and chocolate syrups are manufactured, removes most flavonoids and depletes the finished product of any health benefits. Avoid all chocolate products with artificial sweeteners and corn syrup and look for ones with high cocoa content. According to the Chocolate Manufacturers Association, dark chocolate contains about eight times the amount of polyphenol antioxidants found in strawberries. How about some chocolate covered strawberries? It is almost berry season.

– Dr. Keri Marshall MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine.

A new study was published this month in the medical journal The Lancet that appeared to be groundbreaking for some but is really common sense when you stop to think about it.  The study came out of Europe and looked at young patients with heart disease and addressed that they are smoking more and twice as many suffer from diabetes compared to 12 years ago. It was determined that heart disease prevention in routine clinical practice is inadequate, with only a third of patients being referred to and joining prevention programs, while doctors are prescribing more and more drugs. The most shocking revelation was that despite large increases in the use of all classes of blood pressure lowering drugs, blood pressure management showed no improvement.

One thing many of us agree with is that lifestyle programs should be the backbone of preventive care. Saving people’s lives from acute heart attacks is one thing where conventional medicine excels, but we need an urgent investment in prevention to address the lifestyle causes of heart disease. The nation’s integrative health care leaders met in Washington DC earlier this month to discuss patient centered health care and how to reduce health care costs in the long term. As I was there to witness this inspiring meeting, the word prevention was repeated over and over.

Just how do we prevent heart disease? Exercise and diet are key. How many times do you hear yourself or friends and family make excuses for not exercising. Well, there is not an excuse; in fact your life depends on it! Remember that even housework and gardening burn a number of calories. Enjoy the increased light and longer days. Get on a bike with your kids or throw your little ones in the jogger. Create a mom’s walking group in your neighborhood.

As for diet, fresh fruits and veggies, 5-8 servings a day! When choosing which ones, always aim for a variety of colors to increase the vitamin and mineral assortment. Fiber is important as well. Try to get a minimum of 25 grams a day. While fresh fruits and veggies have a lot of naturally occurring fiber like pectin, other reliable sources are Chia seed, which also contain essential fatty acids. Try Gaia Herbs Chia Fresh. It can be added to salads, smoothies or taken alone.

And yes, of course, no heart healthy plan will ever be complete without mentioning Omega-3 fatty acids. The American Heart Association recommends eating fish regularly and/or consuming around one gram daily of EPA+DHA from fish oil. For a great quality heart healthy option, try Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega. They have a guaranteed no repeat policy because their oils are so fresh.

-Dr. Keri Marshall MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine.

Change we need, indeed!  And on this first day of spring, we’re going to get it, thanks to Michelle Obama and 23 Washington DC fifth graders.  Together, they will break ground on the South Lawn for the nation’s first White House garden since that kept by Eleanor Roosevelt during World War II.

With over 55 different edibles being grown, including hearty greens, lettuces, peppers, tomatillos, berries, herbs, as well as two beehives for honey, the organic garden will be a chief source of food for the first family.  It will also provide a valuable learning experience to participating students who, along with the President, will do their part in planting, weeding, and harvesting. Even more important, the White House garden will serve to influence mainstream America on the value of local, sustainable food.  (The entire garden set up cost around $200–who says it’s too expensive to eat well?)

Michelle Obama is taking this opportunity to advocate the necessity of good food for our children.  She’s encouraging parents to get healthy with their kids by upping their fresh (locally produced, if possible) fruit and vegetable intake, limiting processed foods, and preparing more meals at home.  Interested in starting a garden of your own?  Learn all about it from Kiwi Community’s article on family gardening.

-Marygrace, KIWI intern and organic gardening supporter

An estimated 35 to 50 million Americans will come down with the flu this flu season, which typically lasts from November to March. And that’s just the flu. Millions more will also catch the common cold and pneumonia. So how do you protect your kids?

Here’s how to naturally prevent sickness and what to do if it’s too late.

Stop Sickness in its Tracks                                                                  •Get enough sleep! Adults should have at least seven to eight hours of sound sleep every night. And kids need at least ten. When your body is at rest, all your systems have a chance to recover and restore for the next day.

•Eat at least five servings of fruits and veggies daily. Why? They’re loaded with vitamins and minerals, which serve as co-factors for the different systems in our body. The more nutrients you get from natural sources, the better your body will work!

•Exercise. I know it’s cold out there, but keeping your body moving during the winter months will help keep your blood and lymphatic system moving as well. The lymphatic system carries our immune cells in vessels throughout the body. Without exercise, there are few ways to increase circulation. Go out and sled with your kids or take advantage of midday sun and go for a walk.

•Hydrotherapy helps. If you have access to a steam room or sauna, try and do a 15-20 minute session once a week. Afterwards jump in a cold shower. This a great way to get your blood and lymphatic system flowing.

•Wash your hands. Simple soap and water does the trick. No need for antibacterial soaps: our hands also have good bacteria on them that we need to stay healthy.

Oops! You’re Sick. Now What?
•Rest! Your body needs time to recover. Sometimes getting sick is your body’s way of telling you to slow down.

•Drink plenty of fluids. Water (plain or as an herbal tea) is one of the best ways to break down mucous, and it’s free. Try adding a pack of Emergen-C to get a little boost of Vitamin C and other electrolytes.
•For adults, try using certain natural remedies to help alleviate symptoms at the first sign of a cold. Boiron’s Oscillococcinum or Quick Defense by Gaia Herbs are both great. Products like these need to be taken frequently and in high doses to work. For kids, try Gaia Herbs Black Elderberry Syrups. They have a nighttime version to help children relax and sleep more soundly. All of these are available at your local health food store.

•Healing socks (my personal favorite). At night before bed, get a pair of white cotton socks and a pair of wool socks. Wring the cotton socks under cool water and put on feet. Place wool socks over them and go to bed. Don’t walk around the house in wet socks, make sure you go right to bed. While you are sleeping, the cool wet socks will help draw heat and congestion from the upper respiratory system down to your feet, gradually drying the socks. You’ll wake in the morning feeling less congested. Works great for both kids and adults!

– Dr. Keri Marshall MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine

I started volunteering at MANNA, a Philadelphia-based meal preparation and delivery service for people with life-threatening illness, over the holidays. For each three-hour shift, I chopped vegetables, sliced bagels, and stirred cake batters—a pretty fun and relaxing form of “work,” in my opinion at least.

I could probably write a couple of pages on what I love about this non-profit organization, but my favorite thing about MANNA is that they understand the true nourishing power of real food. With the goal being to provide their immunocompromised clients with as much nutrition as possible, MANNA prepares all of their meals from scratch for food that is healthy as well as delicious.

While the holidays are a popular time to volunteer, just as much help is needed after they’ve passed. So the next time you and your family are cooped in the house with some free time this winter, consider donating some of time to a local organization. Your hard work will be appreciated!

Marygrace Stergakos, KIWI intern and avid volunteer

When it comes to food, we recommend eating organic. That being said, the realities of life don’t always allow us to be 100% organic. So when you have to give up something, where should you start? According to the Daily Green, here is a list of 10 fruits and vegetables that’s you don’t necessarily have to buy organic (all the time). Why don’t these need to be grown organically? Well, most of the following “face fewer threats from pests such as insects or disease, so fewer pesticides need to be used OR have thick skins that protect the fruit from pesticide build-up.”

1. Asparagus
2. Avocado
3. Bananas
4. Broccoli
5. Clean Cabbage
6. Kiwi
7. Mango
8. Onions
9. Papaya
10. Pineapple

–Stephanie, KIWI staff and lover of families

Wouldn’t it be great if once the holidays ended, we could move immediately to spring? Unfortunately, the majority of the country will still be digging out from snow and bracing chilly winter winds for the next few months. One common winter-weather danger is slides and falls from icy sidewalks, making it especially important to clear the slippery stuff. It’s important to make sure, that your de-icing products are safe, as traditional de-icers have the potential to harm your pets and their little paws.

The most important thing to do is remove snow promptly with snow and ice chippers, but life often gets in the way, leaving such tasks by the wayside. Let’s be realistic: If ice does build up, there are some great, natural de-icers that won’t harm the grass, shrubs, or most importantly, your children and pets.

Be wary of de-icers that claim to be pet friendly, as this label isn’t always true. Instead of spreading chemicals on your sidewalks and driveways, try a natural solution, like alfalfa meal. The nitrogen in alfalfa facilitates ice melting, as well as provides traction while the ice is melting.

Although you can control what chemicals are used on your own property, your animals will likely come in contact with de-icers used throughout your community. According to Dr. Albert Nunez, a holistic Florida veterinarian, “Sodium chloride, which is a common ingredient in de-icers, can kill grass and shrubs, but it can also hurt your pets if ingested in large quantities. In addition to the risk of upsetting your pets’ stomachs, this ingredient can also irritate their paws. Calcium chloride, potassium chloride and magnesium chloride will also have the same effect. If you suspect that your animal has been poisoned, call your vet immediately.”

Dr. Nunez goes on to say, “If your pets do come in contact with de-icers, make sure to wipe off their paws to limit the potential of their paws becoming irritated and also limit the potential of ingestion when they clean their paws. You can also use sesame oil or other natural oils on your pets’ paws to help alleviate the dryness and cracking that can result from the salt used to melt ice.”

-Beth Swanson

My name is Brady Loomis; I am a junior in high school and conducting a research project for my U.S. History class. The assignment was to exercise our rights by taking an active role in our community. Similar to many of you, protecting our environment has become very important to me and so with this project I wish to ask questions that bring more eco-friendly ideas to the surface. I hope to encourage people of all ages to think about their carbon footprint all the time. Please take a few minutes to read the following questions and respond in the comment field below. Thank you so much for your time.

1. In the past few years, with global warming on the rise, do you feel your family has begun to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle to reduce your carbon footprint?
2. What changes have you made personally?
3. Are your children involved in a “greener” lifestyle as well? Do they seem excited about it?
4. How has the current state of the economy affected your family to maintain an eco-friendly household?

–Brady is the daughter of KIWI’s Midwest Director of Sales. We’re happy to help her with this class project and hope you wouldn’t mind responding to her questions! Thank you!

My 12-year old beagle, Scooby Doo, is the cutest dog in the world! Doesn’t everyone think their pet is the cutest? I believe that Scooby is so cute because we feed her (yes my Scooby Doo is a girl) a healthy, natural diet.

She’ll be extra loving when she opens her present of Wellness Natural Treats. To find Wellness near you starting at $7.49, visit wellnesspetfood.com.

- Stephanie, KIWI staff and lover of families

The eternal question: “How do I avoid gaining weight over the holidays?” People always ask me, as a Naturopathic doctor, what I do to avoid over-indulging during the holiday season. First, in the days leading up to the big event, eat as a clean of as diet as you possibly can. By this, I mean choose your foods wisely. Eat simple fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean animal protein for breakfast lunch and dinner so when the big feast occurs, you can balance the weeks calories and not the days calories.

Secondly, buy some digestive enzymes at your local health food store and take them before the meal. I started this tradition a few years ago at the younger end of the table (sisters, cousins, etc…) Buy taking a digestive enzyme before you begin a big feast, it gives your digestive system a quick jump start and wake up call that something extraordinary may be occurring. With the added digestive protection, your body has the assistance it needs to break down what could potentially amount to several thousand more calories than it is used too. Don’t hesitate to take them before desert as well.

Drink lots of water. It will allow things to eliminate through your body in a more effective manner. Also, if you are drinking alcohol, balance the amount of alcohol you drink with water to prevent a hangover the next day (it really isn’t an old wives tale!)

And lastly, try to get out for a walk between meals. Volunteer to walk to the dog. It will give you a chance to escape doing dishes and get away from your aunt who has been chewing your ear off all night. The walk will give you fresh air, burn a few calories, and help to ensure the best digestion possible under the circumstances.

–Dr. Keri Marshall MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine

My name is Keri Marshall and I am a licensed Naturopathic Doctor in private practice in Dover, NH, and mother of two. I have a general family practice that encompasses all aspects of natural medicine including clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy and lifestyle counseling. I enjoy organic gardening, cooking, snowboarding, camping, biking and surfing. Currently one of the big projects I am working on in my community is an effort to improve the public school hot lunch program. Recently, our school board unanimously approved removal of all trans fats from foods being served, no artificial sweeteners, and at least 50% of grains served will be whole grains.

With the information I provide, I hope to help you understand a few simple concepts, one of which is that childhood nutrition begins as early as conception. How we eat throughout pregnancy as well as how we introduce food to an infant will greatly impact lifelong nutrition and eating habits. I also hope to provide beneficial information with regard to decoding nutrition labels and de-mystifying contradictory information that we hear about in the media and what it means in our day-to-day life.

In general, children who consume Standard American Diet (SAD) meet the RDA basic guidelines for nutrition. Unfortunately, it appears that we have set the bar too low and the guidelines set by the government are fostering an epidemic of obesity and poor health. I look forward to creating a forum to discuss ways to raise the bar with regards to our children’s nutrition and explore ways to improve our own personal nutrition and lifestyle habits as parents.

–Dr. Keri Marshall MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine.