About Erika

Erika has over 15 years of experience in the United States and Internationally working in multiple areas of nutrition including clinical dietetics, community nutrition, and maternal and child nutrition. No matter where she is, Erika is passionate about the power of food and nutrition.

Food Revolution Summit

May 9, 2016

Today and Monday I tuned into the 5th annual Food Revolution Summit (http://foodrevolutionsummit.org/) organized and moderated by John and Ocean Robbins (John Robbins is the founder of Baskin Robbins back in the day). I tuned into this event for the first time last year and decided to tune in again to some of those speaking about food and nutrition. I managed to catch the interview with Dr. Joel Fuhrman, M.D. titled How to Eat to Live; Dr. Neal Barnard, M.D. titled How to Kickstart Your Health; Dr. Mark Hyman, M.D. titled Foods that Harm and Foods that Heal. I also listed to interviews with Dr. David Katz, M.D. titled The Optimal Diet for Human Beings and Dr. Marion Nestle, Ph.D titled Taking on Big Soda (And Winning!).

I must admit I’ve been a bit skeptical about this summit and some of their speakers. As a registered dietitian we are taught to base our recommendations on evidence based research and look to reputable sources of information – such as the USDA, FDA, DHHS and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Dr. Katz addressed this point in his interview – that the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the RD’s that they support provide nutrition education and counseling based on the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Dr. Katz feels that these guidelines are a national embarrassment due to the heavy hand that congress has in finalizing them. He suggests that they should be called something along the lines of a balance between public dietary guidance and corporate profit. This point hits on one of the main challenges I find as a trained dietitian. I believe the DGA’s do have some good recommendations but also strongly believe they are incomplete. Like Dr. Katz, I believe the DGA scientific report that is generated by the advisory committee and sent to USDA and DHHS to guide the DGA’s is more accurate and all encompassing and much less influenced by the meat industry and major food lobbying groups. Striking this balance can be very challenging as I need to be up on the DGA’s as well as the scientific report (over 200 pages long) and current and evolving research related to food and nutrition. I don’t feel I can take the DGA’s or other gov’t nutrition publications just at face value but need to do my own due diligence to dig into the research and keep abreast of relevant research.

Pregnancy

Apr 18, 2016

Pregnancy – a miracle and often times an experience that merges blissful with torturous, at least that has been my experience. My husband and I are currently expecting our second child and have a five year old that can’t wait to meet her sibling. As a dietitian and mother, I often times think of all the other pregnant women out there and the maze of complicated food labels, crazy ingredient names, contradictory information, the latest media blitz of study findings, and how it can feel like every food product you research seems to have something that could harm you or your baby in some way. It is important to be well informed about eating smart during pregnancy, but I urge you to not go overboard with all the information that is out there because it’s a lot! What do I do? Well, as a professional nutritionist I strive to keep up with the latest recommendations while keeping my eye on the latest research coming out. In a nutshell, I strive for a balanced diet with a variety of foods and prenatal vitamins (interspersed with my craving of the day or that week).

Food safety however is generally a more straight forward topic while pregnant and will be exploring in detail that topic. There are a ton of other questions I hear from concerned moms-to-be as well: “What about taking DHA supplements? How much water do I need to drink? What about pregnancy tea? Should I buy organic? How do I avoid or deal with iron deficiency anemia? Am I overeating or under eating because of nausea/vomiting/insatiable appetite? How can I avoid high blood pressure? What can I do about a diagnosis of gestational diabetes?” And on and on. I will address all of these topics (and more) here in this blog.

In the meantime, here is my overarching food and nutrition approach to pregnancy. I fall somewhere between “give the belly what it wants” and “be mindful of what you ingest”. Of course, every woman is different and will have different needs and challenges regarding her diet during pregnancy, therefore I tailor my nutrition counseling during pregnancy to the woman. However, overall the following key points can be applied to the vast majority:

1. Strive for three meals a day and two to three snacks to keep your energy up and fuel healthy growth and development.

2. Plan balanced, tasty meals – is there a vegetable or fruit, protein source, fat source and whole grain source on your plate? A variety of colors on your plate helps your body get what it needs.

3. Plan nutritious and appealing snacks – what tastes are you craving?

4. Drink plenty of water! 2L-4L (8-16 8oz. cups) per day depending on your trimester and what helps you feel your best.

5. Avoid alcohol and minimize caffeine.

I hope that is helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to send me an email.

Prevention

Apr 8, 2016

It’s all about prevention, and its earlier than you might think

In a nutshell, when it comes to prevention, it’s a cycle. If I had to choose an ideal starting point it would be a year or two prior to conception of a new life. This allows some time for the new parent to take a good look at themselves and ask what is important to them and what kind of child would they like to raise. I believe that raising a child in an environment that loves food – and I mean “real food” – not highly processed, out-of-a-box food like substances, and nurturing them to love their bodies the way they are and teaching them the skills to know how to nourish their body – by growing food, selecting food, trying new foods, preparing food, cooking food and enjoying food are some of the most priceless and beneficial things a parent or guardian can provide a child. With greater understanding of where our food comes from, how to make delicious food and taking the time to share meals with others they love and care about lays a strong foundation for good health, well being and harmony.

Getting started

Mar 21, 2016

For years I have wanted to write down my thoughts and approaches to child feeding and nutrition in general. So why haven’t I? Well, that is a good question. I’ve been passionate about the promotion of good health and nutrition for decades. I honestly feel it is one of the things I’m “called” to do but I’ve also struggled with my career choice for decades because I never really felt I fit the mold.

I believe there is a cultural and spiritual aspect between food and ourselves – things that are difficult to measure or quantify but are there. Prevention is the key to better health…but that needs to start somewhere and often times involves changing old habits or making changes that may not have an immediate impact. I understand that it can be a hard sell when I tell my clients that change will take time and energy while forcing them to reshape their patterns and habits…but I can promise it will be worth it in the end. And that is why I have always said that people need a nutritionist –whether its me or someone else – a dietitian can help you focus on exactly what you and your family needs without getting distracted by diet fads and misinformed friendly conversations with friends, co-workers, family, and even strangers in line at the grocery store. Let’s not forget that we are all human, and accept that behavior change is hard for everyone! I struggle myself with changing habits and am always in fear of coming across as arrogant or all knowing. I understand that I am a work in progress and there is always more to learn. Aren’t we all?

I look forward to writing more in this space and hope you continue reading. Please feel free to send me an email if you have any questions or comments! I would love to hear from you!

About Erika

Food Revolution Summit

Pregnancy

Prevention

It’s all about prevention, and its earlier than you might think

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