The medicinal use of herbs and naturally occurring materials in organic form has been in great demand so far. It is important to know that when medicines are made or the supplements are formulated to treat any sort of illnesses and issues in the human body, they have to be make sure that there is no side effects caused by the medicines during the treatment process. It is only possible when the medicines are made up of organic compounds which are not harmless rather, have the power to improve the overall health conditions.

Turmeric and saffron have been two of the most common ingredients of most of the Asian Ayurveda treatments because of the natural benefits and the various useful components found in these two medicinal plants.

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What’s the secret to calming the itch caused by bug bites? Peppermint oil. Meanwhile, chamomile and tea tree oils relieve irritation caused by eczema and dandruff.

Although essential oils don’t replace medication, they can help you feel better faster. Serious conditions should always be treated by medical professionals. But if you have a little itch that doesn’t need a doctor, try these natural solutions.

(more…)

Do you have a health/nutrition related question that you would like answered? Enter your question below and we will post your question and the answer on this page.

Questions & Answers

Three Meals a Day?

Your program recommends that I eat three meals plus snacks. How will I lose weight if I am always eating?

In order to keep your metabolism running at its optimal state, you have to eat. When you skip meals the body begins to think it is in a starvation state, and as a result your metabolism will slow down. When you skip meals you are actually more likely to consume more calories than if you were to eat frequently throughout the day. 
Eating three regular meals and snacks helps you address your hunger before you get to the point of feeling famished and overeating. However, it is important that you eat and snack wisely. Your dietitian can help you choose healthy meals and snacks that are appropriate for you and your goals.

Veggie Skins

I have a silly mom question. I was under the impression that lots of nutrients are in fruit and veggie skin…so when I peel things for my baby, I eat the skin myself. Is that cuckoo?

That is definitely not “cuckoo.” Most of the vitamins, nutrients, 
and fiber are found in the skin of fruits and veggies. So as long as you enjoy eating it, go right ahead!

I am assuming that your little one is too young to eat the skin and that is why you are peeling it? As soon as he/she is able to chew the skin, you should start to offer it so that he/she gets used to eating it and also gets the benefits of the vitamins, nutrients and fiber.

Eating Healthy for Pregnancy 

What foods should I eat and what foods should I avoid when trying to get pregnant?

The best “pre-baby diet” is a well balanced diet that contains lots of fruits and veggies (lots of colors) in addition to good sources of protein (remember those plant based protein sources like beans and legumes), calcium rich foods (don’t forget about nuts, green leafy veggies and dried fruits in addition to dairy products to meet calcium requirements) and whole grains (try some new whole grains like quinoa, millet and barley in addition to whole wheat breads, pasta and brown rice).  Have 3 meals and 2-3 snacks, start a light exercise routine (always consult your doctor first), if you are not exercising now and stay hydrated.  Try to choose organic food when possible and stay away from processed foods (think foods without food labels or foods with short ingredient lists) to stay as natural as possible.  Avoid alcohol and caffeine completely!  You might also want to start to limit luncheon meats, as they might contain listeria and is something that you won’t want to come in contact with once you become pregnant.  Raw meats, soft cheeses and undercooked eggs are also foods that you might start limiting as they can have bacteria that can potentially harm the baby when you become pregnant!  Now is the time to keep your body extremely healthy and to either start or maintain healthy habits that you will want to keep up as your little one grows.

Help! Peanut Allergy 

I have a 4.5 year old son who has a life-threatening peanut allergy.  He is about to start at a new school. Wondering if you know if there are any nut butters that are not cross contamintated by peanuts?  The school asked and I have not seen any. Thanks.

I would not recommend any of the nut butters for your son if his allergy is very severe… Many allergists even recommend staying away from all nuts (even if they are only allergic to peanuts) when children have severe allergies due to the risk of cross contamination.  Sunflower seed butter is usually peanut free, however many allergists do not recommend this in a young child since there have been a few studies which document allergic reactions and the latest research shows that the more then child is kept away from any possible exposures to peanuts, the chances of out growing the allergy are increased.  If your son is still allergic to peanuts at around 5 or 7 years old, then sunflower seed butter might be an alternative.  Soynut butter would be the only thing that is generally free of cross contamination but I would suggest calling the company if they don’t have an allergy statement on the label. 

The Grazer

My 4 year old daughter seems to graze for food especially when she gets a little bored and can’t find anything else do.  What can I do to help her not be so geared towards food during the day?

It’s great to hear from you!  I have found that when I work with little ones that some are more geared towards food and others are not, just like adults. It’s totally normal!  It is extremely important for all kids (and adults) to have scheduled meals and snacks.  She should be eating every 2 1/2 to 3 hours… that way she has enough time to get hungry between meals but not too hungry that she will need an extra snack.  Since she tends to use food as an activity, like you said when she is bored, make sure to have lots of fun things for her to do…  Save certain things for those times, redirect her attention and let her know that there will be a meal or snack in a little while.  When children are confident that they will be fed when they are hungry and be able to stop when they are full, some of these behaviors subside.

Eating Enough to be Healthy? 

I have a 18 month old boy and his intake is so variable, and much less than it used to be… I’m worried that he is not getting the nutrition that he needs to grow and develop properly.

During the second year of life (12-24 months of age) your baby’s rates of growth slow significantly as compared to the first year of life.  This is reflected in the amount of food that he eats.  In addition, it is no coincidence that right around the time your child learns to walk — usually between 9 and 16 months — he becomes much less interested in food. When there’s so much to discover, who has time to eat?   Try to keep “the division of responsibility in feeding” in mind: the parent is responsible for the what, where and when of feeding and the child is responsible for the how much and if of eating.  Provide your child with 3 meals and 2-3 snacks daily.  Offer at least 1 preferred food at each meal and snack in addition to food “challenges” so that he is exposed to new textures and flavors. Rather than get hung up on the fact that your child has refused everything you put in front of him today, consider his food intake over the course of one week. Parents are often surprised to find that their child’s food intake balances out. Something must be fueling all of that energy! 

Forms:
Food Record >>
Tips for completing an accurate Food Record >>
Nutrition Screening Questionnaire >>

Food Records:
We request that you keep a log of your food intake for at least three days prior to your first visit, and then ongoing throughout your work with us. You may submit your food log by web, fax or email (instructions below):

To FAX:
1. Download and print this form >>
2. Complete the food log. 
3. Fax to (818) 501-1543 

To EMAIL us your food log:
1. Download this form >>
2. Complete the form electronically and save it to your personal computer (if you do not save to your computer, the information you entered will be lost)
3. Email your food log as an attachment to [email protected]

To submit your food log via the WEB:
Please fill in all the fields within the form below and hit the submit button. Once you hit the submit button you should see a confirmation that we have received your submission.

Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is the management of specific medical conditions through nutrition education and dietary interventions.  MNT is provided for the following conditions/populations:

• Overweight/Obesity
• Autism (GFCF diet)
• Eating Disorders
• Food Allergies
• Feeding Disorders
• Gastrointestinal Disorders
• IBS
• Spina Bifida
• Failure to Thrive (FTT)
• Selective Eating
• Celiac Disease
• pre/post-natal nutrition
• Vegetarian/Vegan
• Crohn’s Disease

Initial Nutrition Assessment: (1.25 hours) 
The initial session consists of reviewing a 3-day food record, growth records, physical activity habits and any pertinent laboratory values.  There will be a large amount of dietary education related to your child and family’s particular nutritional needs.  Using a family centered model aimed at achievable lifestyle changes, goals will be developed together to help achieve health and nutrition goals.

Nutrition Follow Up: (30 or 60 minutes)
Follow-up sessions consist of reviewing food diaries, adjusting goals and monitoring growth. 

Supermarket Tours: (1 hour) 
A unique service that will provide an abundant amount of information to help you choose foods for quick and easy meal options, to learn to read food labels, to help avoiding allergens,  to reduce time spent shopping and to improve the overall nutrient quality of your diet.

Fee Schedule:  Please contact the office for the current fee schedule

Insurance Reimbursement:  
Insurance reimbursement is based on individual insurance plans.  Medical insurance companies may or may not provide reimbursement for nutrition services.  Please check with your insurance provider regarding their policy on reimbursement for nutrition services.  While NutritionWise does not directly bill insurance companies, a form (superbill) will be provided that may be self-submitted for potential insurance reimbursement.

Nicole Meadow, MPN, RD is a reputable professional in the field of pediatric nutrition. Her clients are referred for a variety of nutritional concerns including food allergies, diabetes (type I, II and gestational), celiac disease, feeding disorders, failure to thrive, cardiac disease, eating disorders, and others. Nicole works with both typically developing children and children with developmental disabilities.

Nicole received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan and a Master of Arts Degree in Preventive Nutrition from the University of Southern California. Determined to work in the field of pediatric nutrition, she was selected for the highly competitive California State University of Northridge Dietetic Internship Program where Nicole was able to receive a great deal of training in neonatal and pediatric nutrition in clinical rotations. After passing the RD exam Nicole practiced as a clinical dietitian in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Cedars Sinai Medical Center and at the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Nicole soon found her passion in assisting families with complex nutritional challenges and began practicing full-time at the UCEDD. Nicole obtained extensive experience in working with children with special health care needs and developed unique and innovative techniques to assist patients with a variety of nutritional concerns.

With a desire to reach out to her local community, Nicole opened her private practice in 2006. Her approach and philosophy are based on a family centered model. Nicole looks at each client and each family on an individual basis and develops their plan according to their specific needs. She works with her clients to develop realistic and attainable goals. The process is interactive, and over time family members meet their health and nutritional goals together.

In addition to her clinical work, Nicole publishes her own newsletter, NutritionWise Monthly. She writes for numerous online publications and is a frequent speaker to local schools, corporations and the community at large. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, doing yoga, spending time with her husband and her son.

Patricia Novak MPH, RD, CLE

Patricia has 25 years experience working with children with autism, developmental disabilities and chronic illness. As a registered dietitian and lactation educator, Patricia’s experience ranges from working with newborns to teenagers. The common thread throughout her work has been addressing feeding issues throughout childhood and adolescence.

Her clinical experience includes feeding programs at both Pasadena Child Development Associates (PCDA) and University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), the Adolescent Eating Disorders Clinic at UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, outpatient hospital clinics, school based California Children’s Services (CCS) clinics, and and Mother-baby/NICU lactation services. In addition to clinical services, Patricia has also been involved with developing nutrition education curricula and parent and professional training at the national, regional and local levels.

Patricia is a distinguished speaker. Most recently she was an invited speaker at the 2007 California State Childhood Obesity Conference and as part of Pasadena Child Development Associates Feeding Team presents “Pediatric Feeding: Assessment and Treatment from a multidisciplinary perspective” conferences throughout the year. In addition she presents annual “Food Allergies and Intolerances” and “Nutrition and Autism” workshops for parents and professionals. She has published in professional journals on vegetarianism, autism, developmental disabilities and psychiatric disorders.

Patricia’s commitment to working with families extends beyond nutrition services. She served as the executive director of a Family Resource Center, Parents Helping Parents, in San Luis Obispo.

Patricia received her bachelor’s degree in Home Economics (yes, Home Ec!) from Humboldt State University and her Masters in Public Health in Nutrition at UCLA. She completed her dietetic internship at the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at CHLA and a fellowship at UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute. She participated in additional training through UCLA to become certified in lactation education.

NEWS

• NutritionWise is pleased to announce the addition of a new dietitian. Deborah Turquie, MS, RD has joined our team and is a wonderful clinician fluent in English, Spanish and Hebrew. Please see “About Us” for more details about Deborah.

• 1/23/10: Nicole and Patricia present “Rethinking Pediatric Nutrition Assessment and Intervention” at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles along with fellow pediatric dietitian and former colleague Hope Wills.

• Nicole is featured in an article on “Eosinophilic Esophagitis” in the December 2009 edition of ICAN (Infant, Children and Adolescent Nutrition) professional journal.

• Patricia is speaking in Las Vegas in February at Pediatric Feeding: Using the DIR®/FloortimeTM Model A Relationship-Based Approach from a Multi-Disciplinary Perspective

• Patricia is Participating in creating Standards of Practice (SOP) and Standards of Professional Performance (SOPP) for Dietititans working with Individuals with Special Needs with the American Dietetic Association

• Nicole and Patricia are featured in many food allergy articles:

Proper Planning — Schools Need Food Allergy Strategies to Keep Students Safe 

Food Allergies: How to Diagnose and What to Feed a Child Who Has Them

Are We Too Careful: Obsession with health may weaken immunities, increase allergies

Nicole presents “Are You NutritionWise: Nutrition Tips for Your Busy Family”
August 13th, Mothers and More meeting in Westlake at 7pm

• Nicole and Patricia team up with My Gym to be their Nutrition Experts. www.my-gym.com

• Nicole is one of the experts for the new “Eat Healthy” feature of Healthy Child Healthy World’s website >>

• Listen to Nicole talk about kid’s nutrition with Tracy Serebin on Webtalk radio >>

• What’s in Your Lunchbox: a non profit organization devoted to bringing nutrition, health and fitness information to families with children on the Autism Spectrum. Patricia is chair of the Steering Committee of the F.E.E.D. the Children Workshops. WIYLB just completed their first series of workshops in April held at the Marilyn Magram Nutrition Center at Cal State University Northridge.www.whatsinyourlunchbox.net

• American Dietetic Association Annual Conference: Patricia is an invited speaker to present on Addressing Nutrition and Mealtime with Children with Sensory Issues.

• Come see Nicole at the annual Celiac Disease Foundation Conference and Food Faire on Saturday May 2nd, 2009 at the Pasadena Convention Center. More information at www.celiac.org

• American Dietetic Association Annual Conference: Patricia is an invited speaker to present on Addressing Nutrition and Mealtime with Children with Sensory Issues.

• Look out for Nicole’s interview on “selective eaters” in the Fall issue of American Baby.

• Nicole and Patricia are the Nutrition Experts for My Gym’s new interactive website. Visit www.mygym.com for all of the exciting details!

• Announcing the NutritionWise Blog! Join us weekly for research updates, articles, recipes, kid crafts and much more. It’s time to get bloggin’ at nicolemeadow.blogspot.com

Make sure to click on the link “follow this blog” to receive a notice when a new blog is posted!

• Come and see Nicole and Patricia at NutritionWise booth at the First Annual San Fernando Valley CHILDREN’S DAY, A SALUTE TO KID. It will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2008 from 10:00am – 4:00pm at Woodley Park, Van Nuys, CA (located between Victory Blvd & Burbank Blvd.) Download the flyer >>

• Nicole was recently featured on the Healthy Child website discussing the importance of good nutrition. Read here >>

• Come visit Nicole and Patricia at the NutritionWise booth at the Child and Family Center’s Kid Expo on Sunday October 19th from 11am to 4pm www.kidexposcv.com 21545 Centre Point Pkwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91350. We will have tons of nutrition handouts, fun giveaways, a raffle and much more!

• NutritionWise and Mira Rocca are pleased to offer embody, a 6 week education and support group for kids and families to help foster self esteem, healthy body image, nutritious food choices, physical activity and much more! Please call either Nicole (818) 304-1876 or Mira (818) 468-1198 for details or to register. $600 per family. Learn more >>

• Nicole is the nutrition expert for Pitter Patties™ (an all natural toddler finger food www.pitterpatties.com). Visit her on the Pitter Patties™ website or see her at a store demo (schedule online).

• Nicole has teamed up with Stir Crazy Kidz to combine nutrition and cooking, which naturally go hand and hand. See the Stir Cray Kidz calendar at www.stricrazykidz.com for details and upcoming classes.

• NutritionWise is now offering classes. See calendar >>

• We moved! You can now find us down the road at 16055 Ventura Blvd, Ste. 420, Encino, CA 91436. Contact us >>

• NutritionWise launches a Support Group for Parents of Children with Food Allergies, facilitated by Nicole Meadow, MPN, RD and Nina Mercer, MS (both mothers of children with multiple food allergies)
Click here to learn more >>

• Patricia Novak MPH, RD, CLE, joins NutritionWise. Read more about Patricia >>

• Come see Nicole at the Celiac Disease Foundation Annual Conference and Food Fair on Saturday May 3rd from 9am to 4:30pm at Good Samaritan Hospital 637 South Lucas Avenue, LA, CA 90017
Download brochure >>

• NutritionWise announces addition of Metabolic Testing >>

• Book Release: Healthy Child Healthy World, Creating A Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home by Author Christopher Gavigan (features two nutritional contributions by Nicole Meadow).
More about Healthy Child Healthy World >>

Thank you for visiting NutritionWise, the private practice of Nicole Meadow, MPN, RD. The connection between health and nutrition continues to grow stronger every day. People are realizing more and more that making changes to improve their diet and physical activity habits can improve their overall health. Nutrition is a life-long journey, not a final destination. Combining healthy eating habits with an effective exercise routine is extremely important to attaining a life of health and mental wellness. Good nutrition is part of a healthy lifestyle, the foundation of which is built on healthy eating habits. With a focus on disease prevention and overall health awareness, we guide you to take a more active role in managing your quality of life.

NutritionWise News

9.25.09 : Nicole and Patricia are featured in many food allergy articles:

Proper Planning — Schools Need Food Allergy Strategies to Keep Students Safe 

Food Allergies: How to Diagnose and What to Feed a Child Who Has Them

Are We Too Careful: Obsession with health may weaken immunities, increase allergies

Nicole presents “Are You NutritionWise: Nutrition Tips for Your Busy Family” 
August 13th, Mothers and More meeting in Westlake at 7pm

8.24.09 : Nicole and Patricia team up with My Gym to be their Nutrition Experts. www.my-gym.com

8.23.09 : Nicole is one of the experts for the new “Eat Healthy” feature of Healthy Child Healthy World’s website >>