We are what our mom ate

Charlyn Fargo, Contributor

Like it or not, we are what our mothers ate and fed us. While it hasn't been as well documented as mom's influence on our personality, character and psychosocial attributes, researchers are now looking into the impact of a mother's diet on her children. Reported in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, new research finds that if your mom was overweight, you are more likely to end up that way too. If your mom served vegetables, you are more likely to eat them.

Data from Australian moms of the Melbourne Infant Feeding, Activity and Nutrition Trial (INFANT) found that moms know what healthy foods they should be feeding to their kids, but they don't always do it. Not surprisingly, healthy breads, cereals and vegetables are lacking. While overall level of nutrition knowledge was relatively high, less than two per cent of the moms in the study could answer key food questions. First-time moms are especially lacking in knowledge.

The study also found an insufficient intake of dietary calcium for kids and moms. The bottomline for moms is to know that what we eat really does affect the future health of our kids, whether you live in Australia or the United States. So, eat those fruits and veggies, whole-grain breads and cereals and low-fat yoghurt or skim milk - your kid is watching.

Is 'vegetarian meat' healthy?

Q: My family is vegan and we sometimes use 'faux' meat products. Lately, I've been reading that the salt and nitrites in processed meats are more dangerous than red meats. Have we unwittingly been exchanging one unhealthy diet component for another?

A: It depends on what has been added to the faux meats as flavouring and colouring and in what quantities they are eaten. Check the label: It is possible, for example, to buy vegan 'bacon' that contains only two-thirds the sodium of real bacon, no saturated fat and no added nitrates.

Don't assume, however, that a vegan diet is necessarily healthier than one including animal products (notwithstanding any ethical concerns). Non- and low-fat dairy products and eggs are good sources of protein and other nutrients, as is fish.

- Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, June 2011

Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian from at Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.