Have you found that there are many things that distract you in your daily life? All of us are exposed to so many distractions, it is often very hard, (sometimes even impossible) to focus on only one thing. Driving while texting–DISTRACTED! Cooking while watching TV, and having a conversation on the telephone–DISTRACTED!! So what would happen if we were distracted while taking medication? Reading diet instructions? How to operate that new medical equipment in your home? My guess: only part of the information would be absorbed, there would be and…

Eating three meals a day and healthy snacks is hard to do under the best of circumstances. Snack time can turn into SUGAR time, if you are not careful. So what is a parent or caregiver to do to ensure healthier habits? Let’s begin with what we know is healthy–fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and grains. Even on limited budgets, adjustments can be made so that the nutritional value of the foods you  and your family eat meets everyone’s metabolic needs. We need healthy food to work and function and…

Flashback to your childhood and recall what your parents would say to you if you were about to do something that could cause harm to yourself, like climb out of the crib or venture into the street. It was usually a resounding, “No!” They were trying to protect you, and you may or may not have known it then but it was for your own good. Today, it seems children rarely hear the word no.

Some parents, when put to the test, will say they want their child to figure it out,…

Having been displaced by Hurricane Sandy, it’s been a few weeks since my last blog.   Still not able to live in my home, I’ve been moving around, trying to help others and trying to help my beautiful town of Long Beach get back on its feet.  

I’ve seen alot of suffering and heard many stories of loss, but the silver lining has been the kindness of family, friends and my family at VNSNY.    The compassion and support I have received has been so heartwarming.   I’ve received countless offers of assistance from…

I live in the Hudson Valley. We lose power during most big storms, often for several days. Over the years I’ve thrown out thousands of dollars in spoiled food. I’ve figured out a few ways to tell if stuff really needs to be tossed, and I’ve learned ways to minimize the loss.

How to minimize the damage

Photo: Milad Mosapoor

Listen to the forecast. Before a storm hits, my meals are all designed to clear out the perishables. In the days before Sandy struck, I ate several frozen dinners; I left the carrots…

After visiting with Maharana L. in Richmond Hill, Jennifer and I drove to visit one of her long time patients, Lenny C., who asked not to be photographed.

As a 19-year-old swimmer, Lenny jumped into the water at Rockaway Beach, hit the water wrong, and broke his neck – instantly becoming a quadriplegic. That was more than 55 years ago, and he lives a full life as an artist (he paints with the help of arm splints). His many friends come to visit him, and some friends even come to his…

The next stop after meeting with Mr. and Mrs. G. was a visit with Maharana L., a Guyanese immigrant living in Richmond Hill, Queens.

Richmond Hill has a large immigrant population from Guyana; this population is currently facing an epidemic of Type II Diabetes. Data suggests that adults born in Guyana have a death rate of 58 per 1,000,000 deaths from diabetes compared to 34 for U.S. born – that’s almost 60% higher.^*

Before we arrived at Maharana’s apartment, Jennifer told me that when she met Maharana three years ago, she was…

There is a trend in obesity research that suggests we may be going about correcting this healthcare issue in the wrong way. Recent research shows that caloric intake in obese adolescents is less than their fit peers. This and many other research expresses concern that addressing diet is only a small part of the problem. Younger children were also studied and found that caloric intake did impact weight overall. So now what?  Time to exercise and incorporate healthier habits has always been proven in the adult population to be of…

Few things inspire terror in a mother like being served breakfast in bed by the kids—who knows what the kitchen will look like when your little angels are done? Pass on pancakes, ban the bacon, and have a slice of quiche with some fruit on the side. Your Mother’s Day gift to yourself: No batter on the ceiling.