NUTRITIOUS TABLE

Linda Farr RD/LD  210-735-2402

Serving San Antonio and South Texas
with personalized nutrition counseling,
customized for health, nutrition and fitness needs.

Diet Programs

Whether you found this website through a referral from your doctor, a friend, a web search or Linda's TV, radio, or newspaper interviews, you are in the 80% of health care consumers who are seeking information on health topics over the internet. To help make your decision about setting an appointment with me a little easier, I have briefly summarized my goals and educational focus for each of the major types of diet counseling I provide. Please note that all sessions with me are personalized, collaborative with each client and based on current science. This list of practice areas is not all inclusive.

Weight Management

Overview

A successful weight loss program should be based not merely on pounds of weight lost but on health-oriented lifestyle changes. What causes overweight or obesity? Genetic Factors, Family Diet and Lifestyle Habits, Toxic Environment, Psychological Factors, Rare Diseases. The bottom line is that your caloric intake should be less than what you burn in daily activity to achieve your healthy weight. You don't have to be hungry to lose weight, and I won't let you become hungry.

Short term and long term goals will be set at each appointment, based on your individual needs. A modest weight loss of 10% (usually achieved at a rate of about 1-2 pounds per week over a 6 month period) can decrease your health risks for many diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Bad habits didn't develop overnight and neither will your new healthy habits. Think of this as a commitment to a lifetime of healthful living and wise food choices. Check out this site for weight loss publications and resources.

Goals and Educational Focus

• Adjust caloric intake to promote a reasonable and healthy weight
• Increase physical activity gradually, as medically permitted, to promote muscle mass development and cardiovascular health
• Provide a personalized meal plan that is portion controlled and nutritionally balanced
• Address undesirable eating behaviors which may prevent achieving weight goals
• Develop skills for dining out healthfully and grocery shopping
• Meet daily fluid needs for hydration
• Develop skills to revise home recipes to be more healthful
• Self-monitoring of daily food and activity.
• Positive reinforcement with non-food rewards is encouraged
• Meet fluid needs for adequate hydration
• Consume adequate vitamins and minerals from natural food sources

Cardiovascular Health and Hypertension

Overview

Improving your diet and lifestyle choices can decrease your risk for heart disease-the number one killer of Americans. Whether you have had a heart attack or stroke or just have a family history of heart disease, the American Heart Association "Therapeutic Lifestyle Diet" guidelines can reduce your health risks. I will calculate your individual nutrient needs and give you personalized recommendations on what to eat, what to limit, and what to increase in your diet. Exercise is a key component of heart health, and we will also discuss how to implement your doctor's recommendations for exercise. Of course no one should smoke. Check out this informative link about heart health.

Hypertension

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a major cause of stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and death. One third of those who have high blood pressure probably don't know they have it. So eating a lower sodium diet is healthful for anyone. If you have blood pressure problems, I will help you implement the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. This diet focuses on increasing low fat dairy foods and fruit and vegetables, while lowering unhealthy fats. It also stresses losing weight if overweight, limiting alcohol and sodium, and increasing aerobic physical activity (if permitted by your doctor).

Goals and Educational Focus

• Adjust food intake to promote a reasonable and healthy weight
• Nutritional recommendations for lowering LDL, Triglycerides and raising HDL
• Control sodium to lower blood pressure
• Encourage regular structured physically active
• Consume a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy foods, lean beef, fish and poultry, whole grains
• Include low mercury, oily fish at least twice per week
• Limit animal, saturated, trans, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fats
• Plant stanol/sterols and soluble fiber will be discussed if appropriate
• Consume alcohol in moderation
• Opt for heart healthy choices when dining out
• Discussion of moderate alcohol consumption if appropriate
• Meet fluid needs for adequate hydration
• Consume adequate vitamins and minerals from natural food sources

Diabetes

Overview

The number of people developing diabetes is growing worldwide. It is causing pre-mature death not only from diabetes but also from its cardiovascular complications. According to the World Health Organization, uncontrolled diabetes can increase your health care costs by 2-3 times over those who don't have diabetes. It can also affect personal relationships, leisure activities and mobility.

Type 1 Diabetes

Medical nutrition therapy is a key component in diabetes management. If you have Type 1 Diabetes, I suggest that you seek a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMT) to help regulate your diet and insulin and to monitor your blood sugars and body changes. DSMT is usually a group class. I am not a CDE, but I can personalize a diet to meet your individual needs. My diabetes diet services are more personalized than those you will receive through a DSMT program.

Type 2 Diabetes

If you have Type 2 Diabetes, I will develop a personalized meal plan and exercise guidelines to help you achieve a healthy weight and improved blood sugar, lipids and blood pressure. See General Diabetes Goals below.

Gestational Diabetes

The nutritional goals for Gestational Diabetes are to:

• Achieve and maintain optimal blood sugar (glycemic) control
• Provide adequate calories to support maternal and fetal nutrition
• Attain desired gestational weight gain guidelines as recommended by your doctor

I will develop a personalized 3-meal, 3-snack meal plan for you. Calorie and protein needs will be adjusted according to trimester or if breastfeeding. Of course alcohol and mercury containing fish should be avoided.

Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is also called Syndrome X or Insulin Resistance Syndrome. People with Metabolic Syndrome have several disorders at the same time-such as overweight or obesity, high blood pressure, insulin resistance and high cholesterol, high triglycerides and/or other blood lipids. I will work with you to achieve these goals:

• Reduce body weight through diet and exercise
• Decrease blood pressure by reduction of sodium intake and exercise, as permitted
• Achieve and maintain optimal blood sugar (glycemic) control
• Lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, lower triglycerides, raise HDL (good) cholesterol

General Diabetes Goals and Educational Focus

• Attain at least a 10% weight loss
• Increase structured physical activity as medically permitted
• Maintain the weight loss through long-term lifestyle changes and behavior modification
• Control and balance the total amount of carbohydrate in meals and snacks
• Regulate meal times
• Choose a variety of fiber-containing foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables
• Consume lean protein with meals and snacks, for a total of about 20% of your calories
• Limit saturated, trans, hydrogenated, partially hydrogenated fats and cholesterol
• Reduce total fat to promote weight loss and improved lipids
• Moderate sodium control
• Discussion of use of non-nutritive sweeteners, fructose, sugar alcohols (polyols)
• Discussion of glycemic index
• Discussion of effects of moderate alcohol consumption on glycemic control
• Meet fluid needs for adequate hydration
• Consume adequate vitamins and minerals from natural food sources

Eating Disorders

Overview

It seems like everyone today is concerned about their weight. But when an abnormal pattern of eating develops and body weight and health are in jeopardy, it is important to have a professional assessment by an MD and/or a therapist and a Registered Dietitian. Treatment can be very complex and should involve a team approach.

Eating disorders are not just about fear of food and concern about body shape and gaining weight. They develop from problems with self-esteem, lack of control, depression, unrealistic body image and other issues. Controlling food is a symptom of bigger psychological issues. Treatment may take a long period of time, even years.

Goals and Educational Focus

The role of the dietitian in treating eating disorders is to:

• Improve nutritional status to prevent medical complications
• Establish regular eating patterns using a variety of foods
• Develop a healthy relationship with food
• Educate the client and family on healthy eating patterns and behaviors

Sports Nutrition

Overview

Goals and Educational Focus

• Attain ideal body mass index, % fat and body weight for chosen sport
• Planning meals and snacks to achieve calculated calorie, carbohydrate and protein needs, as based on your age, sex, weight and type of sport (recreational, endurance, power/strength)
• Controlling total fat and selection of heart healthy fats
• Training diet recommendations will be made
• Adjusting carbohydrate and fluids to meet pre-event, during-event and post-event needs
• Consume adequate vitamins and minerals from natural food sources
• Safety of dietary supplements will be discussed

Celiac Disease

Overview

If you are newly diagnosed with celiac disease, the diet restrictions may seem daunting. Many commercial products contain ingredients that are detrimental to your health. The good news is that you are about to become a very good label reader and possibly a great cook. The gluten free diet is actually a very healthy diet for anyone to follow. Check out these helpful links:

www.celiac.com
www.theothergrains.com
www.alamoceliac.org

Goals and Educational Focus

• How to select gluten-free foods
• Understanding label terminology
• Baking flour combinations
• Converting recipes
• Avoiding cross-contamination when cooking at home
• How to contact manufacturers
• Tips for dining out and parties
• Local support groups
• Celiac organizations

Gastrointestinal Issues

Overview

Problems with digestion and absorption of foods can lead to nutritional deficiencies, bowel and stomach problems, and a fear of eating food. Some foods are commonly determined to be problem foods, but you may have your own personal food intolerances as well. I will work with you to develop a meal plan that avoids food triggers and incorporates nutritional guidelines specific to your needs.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Also called acid reflux, hiatal hernia, heartburn, and esophagitis. When the diaphragm muscle weakens, acidic stomach contents can be forced up into the esophagus causing heart burn like symptoms.

Goals and Educational Focus

• Meal size and frequency
• Proper eating/chewing techniques and body positioning
• Avoidance of foods, beverages, seasonings that weaken the esophageal muscle and allow reflux
• Timing of fluid consumption
• Weight loss guidelines if needed

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Nutritional problems from IBS can be the result of malabsorption, diarrhea, decreased food intake or medications. These problems will differ from person to person depending on the location and severity of the disease.

Goals and Educational Focus

• Meal size and frequency
• Consumption of adequate calories and protein
• Remove offending foods and monitor for intolerances
• Soluble fiber introduction to diet
• Avoidance of lactose and/or other food intolerances
• Consumption of adequate fluids, vitamins and minerals
• Avoiding caffeine and alcohol
• Supplementation with probiotics as needed
• Stress management

Crohn's Disease

Nutrition therapy is an important adjunct to the medical treatment of Crohn's disease. Your special diet will be aimed at providing good nutritious foods and removing foods that make your symptoms worse.

Goals and Educational Focus

• Meal size and frequency
• Consumption of adequate calories and protein to attain ideal body weight
• Remove offending foods and monitor for intolerances
• Replace vitamins, minerals, nutrients that may be inadequate
• Regulate fiber content of diet as needed
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol

Nutrition Analysis and Facts Labeling

Overview

The US Food and Drug Administration regulates food labeling so that most American foods that come in a bag, box, bottle or jar provide a complete ingredient list and a nutrition facts panel. The requirements of the panel have changed over time. For example, in January of 2006, companies were required to list the amount of trans fat in their products.

Whether you own a restaurant, are a food manufacturer, or just want to know the nutritional content of your favorite recipe or yesterday's meal intake, I can analyze the nutrient content of your recipes or menus using ESHA software. I can provide a complete nutrition analysis and a standard nutrition facts panel.

Spokesperson and Professional Resource

Overview

I have appeared as a nutrition expert for the San Antonio affiliates of CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX and PBS television. I provide monthly nutrition spots on Great Day SA-KENS 5. I also have been interviewed by KMGC Magic 105.3 radio, WOAI talk radio and the San Antonio Express-News. As a professional spokesperson I have represented, "Milk Mustache" campaign, "Best Start Under the Sun" Florida Oranges campaign, Heartburn and Prilosec, Chiquita Smoothies, Fit City Fit Schools. If you are interested in requesting a speaking engagement, please fill out this speaker request form and I will respond within 5 business days.

If you are interested in requesting a speaking engagement, please fill out this speaker request form and I will respond within 5 business days.

Other Areas of Practice