What an opportunity! Me write a monthly column for Island Scene Online on nutrition topics of my choice, and also answer questions from you, ISO's readers. Editor Ignacio Lobos suggested the idea last spring. I thought about it for two minutes and quickly agreed.
And, now you're probably wondering, "Who is she?" "Why does she get to write this column?" "Why does ISO want a column like this?" First, you need to know that I'm passionate about food and nutrition, with lots of experience on both fronts.
That's what I tell my beginning nutrition students at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa on the first day of class. My official credentials include a master's of science degree (1982) and a doctorate (1988) in nutritional sciences from the University of Wisconsin/Madison. More importantly, I have been teaching basic nutrition classes at Manoa for the past 15 years. Keeping up with the students and their questions means I have to keep up to date with "wha's happ'nin" in nutrition, health and food on a daily basis. Also, I have been one of two nutrition advisors for Island Scene magazine, HMSA's flagship publication, for about five years.
So, why write a column like this? Nutrition silliness abounds in newspapers and magazines, or television, and increasingly on the Web. Many people want to do the right thing -- they want to eat what's good and healthy for them. But they're confused by all the misinformation.
Can you tell nutrition myth from nutrition truth? Each month, with your help (more on that later), the column will focus on one or two timely food and nutrition topics. I hope to offer you lots of reliable, basic information about nutrition and health.