What do you want to know about nutrition? Shoot me a question, and I’ll get back each week! Listen in English (3 minutes) En Espanol (6... more...
Ask Dr. Carrot
Every week, Dr. Carrot will answer your nutrition questions. Here are some conversations with Dr. Carrot
dear doctor carrot,
do u eat healthy food or alot of junk food???? and also is it good to eat hamburgers every day??????
Hi Lezly!
I believe in a word called moderation. When I use that word it means that I eat well most of the time, but I also eat sweets sometimes too. When I eat something sweet I try to play outside and exercise. I would use the same word for your second question too! Try to eat hamburgers only sometimes and make sure to get out side and exercise on days that you do.
Thanks for the question Lezly!
Signing off,
Dr. Carrot.
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dear doc carrot why are junk bad for us??????????
Dear Lezly,
Fruit and Vegetables are the best choice because they have LOTS of vitamins and minerals in it. That’s why I eat lots of fruits and veggies!
Do you have a favorite fruit?
Thanks Lezly!
Dr. Carrot
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Dear Fernando,
I’m so glad you like apples. They’re a great snack made by Nature herself, full of crisp and delightful flavors, plus vitamins, minerals and fiber that your body can use to stay healthy. My favorite way to “cook” with apples is to wash them then eat them just as they are. One apple can be a satisfying snack. Slicing an apple in half is a great way to share one apple between two friends. If you slice an apple six times, you can put it on a plate in a pretty pattern and share it with even more friends. And you can add other tasty things that go with apples, such as peanut butter to dip the apple in, or another kind of nut butter. Apples also taste great with slices of cheese. And those are just a few of the ways you can “cook” with fresh, raw apples, in ways that dress them up and add variety. Or, you can slice up an apple into toothpick sizes and mix it into a lettuce or a fruit salad. After you slice an apple, it can start to turn a brownish color. A little squeeze of lemon or lime can help the apple stay looking fresh. You can also “dress up” a sliced apple with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
If you want to “cook” apples by heating them in an oven, keep in mind this makes them softer and also makes an apples normally sweet flavors get much quieter. A common way to add those flavors back in is to add more sugar. You can do that now and then, but there’s so much added sugar in foods today, I’m hoping you might enjoy trying some other ways to add back flavor. A sprinkle of cinnamon adds back flavor. Or you can grate an apple then add it to another recipe that you’re cooking, and you’ll get a hint of apple in the recipe.
Those are just a few examples and ideas. Do you have a favorite way to cook apples? I’d love to hear it!
Dr. Carrot
Dr Mr. carrot,
I like apples. How can i cook with apples?
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Dear Dr. Carrot. How long does it take for a grape seed to grow into a grape?
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Dear Dr.Carrot,
Does chocolate contain milk? If so how much?
Your friends,
Guadalupe and Diana
Hi, Guadalupe and Diana. That’s a question worth some detective work! Often, chocolate products, especially candy kinds, do contain a little milk. One clue is when a label says, “Milk Chocolate.” “Dark Chocolate” usually doesn’t contain milk. To see if there’s milk in a chocolate product, check the ingredient label. The ingredient label can also give you clues about how MUCH milk is in a chocolate product. That’s because government rules for food labels require the most common ingredient in the food to be listed first, followed by the second most common ingredient, then the third, and so forth. So if milk is not the first ingredient in a chocolate product, there’s probably not very much milk in it.
Dr. Carrot
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hi dr. carrot this is ismail and i stoped eating candy because i tasted carrots
Hi, Ismail,
That’s very exciting that you’ve stopped eating as much candy and are now eating more carrots. I’d like to hear more about how that’s going. For instance, some people report that when they eat less candy, they get fewer cavities, they feel like they have more energy, and they feel more peaceful and content. Plus, healthy foods such as carrots and apples and brocolli and lettuce all taste better. How does eating less candy and eating more carrots feel to you?
Dr. Carrot
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Dear Doctor Carrot,
Why do papayas only grow if it is warm all year long?
Hi, Jennifer,
Papayas come from plants that are used to warm weather. Those plants die when the weather grows too cold. So I guess we can be glad that some places stay warm, so that there can be papayas.
Dr. Carrot
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Dear Dr.Carrot,
Are carrots good for your eyesight?
From,
Diana
Hello, Diana,
Carrots contain some natural ingredients that the body can use for making Vitamin A, and Vitamin A does help eyesight. Dark green, leafy vegetables and other dark green vegetables contain lots of vitamins that are good for eyesight, too. These are great choices for helping your eyes stay strong.
Dr. Carrot
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hi people
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Hi my name is Guadalupe and these are my questions for Dr. Carrot. My first questions is–
how healthy is white bread? And my second question is, what is the healthiest junk food?
Hi Guadalupe – White Bread is made from wheat flour just like whole wheat bread. But in order to make white bread you have to remove the bran and germ from the wheat kernel. Unfortunately, almost all of the good nutrients are stored in the bran and the germ of the wheat kernel and by removing those parts you loose a lot of the nutrients!
So I would say that the HEALTHIER choice is to select whole wheat bread.
As for the healthiest junk food . . . I would say that eating junk food is eating junk food and that the healthiest junk food doesn’t exist.
Dr. Carrot
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My name is Francis and I work for Ashley Elementary and I have a question for Dr. Carrot and my question is what kind of food should my teenagers eat since they are breaking out– are there any foods that contribute to acne?
Wow great question Francis. It wonderful that you are looking for the connections between our bodies health and the foods we eat. A lot of teenagers get acne because their hormone levels are changing. But diet certainly plays a big role.
A study I recently read showed a direct link between your glucose level (ie blood sugar levels) and the development of acne. In the study, when a persons diet consisted more of white bread, potatoes and sugary drinks and snacks they were more likely to develop acne. My advice is to try and eat less processed food and more whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and lean sources of protein.
Dr. Carrot
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This question for Dr. Carrot and my name is Jose Cruz. Do you know is it true that granola bars are healthy?
Hey there, Jose. The best way to see a granola bar is healthy is to read the label. Check the serving size, calories, percent fat, sugar and the ingredients. Compare Granola bars to each while your at the store and pick the one with lowest numbers.
Dr. Carrot
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Hey, this is Mr. Walters Dr. Carrot. I am a teacher at Ashley Elementary School, and I have a question… I heard that high fructose corn syrup is good for you because it’s made out of corn– Is that true?
Mr. Walters, I have to be honest. In my humble opinion High Fructose Corn Syrup is the worst ingredient in most processed food. It resembles very little of its original corn form including its nutrient levels. Quite a few studies have shown links between the consumption of high fructose corn syrup and obesity.
Dr. Carrot
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My name is Ms. Taylor I am a first grade teacher here at Ashley Elementary, Dr. Carrot, is eating ice cream every day good for you or not?.. because I eat ice cream every day and I love ice cream!
Ms. Taylor I love ice cream too! But the key is moderation. Try eating ice cream every other day. But if you really don’t want to miss out on that dessert there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Make sure you have a small portion of ice cream and then take a long walk outside to burn off some of the extra sugars and fat. OR, try and eat different types of ice cream. Sorbets and frozen yogurt tend to be lower in fat and healthier choices.
Dr. Carrot
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Dr Carrot I have a question– how much sugar is in Fruity Pebbles cereal? (1st grader)
According to Fruity Pebbles website each serving of fruity pebbles has 11 grams of sugar, which is almost two and half teaspoons of sugar per serving.
Dr. Carrot
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Dr. Carrot, I like miracle whip mayonnaise– is it the best mayonnaise for me? (1st grader)
Miracle Whip Mayonnaise has a little less fat then regular Mayonnaise and also has sugar. Regular Mayonnaise is not typically made with sugar. Both types are classified as a fat and shouldn’t be used to much. So eat and enjoy but eat only a little bit.
Dr. Carrot
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Dr. Carrot, I have a question.. are oranges good for you? (1st grader)
Oranges are GREAT for you! They have so much Vitamin C that by eating an orange your body is ready to fight off any germ that comes its way. Also when you eat an orange you get a lot of fiber and water that helps your digestive system work wonders.
Dr. Carrot
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Hi, I’m Ms Coburn a 5th grade teacher here at Ashley School and I have a question for Dr Carrot. Dr Carro,t I am concerned about artery blockage because of genetics in my family- what healthy foods can I eat so that I don’t have clogged arteries?
Ms. Coburn its great that you are interested in keeping your body healthy! There are a lot of foods that are good for your heart. Fish and nuts have low amounts of saturated fat and higher amounts of unsaturated fats, which are better for your brain and your circulatory system. Foods that have little or no cholesterol and more fiber are important to eat too. Fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains match that perfectly. But remember to be careful how much salt you eat and try to limit the table salt you use!
Dr. Carrot
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Dear Dr.Carrot,
Why are some tomatos named “Romon tomatos?”
From,
Diana
Hey Diana,
There are a lot of different kinds of tomatoes and they all have different names. Roma tomatoes are also called plum tomatoes. These tomatoes are egg shaped and can be found in a lot of grocery stores. I’m not sure exactly how they got their name but my best guess is that they originated in Rome, Italy.
Dr. Carrot
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What dose healthy eatnig mean to you and i am Ja’kyra from asley denver school see you latter and please text back bye.
Hi it’s me agin Ja’kyra i wanted to know if you like to grocying and if you do were do go get your food and what do you get and do you get veggies and what kind do you get and we can go around and ask people do they get veggies and what kind do they do they get but we have to get their prmison and if they do let’s us then we can do that and interviwe them gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood bye and text back on tursday at 3′30 bye
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Dr. Corrot can you plese plese with a cherry on top go to KING SUPPER with us?If you say yes we will give you information to see each other at KING SUPPER. PLESE COME!!!!!!!!!!!! Maria Ashley Denver Reporter
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Do you think hot cheetetos are good for you and if you don’t please explain why
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My cousin wanted to know why you are called DR. corrot
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Hi i am a deffrent stundent and i wanted to know what kind of veggies do you like
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What popular junk snack is healthy? Maria Ashley Denver Reporter
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which is healthy bannanes or a pine fruit?i want to kown because i wonder?
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what do you think of gold fish?i mean the cracker? are they healthy? jennifer ashley denver
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how many fruits exist? how many fruits do you eat a day? maria ashley denver reporter
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Dear Dr. Carrot — My brothers always find my Halloween candy and eat it, even if I hide it in my most secret cubbyholes. So, what do you think? Should I eat ALL the Halloween Candy I get as soon as I get home?
Dear Ashley Reporting Team,
I understand your problem completely and it’s quite a dilemma you are in! No matter how hard it may be to hide your candy it wouldn’t be good to eat all of your candy in one sitting. All of the sugar isn’t good for your body (or your teeth!) and it’s much more enjoyable to have a small treat every once and a while than to eat it all at once.
But – how to deal with a brother who knows all of you secret hiding spots?!?!? What I recommend is getting your whole family together for a talk. When you’ve got everyone together you should explain that this year you want the whole family to plit up their Halloween candy so everyone gets the same amount. Let them know that you like to eat your candy in small amounts and that the goal is if everyone gets the same amount then it’s fair for everyone and no one should need to steal from others. If your family does not like the plan of splitting up the candy then talk to them about the best way to keep your candy safe from hungry eyes. I bet your mom and dad could also come up with a good idea to keep it safe!
Thanks for your post!
Have a safe and fun Halloween.
Dr. Carrot
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Dear Dr. Carrot — Is it really true that we should “starve a cold and feed a fever?”
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Dear Dr. Carrot – My cat likes to eat potato chips. Is that a healthy snack for a cat, or should I find something better?
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