The Edible Issue—Feature Guest Editorial
Janis Morelli  This month’s “edible” issue of Highlights is meant to give you lots of food for thought, and even some ideas of food to eat.
Food is such a critical part of life. From a social perspective, it’s a way of bringing people together. From a health perspective, we need it to live. But it can also wreak havoc if we abuse it or let it abuse us. Good nutrition starts at the earliest stages of life as mothers strive to eat well during pregnancy, and then look to feeding their newborns with the best nature has to offer through breastfeeding. Researcher Sonia Semenic’s recent study on breast feeding in Quebec shows how far we’ve come and how much more needs to be done to support mothers in society, and through governmental and medical institutions. In one of our feature stories this month, we tell you about the At Your Request dining program which replicates a room service approach to patient meals at the MGH. And in a new section spotlighting hospital volunteer programs, we share the wonderful work of Silver Spoons volunteers who provide assistance and company to patients at mealtime. Food can be a minefield for people living with diabetes. In the Getting to Know Us section, we are introduced to clinical nutritionist and diabetes educator Evelyne Pytka, who works closely with children and their families, teaching them how to manage their lives with Type 1 Diabetes. Recently, The Neuro delivered some fascinating research on how the brain is susceptible to imagery, and the link that can have to obesity. It’s worth keeping in mind the next time we find ourselves getting seduced by advertising. As the summer provides plenty of reasons for distraction, we thought you might want to be aware of the poisons that can lurk in our garden sheds or on a pleasant daily stroll. Finally, given the relentless swelter of this summer, it bears reminding ourselves of the importance of staying hydrated. Many of us may not exactly understand the impact heat and perspiration can have on our health, so we’ve check in with nutritionist Robin Glance to help explain the dangers of dehydration and how we can mitigate them. And to entice you away from commercial options that may not always be the best choice for rehydration, we’ve included a basic recipe for the immediate restoration of lost electrolytes, along with a refreshing option in a cool green smoothie. We hope this whets your appetite. Janis Morelli
P.Dt., M.Ed.
Manager of Clinical Nutrition Services - Adult Sites | 
Sometimes, it’s the little things that make a pleasant difference during a patient’s hospital stay. And often, those seemingly insignificant things actually require a great deal of research, organization, and the staff to make it come together seamlessly. The ability to choose a meal that appeals to one’s mood, appetite, and most of all, palette, is just such a thing.
“Breastfeeding support is not only a health professional issue, it is a societal effort”, argues Sonia Semenic, Nurse Scientist at the McGill University Health Centre and co-principal investigator of a research project assessing breastfeeding policy guidelines in Quebec.
One of the most serious and growing threats to public health worldwide is obesity in both children and adults.
The shock of a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming to patients and their loved ones. Feelings of fear and uncertainty can be intensified by the sudden responsibility of having to make and keep track of numerous medical appointments and treatments in unfamiliar surroundings and across different locations. 
