Author Asks: Is Your Hair Made of Donuts?

Joy Feldman was at last week to celebrate National Reading Week.

It was also a chance for Feldman, author of "Is Your Hair Made of Donuts?" to encourage a group of students at the school to make healthy eating choices.

"Does anyone here have hair made of donuts?"

"No," the students said back.

"I'm so glad to hear that!"

In the book, Matt and Maddie Blossom tell their mother that they want to eat the junk foods, or "ooey gooey" foods that some of their friends get to eat. Their mother doesn't let them eat donuts, candy, fast food or drink soda, because "you are what you eat" she tells them.

To build a strong building, you need the right materials. To build a strong body, you need the right materials too.

To teach Matt and Maddie a lesson, their mother leads them to the forbidden aisles of the supermarket. She told them they could have anything they wanted.

"Anything?" they asked.

"Anything."

They loaded up on treats, snacks and lots of ooey goey things.

At home, they gorge on those forbidden snacks. It all seems so enjoyable, until later that night, in bed, when they begin to suffer from upset stomachs and a strange feeling descends upon them.

We won't give away any more other than to say that what happens next is a bit frightening, with Maddie and Matts' hair getting curlier and heavier.

Remember, "you are what you eat."

Feldman, a nutritional consultant, got her start in the nutritional field about 20 years ago when she was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease. Medication didn't seem to help. What did was a change in her diet.

A doctor who practiced nutrition took hair samples for testing. That, along with the sight of children eating donuts and candy at 7 a.m. in an airport one morning, combined in her mind to create the concept behind "Is Your Hair Made of Donuts?"

Feldman's mission is to encourage families to take back their kitchens and make eating healthy foods a priority.

She already has written a cookbook, "Joyful Cooking," and has plans for more, including a kids cookbook.

You can find out more information about Feldman's work at www.joyfeldman.com.

"Is Your Hair Made of Donuts" includes a downloadable teacher's guide at www.isyourhairmadeofdonuts.com.