You do what you eat Published Oct. 28, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Bryan Swink Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Members of the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst community learned valuable nutrition tips during The Power of Food seminar at the Timmermann Center Oct. 20. Dr. Robert Dell'Amore, creator of the award-winning nutrition education workshop "Life Skills for Nutrition and Children" and The Healthy Kitchen Inc. president, discussed the connection between diet and nutrition and behavior. The focus of his Dell'Amore's seminar was to inform military families of the potential for improper nutrition negatively affecting their teenage children. He also stressed the importance of military parents avoiding difficult time constraints and preparing healthy meals at home as often as possible. He highlighted the current research linking the ingredients found in processed foods with negative effects on brain and heart health and how they can contribute to aggressive and violent behavior. "Research has discovered a link between diet, nutrition and behavior," said Dell'Amore. "This presentation focuses on a diet without the use of sugar, butter and salt. Most people are unaware of the consequences some ingredients contained in processed foods can have when put into the body." The seminar also included a cooking presentation to show attendees how easy it can be to prepare meals at home. Dell'Amore explained how meals don't have to taste bad just because they don't contain sugar, butter or salt. He described how people's palate can change by exposing them to fresh, great tasting produce, herbs, lean meats and fish. Attendees sampled the food prepared by Dell'Amore and Elaine Medin, The Healthy Kitchen Inc. vice president. They made a stir-fry consisting of garlic, onion, dried tomato, white rice and an assortment of herbs and spices cooked in olive oil. They also prepared a salad containing fruits, vegetables, black pepper and a natural balsamic vinaigrette. The seminar was sponsored by the Army Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program as a part of Domestic Violence Prevention and Awareness Month.