Like a close friend, chocolate is intimately woven into my life. It was present during tough family times, amidst lonely travels and prominent at festivities. Growing up in the age of ding-dongs, I scorned chocolate and received “special” treats at birthday parties. Exploring the world as a young adult, I found that pudding-like, Italian drinking chocolate far surpassed Belgian white chocolate confections. What is it about quality of chocolate repels or lures me?

One of the most important things we parents can do for our children is to help create a positive relationship with food. With the increasing prevalence of childhood chronic disease, lack of institutional education about healthful eating, and misguided commercial messaging about nutrition, our children are at risk of developing lifelong physical, emotional and cognitive issues related to food.

Every January I undertake one behavior change, and one dietary shift. This year, those two categories merge, and stem from the same concept: mindfulness.

Most of my behaviors reflect being a mother of young, impressionable children. While we have made great strides during mealtimes, this year I will invite my kids to routinely share in dinner preparation.

Each November, as I begin to embrace the colder weather and longer nights, I am beckoned by comfort foods containing rosemary and oregano. I’ve attributed this “magnetism to herbs” to my Italian heritage and to a seasonal shift in my taste buds from sweet to savory. Recently, I have added rosemary to my routine in an unusual way, by dropping its essential oil onto my head.

Historically, the cold autumn weather would lay to rest the fruits of summer and, along with it, our sweet tooth. Our taste buds would shift from a hankering for ripe apples, pears and plums to the heartier carrots, squash and onions. However, with year-round availability of fruit and sweets – and sinister holiday treats – cravings for sugar intensify rather than wane.

One of my earliest memories of health was my dad’s diagnosis with familial hypercholesterolemia – a fancy way of saying that his high cholesterol is genetic. I remember dad wearing matching workout suits to the gym and dramatically changing his diet per his doctor’s orders. A six-month no-avocado, no-egg, no-elk diet cast an ominous cloud over the household...