🍎Why I wrote "Super Foods for Super Kids"

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🍎Why I wrote "Super Foods for Super Kids"

🌱 How Pain, Parenting, and a Picture Book Sparked Super Foods for Super Kids

When my son was just two years old, we were living in Seoul. Every morning I’d bike him to daycare, feeling like the picture of a healthy young mom. Until one morning, I couldn’t even get out of bed. My joints screamed with pain I’d never felt before. After dragging myself to the doctor, I learned the name of my unwelcome guest: rheumatoid arthritis.

The doctors suggested steroids. But I was still nursing my son, and I wasn’t ready to pump my body full of medication. So instead, I did what any stubborn, curious parent would do—I researched. And researched. And researched some more.

That’s when I discovered something life-changing: the food I was eating was either fueling my pain or easing it. I had always chased flavor over function, but suddenly, I realized that what I put in my body mattered more than I ever imagined. Through trial and error (and a lot of label-reading), I found that a plant-based diet was my lifeline. Meat and dairy? Instant inflammation. Plants? Relief.

🍭 From Seoul to School Snacks

Fast forward a few years. We moved back to America, and my son started kindergarten. That’s when I saw what was being handed out as “treats.” Spoiler alert: they weren’t treats. They were chemical cocktails disguised as candy—Red 40, red 3, blue 1, high fructose corn syrup, MSG, artificial sugars, preservatives. Kids grabbed them with innocent joy, but I couldn’t unsee the damage.

By then, I was a pro at reading labels. And the more I learned, the more I knew: our kids deserve better fuel for their growing bodies and minds.

🍅 The Spark of an Idea

One day, I remembered something fascinating I’d heard: some foods resemble the body parts they benefit. Tomatoes look like hearts and are good for your heart. Walnuts look like brains and support brain health. Grapes resemble lungs and help them thrive.

That quirky, clever connection lit a fire in me. What if kids could learn this through a fun, colorful picture book? What if they could see food not just as “something to eat,” but as super fuel for their super bodies?

So I started sketching, jotting down ideas, and digging deeper. That’s when I stumbled upon the ancient theory called the Doctrine of Signatures, which explores this very relationship between food and the body. And just like that, Super Foods for Super Kids was born.

📖 From My Kitchen to Yours

Since publishing, I’ve heard from parents who say their kids are now teaching them about healthy eating. Some moms tell me their children are calling grandparents to announce what foods they should be eating. That’s the kind of ripple effect that makes my heart burst.

I’ll be honest—I’m not glad I got sick. But I am grateful that my pain had a purpose. It pushed me to discover truths about food, health, and resilience that I now get to share with families everywhere.

💡 Takeaway for Parents

  • Food is fuel, not filler. What we feed our kids today shapes their health tomorrow.

  • Stories stick. Kids remember playful connections like “tomatoes for your heart” far more than lectures.

  • Small changes matter. Swapping one ultra-processed snack for a whole food can make a difference.

✨ My Final Thought

Super Foods for Super Kids isn’t just a book—it’s a movement. It’s proof that kids can learn to love healthy food when it’s presented in a way that’s fun, clever, and empowering. And it’s proof that even the hardest challenges can lead to breakthroughs that bless others.

With Love,  Joy 🍎

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