Tag: COVID-19

New York City: music, museums, monuments, and medicine

“For generations, we cooperated to live in this small space. Now cooperation has helped us keep living.”

One of my favorite vacations ever was to New York City. I was curious about it but not sure I wanted to go there. But when my son’s work took him there for a year, I decided it was time to visit him and the city. And I am so glad I went. It was magical.

lady, 2 men posing together in a restaurant
good food, great company, grand city


Safest big city: After its horrors, New York City is (for now) a coronavirus success story

Deaths are rare now. Some days there are none, as the hospital ICUs scale down. And a network of scaled-up clinics and hospitals administer tens of thousands of daily tests,… Credit the collective discipline of staying apart and wearing masks, and leadership decisions holding off on opening bars and indoor dining. For generations, we cooperated to live in this small space. Now cooperation has helped us keep living. 

New York Daily News

“A Natural Woman “

I reviewed Carole King’s memoir, A Natural Woman. Carole was born in Manhattan, attended school in New York City, and started her musical career there. A musical about her life, Beautiful, plays on Broadway. (I saw Beautiful in Tulsa.)

couple in front of THE LION KING sign
We saw THE LION KING in New York

Working Stiff -a book review to remember 9/11

Another memoir, Working Stiff, happened in New York City. Dr. Judy Melinek and her husband T.J. Mitchell chronicled her work as a medical examiner with the NYC Medical Examiner’s office following the Trade Center attacks on 9/11.

New York City at night
New York City by night from the Empire State Building


NEW YORK CITY: MUSIC, MUSEUMS, MONUMENTS, AD MEDICINE-watercresswords.com

Sometimes Amazing Things Happen:Heartbreak and Hope on the Bellevue Hospital Psychiatric Prison Ward 

by Elizabeth Ford, M.D. 

I read this book in which  Dr. Elizabeth Ford reviewed her career as a psychiatrist at Bellevue Hospital, where she cared for  mentally ill patients in the criminal justice system of New York City.

When the hospital flooded and lost power during Hurricane Sandy she and the dedicated staff fought to get permission to  evacuate the prisoner patients who languished for days in a ward without running water or hot food.

What Patients Say, What Doctors Hear– a book review

Dr. Danielle Ofri has a special interest in and writes about the patient- physician relationship . She is an attending physician at Bellevue Hospital,  Associate Professor of Medicine at New York University School of Medicine, and writes for The New York Times.

She has written several books; I reviewed this one.

Pandemic– a book review

Medical writer Sonia Shah reviews the history of the cholera epidemic of NYC among others in her book Pandemic.

MUSEUM-BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
100 DRESSES
Our Tuneful Heritage


jewelry and ceramic figurines in a store window
window shopping


I hope you enjoyed this post.

exploring the HEART of health in New York City

Dr. Aletha     

Simple Tips for Healthy Holiday Eating

Holiday traditions often involve special foods and beverages, posing challenges for individuals managing medical conditions like diabetes, food allergies, and obesity. Emphasizing mindfulness in eating and understanding personal dietary restrictions can alleviate holiday stress and enhance enjoyment.

updated December 5, 2025

Everyone enjoys the holiday traditions of eating and drinking special foods and beverages.  But these can cause problems for people who need to manage what they eat and drink for medical reasons.

sliced Stollen

Nutritional adjustments play a vital role in managing these health conditions

  • diabetes
  • high cholesterol
  • celiac disease/gluten sensitivity
  • nut and other food allergies
  • lactose intolerance
  • overweight/obesity
  • alcohol dependence
  • heart, kidney, and liver dysfunction
  • anorexia/bulimia
  • pregnancy
  • migraine
  • cancer

Share the Joy, not the Germs

Lessons learned from the COVID-19 public health emergency are useful as we plan to celebrate holidays with gatherings. Several illnesses, particularly respiratory infections, are more prevalent at this time of year.

As much as we hate missing activities with close friends and family, we risk spreading contagious diseases if we attend when we are ill. Be gracious and stay home when you feel unwell.

If you are at higher risk of complications from respiratory infections, consider whether attending gatherings is wise.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful and isolating for many people. Gatherings during the upcoming holidays can be an opportunity to reconnect with family and friends.

This holiday season, consider how your holiday plans can be modified to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to keep your friends, families, and communities healthy and safe.”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
a dining table decorated for Christmas

Practical Tips to Plan Menus

Planning ahead to manage holiday stress also applies to cooking, entertaining, and eating during the holiday season.

If you plan and prepare holiday meals and parties, remember that some attendees need to avoid or restrict certain foods.  

Offer an ample variety of food and drinks so your guests will find something that works for them.

If you have house guests, they will appreciate your asking them about dietary needs or restrictions so you can have food available to meet their needs.

If you have special food needs, it may be wise to offer to bring a dish to an event or take food to eat if you will be someone’s house guest.

“Holidays can be a time of great anxiety for people with diabetes because it is so focused on food.

Don’t let questions about what to eat, how much to eat, and meal timing dampen your holiday. Plan in advance, so you can fend off stress and fully enjoy the day and keep your diabetes management on track.”

American Diabetes Association
Photo by fauxels on Pexels.com

The following links are provided for your information only and do not constitute clinical advice or endorsement. Always discuss health decisions with your personal healthcare professional.

Dr. Diana, an allergy doctor who blogs about cooking at White Coat, Pink Apron, suggests these

Edible Christmas Gifts

decorated Christmas cookies

 30 Best Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies

apples, oranges, and walnuts

Navigating the Holidays with a Food Addiction: 

” Eating disorders are not about food, it is about the underlying issues which can be triggered by anxiety and stress. Holidays can bring on both increased stress and anxiety and can be difficult for individuals to manage. When a person is in an active eating disorder, there are various ways to cope with the holidays.”

Addiction Hope.com

Time for you to plan

As you consider your holiday entertaining, whether as host or guest, what is most important for you to consider?

How will you plan ahead so that you can feel confident that your holiday celebrations are not only fun, but healthy and safe?

Who do you need to talk to or ask for help?

Exploring the HEART of holiday eating

I appreciate the resources I have linked to in this post for sharing their expertise online.

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Dr. Aletha