Articles written by Laura Dunkley

What is Helium

About me - Laura Dunkley

I am a Registered Dietitian and I work in pediatrics with a sub specialty in Pediatric endocrinology. I am a native of Jamaica who came to the US originally as a child and again later as a teenager. I have lived in the US on and off since I was 9 years old

+ more bio information

RSS Feed

Food & Drink > Soup & Stew Recipes Recipes: Chicken soup: 1 of 22
As a child growing up in Kingston Jamaica, this was the default meal on a Saturday. In most of the Caribbean, soup was the meal of the day in many homes. This is a hearty soup that has traveled well across the seas to the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and wherever you find Caribbean nationals. This soup traditionally contains everyt... More..
Health & Fitness > Diabetes Diabetes treatment: 1 of 14
Many years ago I was told by an RN, CDE(Certified Diabetes Educator)that patients are not diabetics but are people with diabetes. The rational for this statement was that you have diabetes and diabetes does not have you. The nuance of this statement is that you control your diabetes it does not control you. Diabetes Mellitus,... More..
Food & Drink > Ethnic & International Foods Caribbean food menu ideas: 1 of 8
It's now September and in a few months it will be time for Christmas. In the Caribbean if you did not start your fruits for black cake, it is time to get started. Collect your fruits; raisins, currants, prunes, citron, cherries and any other fruit that your recipe calls for and set them to soak in some port. By the beginning ... More..
Food & Drink > Ethnic & International Foods Best Jamaican cuisine specialties: 1 of 5
Jamaican food is a mix of the different cultures that contributed to the formation of the nation. Our food starts with indiginous Taino Indians and the Spaniards who occupied the island from Columbus to 1655. The Spanish began the importation of Africans for labor and the English after their invasion imported more Africans. A... More..
Health & Fitness > Diabetes How to manage diabetes: 1 of 4
A diagnosis of diabetes, whether it is type 1 or Type 2 can be a life altering event. Many patients with new onset diabetes especially those with Type 1 thank that life as they knew it is over. This is one of the biggest myths in diabetes management. There is an abundance of misinformation and outdated information that is bei... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Caribbean & Atlantic Culture How religion has shaped the economy of the Caribbean: 1 of 4
Religion has been a part of the Caribbean since Columbus set foot on Watling's Island in 1492 and claimed the area for Spain. On subsequent trips, other islands were claimed for Spain and considering that Spain was a Roman Catholic country, this was the first religion established in the settlements on Hispaniola, Cuba, Jamaic... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Caribbean & Atlantic Culture How the Caribbean economy was affected by slavery: 1 of 4
The Caribbean by and large was and is an agricultural economy founded on the backs of slavery and indentured servitude. In the regions where gold was not found, the Spaniards turned to agriculture and amongst the crops was sugar cane. On the Central and South American mainland, the indigenous people were enslaved in the gold ... More..
Health & Fitness > Diabetes Traveling with diabetes: 2 of 6
This is a practical and common sense guide to traveling with diabetes. Having diabetes should not prevent anyone from following a normal life and that includes traveling. If in your normal life, your diabetes is well controlled, that is you take your meds, follow your diet and exercise, planning a trip should not be a problem... More..
Health & Fitness > Diabetes When sugar is not so sweet: 2 of 6
As a Registered Dietitian I spend an awful lot of time teaching meal management to patients with diabetes. One of the biggest misconceptions is that sugar must be avoided at all costs. While we do not encourage the consumption of sugar, it can be included in the diet as a part of your overall carbohydrate consumption. What ma... More..
Food & Drink > Ethnic & International Foods What is authentic Caribbean food?: 1 of 3
Authentic Caribbean food depends on where you are and who is cooking. The history ofCaribbean food dates back to the indiginous tribes of the pre-Columbian era and with the infusion of the Europeans the Spanish and English mostly and some French, Dutch and a smattering of Portuguese and other Europeans. Africa has made a larg... More..