Your mother probably told you, "You are what you eat," in an effort to get you to eat more fruits and vegetables. And as a kid, you likely just shrugged her off. But there's a woman in our community who wants you to embrace your mother's advice.

Saint Clement School's Wellness and Environmental Sustainability group hosted "Spring into Action: Eat for the Cure" on April 25 to explore how what you eat can potentially lead to illness and disease. Presenter Barb Carten -- a former school mom and mother of second grade teacher Ms. Catherine Carten -- is a breast cancer survivor who wants everyone to focus on prevention, rather than early detection, of breast cancer and other diseases.

Citing numerous studies, Carten consistently showed how diet, not genes, has an impact on the possibility of contracting disease. Carten's primary focus was on results of The China Study and four insights which can transform your health: 1 - Certain diseases occur in groups, and could have common causes; 2 - As cholesterol is lowered, so does the risk of cancers and heart disease; 3 - By reducing fat intake to 10 percent of your daily diet, you can also lower your risk of breast cancer; and 4 - Your lifetime exposure to estrogen is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

By adopting a plant-based diet, Carten says, you can significantly decrease your risk of disease. She outlined a new food pyramid, which included (from bottom to top): vegetables, fruit, beans, and grains. Tiny portions could be allotted to lightly processed foods, such as salsa, while rarely enjoying milk and dairy products.

Four different salads made from plant-based ingredients were provided to the crowd of about 40 to prove this way of life could be tasty and satisfying. Carten also displayed several books on the topic so attendees could peruse potential new additions to their bookshelves, virtual or otherwise. Finally, Carten closed her presentation by having the audience assist in creating a three-week plan which included about 15 easy dinner options, along with ideas for breakfast and lunch. The group was asked to make a three-week pledge to try the plant-based diet.

Additional resources recommended by Carten include: Forks over Knives movie, and the Wellness Club at Whole Foods Market, 1550 N. Kingsbury Street.