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Danielle Cook Navidi, mother to courageous fighter Fabien, was recently featured on the Today Show for her efforts in educating parents on how to cook healthy recipes for their children fighting cancer.
While her son was in treatment, Danielle was told by doctors that she needed to give her son calories and junk food was just fine. In Danielle’s mind, that did not sound right, so she ventured out to find healthy recipes that would provide the necessary nutrients that her child needed while undergoing his cancer treatments. Knowing that cancer and chemotherapy can cause a great deal of discomfort to a child’s digestive system, Danielle started with basic chicken and chicken broth–and her recipes grew from there.
Danielle began volunteering in the pediatric oncology department at the hospital where her son was in treatment, educating other families on how to cook healthy meals for their children fighting cancer. She now offers a “Cooking for Cancer” Program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.
In an attempt to reach more families, Danielle recently published a book, Happily Hungry, offering wonderful recipes for families caring for a child fighting cancer. Proceeds from sale of the book benefit the continued growth of the pediatric cancer nutrition program at MedStar Georgetown. In fact, as part of the “Cooking with Cancer” program sponsored by the Hyundai Hope on Wheels, Danielle is a regular in the children’s oncology clinic where she whips up healthy and fun recipes with the kids who are waiting for their doctor appointments.
“These recipes are really good for everyone, “said Danielle, “but especially for children and adults with health challenges like cancer or diabetes.“