Doctors are testing everyone for vitamin D. It’s the latest thing and, apparently, we are all deficient. My husband, our neighbors, me, none of us has enough. We can get it from the sun, of course. But according to the nutritionist with my HMO, the sun has to be high in the sky for that to work. Peeking-through-the-clouds winter sun doesn’t count.

I asked the nutritionist about food sources of vitamin D. Here are a few: Cod liver oil, whole eggs, mackerel, milk (fortified with D), mushrooms, salmon, and tuna fish.

Too little vitamin D is thought to be a contributing cause of cancer. Though sometimes, it seems like that’s said about everything “under the sun.”

My original intent in seeing the nutritionist was to get some ideas to help withstand the treatments for cancer. While I was there I picked up some tips for better living overall.

We talked about fatty foods. In general, plant fat is better for people than that from meats. And we shouldn’t have trans or hydrogenated fats. Sources of good fat are unsalted nuts, olive oil, and avocados. Since fats can decrease the efficient function of the immune system, the nutritionist suggested less butter, cheese, and sausage. Julia Child would have cried; she loved all three!

One thing Julia Child would have adored: Five to nine servings of fruit and vegetables a day are recommended. I don’t know anyone who can stop to eat that often during a given day. But I got the point. Eat more fruit. Eat more vegetables.

There was the usual admonition to consume less sugar. It is cumulative in the body, and one should have under 12 grams (three teaspoons) a day, including what is consumed in food. Corn syrup and high fructose corn syrups are also bad. The recommended daily sodium intake was up to 2300 milligrams a day. This sounds like plenty, until one realizes that a teaspoon of salt holds 2400 milligrams.

There was the recommendation to eat more whole grains, brown rice, and sweet potatoes (the latter are full of vitamin A and beta carotene).

Red meat once a week is all right, so long as it’s lean. And while everyone is enjoying their turkey this Thursday, we should remember to eat the white breast meat as the dark meat found in the legs and thighs is fatty. That works for me.