Mother’s Day is coming up soon and today we’re delighted to have as our guest Lynne Bowman, a mom, grandmother, and author of a healthy eating cookbook, “Brownies for Breakfast.”

It’s Lynne’s second appearance on the Lean to the Left podcast. In the first episode, we talked a lot about how people with issues like diabetes can improve their health by improving their diet, cutting out sugar and bad fat. Lynne has been dealing with type 2 diabetes more than 30 years ago.

Her mom died when she was in her mid-40s, so when she became a single mom and the sole support of three young kids, she knew she had to take aggressive steps so she would be around to take care of them. So, by modifying her diet, she’s been able to get by with a minimal daily dose of just one prescription.

In her wonderful new cookbook, she shares tons of recipes that she’s created to help those with diabetes, and those who care for them, live a healthy life. It’s truly a beautiful book.

Here are some of the questions we discuss in the show:

Q. Mother’s Day is such an important occasion when we honor our moms and all they’ve done to care for their families. How did your diabetes affect you as a mom and what you knew you had to do for your kids?

Q. What challenges are out there because of changes in the food industry that affect our diets today?

Q. You say there is a “culture of crappy food,” where it becomes politically incorrect to eat the “wrong” things. What are you talking about?

Q. Why is our life span now shortening, and what can we do about it? Do we really want longer lives?

Q. On page 7 of your book, you say this: “You can improve your health, lift your spirits, help stop plastic pollution, save the earth, give your kids a better start in life…and save a boatload of money…all by fixing your food yourself. That’s a lot! What’s the secret to making all that happen?

Q. But what about if you’re not a diabetic. Do you need to be concerned about all this stuff?

Q. How can you still make tasty foods while losing the sugar? Q. What’s the big deal about plant-based foods? Seems boring and tedious.

Q. I drink a glass of orange juice every day for breakfast. Is that a bad idea?

Q. What should moms do when their schedule is crazy, they’ve got kids to manage, and yet they want to prepare healthy meals for their family? And dads…they need to pitch in, too, right?

Q. What about family meals? Are they still important?

Q. When I was growing up, my mom tried to have dinner ready for us at 5 pm. Is that still a good idea?

Q. Tell us more about your book, “Brownies for Breakfast,” and where people can get hold of it.