This book would not exist without the hard work and support of many people.
Thank you to Sue Shepherd, PhD, and Peter Gibson, MD, for developing the low-FODMAP plan—you have helped so many people, and I’m so honored to help your work reach teens. Much appreciation as well goes to the gastroenterology department at Monash University for continuing this fascinating research and for sharing its knowledge with the public.
To the registered dietitian nutritionists who are responsible for popularizing the low-FODMAP diet in the United States: Kate Scarlata, RDN, and Patsy Catsos, MS, RD, LD. Your mission to teach other RDNs about this revolutionary plan means that you have improved the lives of more people than you can ever imagine. I’ve learned so much from your trainings, lectures, books, and blog posts. Thank you for your wisdom and generosity.
To the RMW Nutrition interns who have helped me at various stages of writing this book—Hillary Pasternak, Denise Ulloa, and Leah Negrin. I’m also appreciative of Jenna Pasternak and Hannah Plotka for not laughing at me when I asked, “Do teenagers really say ________?” and for babysitting so I could stay (sort of) on my deadlines, respectively.
I am so thankful to my friend and colleague Cynthia Sass, MPH, MA, RD, CSSD, who is always there when I need her with professional guidance or a laugh. I’m also lucky to have supportive friends and colleagues like Teresa Dumain, Kerri-Ann Jennings, Melissa Gallagher, Naava Katz, Anne Mauney, Leah Mermelstein, Terra Schmookler Fuhr, and Stephanie Weiss, all of the Tufts Nutrition Superheroes, and everyone in the extended Meltzer and Warren families cheering me along the way (and understanding when it takes me months to return a phone call—sorry!).
Thank you to the amazing team at The Experiment who saw the need for a book like this and helped me every step along the way—Jennifer Hergenroeder, Matthew Lore, Batya Rosenblum, Jeanne Tao, Sarah Smith, Vivienne Woodward, and especially Allie Bochicchio for believing in the idea, Jennifer Boudinot for carefully polishing my words and making sure my teen culture references are on point (on fleek?), and Joan Strasbaugh for seeing it through to publication. Thanks also to Becky Terhune for designing a book that makes stomach problems feel fun and exciting to read about. Thank you as well to my fantastic agent, Danielle Chiotti, for helping me transform my rambling ideas into books, and for turning my childhood dream of becoming an author into a reality.
I blame everything I am on my parents, Janet and Michael. Thank you to them for guiding, backing, and loving me. My brother, Daniel, is my in-house photographer and always a text away, and for that I am thankful.
And finally, thank you to my chosen family: Scott, who has endured many late nights and working weekends while I bond with my MacBook. Words cannot adequately express my appreciation of you. Liliana, thank you for “writing” Chapter 5 for me (in crayon) and for drawing pictures of me giving kids fruits and vegetables while I typed—for someone who can make it pretty hard to get work done, you help and inspire me every day.