March has been declared National Nutrition Month® by the American Dietetic Association, so I can’t think of a better time to talk about ways to improve your child’s lifestyle and eating habits. We all know that a banana is a healthier snack than a bag of potato chips and that…
Significant events in the 20th century resulted in changes in family dynamics. War, technological advances, and shifts in economics caused women to work outside of the home. Women traditionally stayed at home to take care of the home and the needs of the children. While initially many people scoffed at…
As a dietitian and a mom of three young children, I naturally have a bowl of fruit on the kitchen table. You may think that this has always been the case. The truth is that it wasn’t. The practice of having fresh fruit sitting out didn’t occur to me until…
By now, you have probably encountered the debate over growth hormones in food on the news, so as a concerned health-minded consumer, what do you really need to know? If you eat beef or drink cow’s milk, read the short history of recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), below to educate…
Most of us already know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Beginning your day without breakfast is like trying to fly a kite without any wind. It’s hard to get started and even harder to keep going. Breakfast is the first chance your child’s developing body…
Super foods are those foods that provide your body with more than just calories, protein, carbohydrates and fat. They are classified as “real” foods (read: unprocessed) that supply your body with disease-fighting components and support health. For example, many fruits are considered super foods because they contain antioxidants which neutralize…
Protein is an important part of every child’s diet; however, some parents believe that their children may not be receiving enough of it. Surprisingly, your child is probably getting more than enough. Why Is Protein Important for the Body? You may be wondering why protein is important. Protein does several…
Many parents think that because their children are picky eaters, they need to supply them with a multivitamin. The jury is still out on whether or not it is important to give children multivitamin supplements. Weigh the advantages and disadvantages and decide for yourself whether it is necessary in your…
Most kids snack between 1 and 3 times daily. These mini-mealtimes can either be an opportunity to increase your child’s intake of fruits and veggies or they could be an unfortunate foray into the world of high fat and sugar. Arming yourself with information on serving sizes, calories, fat, and…
Every parent wants to know what to make for school lunch. It is frustrating to find out your child didn’t eat a thing you made, even after they suggested what to put in it. It is also frustrating because it is just another thing to remember in a busy day…