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…
Quick food is a big part of modern life these days, making it terribly laborious to show a child how he or she ought to eat healthy. The most cost effective and best foods are those that are normally the least healthy. If you offer your kid the choice between…
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…
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…
Water is essential to life. In fact, water covers 80% of the surface of our planet and over 60% of the human body consists of water. Water is essential for children and adults alike to stay healthy and well. But how much water should kids drink? The Role of…
Grocery stores can be crowded, difficult to navigate, and full of eye-catching displays of junk food and toys that make kids of all ages catch a serious case of the gimmes. That doesn’t mean you have to leave the kids at home. Eating is an experience families like to share,…
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…
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…
Have you ever tried to get your child to drink a V8? It’s a lost cause. But if you hide the vegetables in smoothies, desserts and entrées, then you can get your kid to gulp down a serving of veggies before you finish cleaning up the kitchen. Super Smoothie (Adapted…
It’s no secret that the choices offered in most school cafeterias leave something to be desired, both nutritionally and taste-wise. And convenience “kid” lunches-you know, those pre-packaged cracker, cheese and meat slice combos you find in the refrigerated section at the store-aren’t a great alternative. They’re loaded with sodium, artificial…