Got chocolate milk? A popular choice among both children and adults, the beverage is not only yummy but also good for you. All milk, flavored or not, has the same unique combination of essential nutrients. Plain and flavored milk include three out of the four nutrients of concern for kids: calcium, vitamin D and potassium. Check out more reasons why chocolate milk is a good choice:
Did you know that only one in three children are physically active every day? Making matters worse, nearly one-third of high school students play video or computer games for an average of three or more hours on an average school day. Three or more hours!
For my two kids, breakfast means different things. Fact is, what kids should eat and what kids will eat are sometimes two separate things. This can mean two different breakfasts at our house, but with a little planning and some flexibility on my part, we make the most of the morning meal. I give them two to three easy but healthy items to choose from each morning, but my mom trick is to pair things that are healthy with things they really like to eat.
Getting your kids involved in the kitchen is a great way for the family to connect. While it may require extra time, cleanup and patience, the skills they’ll learn are worth the added effort. Kids as young as 2 can be a part of the fun, and their involvement may keep them interested in trying new, healthy foods. You can enlist your little chefs in cooking alongside you with these five healthy recipes.
Our kids snack. Why shouldn’t we?
As a busy mother of two and a nutrition whisperer (technically, family and consumer science educator), I can assure you there are real benefits to smart snacking. According to Densie Webb, PhD, RD, “Research suggests nutritious snacks that fit into your client’s calorie needs may control weight and improve overall health.”1
Most Americans are falling short on key nutrients. Smart snacking can fill important nutrient gaps, as long as we stay within our caloric needs for the day.
Improve what you eat and focus on being active: Two simple ideas from the latest edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the science-based advice that helps all of us make choices that add up to better nutrition and lifelong well-being. As a mom and a pediatrician, I know that good nutrition begins with a commitment to healthier choices.
I’m the proud momma of three wonderful kiddos. And while the beauty and discomfort of pregnancy and childbirth fades over time, there is nothing like reveling in the body’s amazing ability to grow a human. While growing this bundle of joy takes little conscious effort on your part, it does take every bit of extra nutrients to make a perfect new human.
So, what should you eat? And how much should you eat? Here’s some food for thought.
Let’s get in the kitchen with our kids! Why? Cooking with your kids has a lot of benefits. For starters, it’s a great way for your family to reconnect at the end of the day.
As a mom who works for the dairy council, as you can imagine, I get dairy questions from friends. I also double as a “nutrition whisperer,” a title recently bestowed upon me. I like it so much; I may have new business cards made.
So, here’s a question I get a lot. Actually, it usually comes in the form of a statement. “My kid won’t drink milk.” To put this in context, this comes up when children turn one, the age when they go from breast milk or formula to cows' milk. I have discovered it may not be about the milk, but the delivery method:
Family Health and Fitness Day is a good time to focus on what you can do to lead the charge in your family for better health.
