Do you have a picky eater? A new study found that babies ate more vegetables after about eight days of tasting them. Offer small amounts of a new food several times so your child gets use to the taste. Model good eating habits. Let your child see you enjoying your spinach and Brussels sprouts. This same study found that breast-fed babies accepted fruits and veggies when their moms regularly ate them.
Archive for the "Food and Nutrition" Category
Helping your child learn to care for his teeth does a lot more than prevent cavities. Maybe more importantly it helps guard against gum disease and the problems associated with that -such as heart disease and diabetes.
Here are a few habits geared toward a healthy mouth that you might not have heard of:
*When you can’t have your child brush or floss, my dentist recommends chewing a stick of sugarless gum. It increases saliva and whisks away bacteria. Gum varieties that contain xylitol make the mouth’s pH less hospitable to germs.
*Eat cheese. Scientists think Cheddar, American and other popular varieties contain fatty acids that the bacteria in the mouth do not like.
*Bacteria feed on sugar; so brush before you eat sweets as well as after. This means there will be fewer of them hanging around to do any damage.
A fun toothbrush will also entice kids to brush better and longer. I just walked through the dental care aisle of my grocery store and saw these. Each of the four Crayola Games toothbrushes from GUM comes with kid-friendly games in the handles. Some tooth brushes have timers to be sure kids brush long enough and the Hasbro Tooth Tunes brushes play songs that keep kids brushing for as long as the music plays. The handle of the Dr. Fresh Firefly Toothbrush flickers on and off for 60 seconds to keep kids at the sink longer.
I think I’m going to try the cheddar cheese idea for better dental and gum health and maybe get a toothbrush that Hannah Montana sings on. Why let the kids have all the fun??
Everywhere I look these days, there are toxic toys headlines! Because my cherished new granddaughter is 7 months old and tastes everything and because I believe toys are a child’s tools, I am genuinely concerned. For years we have trusted such companies as Mattel, Playschool and Infantino.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made the following statement: “Lead poisoning can affect nearly every system in the body. Lead poisoning frequently goes unrecognized. Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, behavioral problems, seizures, coma and even death.”
In my many years of teaching I have seen several cases of children with high lead levels in their blood but lately this seems to be even more serious.
This is what I plan to do:
First, I’m going to visit the Mattel site and others to see exact
lists of what is being recalled.
Second, I’m going to inspect all our toys carefully. Typically
lead paint doesn’t become
a hazard until it wears or flakes off. I want to be sure she
doesn’t have any of the toys on the lists.
Third, we are all washing our hands, toys and household
surfaces more often.
Fourth, I might consider having my granddaughter’s blood
tested for lead. I’m certainly going to ask the pediatrician
about it. The risks are the greatest when children are under
the age of 6.
Fifth, I’m going to eye my home and my granddaughter’s
home with a more critical eye.
Many homes built before 1978 have lead based paint on them.
This also goes for heirloom cribs, bassinets, and play pins.
Local health departments can help
homeowners who want to test their homes for lead.
Finally, I’m going to ensure that my grandchild have enough
calcium in her diet. Eating a healthy diet is extremely
important. And I’m going to continue to research and read all I
can on this subject.
Most pediatricians recommend waiting until your baby is at least 6 months old before starting any solid foods. Your doctor will give you the best advice but here are a few tips to keep in mind:
*Start with a single-grain cereal usually rice.
*Keep the first feedings small and thin in consistency. One teaspoon mixed with breast milk or formula is plenty. The idea is to get the baby use to a different texture of food and swallowing rather than nutrition or filling the child up. Never force your baby to eat more than she wants and if she chokes a little then stop for awhile.
*Next, introduce single-ingredient fruits and vegetables. Do this over several days one item at a time to test for allergies. Making a list is helpful so you remember what you gave your baby and for how many feedings. Fruits can be mixed with a little cereal too.
*Babies prefer fruits at room temperature and cereals, vegetables and meats can be warmed. Be careful when you microwave food to be sure to stir thoroughly because uneven heating can result in “hot spots”.
*When your baby can sit up well and has started teething he or she can have some raw fruits such as bananas or cooked fruits and soft cooked vegetables. Do not give them popcorn, nuts, hotdog pieces or anything that might present a chocking hazard.
Using your common sense, a good baby book and the advice of your doctor will make your child’s introduction to food fun for both you and them.
It’s that time again-from May through October you can find local farmers’ markets sprouting up like yummy veggies all over the U.S. Farmers and crafters’ bakers and makers gather on market days in rural areas, suburbs and big cities to sell their produce and other homemade items.
At your local farmers’ market you’ll fulfill all these reasons to shop:
1. Freshness-sometimes picked early that very morning of market day.
2. Variety-produce that is cultivated for just your area so you get a wide variety of texture, flavors and appearance.
3. Environment-walk or bike and bring your own bags. You can even purchase organic for less cost.
4. Community-you help your community and local area farmers and producers by keeping your dollars where you live.
5. Your Health-probably the most important! You get access to better quality produce that is good for you.
There are many more reason to support a Farmers’ Market but my favorite is the wonderful tasting produce. It really spoils you! See you there!
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