A variety of vitamin and supplement capsules on a green background. A recent article in Medscape reported that in the last 3 years, almost 2,000 children were hospitalized for vitamin and mineral toxicity. These were from over-the-counter supplements. Some of these cases involved severe illnesses, requiring a hospital stay of 4 to more than 8-days. Some of these were intentional ingestions by teens, others by curious children drawn to a colorful bottle. Most were easily acces

School is back in swing and so are school sports. Now is a good time to discuss with your student athlete what they use to hydrate and whether this includes energy drinks. Please also see https://www.feedfuturehealth.com/post/sports-hydration-nutrition-for-student-athletes-part-1-hydration Many parents ask whether energy drinks are safe for kids. The short answer is no. These drinks are loaded with caffeine, sugar, and other stimulants that are unsafe for children and teens

White rice in a black bowl. You may well be aware that rice contains arsenic, a naturally occurring element in the earth. It is present in air, water, and soil, and is highly toxic in the inorganic form. Arsenic occurs in groundwater in many countries, including the United States. Thus, exposure can occur through drinking contaminated water and consuming crops irrigated with or prepared with contaminated water. Much of the arsenic in groundwater and soil comes from industrial

School is back in session and schedules are busy! Now is the time to ensure your child gets a healthy start to their morning. This post will give you many breakfast ideas, for home, on the go, and post-morning sports so your student is ready for the day. An array of breakfast options with eggs, fruit, cereal, and yogurt. A balanced breakfast incorporates protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. It can also include dairy and fruit. These macronutrients will promote br

Understanding and reducing your food contamination risk has never been more important. In light of the recent Cyclospora contamination from lettuce and berries, last year's E. coli outbreak, thought to be from raw onions, the recent recall of jalapeno pepper prepared products from Whole Foods, and the fresh eggs recalled from a Texas farm that were sent to multiple states, I am writing about ways to avoid food contamination. E. coli outbreaks used to come from undercooked mea

Just because you are eating in the car while rushing from one activity to the next does not mean the drive-thru is your only option. With some planning and preparation, you can feel good about what you serve your kids when away from home. Snacks can be just as nutritious as meals and serve as a mini-meal. That way, if your child doesn’t have a full appetite at mealtime, you can be satisfied that they ate something healthy. A healthy lunchbox meal filled with a fresh sandwich,

Wooden letters spelling "IRON" are accompanied by a wooden spoon filled with iron supplement tablets on a bright blue background. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently updated its recommendations on screening for iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency can occur without anemia, which is a later stage. I will summarize their recommendations, then outline which children are at greater risk and the modifications to their screening. All babies shou

Adolescent soccer players running on field. Good nutrition is vital for kids' optimal growth and performance. Last week we tackled appropriate hydration for student athletes, this week we look at adequate nutrition, including macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, and fats), and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). I also give ideas for pre-workout and recovery snacks. Macronutrients Macronutrients provide energy and help to build and maintain muscle. Carbohydrates (CHOs)

School will be back in session before long as will school sports. Keeping your child healthy and well-hydrated helps to optimize sports performance. They need adequate calories for their given sport and constant hydration, preferably with non-sugary beverages - water, water, water. Teenage soccer player hydrating with water - the best hydrator for athletes. This article will give guidelines to ensure optimum sports hydration student athletes need for peak performance and calo

Did you know that diet can affect sleep, and sleep can affect eating habits? Sleeping child. What we eat can affect sleep and sleep affects what we eat. Adequate sleep is vital for all ages. The amount one needs varies with age according to the following recommendations: Age Hours of Sleep 0-3 months 14-17 (total including naps) 4-12 months 12-16 (includes naps) 1-2 years 11-14 (includes naps) 3-5 years 10-13 (includes naps) 6-12 years 9-12 13-18 years 8-10 18 & ov

Did you know that diet plays a role in both brain development and brain activity? The brain requires specific nutrients to function optimally. Drawing of a human brain surrounded by healthy foods - fruit, nuts, veggies - that promote brain health. These include macronutrients - Carbohydrates for fuel Protein for structures Fats for development and function And micronutrients - Minerals - choline, iron, zinc, iodine, copper and Vitamins - A, B, C, & D We also know that ultr

Newborn being examined in hospital. The past decade has seen a decline in newborns receiving the vitamin K shot at birth. More parents have been declining this vitamin supplement for their newborns, which can have devastating consequences. I hope to dispel some of the misinformation out there and explain why it is needed. The vitamin K shot is not a vaccine. It is a vitamin supplement given by injection into the thigh muscle. This has been used since 1961 and is the standard

The topic of this article is the abundance of commercial snacks marketed for infants and toddlers. Little ones need to have snacks, usually one or two a day. I advocate considering snacks as a mini-meal or a smaller version of the food you would serve at a meal. Here is information that may make you think twice about what you buy, and give you healthier options. Mom shopping for snacks...so many to choose from! As with many commercial and processed foods, marketing tactics co

I am following up on my recent article on edibles (food) as choking hazards, with one on non-food choking hazards. Although this article does not relate to food, it does involve the things that little ones put in their mouths, attempting to eat them, and the dangers involved. I have emphasized this many times, but all parents should be trained in infant and child CPR, to learn what to do for a choking child. Hopefully, you will never witness this situation, but knowing what t

Feeding your child table food and what the rest of the family eats is exciting. This article is a reminder that little ones don’t chew well and that most any food can be a choking hazard. Children should never be left unattended while eating. Preventing choking is one of the reasons we childproof our homes, don’t buy toys with tiny pieces, and require older siblings to put away tiny toys, out of the reach of younger ones. We purchase items with childproof caps, keep shiny obj

This month we will tackle toddlers and their eating habits. Once your baby is over a year and enters toddlerhood, they often become picky eaters. Foods they previously loved, they no longer want; they may eat the same thing for days, then suddenly will not touch it. Toddler girl covering her mouth and refusing to eat a bite of broccoli - part of toddler territory! What’s a parent to do? Sometimes, we just want them to eat…anything! This article will help you through this phas

Once your baby is a year old, they can transition from breast milk or formula to regular milk per the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations. Before a year, babies can’t digest milk well since the protein and minerals in cow’s milk are more than an infant’s kidneys and intestines can handle. Cow’s milk has a higher protein concentration than baby formula and can lead to iron deficiency and bleeding in the intestines. Toddler being poured a cup of milk. Mixing mi

Can babies have water? That question is common for pediatricians. The answer is yes or no, depending on the age. Babies should not be given plain water until 6 months of age. Until then, only breast milk or formula provides all the fluid and nutrition they need. Once an infant is 6 months, they only need a few ounces of water daily since they continue to drink a substantial amount of either breast milk or formula. Up to 4-8 ounces of water is enough. Once they are past a year

Allergenic foods are designated as The Big 9. These include: milk and dairy eggs wheat soy peanuts tree nuts fish shellfish sesame Common allergenic foods including eggs, milk, wheat, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, and peanuts, with the words allergy food written on a chalkboard. What are the signs to watch for? What if my baby reacts? When is it safe to offer these foods? Can more than one be given at a time or on the same day? These questions and more are answered in this arti

I have stated in many posts that little ones should not have whole nuts before the age of four since these are a choking hazard. Nuts in the form of smooth nut butter are acceptable. Photo of a variety of whole nuts which should not be given to children under four. When is it safe to introduce nut butter to your baby, and how to do so? Can only nut butter be used? How much and how often? These questions and more will be answered here! Peanuts and tree nuts are common food all