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

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

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

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

During infancy, babies get all the protein they require from breast milk or formula. Meat and seafood provide an additional protein source for infants six months and older. As stated in previous posts, it is best to start with vegetables, to get a baby used to non-sweet food, and then progress from there. Sources of meat and seafood - chicken, beef, and salmon - all of which are great protein, iron, and zinc sources. Meats are a great iron and zinc source at a time when babi

Babies can have yogurt as early as 6 months. Yogurt is a great food to add to their baby food repertoire. Yogurt has numerous health benefits for your baby, including protein, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and B vitamins. Yogurt with live, active cultures contains probiotics which are bacteria that are good for the gut and promote a healthy gut microbiota. Bowl of plain yogurt - a healthy choice What Type of Yogurt Should be Given? For the first two years, babies should be

Now that your baby has tried a variety of cereals, what is the next step? Happy baby eating baby food. I encourage parents to start with vegetables for several reasons: Vegetables have fiber and are less likely to cause firm stools. Vegetables add great variety to the diet. Offering these will help to influence your child’s palate in favor of these. Vegetables are some of the least likely allergenic foods. Jars of a variety of pureed baby foods and the raw foods they are ma

Now that your baby has achieved the half-year mark, it is time to introduce new foods. First foods often include baby cereals to introduce spoon-feeding. There are many choices! This article will give you some guidance on cereals options. Picture of infant sitting in high chair being spoon-fed cereal. Baby cereals come from grains that are ground to make a paste or puree when mixed with liquid. Breast milk or formula is ideal for mixing cereal since these are familiar tastes

The next 2 months will be a series of articles on infant feeding and nutrition. These articles appeared two years ago but are being republished with revisions. Depiction of the brain as half drawing and half foods that are good for the brain, such as seafood, berries, nuts, and vegetables. Did you know that the brain primarily develops during the first two to three years of life? What you feed your infant is vital for their brain development. Nutrition affects the structure o

Many of you have likely seen the new inverted food pyramid published recently by the Department of Health and Human Services. If you haven’t seen it, it looks like this: Copy of the new, inverted food pyramid per the USDA, compared to an old pyramid below. Note the inversion where grains were the base with the most servings but now are minimized. I will highlight the positives and negatives, particularly in relation to children. First, the positives. The emphasis is on whole