The last two decades have shown a surge in the cases of youth-onset type 2 diabetes. This used to be a disease of adults only and was called adult-onset diabetes, since it was not seen in children. It is now a pediatric disease. Type 2 diabetes in children is rising at a faster rate than type 1 and is a global problem. The word diabetes written on a chalkboard surrounded by a scale, glucometer, stethoscope, exercise equipment, and healthy foods. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is cause

A child’s vegetable intake often declines with age. Achieving the recommended daily vegetable intake of 2-4 servings is difficult. There are things a parent can do that is the focus of this article. Why are vegetables important? Vegetables provide multiple health benefits including fiber, vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and plant-based antioxidants not provided by other foods. They help in preventing constipation and feed the gut microbiome. Eating vegetables adds fiber a

Children eating a plant-based meal. There are many variations of eating: Vegetarian: excludes animals Vegan: excludes animals, dairy, and eggs Lacto-vegetarian: excludes meat, poultry, and fish but includes milk and milk products Ovo-vegetarian: excludes meat, poultry, and fish but includes eggs Lacto-ovo-vegetarian: excludes meat, poultry, and fish but includes milk, milk products, and eggs Pescatarian: excludes meat and poultry but includes fish, milk, milk products, and e

Making meals that are  nutrient-dense  rather than  energy-dense  is easy and affordable. Nutrient-dense refers to foods high in...

Group of young multi-cultural women. I recently returned from a Culinary Medicine conference in New Orleans, the birthplace of the...

You hear a lot these days about PUFAs - polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These two PUFAs are...

What are probiotics and prebiotics? Are they different? Do we need to take them as supplements, or can we get them in our diet? Are they...

I read a newspaper article last month regarding raw, unpasteurized milk and its potential benefits, but that it also can contain the bird flu virus. As a pediatrician, I wish to warn parents regarding unpasteurized products, whether milk, cheeses, or juices. Raw milk can come from cows, goats, sheep, or buffalo. Pasteurizing extends the freshness and shelf-life of milk. There are reasons why children and pregnant women should not consume these potentially deadly items. Outdoo

Young children love to spend time with their parents and do the things that they do. Cooking is a novel activity for them, even though...

You are likely familiar with growth charts and have been told of your infant’s/child’s growth percentiles. These are critical pieces of...

Now that we discussed improving the nutrient density of meals - let’s use that information to create meals and snacks for home and on the...

(Influencing Your Child's Taste Preferences) Once your baby is over a year and enters toddlerhood, they often become picky eaters. Foods...

Are you familiar with the gut microbiota? Research shows that there are more microorganisms living in our gut than there are cells in our...

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...

During infancy, babies get all the protein they require from breast milk or formula. Meat and seafood provide an additional protein...

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...

Can babies have water? That question is common for pediatricians. The answer is yes or no, depending on the age. Babies should not be...

Allergenic foods are designated as The Big 9. These include: milk and dairy eggs wheat soy peanuts tree nuts fish shellfish sesame...

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...

Now that your baby has achieved the half-year mark, it is time to introduce new foods. Traditionally, first foods have included baby...