Since October is SIDS Awareness Month, I am starting with an article about safe sleep guidelines, rather than nutrition. This topic is so...

The topic of this article is the plethora of commercial snacks marketed for infants and toddlers. Little ones need to have snacks,...

Now that school is in full swing and after-school activities abundant, you will often find yourself eating on the go (and in the car)...

Many of you are likely familiar with the food pyramid. This was first developed in 1992 by the United States Department of Agriculture...

A child’s vegetable intake often declines with age. Achieving the recommended daily vegetable intake of 2-4 servings is difficult. There...

Child with a plate of plant-based foods Since I ran this post last October, I am publishing it again as it reviews vegetarian eating for children. 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

I am continuing with my “diet evaluation” month for children, and this week is the vegan diet. Let’s first define vegan since it can be confused with vegetarian. Infant in high chair filled with plant-based, vegan foods. A vegetarian does not consume any animals - meat, seafood, poultry, pork- no animal flesh, but can consume some animal products such as milk, eggs, cheese, and yogurt. Vegans do not consume animals or any products from animals, such as dairy, and thus are fur

Last week I reviewed the paleo diet and this week the keto diet. These are somewhat similar diets, both being low carb and high fat, but there are differences that I will explore. The ketogenic or keto diet has been around for over a century and was developed for children with hard to control seizures before anti-seizure meds were available. This very high-fat diet seems to benefit some children in this category. The keto diet is somewhat similar to the Atkins diet, which is

This month I will look into various popular diets and whether they are child-appropriate. Most diets are developed for adults - whether for weight loss or a specific condition like heart disease, hypertension, or diabetes. They are not typically evaluated for children. The dietary pattern a parent chooses to follow is not necessarily appropriate or safe for a child. Children are not small adults. They have their own set of requirements for good health and nutrition. Childhood

This article is a follow-up from last week, with many easy and practical tips for decreasing sugar intake and improving the nutrient...

The word sugar written in a pile of sugar Sugar is a pervasive ingredient in any food that contains carbohydrates. Some sugars occur...

Seafood, which includes fish and shellfish, is a healthy source of many nutrients that help a growing child. This article will outline...

During my three decades of practice, I witnessed the evolution of a frightening trend - the appearance of adult diseases in children...

What exactly is constipation? Why do some babies/children get it while others do not? Constipation constitutes hard, dry,...

Veggie Sticks with Hummus Now that children are home for the summer you need to have plenty of snacks on hand so I am posting this...

Do children really need milk? Calcium and vitamin D are crucial for children to develop healthy bones and teeth. Milk provides one of the...

(The Things Kids Eat!) I am following up on my recent article on edibles (food) as choking hazards, with one on non-edible choking...

Inadequate sleep is a pervasive problem for all ages, worse in those affected by mental health disorders. I cannot leave this topic out...

Have you ever observed your child’s behavior change after eating certain foods? I had a child who was very sensitive to small blood sugar...

Anxiety disorders are the most common illness in this country. About half of those with anxiety also experience depression. These...