We all want our children to be the best they can be. We want our children to be healthy, happy and safe. One way to make sure your child is prepared is with nutrition. It starts an early age, a very early age! August is National Breastfeeding Month and Kids Eat Right Month. Both programs are geared towards helping to educate parents about the importance of nutrition throughout life. I like that we celebrate both events together. There is no question that breastfeeding your newborn for as long as possible will help to set a solid foundation for health. Continuing healthy habits as your child ages will help to reduce their risk of chronic disease and illnesses.
The good news is that breastfeeding rates have increased according to the Centers for Disease Control. Recent data indicates that over 80% of newborns have been exposed to breastfeeding. Unfortunately though, the rates of mothers breastfeeding longer than 3 and 6 months remains low, 43% and 22%, respectively. While we are moving in the right direction, we still have a ways to go to capture the biggest benefits. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusively breastfeeding for the first 6 months. After 6 months, addition of solid foods should be slowly attempted while breastfeeding continues for at least a year. For more information from the AAP, see their website here.
With the emphasis on people eating less processed, more organic food with reduced chem
icals, it is surprising that we have not seen a jump in the length of time breastfeeding is provided. Check out this interesting site which details the different benefits mom and baby can get over time with breastfeeding. There are many different organizations that offer assistance with breastfeeding issues. Hospitals, health departments, pediatrician offices, and groups like La Leche League. Many are offered free and will make home visits to help answer any questions or concerns a new mom may have. Be sure to check around and ask your physician to help you locate a breastfeeding program. And dads, be a breastfeeding support system for the mother of your child. While we can not personally breastfeed our babies, we can offer the love, encouragement, assistance and support that mom needs to be secure in choosing to breastfeed.
Remember, August is National Breastfeeding Month and Kids Eat Right Month. Let’s help our children get a healthy start and keep them moving in the right direction!
It’s Your Life. It’s Your Health. Make That Change!
~John
This Vegetarian Beer Chili is a perfect Meatless Monday recipe because it’s so easy & cooks in only 20 minutes. Add a beer for best flavor. Enjoy!
m added Caffeine! Not what I was expecting from an Orange Juice. OJ by itself provides you with enough calories in the form of carbohydrate to give you a tremendous amount of energy. Why add caffeine?
“100% Orange Juice”. While it is 100% juice, caffeine has still been added and I’ve never seen caffeine in OJ before. And, the last time I checked, caffeine was not a NATURAL ingredient in oranges. We normally buy the HomeMaker brand of orange juice because of the taste, the quality and the cost. However, when seeing their new offering, I was disappointed.
a child that drinks 12 ounces of OJ at time. What happens there? I was impressed to see that the company did add a warning box, highlighted in red, on the Nutrition Facts side of the box stating that children, pregnant or nursing women, and persons sensitive to caffeine should not drink it.
But my feelings are that they don’t need to confuse the public by mixing the caffeine added OJ in with the regular versions. One of suggestion was to add a statement indicating that caffeine has been added to the OJ. Maybe a bit more prominent by adding it to the sign on the front of the container, like I did in the photo.
A person with Diabetes will certainly tell you that it has its ups and downs. Sure, having Diabetes can cause a ton of different feelings and emotions. But the Highs and Lows I’m talking about today are Blood Sugar Levels. The Highs and Lows. Both are important and can have an impact on your overall health. But, Lows can be even more problematic. Hypoglycemia can cause a critical situation that might require the intervention of emergency personnel. To prevent that from happening, you must be aware of what your blood sugar levels are doing. So, let me tell you a little story about last night (2.22.2016)…. I’ll show you my Blood Glucose log and actions taken:
This is an easy, healthy, kid/teen approved casserole made with chicken, quinoa & black beans. It’s a perfect dish when you are cooking for a crowd or if you are one who likes leftovers or “planned overs” like we do. It makes 10 servings! Also, this dish is gluten-free which is helpful for those folks who need to avoid gluten in their diet.
you’ve been able to keep those resolutions! Many times we start to falter as we move deeper into January and February. We often have a tough time making and maintaining change. Why? It doesn’t have to be that way! Things change every day. We are just not always aware of the changes going on around us. The sun rises in the East and sets in the West day after day. What’s different about the rising and setting of the sun? The time is different. It never rises and sets at exactly the same each day! We just don’t perceive the difference until it hits us how dark it is at 4:30 pm on the Winter Solstice. The gradual change makes it more difficult to distinguish the changes. (Take heart, the sun shines a little longer each day now!)
ercise more. Specify what that means to you. How do you define eating healthier or exercising more?
