Big brother checking out lil’ sis, 2003
Since my last blog about the importance of starting early on the road to good nutrition, I have received many questions about breastfeeding. One that keeps recurring is, “You’re a dad. Why are you so into breastfeeding?” Well, lets get this straight. I’m a Dad but not a Breastfeeding Dad, at least in the literal sense! The question I keep getting refers more to the inability of the father to provide the same type of nourishment mothers can provide. While I can talk about the benefits of breastfeeding from a physical, mental and emotional state, it is true I can not talk about it from a personal state. But, what I can talk about is how the father can benefit from and provide benefit to the nursing mother. When our first child was born, there was no question that “we” would breastfeed. Being dietitians, many people expected that from us. What we didn’t expect was the difficulty, frustration and anxiety that came with it. It was our first child, so naturally, we were a little cautious about every thing. Because he gained weight slowly after we left the hospital, Angie worried about her breastfeeding techniques, was she making enough milk, was he not latching on correctly, should she just give up and go with formula? Next came the problem of thrush, a fungal infection in the baby that can spread to the breast, making feeding painful.
First UVA football game~ 2001
Things eventually eased up and became much more enjoyable and manageable. As the father, and unable to truly share in the process, I did all I could to support and comfort Angie. I knew she was tired and needed her rest so when the baby cried, I’d make sure I got up to get him. That way, I could have a small bonding time with him, singing him the “Good Ol’ Song”…(yep, that song that you sing at Virginia football games when they score a touchdown!)…as we walked through the house to deliver to mom. I’d put him back in his crib when he had finished his snack and made sure I changed diapers any time he needed it. I saw my role as Dad to provide the support for Mom. That included, and still includes, cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry. What it didn’t include was mixing formula, warming formula, checking formula to be sure it was not too hot, not too cold, but just right. I didn’t have to clean up bottles, nipples, and other paraphernalia associated with using formula. Anything I could do to make things easier for Angie was what I wanted to do. This is the team approach we have always subscribed to. Plus, it teaches children that every person has a responsibility in the family and we must all pitch in and do our part.
Reading Elmo’s “Shall We Dance?”
All the difficulties we experienced with our first certainly made the second much easier to deal with. We continued with the same pattern of assistance. Most of the difficulties we had the first time around did not occur the second time. But now, having two little ones meant quadruple the responsibility and more fatigue. Keeping on top of things, providing support and encouragement helps to ease the frustration levels. What a great learning experience.
I continue to recommend and discuss breastfeeding to all expectant mothers. There are some mothers that can not breastfeed and others that choose not to. That’s fine. You have to do what you can to help your child the best way possible. But at least have the discussion about breastfeeding with a health care provider. Learn all you can about it. And dads, provide the support that the mother of your child needs.
It may not be easy but parenting is not easy. Teamwork is key!
It’s Your Health. It’s Your Life. Make That Change!
~John
To maximize your youth athlete’s performance in the classroom AND on the field, it is important to pay attention to the foods we eat. Proper fueling and nutrition can help them feel better, be more alert and learn more. During competition, adequate nutrition can help your child athlete stay injury free or recover quicker if injured. Good nutrition does not have an off-season. To get the most benefit, you need to start now and continue throughout the year. Remember, you set the example for your family!
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.
icals, it is surprising that we have not seen a jump in the length of time breastfeeding is provided. Check out this 
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.
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.
