Saying “No” to Screens, and “Yes” to Music
Have you ever sat down to watch a movie with a bag of chips or popcorn, but by the time you made it through the previews, your snack is suddenly gone?
Watching a screen, whether it be tv, a movie or even scrolling online allows you to ‘check out’ of the eating process and we often do not realize we are eating. The same holds true with kids, and we do often see increased eating volumes while they are distracted in this manner. For weaning parents? The instant gratification that this brings makes distracted eating a really appealing option!
September Healthy Highlights #3: Farro with Spinach and Mushrooms
Farro is a nutrient-packed ancient grain with a nutty flavor and chewy texture. Like other whole grains, farro is a satisfying source of energy and fiber. The versatility of farro makes it an excellent addition to soups, stews, salad, pilafs, risotto, casseroles, and grain bowls or breakfast bowls. The farro recipe featured this week is a flavorful side dish your little ones are sure to enjoy.
September Healthy Highlights #2: Blueberry Buckwheat Pancakes
If you’re looking for a way to venture out and vary the grains in your diet, this buckwheat recipe is perfect for you! Not only is it super simple to make, but these pancakes offer a great taste and texture while bursting with juicy blueberries in every bite.
Why is my Older Child doing full blown messy play again?
Having an older child that weans from a tube can present a whole different set of challenges, some of which are tied directly to ‘eating age’ vs chronological age. Eating age starts ticking once you are 100% orally fed: for non-tube fed children, this aligns with their chronological age (or the birth age) because we still expect eating skills to develop along their typical age progression. But when there is a big gap between a child’s “eating age” and “chronological age,” behaviors around food can revert down to match eating age more than actual age – including the reversion back to the stage of full-blown messy play with foods.
September Healthy Highlights #1: Whole Grain: Barley
September has been promoted as National Whole Grains Month since 2006. The barley recipe featured below is one of my favorites. When my kids were little, we would call these brain bowls because they are full of healthy nutrients that feed the brain. As my kids got older, we shifted to just calling them “B” bowls, which reflects the primary ingredients of beef, barley, broccoli, and Brussel sprouts.
Why tiny pieces in the mouth cause gagging
When kids are starting to eat, one of the biggest fears that parents have is gagging and choking on food pieces. And while gagging can be a very normal part of feeding development, it is also a protective reflex for the body. Gagging is how we expel foods from the mouth or airway if it is needed…
August Healthy Highlights #3 - Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Tortilla Chips
When kids come home hungry after school, they want a yummy snack that fills their tummy. Snacks provide fuel for growing bodies and are therefore an important part of a child’s diet. It is best to choose snacks that offer protein, fiber, and/or healthy fat. Read the full blog for some easy no-fuss snack ideas!
How to talk to my older child about weaning
Weaning an older child (toddlers and beyond) can be a tricky game, because children with the cognitive understanding of being tube-fed need to “buy in” to the process of learning how to eat. That means that parents have the responsibility of including their older child in the weaning process so that they understand what’s happening – and why! Because weaning is a big change to their world!
August Healthy Highlights #2 - Packing Lunch for Back to School
As the excitement of a new school year draws near, shopping for school supplies, backpacks, and lunch boxes moves to the top of our to do list. In order to start the school year off on the right foot, it is important to have a plan for packing school lunches.
How to Teach Straw Cup Drinking
Progression to straw cup drinking can be very handy, especially because it places kids in a better position for safe swallowing (it facilitates a chin tuck position, which is airway protective), and is a readily available way for kids to drink while they are out and about. But how in the world do you teach a child to drink from a straw? Here are a couple of ideas!
August Healthy Highlights #1: Carrot Raisin Breakfast Cookies
Eating a nutritious breakfast boosts brain function, memory, and school performance while improving diet quality and vitamin intake. To avoid the pitfalls of refined sugars and grains, choose high-fiber, protein-rich, and healthy fat options, like breakfast cookies and egg bites, for a healthier start to your day, like this month’s recipe: carrot raisin breakfast bookies!
July Healthy Highlights #3 - Blueberry Vinaigrette
“Taste the Rainbow”. This memorable slogan has been used to market a popular sweet treat for decades. However, as dietitians, we like to apply this slogan to encourage an eating pattern that emphasizes fruits and vegetables from every color of the rainbow. The diverse nutritional properties found in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple foods are important for our overall health.
Where to sit?
One of the parent jobs in the Division of Responsibility is “where to sit”. There are the obvious choices, like in a high chair, at a table, or even at picnic on the floor. Sometimes, when you are out and about, this could look like in a stroller or in your lap. But what should we be considering when making this choice? And what should we NOT consider?
July Healthy Highlights #2 - Blueberry Bars
The nutrition and health benefits of blueberries are plentiful. Blueberries provide key vitamins and minerals at just 80 calories per cup. They are an excellent source of manganese, vitamin C, and vitamin K, and a good source of fiber and potassium. If you’re looking to boost your blueberry intake, try making these yummy blueberry bars. They are a great alternative to traditional granola bars and are easy to grab and go for a breakfast or snack on the run.
July Healthy Highlights #1 - Chocolate Covered Blueberries
Blueberries are one of summertime’s most popular fruits with peak blueberry season April to September. For a fun summertime treat, try making chocolate covered blueberries. This recipe only calls for 3 ingredients and is super simple to make. The combination of sweet juicy blueberries coated in dark chocolate makes for an irresistible snack or dessert.
Hunger is Not a Medical Emergency
Learning that hunger is not a medical emergency – even when it feels like one! – takes time. And patience. Help and support. Taking deep breaths and reminding yourself of the stability your child has achieved can help! As can your weaning team – so lean in! This is a whole new world!
June Healthy Highlights #3- Perfectly Grilled Fruit
Whether skewered together, placed in a wire basket, or placed directly on the grill grates, you can grill almost any kind of fruit. Grilling fruit allows the natural sugar to caramelize, intensifying sweetness. Enjoy on its own as a summer side or dessert, in salads, yogurt, or cereal, or as a flavorful topping for pizza, burgers, or quinoa/chia pudding. Some of the most popular fruits that taste amazing when grilled are apple, pear, banana, melon, peach, nectarine, plum, and pineapple.
Why do kids need to eat 5-6 times a day?
Tube fed children are often put on various schedules, with large boluses and big gaps of time between feeds. It is not uncommon to have a tube fed child on only a couple of feeds during the day, or even all feeds overnight. And, one of the first things that your team does when we are looking to start a wean from the tube is look at that schedule because ultimately, a tube schedule is very different than an oral child’s schedule.
June Healthy Highlights #2- Grilling Guide
You don’t have to be a grill master to prepare an enjoyable outdoor meal. A simple spice rub or quick glaze will add some extra flavor and sizzle to your suppertime. Grilling is also a great, simple way to prepare vegetables right alongside your protein or main dish
But my anxiety is just so darn loud!
In the tapestry of my life, ADHD and PTSD intertwine, sometimes overwhelming me with anxiety. Through grounding techniques, movement, and seeking support, I've found ways to confront my fears and embrace the present. By prioritizing self-care, I nurture resilience and set an example for my daughters, affirming our collective journey toward healing and self-love.