Sports and Energy Drinks: Should Your Child Drink Them?

When it comes to keeping kids hydrated, particularly those who play sports, there’s a dizzying array of sodas, juices, iced tea, and bottled waters to choose from. And another category of beverages is causing a buzz: sports and energy drinks. Sports and energy drinks can include anything from sports beverages …

Strategies for Feeding a Preschooler

During the preschool years, kids go from toddlers who throw tantrums to kids who are more willing to cooperate and want to please their parents. They also want to do things themselves, but are willing to learn from mom and dad. This give-and-take creates opportunities for parents to teach kids …

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Salad

Note: Add more chipotle if you like it super spicy or less if you prefer it milder. Prep and cook time: 16 minutes Ingredients: 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch chunks Juice and zest of 2 limes ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon honey …

Toddlers at the Table: Avoiding Power Struggles

Toddlers are learning to navigate their world, communicate, and control some parts of their lives. They don’t actually have control over much, but eating is one of the first areas they will master. Parents can help them enjoy their limited power by giving them appropriate amounts of freedom when it comes …

Vegan Food Guide

Is Vegetarian the Same as Vegan? Lots of people limit their intake of meat — maybe you, your kids, or others in your family don’t eat meat. Maybe you’re a vegetarian and are wondering if it’s a good choice for your kids, too. Or perhaps your teen just expressed an interest …

Vegetarianism

Vegetarianism is a popular choice for many individuals and families. But parents may wonder if kids can safely follow a vegetarian diet and still get all necessary nutrients. Most dietary and medical experts agree that a well-planned vegetarian diet can actually be a very healthy way to eat. But special …

Vitamin D and Your Child

Vitamin D is an important nutrient that works with calcium to help build bones and keep them strong. Vitamin D also plays a role in preventing health problems like heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and thinning bones. Our bodies naturally produce vitamin D when we’re outside in the sun. So, many …

What Should Preschoolers Drink?

The best drinks for preschoolers — and for kids of all ages — are milk and water. Whenever possible, discourage your kids from drinking soda and other sugary, calorie-dense drinks as thirst-quenchers because water or milk will do the job just as well. Preschoolers should have 2 to 2½ cups …

Your Child’s Weight

“What’s the right weight for my child?” is one of the most common questions parents have. It seems like a simple one, but it’s not always easy to answer. Among kids the same height and age, some are more muscular or more developed than others. That’s because not all kids …

Head Injuries

Head injuries fall into two categories: external injuries, usually involving the scalp internal head injuries, which may involve the skull, the blood vessels within the skull, or the brain Fortunately, most childhood falls or blows to the head cause injury to the scalp only. While these can be scary-looking, they usually …