grandparichardshealth.com » Children’s Health

Kids vs. germs: Sensible solutions to combat the common cold

Richard — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:55:01 +0000

The arrival of colder weather means kids are spending more time indoors, in closer contact with other children. The result? The common cold. In fact, kids may get up to eight colds per year, with each cold lasting an average of five to seven days (Source: http://kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/sick/colds.html).

“Having a cold is one of the top reasons kids visit the doctor and stay home from school (Source: http://kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/sick/colds.html). This is not surprising given that during cold and flu season children tend to spend most of their time indoors, between school, daycare and play-dates at friend’s houses,” said Zora Crowder, senior brand manager for Wet Ones Antibacterial Hands and Face Wipes. “So not only are kids more likely to be in the presence of other children who may be carrying harmful bacteria, but they’re also more likely to be in closer contact with them – either at home or at school. Always carry a travel pack of antibacterial wipes in your purse or pocket and keep one in your kids’ backpack to help them stay clean.”

Help keep your family happy this winter by following these easy suggestions from the Wet Ones team:

1. Handwashing is one of the best ways to reduce the spread of bacteria. But, when water and soap are not available, experts recommend using pre-moistened wipes (Source: http://www.cps.ca/caringforkids/whensick/Colds.htm).

2. Get a load on. Your children’s soft toys and blankets may harbour more bacteria than you realize – and so may your bathroom towels. Make sure these items are cleaned on a regular basis to help you and your children fight off bacteria.

3. Keep your kids home from school if they’re sick. Going to school will only cause them to get more run down, and increases the likelihood that they could pick up something else or infect other children.

----------------
About The Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

Teach healthy, safe eating right from the start

Richard — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:23:01 +0000

For new parents, every stage of their child’s development is exciting but the toddler stage is extra special. This is the age when children take their first steps, utter their first words and start to eat solid foods.

“On the road to great eating habits, starting out with healthy, safe, age appropriate foods is paramount” says mother and dietitian Pierrette Buklis. “Early choices can greatly influence a child’s food habits for many years to come” she explains.

Slowly introducing your child to a variety of new foods is an obvious goal but safety concerns need to also be considered. Between six and nine months of age, the transition to a variety of solid foods takes place. Your baby can now begin to chew foods and gradually needs more texture.

Easily managed by little fingers, Cheerios are a healthy, fun and safe first finger food. They are firm enough to resist crumbling yet melt in their mouths without posing a choking hazard. With one gram of sugar per serving Cheerios is a healthy snack or mealtime choice for toddlers. In fact, results of a 2008 independent survey of Canadian pediatricians suggest that four out of five pediatricians recommend Cheerios to parents for their infants and toddlers.

Here are other recommendations for safely feeding your baby and toddler:

. Be sure to stay with your child at all times during feeding.

. The following foods can cause choking in children under 4 and should be avoided: popcorn, nuts, hard candies, gum, raisins, whole grapes, raw vegetables, fish with bones, a spoonful of peanut butter, wieners and chunks of meat.

. Avoid egg whites until after one year of age to reduce the risk of egg allergy. Make sure that egg yolks are cooked well and avoid products made with raw or runny eggs.

. Wait until 12 months before introducing cow’s milk to reduce the risk of iron deficiency. Some experts believe this may also reduce the chance of cow’s milk allergy.

. Don’t give your baby honey in the first year because their immune systems are not fully developed. Honey has been linked to botulism, a serious form of food poisoning in babies.

As toddlers begin to sample their first foods, meals and snack times become perfect opportunities for quality bonding. Everydaycelebrations.ca is a website with lots of great family recipes and wonderful family craft, games and activity ideas.

Back to school breakfasts

Richard — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:58:57 +0000

You know the saying – breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is especially true when applied to your child who is heading out the door to school. Research has shown that children who eat breakfast perform better at school, have better behaviour and are more attentive than those who skip breakfast.

Breakfast doesn’t have to be complicated, time consuming or make your feel uncomfortably full. Here are some light, quick ideas to start the day right. For balance, choose at least two items, one from each group.

Breads and Cereals

. Whole Grain Cereal . Whole Grain Toast . Whole Grain Bagels
. Toasted English Muffin . Soda Crackers . Baby Sized Muffin

Tip: Many children do not get enough whole grains. Choose whole grain bread and cereals more often. You can learn more online at www.areyougettingenough.ca.

Fruits or Veggies

. Half a banana . Small Clementine . Handful of grapes
. Apple Wedges . Baby Carrots . Celery Sticks
. Blueberries . Strawberries . Cucumber Rounds

Tip: Serve a little veggie dip with the veggies or yogurt with fruits.

Protein Foods

. Yogurt . Grated or cubed cheese . Milk on cereal
. Peanut Butter . Nuts or seeds . Sliced cooked cold cuts

Tip: Adding a little protein to a breakfast will help your child feel full for longer and provide an important nutrient for health and growth.

Serve very small amounts if your child has a small appetite. A large serving can be overwhelming first thing in the morning. Help your child do the best they can at school with a healthy breakfast.

Going back to school demands a healthy breakfast

Richard — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:54:12 +0000

Over a long summer break filled with sugary snacks, soda pop and summer treats, children’s healthy eating habits can fall to the way side. With the start of the new school year, it’s important for children to get the energy they need to be bright and focused in the classroom. Here are some fail proof ways to get them off to the right start:

Wake children up a little early: Most children would rather sleep in than eat breakfast in the morning; rushing out of the house with just their knapsack in hand. To avoid this, have them set their alarm clock at least 15 minutes early to give them enough time to eat something nutritious in the morning before school.

Teach young children the importance of a healthy breakfast: When children don’t understand the benefits of a good nutrition, it can be a battle to get them to eat breakfast. Explain it in a way they can understand – have children imagine they are a car. After a long night of sleeping, their fuel tank is empty. Breakfast is the gas that gets them going so they can hit the road.

Give them a way share a meal with other children: Children love eating with other kids and trading treats. Websites like www.ccfcanada.ca offer wonderful opportunities to provide children living in poverty with breakfast food, helping them get a good start to their day too. Your child will be happy to know that while they’re sitting down to a healthy breakfast here at home, another child half-way around the world is eating breakfast right along with them.

Mushrooms and Childhood Obesity

Richard — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:02:11 +0000

Childhood obesity is on the rise. The latest Canadian Community Health Survey found that the combined rate of children and teens who are overweight or obese has jumped from fifteen to twenty-six percent over the span of just 25 years (1978-2004).

Unfortunately, the problem doesn’t end there. About 70% of obese children become obese adults, increasing the risk of their developing chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease as well as developing poor body image and self-esteem-related eating disorders. Even more disconcerting is that many obese and overweight children are developing health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and joint problems, at very early ages.

So what can be done? One strategy that can help is for kids to get their daily servings of fruit and vegetables. Children and teens who eat fruit and vegetables 5 or more times a day are much less likely to be overweight or obese than those who eat them less often.

Fresh mushrooms add important variety to the diet. A one-half (1/2) cup serving counts as one Vegetables or Fruit choice from Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating. Fresh mushrooms also offer many other benefits that promote good health in children and teens.

Fresh Mushrooms Can Help! Essential Nutrients

. Growing kids need a wide variety of foods to get the nutrients they need. Fresh mushrooms are a good source of riboflavin, a source of copper, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, niacin and pantothenic acid.

. Fresh mushrooms also contribute to daily intakes of folate, thiamin, vitamin B6, iron, magnesium and zinc.

Adding the Antioxidants

. Fresh mushrooms contain significant levels of l-ergothioneine, which acts as an antioxidant in both cooked and raw mushrooms.

. Beta-glucans, a type of carbohydrate found in mushrooms, has potential anti-inflammatory activity, which may help protect the body against disease.

Fill Up on Fruit and Vegetables

. Fresh mushrooms have high water content, are low in fat and contain some fibre so they make a great choice for keeping hungry kids full without a lot of extra calories. Snacking on a variety of raw veggies, including mushrooms, with a low-fat dip means they are getting a serving of Vegetables and Fruit. They’ll also be less likely to be tempted by less nutritious, processed snack foods.

Mushrooms Make a Difference

. Sprinkle 1/2 cup sliced meaty portabella mushrooms on to a pizza instead of 3 oz. pepperoni. Benefit: save 394 calories, 36 g fat, 12 g saturated fat and 1383 mg sodium.

. Toss 1/2 cup sliced crimini mushrooms into pasta sauces instead of 4 oz. lean ground beef. Benefit: save 297 calories, 19 g fat, 7 g saturated fat and 101 mg sodium.

. Munch on 1/2 cup button mushrooms with 3 tablespoons fat-free ranch dressing instead of 3 ounces of plain potato chips. Benefit: save 404 calories, 31 g fat, 9 g saturated fat and 128 mg sodium.

The Cap CrewT Recipe Suggestion:

Walrus Tusks

For kids’ mushroom recipes, tips for parents, and fun educational activities visit www.thecapcrew.ca.

News Canada

About The Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial “fill” items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

Do Your Children Love Nutritious Food?

Richard — Wed, 28 May 2008 10:16:05 +0000

Most parents have discovered that if a particular food item is very healthy and great for us, our children quickly learn to dislike it. The challenge then becomes, “How can I get my kids to eat more healthy stuff?”

Smoothies can be the answer. Most children love these drinks. And for the real die-hard kids, we can add just a bit of “bad” food that they will surely come over to the good side! If you have never made a smoothie, it is easy. Just prepare the food as if you were going to eat it raw, put in a blender, and blend away.

One big advantage to smoothies is that it is easy to pick ingredients that give the result an appropriate colour. Young boys are often fascinated by gross looking objects, and some of the smoothies that I make myself sure do look the part. Girls, on the other hand, might like pastel shades, and you can do that as well.

Here are several simple examples.

1-1/2 cups frozen strawberries
1 cup frozen unsweetened pineapple chunks
1 cup low-fat vanilla soy milk
2 tsp. honey
1/2 cup non-fat vanilla yogurt or vanilla soy yogurt

You could also use regular pineapple and skip the honey.

Here is another.

1 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks
1 cup low-fat vanilla soy milk
1 Tbsp. frozen lemonade concentrate
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt

Note: Although these recipes use milk, you can (and should) experiment with adding water instead of milk. The presence of a protein source (the milk) slows digestion and can lead to more gas, and we don’t want that!

You can also add spinach leaves into a fruit smoothie and still get an amazing taste! Experiment by using leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, chard, and celery. These green smoothies are the ones the boys should like, as the colours are not appealing looking to adults. Get creative and come up with interesting names like “Alien Juice.”

Enjoy.