From the day we are born, we age. It is inevitable. But did you know that the more sedentary you are, the less efficient all your organs become? And as we age, our ability to make up for this sedentary lifestyle decreases dramatically. As more children are diagnosed with what I refer to as ‘TOO MUCH Sitting Syndrome.’ From urinary incontinence, skin rashes on their laps from laptop computers, lack of normal sleep and chronic backpain and eyestrain, where will our children be at 30? 40? 50? Probably not well.…

Many people feel overwhelmed by the diet and nutrition information that abounds in type and online. If you are always trying to lose weight this time of year–let’s all get ready for summer!–then you have probably tried many different weight-loss plans over the years. How about your kids? Have some of your diet successes and failures trickled down to them?

You know showing your children how to eat healthy is necessary, but buying fresh fruit for a change is only a part of it. Many children, both boys and girls, begin developing food issues,…

by Peter Griffin

Nurses who visit people in their homes are sometimes the only way that patients receive health information and learn prevention strategies that can improve their overall health. Sometimes, the patients can be challenging, but for nurses, perseverance pays.

One such example involved a young mom of a premature infant. The mom had a history of feeding difficulty and was on some medications. Mom wanted to breastfeed but refused to pump and measure volume. What to do when trying to explain this to the mom was getting difficult? Teaching is a big part of what…

Credit: pdphoto.com

As Obesity Awareness month is comes to a close, the problem continues across our nation. By all accounts there are many things that impact the weight problems in all age groups. Is it the processed foods? Is it our lack of exercise?  We know that surgery is not the answer AND that we all need to change to stop the obesity trend. These trends are alarming in ALL age groups. Let’s start at the dinner table:

• What are you serving?
• Do you know what a balanced diet is?
• What is a complex carbohydrate?
• Do you…

There is a trend in obesity research that suggests we may be going about correcting this healthcare issue in the wrong way. Recent research shows that caloric intake in obese adolescents is less than their fit peers. This and many other research expresses concern that addressing diet is only a small part of the problem. Younger children were also studied and found that caloric intake did impact weight overall. So now what?  Time to exercise and incorporate healthier habits has always been proven in the adult population to be of…

Once upon a time there were children who played all day. There was no television, computer, or electronics keeping them inside. Duck, Duck, Goose, and Ring-Around-the-Rosie were sung and played by every preschooler around. Parents would join in and the fun would begin. Imagination and creativity would abound with stick ball, street hockey and baseball. A bicycle was had by everyone and was used everyday. We read books about adventure and we made our own adventures. We were action heroes and we did not play the action hero with our…

Photo by Simon Howden

Summer is surely over and back to school may be upon the younger set BUT what really is pressing children now is inactivity. Our children spend on average 7.5 hours per day on some kind of technology. Obviously there is a price to pay for this — obesity. There is much being done, and research is forthcoming on why this weight issue is occurring in our children and population at large. We have become the ‘Land of Supersize’ — pretty much everything! Our cars, clothing, snacks, meals…

August is National Sandwich Month. Whether you’re looking for fresh ideas for school lunches or your own brown bag, here are some ideas to reduce fat, boost the vitamins and minerals or just make a sandwich more healthful—but still delicious.

1. Spread pumpernickel with apple butter and grainy Dijon or German-style mustard. Layer with thin slices of leftover pork tenderloin.

2. Spread sourdough or toasted ciabatta with Sun-Dried Tomato Dip. Layer with strips of grilled chicken and avocado slices.

3. Boost the nutrients in your BLT: Bake the bacon on a rack so…

Summer vacation is the best time to spend more time with your kids if you can manage it. I try to always plan something special as a family during our vacation — time to visit extended family, a special trip or a learning event like a museum.

This summer after camp wrapped up, I decided I was going to spend special time teaching my boys how to cook. After all, someday they will be on their own and actually will need to eat.

In our house, cooking is always preceded with a…

Credit: pdphoto.com

In my many years in pediatric nursing, I have seen many changes in the health of our youngest population and one of the biggest issues I see is weight. Children born today will be 18-year-olds in 2030, and the CDC projects that by 2030, 42% of people in the United States will be obese. One word: WOW!!! What are we doing to cause this horrible trend that will cost our nation over $500 billion in healthcare costs? We cannot afford nor should we stand back and let this happen.

For…