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Top parenting stories this week
Healthy, Allergy-free Birthday Cakes
Who says dessert can’t be healthy? Try these tasty recipes to add a little nutrition to your child’s birthday celebration.
by: Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers
Healthy Birthday Cake
- Cakes that contain fruit usually have less added sugar.
- Healthier frosting toppings include: organic yogurt thickened with cream cheese, traditional cream cheese frosting and whipped cream.
- If you're tight on time, buy a frozen yogurt cake for a tasty, healthy treat.
- If your one-year-old has not tried eggs yet, opt for a vegan cake.
- Be aware that many egg substitutes actually contain eggs.
ust because it's a celebration doesn't mean you can't sneak in some nutritional value. Here's how to make your child's next birthday cake both nutritious and delicious: To view the full story click here.
Children and Vitamins
Find out what you need to know about filling the gaps in your child’s diet with vitamins.
by: Dr. Alan Greene
Vitamins for Kids
- Breastfed babies should supplement with 200 IU of vitamin D daily.
- Only 2 percent of children eat the recommended number of daily servings from each of the four food groups.
- Seven out of 10 boys and 9 out of 10 girls don't get sufficient calcium during key times of growth.
- A daily multivitamin is a great way to fill in the nutritional holes in your child's diet.
- Read vitamin labels to avoid additives such as chemical dyes, aspartame and butylated hydroxytoluene.
o matter how hard we try to ensure our kids eat a healthy, balanced diet, the reality is many children aren't getting all the nutrients they need to thrive. Here's how the right vitamin supplements can boost your child's health. To view the full story click here.
Finger Food for Babies Recipes
Try these finger food tips and recipes as you teach your baby to feed himself
by: Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers
Finger Food for Babies Recipes
- Introduce finger foods at 8 or 9 months and do it one at a time, slowly adding new ones for your baby to try.
- Start with finger foods your baby likes in puréed form before introducing new tastes.
- Finger foods should be soft enough for your child to gum.
- A few raw finger foods to try include banana, avocado and grated cheese.
- Finger foods such as apple slices or asparagus spears should be cooked first so your child can manage them.
elf-feeding is an exciting developmental milestone for both mom and baby, but serving the wrong size or texture of food can put your little one at risk of choking. A few simple tips can help you take the fear out of introducing finger foods. To view the full story click here.
Toddler Nutrition - Making Healthy Meals for Kids
Helping your toddler eat healthy, balanced meals
by: Sydney Loney
Toddler Nutrition
- Toddlers have small stomachs (about the size of their own fists), so they need to eat small amounts of food more often throughout the day.
- Never force or bribe your child to eat as this can lead to power struggles that will only cause more conflict during mealtimes down the road.
- To prevent your toddler from becoming a picky eater, it's important to offer a variety of foods early on and maintain that variety throughout the early years.
- If your child turns her nose up at broccoli the first time, keep offering it–studies have found it can take six or more tries before a child accepts a new fruit or veggie.
- To ensure you always have nutritious meals on hand, make large batches of things that are easy to freeze, such as vegetarian chili (see recipe below).
he toddler years are an important time in your child's development, says Joanne Saab, a registered dietitian and co-author of Better Baby Food. "And because it's a time when children are generally still willing to explore new foods, it's a good time to establish healthy eating habits." To view the full story click here.
