SKN Blog

A study published this month in Pediatrics found that obese children as young as 3 years old have elevated levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation in adults is an early warning sign for possible future heart disease. It’s alarming to see a relationship between weight status and elevated inflammatory markers in such young children! Again, this demonstrates that Parents and educators must act now to create healthier eating habit...

On my husband’s side of the family they have Age Related Macular Degeneration, the leading cause of blindness.  So I’m always trying to get green leafy veggies in my family’s diet any way I can. Eating these foods most days of the week is important for prevention of ARMD. The only problem… they’re not big fans of green leafies that are readily available, prewashed and convenient - like spinach. So here was my solution this week�...

Kids are rarely prescribed a diet, unless their weight puts them at a critical or immediate health risk. Changing the types of foods that the child eats and adjusting the portions are better steps to preventing or treating overweight. These approaches work best for growing children, emotionally and physically. Encourage your child to eat a healthy breakfast, to eat regular meals, and to engage in exercise most days of the week. Some research s...

Tonight like most nights –I wanted something quick, easy and healthy. There were left-over turkey meatballs from the previous night and an entire baked eggplant untouched. While cooking the meatballs I had put a large eggplant in the oven along with a sweet potato. If I’m going to heat up the oven I try to put more than one dish in there. In addition to conserving energy it’s a time saver for the next meal. I poked a few fork holes in the e...

Occasionally when working with parents, dietitians hear “My child eats a lot throughout the day and is still very thin. How can I beef him or her up?” Here’s my response:  First, keep in mind that in some states 1 out of 3 children is overweight or obese. It could be that your child is at a healthy weight for him or her personally. The same weight on one child may appear too thin or too heavy on another child. At your child’s welln...

Unless your in-laws (or parents, friends, etc.) happens to be a medical doctor or dietitian, you should seek real medical advice. Talk to your doctor and get his/her honest opinion. Even healthy kids can go through a chunky stage, but still remain within a normal growth pattern. It’s important to look at family history and track weight and height on a growth chart with your physician. If the physician is concerned, you can ask for a referral to...

With the growing incidence of childhood obesity, many kids are at risk for being overweight or are overweight. Here are some healthy tips to combat excess weight gain in kids: Eat as many family meals per week as possible, sitting down, with television off. Limit fruit juice to no more than 6 ounces a day. Ideally choose water, milk, or 100% juice over artificially sweetened beverages. Avoiding liquid calories is a good choice for an ov...

It’s important to consider nutrition balance when packing your child’s lunch. Here are some quick tips to fuel your child for a great day of playing and learning: Think  basic nutrients:  Protein, Carbohydrate, Fat –be sure to include all 3: Lean proteins are good for muscle growth and development.  Try chicken pasta salads, turkey, or healthy chicken nuggets (see Chicken Nuggets: Are They Really That Bad). Remember beans and le...

As a family nutritionist I often hear from friends, “What’s in your child’s lunch box?” For my 4 year old, most days I use the bento box system from www.laptoplunches.com. Somehow having the little containers lined up inside this box makes packing easier. The system contains one large box with reusable containers that fit inside. It can then be carried in a thermal square shaped container of your choice. There’s NO phthal...

It depends. Some chicken nuggets include the skin, added salt, and batter that can contain twice as much saturated fat (than without the batter).However, oven-baked chicken nuggets made of white meat chicken breast  in place of fried chicken nuggets can be quite healthful. So when cooking at home or buying store bought items, it’s important to read the ingredient list and food label and then prepare foods in the healthiest ways possible.  ...