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Nutrition

A recent survey by Nemours Children’s Health System, the Delaware Survey of Children’s Health (DSCH), showed that 36 percent of children in Delaware are overweight or obese. From the survey, we also learned that there’s a gap between how parents perceive their children’s weight and the reality of their actual weight. According to the DSCH findings, 80 percent of all overweight children and 53 percent of all obese children are considered by their parents to be “normal weight.” A key first step in helping children achieve and maintain a healthy weight is to understand exactly what that means and why it’s so important to their overall health. How Do I Know if My Child’s at a Healthy Weight? Calculate your child’s body mass index (BMI). BMI is a measure of your weight compared to your height. Calculating BMI on your own can be complicated, so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created an easy […]

College is such an exciting time in a young person’s life. For many, it marks a new beginning and an age of independence students probably haven’t experienced before, especially if they move away from home and choose to live on campus. Suddenly your “baby” is solely responsible for waking up on time for class, doing laundry, and – maybe for the first time – making healthy food choices. Navigating the kitchen at home may be an easier task than navigating one of the many all-you-can-eat dining halls on campus. But fear not! It isn’t impossible to maintain a healthy lifestyle during the college years. Share the following tips with your teen to help with healthy eating in college. Stock up the mini-fridge. Healthy eating in college starts in the dorm room. Having nutritious food choices on hand is a must. Keeping things in a mini-fridge is always a good idea. […]

One of my favorite things about summer has always been the great variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables. In addition to being delicious, they’re packed with nutrients including fiber, potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin A, and folate. The high water content also makes them a perfect snack to help kids stay hydrated during the hot summer months. Mix It Up With Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables You can incorporate fruits and vegetables into your child’s diet in a variety of ways to help beat the heat this summer: Try freezing grapes, melons, orange slices, or your favorite fruit so it’s still cold when your child wants a snack at the pool or beach. Add seasonal fruits and vegetables to water. Include cucumbers, strawberries, lemons, or limes to give it a refreshing summer-time taste. It’s also a healthy alternative to juice without providing extra sugar. Just slice up the produce of your […]

Did you know that your children’s adolescent years are critical for building bone mass? On average, peak bone mass is achieved at 12.5 years of age for girls, and 14 years of age for boys. By the age of 18, nearly 90 percent of peak bone mass has been acquired. This means that our kids must make the most of their diets and physical activity prior to becoming an adult, as they will rely on their acquired bone mass for the rest of their lives! Why Calcium and Vitamin D? Calcium and vitamin D are the two most important nutrients when discussing diet and bone health. Calcium is a mineral that makes up the bone structure (along with phosphorus). Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that is necessary for our bodies to absorb calcium. Calcium is mainly found in dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt. The United States […]

Spring and summer have always been my favorite times of year. The temperatures start to warm up, and I can pack away my winter jackets for the season. The sun stays out later each day, so I have more time in the evenings to enjoy walks outside. And the fresh fruits and vegetables become more abundant than ever. During the spring and summer, trips to the farmers market are a favorite activity of mine. Nothing beats the taste of locally grown produce, freshly picked and sold to you right from the growers. I share this tip with many families and children that I see here at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. I asked other registered dietitians here at Nemours what tips they share with families looking to eat healthy during the warmer months. Here’s what they said. Snack Hacks Jaclyn Costantino: “Try homemade frozen fruit pops for a yummy, […]

You hear the word “cholesterol” and a child doesn’t exactly come to mind – more like one of us grown-ups fighting the urge to scarf down that double cheeseburger. But, in the wake of the ongoing childhood obesity epidemic, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says tracking youngsters’ cholesterol levels at an early age may help fend off future heart disease, the No. 1 killer of both men and women. So many adults suffer from heart disease in this country. It can be a scary disease to have and it can cause further health problems too, such as heart attacks and even erectile dysfunction. For men, erectile dysfunction can be worrying, however, there are treatments available at online pharmacies, like Blink Health. Those treatments can help men to experience better blood flow in that area, allowing them to achieve an erection. That’s just one health risk associated with heart disease, […]