by Kristen Bagwell

...and it's not too late to learn more! The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics sponsors National Nutrition Month each year to highlight the importance of making informed food choices ans developing good eating habits and a healthy physical (activity) routine. The goal is to help Americans "Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day." But what does that mean? Read More

by Allison Carter

DH and I have been geocaching for years, slowing down a little once pregnancy and newborns arrived. We have found caches in different states, countries, and continents.  Obviously we really enjoy it and have gotten our friends and family hooked. We can’t wait to get C started since it is even better with children. Kids love this. Read More

by Kristen Bagwell

At lunch yesterday, one of my friends was asking for help because her 14-month old has refused to drink any kind of milk at all. No cow's milk, no formula, nothing. She will occasionally refuse other dairy products, and my friend was trying to figure out what to give baby girl to ensure she was getting the right levels of calcium daily. Kelly, this one's for you!

The American Dietetic Association recommends 1300 mg of calcium daily for kids ages 9 - 18, 1000 mg daily for kids ages 4-8, and 700mg daily for kids ages 1-3. This translates roughly into 2-3 daily servings of dairy for toddlers, 4-5 for elementary kids, and 5-7 for teens and tweens. Breast milk or formula is recommended for infants under age 1, whole milk until age 2, and then low-fat milk products from age 3 on. Eight ounces of milk provides 300mg calcium, but what if your child won't drink milk?  Read More

By Guest Blogger Debra Benfield, M.Ed., R.D., LDN, Medical Nutrition Therapist

Yesterday’s blog about dealing with your child’s eating and weight focused on what NOT to do. Today’s topic is much more hopeful! Let me back up a bit and let you know that I have great compassion for all of us here. I hear a desperate, confused, and somewhat lost tone when parents talk about their child’s weight. Our nation is concerned about “childhood obesity” and we hear a great deal about waging a “war” against it. As part of my inquiry into how twisted up we are about this topic, I looked up how much money we spend in our pursuit of thinness. In the US last year, we spent an estimated $46 billion on diet products and self-help books. At any and every moment at least 77% of Americans are “dieting” or trying to lose weight. Most people seem to have heard the news that dieting doesn’t work, but we are still feeling desperate enough about our weight to fall for the promise of the diet. Losing “10 pounds in 10 days” sounds so good just when you are pulling your swimsuits out of storage! I get it. Read More

By Guest Blogger Debra Benfield,  M.Ed., R.D., LDN, Medical Nutrition Therapist

Does anything freeze you in your tracks faster than someone commenting on your child’s body size? Is there anything that creates more embarrassment, shame, confusion, anxiety, or maybe anger, than “Has Johnny gained some weight?”?! The issue of our children’s weight is a point of major confusion, worry, and angst for almost every parent. The mom who is comfortable and confident about this issue is as rare as, well, the mom who is comfortable and confidant about her own body. And therein lies the rub. We don’t want our kids to have to deal with the struggle that comes with being overweight. We want to protect our kids from the very real prejudice that exists in our culture against kids who are not thin. But how do you address this sensitive and emotionally- loaded topic?

One of the reasons this topic is so challenging is more of our kids are overweight. I will not go on and on about why that is. At the same time, our drive for thinness and intolerance of overweight is also at an all-time high. So what’s a mom to do? Read More

by guest blogger Amber O'Neal

My first gluten-free shopping trip took place a shortly after my son's diagnosis. As I entered the store, I carried three pages of Gluten-Free foods and the other "avoid" foods that stress his body out. Waiting in the check out line, I realized how healthy the items in my cart looked:, green, fresh, farm grown vegetables, fruits and lean proteins. In other words I shopped the perimeter of the store without slipping down the interior isles for the processed foods packaged in boxes. This is a bit different from our usual cart. Read More

by Kristen Bagwell

The title of this post sounds somewhat like a marital event, at least in my house...but that's a story for another time. The drive thru to which I am referring is the fast food drive thru, which I love and hate equally.

Love: french fries. Come on! Who doesn't love some fast food french fries?

Hate: The Guilt. Every mom who has fed her child fast food has experienced "the guilt" to some extent.

I understand that fast food marketers usually target kids. I understand that movies like Supersize Me and Fast Food Nation show some significant issues with the fast food industry. My question is this - if we as parents grew up with the occasional fast food meal and have lived to tell about it, can we not assume that our kids will be okay as well, as long as fast food is not a way of life?  Read More

by Katie Moosbrugger

We are already thinking "hooray for fall" around here, and what better way to celebrate than to plan some outdoor fun? These tips and tricks from Katie can help you get the ball rolling. Enjoy! ...Kristen B. Read More

by Kristen Bagwell

As a young adult, I had a blast working at a YMCA Day Camp during my summers off from school. Now that I am a parent, I view my Y experiences in a whole new light. What better way to ensure that your children are being well-cared for in a positive environment AND having a great time with great friends? The YMCA of the Triangle Area has many options for working and at-home parents alike, and is a wonderful (and fun!) choice to help nurture your children and allow them to discover more about themselves.

Moms all over the Triangle agree! That's why our local YMCA programs won TWO 2011 Choice Awards: Best Summer Camp (YMCA Day Camp) and Best Afterschool and/or Sports Program! There are tons of ways to get your children involved, and so many branch locations to work with! Let's start with the YMCA Summer Day Camp options.  Read More

by Kristen Bagwell

As I was debating birthday gifts for my almost-3 year old, I stumbled across this link while shopping online:  www.stridersports.com

What’s the big deal? Well, if you have a child under age five, listen up, because this may be the most interesting concept I’ve ever heard as far as bike riding goes. Strider Sports produces a nifty little bike they call a pre-bike and get this: it has no pedals. What? Crazy! But the whole thing is based upon teaching your child balance and control before they have to figure out how to pedal the bike.  Read More

By Rachel Hoeing and Guest Blogger, Dr. William Satterwhite,Twin City Pediatrics

Spring has sprung! The weather has been beautiful lately and nothing made me happier than the fact that my children played outside for literally seven hours on Saturday! They have usually been the type to beg for TV or Wii after just 20 minutes of being outside, but they are slowly starting to realize that a day with nothing to do can be terrific! Neighbors came over and they played on the swingset, made up obstacle courses, played "dragon slayer," zoo keeper, and many other made-up games. My hope is that this will continue throughout the spring and summer months! Read More

By Rachel Hoeing

Summer swim team season officially started for most swim clubs last week. I know it seems a little cold and I am sure many kids will have purple toes when they climb out of the water, but they will eventually have a wonderful time! If your child is participating in swim team this year – BRAVO! If you are still contemplating, I say do it! Here’s why… Read More