For Healthier Kids (06)

Get Local Farmers' Foods Onto Your School's Lunchroom Cafeteria Trays
Visitors to this site can check out a "Tasting Event for Whole Grains" to get suggestions for introducing healthier choices to students. Once they learn about whole grain products, they will be more likely to add them to their school cafeteria trays. Since the learning involves volunteers and a farmer visiting cafeteria tables showing several items, including a stalk of wheat, wheat berries, and flour, students make the connection between the plant product, flour and the foods they eat.

Kids and Their Chiropractors
Thought chiropractic care was just for adults? Think again—children are visiting chiropractors at an increasing rate. In fact, MedicalNewsToday.com's web page about this developing trend says that the number of patients under 17 seeing a chiropractor has increased 8.5 percent since 1991. If you've been considering chiropractic for your child, this web page offers a great overview of the practice from a pediatric perspective. The page also includes links to professional chiropractor organizations, where you can further research the issue.

Can Drinking Milk Improve Lactose Intolerance?
Can you drink milk to help stop your lactose intolerance? This site says that studies have shown that most people who have low levels of lactase can consume one cup of milk with a meal, or up to two cups of milk per day without having lactose intolerance symptoms. Drinking some milk daily, may actually improve tolerance to lactose. The article says that those who are lactose intolerant may be able to consume yogurt with active cultures. Yogurt cultures digest lactose within the gastrointestinal tract after it is eaten. If milk solids are listed on the label, then the yogurt will contain additional lactose.

The Source for Kids Health Information
A useful site with information for parents, kids and teens. Kids section deals with topics such as moving to middle school, eating healthy foods, dealing with feelings, kids recipes, everyday illnesses and injuries, kids bodies, kids health issues and information on growing up. Games and a glossary of medical terms with regards to children’s health is also included. Fun tips and facts are good to help kids with learning about kids health overall.

Why Physical Activity is Necessary in Children
Physical inactivity has become a serious problem in the U.S., as more than half of U.S. adults do not meet recommended levels of moderate physical activity. Inactivity has been found to be more prevalent among those with lower income and education, and, beginning in adolescence. Inactivity, also known as sedentism, begins early in life, which means having active toddlers, children and teens is imperative. This site explains why children need exercise, and how they can get it.

Teen Mental Health: Coping with Stress and Friends
Teen health also involves coping with issues, and this site gives advice on how to cope and how to help other teens deal with stress and even thoughts of suicide. It explains there are three ways of reacting to problems: getting angry, withdrawing and taking charge. It gives teens good ways to react to stress and problems, such as talking to someone they trust, listening to music and relaxing, working out, do something they find pleasurable, and giving themselves time to think about the issue and think about how they want to react.

Toddler Nutrition Basics
Toddlers need proper nutrition, but this phase for them can be difficult when it comes to feeding. They want independence and their appetites can decrease. What’s a parent to do to make sure their toddler eats healthy foods? This website offers some tips for preparing for mealtime, during mealtime, setting limits and giving praise, eating healthy, snack suggestions and good foods your toddler should have in the various food groups. For instance, kids should have foods from the following categories everyday: meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs and peanut butter; milk; fruit; veggies; bread, cereal, rice and pasta; fats, oils and some sweets.