Article: Better Choices: How about a resolution to eat vegetables and other nutritious foods?

Click here for the full article via Family Times magazine.

As you welcome the New Year, consider ditching the diet and instead focusing on changes you can stick with and sustain—with the key word being sustain! It is possible to meet your healthy eating goals without deprivation.

You can set an example for your children with balanced behavior around food, being (or becoming) active, making healthy choices, and having a positive attitude about body weight.

In raising two little boys in this diet-crazy world and in maintaining my own weight, I have adopted two concepts that bring me clarity: 1) Food is fuel, and 2) It’s all about balance.

Article: Hand to Mouth - How to help babies start to sample solid food

When you first start introducing your baby to solid foods, it can be overwhelming to figure out what is best. I have gone through the process with our two little boys and will provide guidelines along with tips and suggestions based on firsthand experience.

Every child is different and you may need to adjust your approach from baby to baby (and remember that during the first six months, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended – with continued breastfeeding until at least the baby’s first birthday long as that’s what you and your baby want).

When a baby is about 6 months old, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends introducing him or her to solid foods. The goal during the initial phase is to have your baby get to sample foods that are rich in nutrients and varied in textures. As your baby is ready, you can encourage her to start drinking from a cup and using baby spoons and her fingers to feed herself.

Click here for the full article via Family Times!

Article: Smoothie Moves

When your kids are poking around the kitchen, point them to the produce drawer of the fridge and the blender. With a bit of supervision, they can mix fresh fruits and vegetables into delicious smoothies. Smoothies can be nutrient rich—with a combination of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, fiber and probiotics. But if you’re not paying attention, a smoothie can become a sugar bomb. Here are some strategies for making delicious and nutritious smoothies.

SMOOTHIE BASICS

The best part about making smoothies is that there are seemingly endless combinations of flavors and textures. While there isn’t a right or wrong combination of what to add to a smoothie, it comes down to three basic components: the liquid, the flavor, and the add-ins. As a mom, I love how smoothies are a great way to add a boost of important nutrients; I especially like to focus on adding probiotics to smoothies.

Click here for the full article from Family Times.

Article: Understanding Soy

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Check out this article Molly Morgan wrote via Family Times Magazine on Understanding Soy:

What delivers quality protein, omega-3 fats, omega-6 fats, potassium, magnesium, iron and B-vitamins? It’s soy, a nutrient-rich legume (also called edamame) that is consumed around the globe. Today, it has expanded from just a soy bean or tofu into a wide collection of foods, including soy milk, soy sauce, tempeh, veggie burgers, soy protein powder and more

For the full article, click here.