Category: Parenting

Thinking about snacks as mini meals is a mistake.  A big one.  It teaches kids bad snacking habits. Don’t get me wrong, the mini-meal ideal would be a wonderful thing.  It would provide a delicious and healthy snack. But...

Before you start searching for healthy snack ideas, answer the following question. What is a healthy snack?  Is it primarily defined by: The presence of “good” nutrients? The absence of “bad” nutrients? If my experiences and...

I’m always writing about the idea that it doesn’t matter what your kids eat.  What matters is how often your kids eat it.  Whatever it is. And now, the National Institute of Health is stealing my idea!  Those government-guys...

School started in earnest last week and while most people are focused on the quality of food in the cafeteria, I’m obsessed with snacks. Since when do all kids, even 9 year olds, need a daily morning snack? And when did it...

The snacking news is grim: Studies show there’s been a steep increase in snacking among the general population.  Between 1977 and 2002, the percent of Americans who eat 3 or more snacks per day increased to 42% from 11%. Of...

I’m sure you’ve heard the news: kids are snacking now more than ever before.  But did you know that snacks are the gifts that keep on giving? The rise in daily snacking has been related to an overall increase in daily food...

If it’s healthier than a potato chip it must be a healthy snack. Sure we know lots more about food, but when it comes right down to it, this simple consideration is how most of us decide what snacks to give our kids. ...

If you’re a paediatrician you’re probably familiar with the “Early Protein Hypothesis.” But if you’re a parent, you’re probably saying, “huh?” The Early Protein Hypothesis tries to explain the relationship between high protein...

Which of the following affects how much your children eat? Choose one: A)    How filling the meal is. B)    How many calories the meal has. D)    How much food was eaten at the previous meal. D)    How much food you serve. The...

I don’t know about you, but I don’t have the time, the interest or the skills to track the nutrients my daughter consumes.  But even if I did, I’m much too lazy.  Quite frankly, just getting food into her multiple times each...

How well do you know your nutrition? If you want to have some fun play the Nutrition by Numbers game that NuVal recently posted on their website.  (Click on Play Game at the bottom of the NuVal home page.) Don’t be surprised,...