Nutrition
Anna Nguyen, Healthy Kids blog Editor
It’s hard for me to imagine that milk sales are on the decline with how my 1 and 3-year-old drink milk – they go through it quickly and usually ask for more. But I can see how plain white milk might eventually be a tough sell.
The highly nutritious drink has a lot of competition from alternatives such as soy, almond, and rice milks, and other beverages in general – juice, soda, and water.
So now, the dairy industry has petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to drop special labeling requirements for chocolate and other flavored milks that contain artificial sweeteners such as aspartame. Currently, those products must say "reduced calorie" or "less sugar" on the front of the packaging. Otherwise, they can't be called milk.
Beth Wallace, Registered dietitian, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
You’ve probably heard of the term “portion distortion” in conjunction with massive restaurant size servings. A serving could provide the equivalent of three meals in one sitting. As portion sizes have slowly increased, plates sizes have also grown to accommodate them. Now, a new study released online in Pediatrics today finds that the size of the plate affects how much children will serve themselves and eat.
Forty-two elementary school aged children were observed during school lunches serving themselves on either a child-sized or twice as big adult-sized plates. The children were allowed to serve themselves entrees (chicken nuggets or pasta), vegetables, and fruits. Children using the larger plates served themselves more, and tended to consume more calories. Unfortunately, children would serve themselves more of everything…except the vegetable.
Why is this important? There are a few reasons. The current United States nutrition guidelines, “Choose My Plate,” are centered on using a plate to depict the appropriate amount of protein, grains, fruits, and vegetables per meal. If the size of the plate is influencing your family’s intake, even the perfect variety of foods can be over-portioned, causing excess intake.
Beth Wallace, Registered dietitian, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
If you’re like me and your iPhone (or Android) is rarely outside of arm’s reach, you should keep reading.
Nutrition apps have exploded onto the digital scene over the last few years. From calorie counting to countless recipes, there are hundreds of options that promise to make your quest for health easier. Now that so much nutrition information is literally at your fingertips, I decided to navigate the iWorld and find the apps that will make feeding your family easier.
1. Fooducate - Diet Tracker & Healthy Food Nutrition Scanner
Beth Wallace, Registered dietitian, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
How do you make spinach, a superfood, more super? Pair it with a food high in vitamin C like an orange, berries, or peppers to make its nutrients easier for your body to absorb.
March is National Nutrition Month so all month long CHOP's trusted dietician Beth Wallace will be sharing her top tips for healthy eating. Follow Beth on twitter for more tips @BethWallaceRD.
Beth Wallace, Registered dietitian, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
At mealtime, create a balanced meal by including foods from at least three different food groups: healthy whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy.
March is National Nutrition Month so all month long CHOP's trusted dietician Beth Wallace will be sharing her top tips for healthy eating. Follow Beth on twitter for more tips @BethWallaceRD.
Beth Wallace, Registered dietitian, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Be portion size wise to make sure you are getting enough vegetables. One serving size is equal to 1 cup of raw, or 1/2 cup of cooked veggies. Be sure to aim for 4-5 servings a day!
March is National Nutrition Month so all month long CHOP's trusted dietician Beth Wallace will be sharing her top tips for healthy eating. Follow Beth on twitter for more tips @BethWallaceRD.
Beth Wallace, Registered dietitian, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Want to boost up your breakfast? Add some chopped almonds to yogurt, oatmeal, and smoothies for a boost in protein, vitamin E, and heart healthy fat.
March is National Nutrition Month so all month long CHOP's trusted dietician Beth Wallace will be sharing her top tips for healthy eating. Follow Beth on twitter for more tips @BethWallaceRD.
Beth Wallace, Registered dietitian, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Make a big impact on your family’s fat intake by moving towards 1% or skim milk. You’ll keep all of the benefits of the protein and vitamins, but lose the saturated fat.
March is National Nutrition Month so all month long CHOP's trusted dietician Beth Wallace will be sharing her top tips for healthy eating. Follow Beth on twitter for more tips @BethWallaceRD.
Beth Wallace, Registered dietitian, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Looking to reduce your salt intake? Look at the Nutrition Facts label and compare the number of Calories to the amount of Sodium. If the sodium is less than the calories, it’s usually a safe pick.
March is National Nutrition Month so all month long CHOP's trusted dietician Beth Wallace will be sharing her top tips for healthy eating.
Beth Wallace, Registered dietitian, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Sugar sweetened beverages are the No. 1 source of excess calories in teenage diets. Keep flavored seltzers and waters in your fridge to cut the calories but keep the flavor.
March is National Nutrition Month so all month long CHOP's trusted dietician Beth Wallace will be sharing her top tips for healthy eating.
