Posts Tagged ‘
healthy eating ’
Friday, September 21st, 2012
IUDs, Implants Best for Birth Control, Docs Say
New guidelines from the nation’s leading group of obstetricians and gynecologists advice that all women, including teenagers, should look to IUDs and implants first. (via Today)
More Kids Get Nonmedical Exemptions From Vaccines
In 2011, just over 2 percent of school children were exempt from getting their vaccines for nonmedical reasons, up from about 1 percent in 2006, a new report finds. (via My Health News Daily)
Race Doesn’t Affect Injury Outcomes in Kids
White, black and Hispanic children who got seriously injured were equally likely to survive their hospital stay in a new study – despite past evidence of racial disparities. (via Fox News)
Second-hand Smoke Tied to Memory Problems
Smokers and people who regularly breath others’ cigarette fumes are worse at remembering things on their to-do lists than people with no tobacco exposure, a small study says. (via Reuters)
Wal-Mart, Humana to Offer Healthy Food Discount
Health care giant Humana, Inc. is partnering with Wal-Mart to give shoppers deals on fruits, veggies, low-fat dairy and other health products starting next month. (via ABC News)
Categories: GoodyBlog, News | Tags: birth control, Food, health, healthy eating, Humana, Injuries, memory, Noelia de la Cruz, Parents Daily News Roundup, race, secondhand smoke, smoking, vaccines, Walmart
Thursday, September 13th, 2012
America is one of the fattest nations in the world, and our kids are tipping the scales, too: one-third of American children are overweight or obese. We’ve talked about preparing nutritious meals and fun ways to get moving, but making smart choices becomes tricky when you’re on the road or crunched for time. Good news: restaurant chains are making it easier for consumers to know exactly what we’re stuffing in our mouths.
Earlier this summer, the Supreme Court voted to uphold President Obama’s health care plan, which requires all food chains with more than 20 locations to post nutrition information. Starting Monday, McDonald’s will post calorie counts at locations nationwide. Chains such as Subway and Panera are already on board, too. McDonald’s is also testing new, healthier menu items including an egg-white McMuffin on a whole grain roll. The chain now includes apple slices in Happy Meals and recently rolled out a “Favorites Under 400” campaign that spotlighted lower-calorie choices.
But will it make a difference? We asked Parents’ adviser David Ludwig, MD/PhD, Director of the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center at Boston Children’s Hospital. “Knowing the calorie content of a fast food meal is certainly a step in the right direction,” he says. “However, when it comes to obesity prevention and overall health, quality matters. A 100-calorie pack of junk food isn’t healthy simply because it contains only 100 calories. In addition to calorie count, consider also what’s actually in that fast food meal before placing the order.” When possible, eat fresh ingredients prepared without added fat from deep-frying. But when you do reach for fast food, use this info to make smart choices.
Share your thoughts: will knowing the nutrition information change what you order at fast-food joints?
Image: Boy with fast food via Shutterstock
Friday, August 31st, 2012
This September marks the third annual Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, first proclaimed by the Obama administration in 2010 to highlight the alarming epidemic in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), childhood obesity nearly tripled in the past three decades. That means more than 23 million children and teenagers are currently affected, putting them at higher risk for such conditions as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
To kick off the month, the United States Tennis Association (USTA), in collaboration with the Partnership for a Healthier America and Let’s Move! (the program spearheaded by First Lady Michelle Obama), will announce its youth tennis initiative at the U.S. Open this weekend. On hand to launch the initiative will be actress and tennis mom Christine Taylor, as well as fitness expert Bob Harper and Olympic gold medalists Dara Torres and Cullen Jones.
Read more about childhood obesity and healthy living on Parents.com:
Image: Stop sign reading “Stop Childhood Obesity,” via Shutterstock
Categories: GoodyBlog, Health & Safety | Tags: CDC, child health, childhood obesity, Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, health, Health & Safety, healthy eating, Noelia de la Cruz, obesity, tennis, U.S. Open
Monday, August 6th, 2012
LaLa Lunchbox can be just what your picky eater needs to develop a healthy lifestyle. The app, developed by mom and health-care professional Gillian Fein, is a fun way to guarantee your child’s lunch will end up in their tummy.
“As a mom of two young kids, I know that getting children to eat balanced meals is invariably a struggle for all of us at some point,” Fein says. “But when kids have a say in their meals, they feel empowered and less food is wasted and unwanted.”
LaLa Lunchbox comes with an easy-to-use functionality. The app lets each child create a lunchbox that is personalized by a cute monster avatar; he or she then drags the icon of their preferred food item in each of four categories—fruits, veggies, proteins, and snacks—into their avatar’s mouth. While the app comes with a predetermined set of food options, families can add or remove their own choices to and from the appropriate categories. Each lunchbox, or list, is complete once it contains a variety of four to six items.
Additionally, a calendar function allows the parent to designate each lunchbox to specific weeks, as there’s no doubt your kid will want to switch it up often. A task list feature even lets you check off each item after you drop it into the cart at the grocery store.
Make eating fun for your family today—the app is available for $1.99 on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.
For more information, visit www.lalalunchbox.com or follow @LaLaLunchbox on Twitter.
Image: Young girl holding packed lunch in living room smiling, via Shutterstock
Thursday, August 2nd, 2012
This post was written by Jenny Schafer from Celebrity Baby Scoop.
Losing the baby weight is challenging for most women. But when you’re a celebrity mom, Hollywood’s beauty standards can make the postpartum period downright miserable.
Let’s take a look at 5 high-profile mamas who have opened up about weight loss post-pregnancy. Read about Gisele Bündchen‘s “muscle memory,” to Hilary Duff not losing the baby weight “overnight,” to Gwen Stefani admitting it was “no miracle” that she’s regained her svelte figure.
Alyson Hannigan:
American Pie star Alyson Hannigan and her husband, actor Alexis Denisof, welcomed their second daughter, Keeva Jane, on May 23. The Buffy alums are also parents to 3-year-old daughter Satyana.
Since welcoming baby Keeva, Alyson has talked about not losing the baby weight quickly enough for Tinseltown.
“I think by Hollywood standards I’m supposed to be in bikini shape now that my baby is 4 weeks old,” she playfully tweeted. “My workout goal: Food drops in lap, not on belly.”
Despite her woes, fans of the How I Met Your Mother star showed their support for “setting a good example” and not rushing to lose the baby weight.
Alyson replied, “I still haven’t lost all the weight from my first daughter. Oh well.”
Hilary Duff:
Lizzie McGuire actress Hilary Duff and husband, hockey star Mike Comrie, welcomed their first child, son Luca, on March 20. The Disney darling recently said that she enjoyed eating during her pregnancy.
“My whole life you know I worked out and exercised and been in the public eye and always watched what I ate. This was like a vacation,” Hilary said of enjoying eating during pregnancy. “I had a blast. I wouldn’t go back and change it. I had a lot of fun.”
The new mom has also opened up about her postpartum weight loss.
“I’m not perfect, but I feel fantastic,” she said. “This is how it goes for most women – the weight doesn’t fall off overnight.”
The actress-singer, 24, added that she’s been exercising “a few” times a week, mixing spin classes with private training sessions.
She added that her hubby “doesn’t care” about her extra pregnancy weight, and added, “Even during my pregnancy he thought I was beautiful.”
Gisele Bündchen:
Supermodel Gisele Bündchen and her husband, football star Tom Brady, welcomed their first child together, son Benjamin, on December 8, 2009.
The Brazilian beauty talked about regaining her figure almost instantly after Benjamin’s birth.
“I think it’s muscle memory,” Gisele said. “I did kung fu up until two weeks before Benjamin was born, and yoga three days a week. I think a lot of people get pregnant and decide they can turn into garbage disposals. I was mindful about what I ate, and I gained only 30 pounds.”
Molly Sims:
Actress Molly Sims and husband Scott Stuber welcomed their first child, son Brooks Alan, on June 19. The new mom recently opened up about her mission to lose the 50 pounds of baby weight that she gained during her first pregnancy.
“Eating during my pregnancy was easy, but losing the baby weight – that’s going to be a whole other story,” Molly wrote on MollySims.com. “As much as I tried to stick to a healthy diet and exercise routine while I was pregnant, I ended up gaining 50 pounds—so let’s just say I have my work cut out for me! But no matter what it takes, being in the best shape possible has always been very important to me. I’m more than willing to put in the work to get my pre-baby body back.”
Gwen Stefani:
Rockers Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale are parents to two sons – Kingston, 6, and Zuma, nearly 4. Five months after welcoming Kingston, Gwen talked about her postpartum weight loss.
“That’s been really hard,” she said of losing the weight. “But it’s almost gone. I’ve just been eating healthy,” she said, adding, “I cheat every day at least once.”
The uber-svelte No Doubt frontwoman has admitted to struggling with her weight and body image after having two children. She said that her current figure is “no miracle” and that it took eight months to lose the baby weight after the arrival of Zuma.
And even Gavin chimed in about the pressures on his wife to lose the baby weight under the limelight.
“Yeah, she does [feel under pressure to lose the weight fast], Gavin said. “I mean, she’s just so dedicated and she’s just amazing with that stuff (weight loss). It’s very hard because everyone’s so judged the whole time.”
More top stories from CelebrityBabyScoop:
Hilary Duff On “Amazing” Luca, Breastfeeding, Joys of Motherhood
Prince William Is Keen To Have Kids – And So Is Prince Harry!
Rosie Pope Adjusts to 3 Children: “I’m Obsessed With Sleep Schedules”
Celebrity Moms Share Their Childhood Summertime Memories
Celebrity Baby Scoop is one of the most popular blogs on the topic and the foremost provider of everything celebrity-baby, featuring baby fashion, baby names, baby trends and up-to-the-minute celebrity baby gossip and pics. Get all the latest news, updates, and photos about Hollywood’s most beloved celebrity moms, dads and their babies. Who’s the latest Tinseltown baby? Who’s due next and who just announced a pregnancy? It’s all on Celebrity Baby Scoop.
Categories: GoodyBlog | Tags: Alyson Hannigan, baby weight, celebrity baby scoop, celebs, Exercise, gisele bundchen, gwen stefani, health, healthy eating, hilary duff, molly sims, postpartum body, Pregnancy, women
Thursday, May 31st, 2012
Savvy shoppers know to scour nutrition labels. Sometimes, that’s easier said than done. Labels are already pretty tricky to decipher— it’s difficult to make sense of ingredients like xanthan gum, datem, and disodium phosphate. Nutrition information could have gotten even more confusing, thanks to a suggestion from the Corn Refiners Association.
In 2010, the CRA petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to change the term “high fructose corn syrup” to “corn sugar” on nutritional labels. Yesterday, the FDA denied the request, suggesting that the name change would have inaccurately portrayed the ingredient as “natural.” The sweetener is widely used in snack foods, condiments, and other pantry staples. (And sugar is in more foods than you might think.)
In order to make thoughtful decisions about what to feed their families, shoppers need to be able to understand the ingredients, and recognize those that they want to avoid. Here’s hoping that keeping the term “high fructose corn syrup” will empower consumers to shop smart.
Monday, April 2nd, 2012
Let’s start the week off with a new snack and work-out move to keep up healthy habits!
This Week’s Work-Out Move: around-the-world plank. Try this variation of the plank to keep your core muscles guessing! Building strong abs is part of functional fitness, so you will be able to keep up with all of your kiddos more easily. Lie down on your stomach; then, lift up onto your forearms. Hover while keeping your core tight and your back straight. Make sure your head is neutral by looking a few inches in front of you. Here comes the mix-up! Straighten your right arm out to a 45-degree angle, and bring back to center. Then, step the right leg out and repeat this motion on the left leg and arm. Keep this circular pattern up for 20 to 30 seconds. Do 3-5 sets for some strong momma abs.
Healthy Snack of the Week: spring parfait. Whip up a delightful parfait for a snack that has some spring-time flair. Grab a Greek yogurt, fresh papaya, a handful of Goji berries, Agave nectar, coconut flakes, and toasted almonds. Fill the bottom of the dish with a third of the Greek yogurt, adding a layer of sliced papaya. Spread another layer of yogurt; then, drop a handful of Goji berries on top. Finally, add the last layer of yogurt and sprinkle the top with toasted almonds and coconut flakes. Drizzle with Agave nectar to your liking. This parfait is packed with protein, fruit, antioxidants, and a little bit of sweetness.
Enjoying the nature. Young woman arms raised enjoying the fresh air in green forest via Shutterstock
Wednesday, March 28th, 2012
For many of us, it’s almost a reflex: we add a dash of salt to our food before we take the first bite. But according to the Center for Disease Control, we shouldn’t be so quick to grab for the shaker. In recognition of World Salt Awareness Week, we shook up some facts on sodium.
A diet that’s heavy in salt can contribute to life-threatening conditions like heart attacks or strokes. The CDC estimates that 9 out of 10 Americans consume too much sodium, 95% of which comes from restaurant or processed foods.
Here are some simple ways to cut back on sodium without scrimping on flavor:
Eat more fresh fruits and veggies (or frozen varieties without added ingredients). Try a blueberry-zucchini loaf for breakfast, or serve this vitamin-C packed fruit-and-pasta salad for dinner. For a quick meal, thaw a bag of frozen mixed vegetables to make an easy lasagna.
Ask restaurants for low-sodium options, or request that they don’t add salt to your food.
At home, read nutrition labels and choose lower-sodium options. Stock the pantry with staples like low-sodium teriyaki sauce. (Try it in this flavorful shrimp stir-fry.) With recipes this tasty, you’ll never miss the salt.
