Dr Stephanie

Produce for Kids is hosting a Twitter Party on May 16th! Join PFK and Spatula Dad for some tips on healthy summer grilling! Yum!

Many of you know that one of the hats I wear is an advisory board member for Produce for Kids, an awesome organization dedicated to healthy kids and families.  One of my fellow board members recently wrote some guidelines about teaching even our youngest kids about healthy eating.  As obesity rises among kids (and adults!) this seems like a more important lesson than ever.  But it can be tricky: We don’t want to deprive our kids or set up an unhealthy relationship with food.  But ignoring the issue, or allowing them to indulge in all of their junk food fantasies doesn’t seem right either.  Estella Schnelle of the Weekly Bite provides some great tips for navigating these treacherous waters.

Check out her tips below:

Teasing can happen anywhere.  And so can it’s meaner, more serious cousin bullying.  As most any kid can tell you, the lunch hour can be a stressful one.  Who to sit with? Buy lunch or bring lunch? How to deal with the mean lunch lady? How to cope when making friends and conversation don’t come easily? What to do when weight and food are struggles? Leave campus or eat in the cafeteria? Ugh. The dilemmas are endless.  Unfortunately so are the possibilities for conflict.

I wrote the following article over at Produce for Kids about how to help your kids when they are being bullied about what is in their lunchbox.  Seem far-fetched and like it never happens? Ask the kids in your life, and I bet they will tell you otherwise.

Dealing with Lunchroom Bullies: Produce for Kids

One of my coolest professional roles is as a Parent Advisory Board member for Produce for Kids, an organization that encourages healthy eating for kids and families.  This week I wrote an article for their website about how to help kids incorporate all types of foods into their diets.  We all know that tomatoes and fish are great for us, but I also suggest tips for how to include chocolate, cake, and nachos into a balanced diet.  After all, could any of us survive for long without cake or curly fries?  I know I couldn’t.  Check out the article for ideas on how to make healthy, balanced, and REALISTIC food choices for you and your family.

Check out the Produce for Kids website for all sorts of tips on health eating – including easy, kid-friendly recipes!

I attended a potluck dinner a few weeks ago.  After looking around at the many and varied casseroles in attendance, a friend of mine said: “I don’t eat them very much, but it’s true: Casseroles = Happiness.”

I laughed and thought this was cute.  Then I thought about it more, and decided that perhaps a good casserole CAN really contribute to mental health.  How, you ask?

• While not good for the waistline, the cheesy, goopy goodness just feels good in the mouth and the belly. Yum.

• They can provide a complete, easy meal for a family or group with minimal muss or fuss.  They are the perfect food for a busy family, couple, or single person. Ease, organization, and tastiness surely contribute to mental health in a positive way.

• Kids like cream of mushroom soup.  While a little strange and unhealthy, this popular casserole ingredient insures that even the pickiest of picky eaters enjoy the meal.

•  Perhaps the way casseroles can make the most impact is when they are shared.  A new baby, an illness, a move, a job loss – all are occasions for casserole-giving.  Who knew such a small gesture could create such comfort and joy?

Looking for some good casserole recipes?  Check out some of my favorite food sites:

Produce for Kids

Six Sisters’ Stuff

Weekly Bite

I am on the advisory board for Produce for Kids.  It’s a cool organization that provides ideas, inspiration, and education for kids on eating healthily.  As part of my involvement with Produce for Kids, I wrote a recent article about how to get kids to eat a wider variety of foods.  Check it out:

Looking for something to make for dinner tonight? How about this?

Photo courtesy Produce for Kids

And why is it important for us to eat together as a family anyway?  Take a look at my latest post on Produce for Kids for the benefits of eating together, as well as tips on how to make dinnertime go more smoothly.

I’m excited to announce that I am now a Parents on Produce advisor at Produce for Kids!  Produce for Kids is a great organization ” dedicated to educating families on the benefits of healthy eating and supporting worthy causes for children.”  Among other things, Produce for Kids publishes yummy kid-friendly recipes like this “Ideal Meal” that you can find at your local grocery store or on their website:

Photo by Produce for Kids

As part of my job as a Parents on Produce advisor, I will be writing tips, articles and blogs for both Produce for Kids and PBS Parents (an awesome resource for parents of young kids!).  Check out my latest article on Building Confidence in Kids over at PBS Parents.  If you like what you see, sign up to receive more tips through PBS’s Eat Smart for a Great Start Challenge.

Photo by PBS Parents