How to Avoid a Food Fight! By: Jodie Shield, RD Have you checked out the school cafeteria? They’re here – new and improved school lunches. This year the first phase of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act kicks in for public elementary, middle, and high schools. The law requires the USDA to update ... more
By: Jodie Shield, RD Here’s the scenario: This school year you want to buy whole-grain breads for your kids’ sandwiches so you’re perusing the grocery aisle. You glance at the packages and pick which of the following as the most nutritious option: (a) naturally stone-ground wheat bread, (b) light-style seven-grain bread, ... more
By: Jodie Shield, RD Water is one of the body’s most essential nutrients. People may survive six weeks without any food, but they couldn’t live more than a week or so without water. That’s because water is the cornerstone for all body functions. It’s the most abundant substance in the ... more
By: Jodie Shield, RD A birthday party just wouldn’t be the same without a cake. A cake signals that it’s time to sing “Happy Birthday,” make a wish, blow out the candles, and open the presents. But while most birthday cakes are laden with sugar and fat, they don’t ... more
By: Jodie Shield, RD All foods, even cake, ice cream, and candy, have their place in a healthy diet. That’s the position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (www.eatright.org). Kids can eat anything they want in moderation, but they need to compensate for the extra calories elsewhere in there day. One ... more
By: Jodie Shield, RD What makes kids happy at birthday parties? For some it’s the chocolate cake smothered in vanilla ice cream. For others it’s the goodie bags bulging with candy. While these tasty treats are fine to eat every once in awhile, kids can get overloaded with sweets ... more
By: Jodie Shield, RD Beans belong to the family of plants known as legumes, of which there are about two thousand varieties all over the world. Beans are a key ingredient in many ethnic foods. Hummus (pureed garbanzo beans mixed with seasonings) is a popular dish in the Middle ... more
By: Jodie Shield, RD While beans may not be magical enough to grow a fairy-tale beanstalk, they do work their own kind of magic on our health. Several studies suggest that eating beans may prevent heart disease, reduce one’s risk of developing colon cancer, and help to control diabetes. Although ... more
by Jodie Shield and Mary Mullen, RD MS In 2009 sales of carbonated beverages totaled $18.7 billion—that is about $5 billion more than total milk sales! One reason why soft drinks are so popular is the price. Kids learn quickly that they can get more “bang for their buck” by buying a super-size ... more
By: Jodie Shield, MED, RDN Whether your child is in preschool or high school, one thing is for certain — it is time for you to seize the remote and take control. Reducing the amount of time your child or teen spends with media will have a positive impact on his ... more