Nutrition talk is abuzz in our house. My policy has always been to let the kids take the lead in this endeavor. I've shied away from making every conversation in the kitchen about food and nutrition--for obvious reasons. But lately, the girls have had...

I confess. I am a reformed “food plater.” In my early years as a mom, I made healthy meals-- selecting, cutting, portioning, plating, pouring and serving all meals to my children.  No negative practices like forcing, punishing or bribing my brood to...

Don't you love it when a child or teen says please, or thank you? Especially without prompting?! This week many will be giving thanks for their blessings.  When I think of giving thanks I envision a happy family gathering together and dining around a...

Is your child full, satisfied, or both? That’s the million-dollar question for parents who are trying to make sure they are giving enough, and not too much, food to their children. We’ve talked about hunger before, and it’s powerful pull on...

Welcome to the last installment of our Parent Feeding Practices series, where we look at the tactics parents use to get their kids to eat and how they effect your child’s eating. We've covered prompting/pressuring and restricting, and are now winding...

Frequently I read articles of interest and make a mental note; occasionally I respond with an opinion. Recently I came across this article about the parent’s role in children with eating disorders, posted by a colleague from the Eating Disorders...

In a world concerned with childhood obesity, you may be wondering exactly how you're supposed to prevent or control your child's weight or weight gain. Well, if you are thinking about putting your child on a diet, limiting second helpings, purchasing...

This is the third installment in our Your Child's Development series. We've covered infancy and toddlerhood, and now we're taking on the grade-schooler (5 years- 12 years). This child development series takes a look at typical development and how it...

In today’s world, parents feel the pressure to raise thin, healthy kids and avoid the other extreme: childhood obesity.  Children also feel this push to “fit in” or to look a certain way, particularly as they get older. The “Thin is In” ideal...

We all want our kids to eat, and we want them to eat well. I haven't met a parent yet who isn't looking to improve their kid's eating habits, tweak the variety of foods they eat or looks to the past when little Johnny "ate everything." But in today's...