Curious about the safety of energy drinks for kids? As a dietitian mom, I help you uncover the potential risks of excessive caffeine, dehydration, and displacing nutritious foods. In today’s fast-paced world, energy drinks have gained popularity among individuals of all ages. However, concerns have been raised regarding the safety of these highly caffeinated beverages…
Why Weight Loss Diets for Kids Are Never a Good Idea
If you’re worried about your child’s weight or changing body shape as it relates to their eating habits and/or activity level, you’re not alone. Parents, more than ever, are concerned and seeking guidance. My concern as a pediatric dietitian though, is that parents are turning to restrictive weight loss diets to control their child’s weight….
A Dietitian’s Guide to Vitamins (and Other Nutrition Supplements) for Canadian Families
Do you need a multivitamin or other nutritional supplements? Here’s everything you need to know about nutrition supplements for your family, including kids, such as multivitamins, vitamin D and omega-3. This post was written in paid partnership with Webber Naturals. As always, all opinions are my own. Some of the most common questions I get…
Are There Immune Boosting Foods for Kids?
What can parents do to keep their kids’ immune systems healthy? There are no magic immune boosting foods. Instead, focus on these 5 easy eating strategies. Feeding kids is a tough gig. I know this not only because I’m a pediatric dietitian and nutritionist but also because I’m a mom of three. One of the…
My child is sneaking and hiding food. What should I do?
What to do when you catch your child sneaking or hiding food (and why this is happening in the first place).
Can a Baby or Toddler Overeat?
Babies or toddlers can overeat, but it is preventable! As parents, it is our job to nurture our children’s natural instinct to eat intuitively. Here are helpful tips to ensure that you’re not over-feeding your baby or toddler and instead raising a mindful eater for life. Want to read this post in a visual way?…
5 Common Kids Nutrition Myths Parents Need to Ignore (and what to do instead!)
Change how you feed your kids with these dietitian debunked myths! Here are five common kids nutrition myths that parents need to ignore, and what to do instead! Feeding kids is legit a full-time job. We meal plan, purchase groceries, prepare snacks and meals, wipe messy toddler hands and faces, clean the kitchen, and then…
15 Kid-Friendly Bars and Bites to Make For Spring Break
Easy, healthy bites and bars recipes that are perfect for spring break (or ‘just because’) snacking! These snack recipes are perfect for inviting your kids to explore new foods while having fun in the kitchen when you’re at home for spring break! Note: any recipe that calls for nut butter, feel free to substitute with…
5 Reasons Why This Dietitian Might Finally Start Using Canada’s Food Guide
After 13 years of practice as a Registered Dietitian, I might finally start using Canada’s Food Guide as a trusted tool and resource. Since I became a Dietitian in 2006, I’ve resisted ever using Canada’s Food Guide as a resource or tool in my practice because I disagreed with so many of it’s messages and…
10 Foods That Aren’t As Healthy As They Seem
Here are ten foods us dietitians consider not as nutritious as they are marketed to be. I’m talking packaged stuff that’s often billed as wholesome and nutritious—but may be more hype than healthy. This post was written by my friend and colleague Sally Kuzemchak, MS, RD of Real Mom Nutrition. I’m thrilled to help spread…
Top 10 Realistic and Healthy Habits for Your Whole Family to Adopt in 2018
Setting healthy intentions (or resolutions) for the New Year always seems like a great idea at the beginning of the year, but can be REALLY challenging to see through, especially for those of us who have created less-than-healthy habits over the years. Habits are actions that we take without even thinking about it—things like grabbing…
Kid-Approved Tropical Green Smoothie (& Smoothie Bowl) Recipe
This meal-worthy smoothie is easy, nutrient-packed and delicious. Smoothies are a great meal choice for kids, because they’re so easy to make and they’re packed with nutrition. Bonus: your kids can help make them! Our blender gets a lot of love in our house – smoothies happen almost every day in the Spring and Summer…
My Top 3 Tips For Keeping Your Kids Hydrated This Summer
As a pediatric dietitian, I talk a lot about kids’ nutrition, feeding dynamics and family meals on my blog, but don’t often focus on proper hydration for kids, which is just as important (or more!). Here’s why keeping your kids hydrated during the summer should be a top priority. I was rudely reminded of this…
3 Ways Parents Unintentionally Limit Their Kids’ Food Preferences
We moms have the most powerful influence on kids eating behaviours. As a pediatric dietitian, here’s how you can make that influence a positive one! I had no idea how easy it was for parents to limit their kids’ food preferences, until recently. Last night, my three-year-old daughter watched every move I made at dinner (and…
Picky Eater? Why a Simple Role Reversal Will Change EVERYTHING
Many parents feel as though mealtimes are out of their control — they harp and fight with their kids to eat certain foods, yet ultimately, their kids are in charge. In my nutrition counseling practice, I often meet with worried and frustrated parents of “picky eaters” who describe scenarios of their kids orchestrating meals, while…