The Cardiologist's Wife

Pimento Cheese, Not Your Grandma's Spread

Pimento cheese is one of those foods that has been so corrupted by the food industry that it has become synonymous with other crappy foods like Spam. I'm not even certain what store bought pimento cheese might contain, nor do I want to find out. It's a shame because pimento cheese can be a delightful treat, even if it does Read the full post…

Plum Good BBQ Sandwiches

In a few days it will officially be fall but the temperatures are still warm enough for me to continue swimming for a few more days. The breeze was a little cool but that didn't stop me from swimming several laps this morning and I felt great afterwards! Have you exercised lately? With fall's cooler temperatures and fewer insects, you Read the full post…

Shingles Vacine and Treatment

A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with shingles so I felt I should discuss this nasty virus once again. If you ever had chicken pox, you are at risk for getting shingles and believe me, you don't want it. Shingles is a painful rash with blisters that scab over and may take 4 weeks or more to heal. The Read the full post…

Vegetarian Tacos are muy delicioso!

There are times when I think I could easily become a vegetarian, especially when I try a new dish that is as good as the vegetarian tacos I had at Local Lime restaurant in Little Rock and the tofu fried rice at Sai Tai here in Jonesboro. My husband and I celebrated our 23rd anniversary this past weekend by spending Read the full post…

Midyear Health Check

Summer is winding down , the year is more than half way over and our January resolutions are long forgotten. It's time for a health reality check. First of all, how is your health lately? If you have enjoyed good health, are you thankful? Take some time to appreciate how wonderful it feels to be healthy, for your family to Read the full post…

Vacation Lessons For A Healthier Life

I'm back from a lovely beach vacation and I wish I was still there with all my heart. Wouldn't it be nice if our every day life was as nice as a vacation? If we could relax, eat well, sleep and exercise just enough without having to worry about bills, work, illnesses and school, our lives would be perfect. But Read the full post…

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Don’t Let Your Eyes Be Bigger Than Your Child’s Stomach

[ Post by Lisa Tedder ][ Post on May 15, 2012 ][ In For new Mom's ]

One problem many parents have is worrying that their child isn’t eating enough. These parents then make the mistake of forcing food on the child or offering all kinds of food in an attempt to get him to eat.

Relax. I don’t think are any cases on record of a child starving himself. First time parents often overestimate the amount of food the child should eat. Keep in mind that a toddler’s stomach is roughly the same size as their fist; pretty small isn’t it? The following chart should help in determining how much your child needs but remember, each child is different and may need more or less food. They may also eat more during a growth spurt, then slow down again. A sick child may not feel like eating. Don’t stress if your child doesn’t get every serving on the chart each day.

A one year old child needs:

6 servings of whole grains (1 serving = 1/4 slice of bread, 1/4 cup of cereal, 1/4 muffin or 2 crackers)

5 servings of fruits and vegetables (1 serving = 1/4 cup chopped fruit or vegetable, raw or cooked)

3 servings of milk, yogurt or cheese (1 serving = 1/2 cup milk or yogurt, 1/2 oz. of cheese)

2 servings of protein (1 serving = 1 egg, 1 Tbsp. chopped fish, meat or chicken)

Toddlers are easily distracted and may be more interested in playing at meal time than eating. Try to keep a balance between establishing regular meal times but not allowing the child to simply play with his food and make a mess. Simply excuse the child from the table but do not offer treats later. Instead, give a nutritious snack and then offer regular food again at the next meal.

Toddlers are also interesting in being in control, especially as they grow older. If they refuse to eat the food offered, simply excuse them from the table but do not offer alternatives. The child will never learn to eat what is prepared if they learn they can manipulate the parents into giving them the same few foods over and over like macaroni and cheese. However, do try to have a few familiar foods on the plate. You can’t expect a child to eat everything if you decide to try cooking Chinese one night.

Keep meal times free from stress so everyone wants to sit down and enjoy the meal together. Don’t worry about a toddler’s manners too much; that will come later. A toddler’s job is to learn to eat different foods and to feed himself. Right from the start, make eating foods an adventure to enjoy, not a battle ground.