From the category archives:

Health & Wellness

10 Basic Principles for Greener and Healthier Family Meals

February 4, 2012

We’ve been discussing healthy food and lifestyle choices this year and now it’s time to put some of this knowledge into action. If you need (or want) to make your meals greener and healthier for the long haul, here are some easy ways your entire family can make it happen. 1. Know your strengths and weaknesses Sit [...]

Read the full post →

New & Somewhat Healthier USDA School Lunch Guidelines

January 25, 2012

Supposedly, school lunches are going to be getting a healthy makeover. At least, that’s the rumor circulating around first lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Also rumored is that the first lady is running into some problems because last year congress blocked the Agriculture Department from making healthy changes such as limiting french [...]

Read the full post →

Healthy Kid Meal Fail – Excess Toppings and Sauces

January 22, 2012

If you’re trying to cook healthier and serve your kids the correct food portions, something to watch out for are toppings, sauces and other add-ons. Excessive toppings and sauces can turn an average healthy meal into a nightmare meal. In many cases, parents allow their kids to dish up their own sauces and toppings, without [...]

Read the full post →

Encourage healthy lifestyle habits with the bare minimum

January 21, 2012

As a parent, your child’s health is your responsibility. As such, it’s your job to encourage healthy eating and lifestyle habits. Of course, you can do a lot of good in this area, but at the very least try to make sure you do the following… Know your child’s weight If you can’t tell me [...]

Read the full post →

Confessions of a chubster – a fresh first-hand take on weight issues in America

January 17, 2012

In case you missed it, my big goal series this year is “A healthy 2012 means childhood obesity in America shouldn’t be taboo.” I’m serious about this issue. Weight, exercise, calories and getting healthy as it relates to kids shouldn’t be taboo. At all. Still, seeing as how all of these same issues are, as [...]

Read the full post →

Fail tactics when trying to raise healthy kids

January 10, 2012

When it comes to planning healthy meals, exercise and an overall healthy life for your child, there are many pitfalls you may fall into. I’m pretty sure all parents are guilty of one pitfall or another (even me) but it’s best to try and limit said pitfalls if you want to raise a healthy kid. [...]

Read the full post →

How weight problems affect teens differently than younger kids

January 8, 2012

+ See the rest of the childhood obesity and healthy family lifestyles series. 18% of teens (kids ages 12-18) in the United States are obese. Many more (another 15%+) are overweight or on their way to becoming overweight. U.S. teens are more likely to be overweight than teens in 14 other industrialized countries. Signs your child is [...]

Read the full post →

Child portions are excessive in the United States

December 22, 2011

This year, instead of green goals, I’m looking at the more pressing child obesity epidemic. Before we look into how to raise an active, healthy eater for life, we really need to discuss portion sizes. Your child may eat really well – whole grains, fish and veggies but if portion sizes are too large, it [...]

Read the full post →

How body weight and calories work

December 21, 2011

This year, instead of green goals, I’m looking at the pressing child obesity epidemic and healthy lifestyle choices for families. Soon, I’ll have some tips about how to raise an active, healthy eater for life. That said, before we go there, let’s look at a quick primer about how body weight and calories works. This [...]

Read the full post →

My son disqualifies me from mentioning childhood obesity

December 16, 2011

As you may have noticed, I’m writing a series on the childhood obesity epidemic and family health related to food choices and exercise. After I posted, signs your child may be overweight, I got an email from an individual who apparently noticed a picture of my son on the Growing a Green Family Facebook page, [...]