Grains and starches

Exploring the Food Groups

Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta Group

Getting Teenagers to Eat Right

They Are What They Eat...

You'd be hard-pressed to find a child who doesn't love sugary foods, and chances are the processed or packaged food your child eats has some amount of added sugar.

But a sweet tooth isn't as harmless as it might seem. Our country's addiction to sugar is adding up to serious health consequences for families, and experts are saying it should be reined in. 

Tips and strategies for toddlers

Encouraging Good Eating Habits in Toddlers

Teach your child to feed himself by letting him feed himself. It gets messy, but be patient. Eventually the mess will probably bother your child more than you! Yay!

Get a head start with breakfast

Skinny Sandwich Secrets

When people decide to cut back on fat and calories, they often assume that sandwiches are out. And while it's true that sandwiches piled high with ingredients like fatty cold cuts, quarter-pound greasy burgers, bacon, full-fat cheeses, mayonnaise, and special sauces can be a nutritional nightmare, just about any sandwich can be slimmed down enough to be part of a healthy diet. A few simple ingredient substitutions can make a big fat — and calorie — difference in your favorite sandwiches.

Following a ketogenic (AKA keto) diet has become increasingly popular over the years. Following the low-carb, high-fat style of eating has proven to be beneficial with adults in quick weight loss results, and studies have shown it to be beneficial for a wide variety of health conditions. With these touted great results, many parents may want to consider their kids following suit. The question remains: is the keto diet safe for kids?

Picky Eaters: Born or Made?

To Eat or Not to Eat? That Is the Question
Once upon a time there lived a storybook badger named Frances, who would only eat bread and jam. Bread and jam for breakfast, bread and jam for lunch, bread and jam for supper. Her mother triedto interest her in eggs, sunny-side up, or a delicious plate of spaghetti and meatballs, all to no avail.Finally, Frances' mom gave up and gave in, serving only bread and jam to her fussy child until one day even Frances was forced to admit that there can indeed be too much of a good thing.

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Changes and Challenges in Breastfeeding Your Baby

They want to eat: Peanut butter and fluff. Cupcakes with squiggles. Zero veggies.

You want them to eat: Turkey on whole wheat. An apple. Pretzels.

After dealing with back-to-school battles over homework and bedtime, many moms would rather surrender than fight over what kids eat (or throw away) in the school cafeteria. The good news: It's easier than ever to think outside the lunch box when it comes to food. It doesn't have to be a choice between what's good for your kids and what's fun to eat.

Recipe makeovers

Healthy Cooking

Being pregnant makes everything harder, even relaxing days at the beach. But with a bit of preparation, a beach day can be just what the doctor ordered. 

More: Top Toys for Traveling Toddlers

Comfortable Seating

When Teens Obsess About Their Weight

Could Your Teen Have an Eating Disorder?

With the fashion and entertainment industries' super-thin stars serving as role models, it's no wonder that many young girls don't like what they see in the mirror. The American Academy of Pediatrics, reporting on a survey of 5th- through 12th-grade girls, found that the majority were dissatisfied with their body shape. Two-thirds wanted to lose weight, even though less than a third were actually overweight!

For some women, the ideal pregnancy is belly-only. A belly-only pregnancy means gaining weight only in the belly while keeping your limbs and behind toned and fit. While a belly-only pregnancy may be possible for some women, what’s really important is that pregnant women strive for a healthy pregnancy.

Is a Belly-Only Pregnancy Possible?

Yes, a belly-only pregnancy is possible, and for someone already in great physical shape, a great goal, but don’t stress if you gain some extra pounds. Pregnancy weight gain is normal, expected, and healthy.

You've made a fabulous dinner complete with creative, kid-friendly finger foods, and then it happens; the stare down. A tiny voice declares, "Mom, I am not eating that!" as her nose wrinkles. Picky eaters are tough to please, so now it's time to get a little extra creative in the kitchen.

Fending Off Preschooler Food Fits

Now that he can better communicate his eating preferences, your child may hassle you more than ever about eating. Children who regularly refuse food at mealtimes or demand diversions such as television and toys in order to eat are prone to what I have come to call food fits: They use food to gain attention and to manipulate their parents and caregivers. When adults chronically cave in to crying, screaming children, they perpetuate this behavior. Children crave attention of any type.