Michelle Obama Touts Vegetables, 30 Kid-Pleaser Veggie Recipes

Veggies are enjoying vogue thanks to First Lady Michelle Obama's vegetable dance, reports ABC News. Critics may fault-find, but children seem to like it. Mrs. Obama's "Let's Move'" campaign may be for kids, but who couldn't benefit from eating better, exercising more? In that spirit, here are 30 recipes to boost vegetables. These include food swaps, like those in Mens' Health "Eat This, Not That."  Michelle Obama Touts Vegetables, 30 Kid-Pleasing Veggie Recipes

Sleep Apnea, Lack of Rest Cause Weight Gain

Kids with special needs are often more prone to obesity. Disabilities and related medications cause health problems. They affect exercise, nutrition and sleep. I've suffered from sleep apnea all my life; I snore heavily, stop breathing and spend most of my sleep time in stage one sleep.

Proper sleep and weight loss go hand in hand. As a teen, young adult and even into my late 30s, weight was not a problem. I was able to eat whatever I wanted. Since losing two stillborn babies and taking antidepressants, I gained 110 pounds (see photo right, 2010. Here's how sleep disorders caused that and getting on a CPAP helped me sleep better and lose weight (photo left, 2013). Healthy Diet Tips: Sleep Apnea and Lack of Sleep Affect Weight Gain

Feed Special Needs Kids Right and Health Will Improve

Special needs kids present a variety of emotional, physical, mental and health concerns. ADD, ADHD, autism, asperger, developmental delays are some of the common special education classifications. We can't control or change all variables in children's health issues. But one area we can impact is nutrition. Here's a series of healthy snacks to make with kids to improve health. Fall is a great time to integrate these units. I've included cross-curricular connections. Weekly Kids Snack Menu Healthy School Lunches S is for Squash

Weekly Menu, Healthy Apple Themed Kids Treats for September

When I first started teaching special education there was a POHI category--physically and otherwise health impaired. And in teaching I've seen a lot of special needs kids with other health issues. Obesity is now recognized as a health issue. I see nutrition and exercise as the keys to improving these. So I started writing a series on healthy themed kids' foods and school snacks. I've amended that to a +Week-of-school-snacks and 5-day-school-lunch-menu using those tags. Preschool lessons tend to follow weekly themes. Last month's theme was Back to School. For this week in September, it's apple themed treats with a nod to Halloween. Read more Weekly Menu, Healthy Apple Themed Kids Treats for September

Benefits of Yoga for Kids and Adults

I started yoga 13 years ago, dropped out for 12 years and finally started going back last year. But I haven't been very faithful, honestly. I don't know why I always find a thousand excuses not to go. Mostly, it's just laziness. And yoga isn't just for adults. Kids can benefit, especially special needs kids who may not be able to participate in other games or sports. Yoga is great emotionally too. Here are a bunch of reasons why I'm going back to yoga and why you should consider for kids or students. I am Going Back to Yoga

Teaching Kids to Live Al-Anon Slogans: Practice Self-Care

Anxiety and I go back a long way. Fear has been a constant companion, if not a friend. Panic attacks have ruled me and fight-or-flight characterized my behavior. Thanks to 12-step recovery groups like Al-Anon, I use past tense. I am learning to take care of myself so negative feelings don't control me. Kids need to be taught young how to do this, so they don't end like me (and so many others) having to relearn self-care as adults.
Here's how.

Cast out false fear. My old modus operandi was others-driven. I lived in constant fear of upsetting, angering, disappointing and failing. Fear consumed, overwhelmed and exhausted me. I got physically ill. Fear will always be my most challenging nemesis. Combating it means stepping way outside my comfort zone. But if I don't, the zone only gets smaller. Self-care means bearding my lions.  Living Al-Anon Slogans: Take Care of Yourself, Do What's Best for You

How Fat People Are Bullied, Shamed

 "Fat" is one of the most common words in the English language. It's used mostly-negatively to describe, ridicule, shame, preach and value-judge. Being overweight myself, it seems fat people get more than their share of bullying. At least, I got treated better when I was thinner and now that I am losing weight. Kids are taught not to bully, but that doesn't always apply to overweight kids. They're still teased just as much and sometimes with adult sanctioning. There is a difference between harassing for weight problems and encouraging kids to diet if they're overweight. The first is counter-productive. The second can be helpful if it comes from someone who can and will help. If it's just one person pontificating about how a fat person "should" lose weight, it's also counter-productive. How Fat People Are Bullied, Shamed

Healthy, Sustainable Mediterranean Lenten Diet for Special Needs Kids

Obesity and weight problems plague many special needs kids. Disabled kids can't always get exercise. Mentally impaired kids tend toward sedentary activities. Kids with allergies or dietary conditions struggle to get adequate nutrition. That's why I recommend families with special needs children follow a Mediterranean diet. It's healthy, easy to follow and helps with weight loss. Eating a low-sugar, mostly meatless diet rich in vegetables helps with ADHD, ADD and learning problems. I think it could even help kids with autism--even if it doesn't, eating right certainly can't hurt. As a Catholic, I give up eating meat for Lent and follow the Mediterranean Diet for the rest of the year. I'm not a vegan because I eat fish, but I do nix most dairy (except yogurt) and eggs. I call it the Lenten diet and like the Mediterranean Diet, it centers on eating fresh produce in season, alternative protein sources, fish and sustainable, locally-produced foods.  How We Eat Local, Healthy, Sustainable with Mediterranean Lenten Diet

Free Printable Food Journals, Online Fitness Trackers

Obesity and sedentary lifestyles are two big problems special needs students face. Some disablities and handicaps spur weight gain and make exercise difficult. Obesity is a growing concern in the general education population, too. Health concerns long thought to in the adult domain only--diabetes, nutrition, obesity, fitness and general wellness--are cropping up with alarming frequency among juveniles. To combat this, several groups have developed health programs written at kid level. They offer free printable food journals, online fitness trackers and nutrition planning tools. Geared for elementary to high school age kids, these programs teach self-sufficiency and basic life skills related to health. Use these for special needs and general ed. classrooms. read more

Feeding the obese child: Food switches to improve nutrition

 In 25 years of teaching, I've noticed more kids tending toward obesity. Special needs kids are sometimes more prone to nutrition and health problems. Mentally handicapped kids tend to be overweight. They may have more sedentary lifestyles. Weight problems are one symptom of Down Syndrome. Disabled kids have difficulty getting proper exercise. What can we as parents do about it? Growing kids have to eat, right? Yes, but we can control what they eat. Obese kids are typically malnourished, not from eating too little but from eating the wrong things. Here are healthier food switches for kids' favorites. Feeding overweight kids--Food switches to improve nutrition

Always-texting parents disconnect from kids

"Where are you going, my little one? Turn around and you're two, turn around and you're four. Turn around and you're a young maid going out of the door." Harry Belafonte poignantly reminds us how quickly kids grow. I can't believe I'm the mom of three adults and a teen when only yesterday that they were babes in arm. I didn't always have my priorities straight and there's lots I'd do differently parenting. One mistake I'm glad I avoided was spending lots of time on the phone. I'm concerned that always-texting parents (or those that always play on the computer) are missing much of their kid's childhood. Excess texting is particularly dangerous, physically and emotionally, with parents of special needs kids. Here's how.  Always-texting parents disconnect from kids

Teaching kids healthy communication, interpersonal skills by modeling

Have you ever observed a parent shouting at a child to settle down? It would be funny if it wasn't so sad. The only thing this child is learning is that mommy yells, so yelling must be the right way to communicate. Hypocritical behavior like this not only jeopardizes the parent's relationship with the child, but the child's ability to form healthy relationships. These habits doom other relationships, too. This is just one troublesome parenting communication fail. Here are some others, along with healthier ways to help kids learn to get along. Teaching kids healthy communication, interpersonal skills by modeling

Autism Insurance Reform Passes Michigan Legislature

 A package of three bills aimed at reforming Michigan health care insurance for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has passed the Michigan House of Representatives and is expected to move on to Gov. Rick Snyder for approval, says the Associated Press. A previous version of the bill failed in 2010, but autism coverage has stronger state support now. Here are details. Autism Insurance Reform Passes Michigan Legislature 

What Parents Should Know About Flu Vaccines for Children

What Parents Should Know About Flu Vaccines for Children The flu affects 90 million children younger than 5 annually. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone get flu vaccines. One thing to note is that vaccines are not mandatory. Schools and health organizations can advise parents to have children vaccinated, but they cannot force it. If you wish to avoid vaccines, here are free printable waiver forms. You'll need to provide these for your child's daycare and school. Here is some information about children and flu shots, also. Read on...

Gene Research Provides Diabetes Treatment Options

Researchers have discovered a new Type 1 diabetes gene. Australian scientists also found an LD1 master gene for Type 2 diabetes. New connections have been made between asthma and diabetes. Both conditions are also linked to weight problems, poor nutrition and sedentary lifestyles. Asthma and diabetes are the most common chronic childhood illnesses. Diabetes is commonly attributed to sedentary lifestyle. Diabetes is on the rise, as are asthma and obesity. Many special needs children, especially POHI (Physical or Otherwise Health Impaired) struggle with obesity, diabetes and asthma. Gene Research Provides Diabetes Treatment Options 

Free Fire Safety, Environment, Emergency Preparedness Lesson Plans

One thing special needs children struggle with is decision-making. Lessons on safety and emergency preparedness are vital in special education curriculum. Here are free lesson plans to teach students about wildfires, fire prevention and environmental science from Sparky, Smokey and more. These are just in time for Fire Prevention Week, October 7-13, 2012. Lesson Plans About Wildfires, Fire Prevention and Environmental Science 

Sleep Problems, Night Terrors in Children? Nix Television Before Bed

Sleep Problems, Night Terrors in Children? Nix TV Before Bed Sleeping problems are one of the most parenting woes. Developmental issues make bedtime difficult for many children. Pediatrics released a study recently linking sleep problems and night frights in children to violent TV shows and bedtime TV viewing. sleep problems and TV

Resources for Parents and Teachers about Facebook Depression

When Pediatrics identifies a health issue it's noteworthy. March's "The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents and Families" explores emotional health concerns with texting, sexting and Twitter. "Facebook Depression" is the colloquial term. Read on

Sleepy Student Syndrome Causes Problems in School

Causes of Tiredness and Exhaustion in School Aged Children I've been a teacher in various educational settings for over 25 years. There's an increasing and alarming trend among school age children: tired, sleepy, lethargic children who can't pay attention  class. Why is 'Sleep student syndrome' so prevalent? (NB- Ironically, on the day this published, I noticed a little guy about 5 years old fall asleep in a restaurant, about 6:30 at night.) Read More

Free Printable Fire Safety Lesson Plans

Fire Prevention Week runs the first full week in October. Here are free printable fire prevention activities: lessons, games, puzzles, activities, crafts, charts, safety check-lists and many other fire prevention resources in Spanish and English. Free Printable Fire Prevention Week Activities