Does mealtime feel like a battle? Many parents face the same challenge. Your child refuses anything green. They turn down new foods. They only eat the same three meals. Picky eating is frustrating, but it doesn't have to last forever. Most children go through picky eating phases, and you can help your child try new foods and build healthy habits. Why Are Kids Picky? A study in the journal Pediatrics followed children ages 4 to 9 to understand why picky eating happens. The researchers found that habits k...
The start of a new year is the perfect time to make changes involving health and wellness. For many people, that means making resolutions—but developing new habits can be a challenge. Have you set any resolutions for the new year? If so, keep reading for ways to help make those resolutions stick. Make Your Goal Personal Start with a resolution that is important to you. You may find it easier to stick with a new habit when you believe the goal is meaningful. For example, losing weight is a co...
During warmer times of the year, you might notice that you get thirsty more often. However, when you don’t have enough fluid in your body—also known as dehydration—you can feel many other symptoms besides thirst. Dehydration can lead to: headaches feeling weak or dizzy mental “fogginess” nausea constipation kidney stones urinary tract infections According to Harvard Medical School , water helps your body to: keep your blood pressure stable cool down on hot&nb...
When you’re expecting a baby, eating nutritious food is an important way to stay strong and healthy. If you need some help with your food budget, we have good news. There are many food-related resources available to pregnant women and families in North Texas. Keep reading to learn about just a few! Free Meal Service for Parkland Community Health Plan Members Are you pregnant and a member of STAR Medicaid or CHIP/CHIP Perinate? If yes, you can receive one free family-style meal each month. Each meal feed...
March is National Nutrition Month, which makes it a great time to think about healthy dishes for your family to enjoy! Check out these recipe ideas from Parkland’s executive chef, Adam Schloemer: Turkey Taco Stuffed Poblano Peppers Servings: 6 Serving Size: 2 halves Ingredients : 6 poblano peppers 1 lb. ground turkey 1 small onion, diced 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 packet taco seasoning ½ cup water ...
You probably already know the basics of a healthy diet. Those guidelines include eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and limiting added sugars and highly processed foods. During cold and flu season, you might take a few extra steps to boost your wellness. Adding foods rich in vitamin C (citrus, berries, bell peppers, tomatoes), vitamin D (fatty fish, eggs, milk), beta carotene (sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach) and zinc (beef, seafood, beans, nuts, tofu) can help to boost your immune system, befo...
A new year is beginning. It’s a great time to begin a new health habit—or begin again! When you make a New Year’s resolution, go easy on yourself. Set a goal that is small enough to stick to every day. Over time, small steps add up to big results. Here are three resolutions to consider, and some ways to make them easier to achieve. Drink more water Drinking more water is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to boost your health. How can you know if you drink enough water? According to the National Kidne...
Small changes can add up to big health benefits. Eating more “superfoods” is one of the easiest ways to get more nutrition into every meal—and snack. What is a superfood? The term is not scientific or regulated by the Food and Drug Administration or the Department of Agriculture . However, many people use the word to describe foods that, ounce per ounce, have more nutrients than others. These nutrients can include antioxidants, fiber, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and more. Ready to serve ...
Getting to know your baby includes learning what makes them laugh, and what makes them cry. For new parents, hearing their baby cry can be frustrating and even scary. For babies, crying is a survival skill that lets caregivers know they need help. Keep reading to learn the most common reasons babies cry—and how to soothe them. Why do babies cry? From the very first moments after birth, babies use their voices to communicate physical and emotional discomfort. The most obvious discomfort is hunger....
Are you expecting a baby? Congratulations! Every day, you should try to get the nutrients your body needs so you can be as healthy as possible during your pregnancy. Keep reading for tips on which food and supplements provide these important vitamins and minerals. Also, be sure to review the foods you should avoid during your pregnancy. These items could make you or your baby sick. Last but not least, ask your doctor if you should eat more, or less, of any of the items on this list. Vitamins and mineral...
Good nutrition is one of the keys to keeping your family healthy – and as your child continues to grow, their dietary needs will change. North Texas pediatrician Dr. Yohanna Andrade, MD explains what you need to know about calories, portion size, and more. How do portion size and calorie intake change with age? The number of calories a child needs will increase as they get older. For example, a toddler typically needs about 1,000 calories per day, while an older child needs between 1,200 a...
If you have diabetes, it’s important to manage your condition to lower the chance of complications. A combination of medicine, healthy eating, regular physical activity, and managing stress are all part of a healthy lifestyle that can help with diabetes control. One of the most important things you can do is keep track of your hemoglobin A1c. The A1c test is a blood test that’s usually done to diagnose diabetes or pre-diabetes. It measures the overall control of your blood glucose (blood sugar) over the...
Did you know that good oral health (the health of your mouth, including your teeth and gums) is an important way to keep the rest of your body healthy? For example, cavities (tooth decay) are usually easy for a dentist to treat. But if the decay is left untreated, it can get worse, leading to an infection in the gums (also known as gum disease). From there, the infection could spread to other parts of the body and cause more problems. Gum disease is caused by plaque, a type of bacteria that sticks to yo...
September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and it’s a good time to learn more about how you can help your child maintain a healthy weight. In the United States, 1 in 5 children and teens are affected by obesity, meaning they are above a healthy weight for their age and height. Excess weight gain can have many causes, including behavior, genetics, and taking certain medicines. Compared to children with healthy weight, children with overweight or obesity are more likely to develop asthma, sleep apnea...
Late summer is the perfect time to enjoy meals outdoors. However, on hot days, it’s more important than ever to follow food safety rules. Otherwise, bacteria inside and on the surface of food items can grow to dangerous levels. This can cause food poisoning and other serious illnesses in adults and children. Be sure to protect food—and everything that touches it—when you are preparing or serving meals or wrapping up leftovers. Just remember the four rules of food safety: Clean Separate Cook Chill Clean ...
It’s almost time for fall – and the start of a new school year. If you or child have diabetes, this can be a good time to get up to date with your recommended diabetes care. Visit your doctor for a checkup that includes the following: Adult Child Hemoglobin A1c lab test Usually every 3-6 months Usually every 3-6 months Referral for a diabetic eye exam Usually every one to two years, as recommended by your doctor Often starting at age 11, or as recommended by your doctor Complete foot exam to check for n...
Need some extra help paying for groceries? You’re not alone. Compared to a year ago, prices are up for cereal, meat, milk, produce, and more. The good news is Parkland Community Health Plan offers support through the Findhelp platform. It’s convenient and easy to use. You don’t need to log in or sign up before using the site. Simply visit the Findhelp website and enter your zip code. You’ll see a list of organizations near you that offer help with food—both emergency and ongoing assistance. These North ...
Children seem to grow from babies to toddlers to school-age overnight. Growing bodies need good nutrition to stay strong and healthy. If children don’t get the proper nutrients in their food, they can have problems with attention, sleep—and many other health issues. These problems can last until they are teens and adults. What is a balanced diet for children? Every day, children need three meals and up to three nutritious snacks. Meals should follow the guidelines from MyPlate.gov . Do you and your chil...
If your child or teenager is overweight, they could be at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. When a person has type 2 diabetes, their body does not use insulin well. That means they cannot keep their blood sugar at normal levels. Over time, too much blood sugar stays in the body. This can cause serious problems such as: heart disease blindness kidney disease Type 2 diabetes used to be called “adult-onset diabetes.” However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , type 2 diabetes ...
In March, we celebrate both National Nutrition Month ® and St. Patrick’s Day. That makes it the perfect month to focus on green foods. Call them veggies. Call them “salad fixins.” Whatever you call them, leafy greens and vegetables help people of all ages to grow and stay strong and healthy. What are the health benefits of green foods? Vegetables and leafy greens taste great. They are low-cost, especially in the spring and summer. Best of all, these foods have several health benefits: Low in calories, w...
American Heart Month is almost over. However, there’s still time to learn about heart health for yourself and your family. Have you followed our special three-part series this month? Be sure to check out the first and second blogs: “What Is Heart Disease ” and “What Are Risk Factors of Heart Disease?” Today’s blog is the final in our series. If you want to help your children avoid heart disease when they grow up, keep reading. Here, we give you tips on how to start them on the right track while t...
February—American Heart Month—is an excellent time to learn about heart health for yourself and your family. That’s why we are publishing a three-part heart health blog series this month. Be sure to read the first blog, “What Is Heart Disease?” It explains common diseases and disorders of the heart, arteries, and veins, from heart attack to stroke and more. Our final blog in the series will focus on heart health tips for families. This blog, the second in the series, explains some of the risk factors fo...
There are many ways to improve your eating habits. Even small changes can make a big difference. If you want to focus on changing just one behavior, try this: Eat less added sugar. What are added sugars? A few examples include: honey brown sugar sucrose cane juice high-fructose corn syrup fructose fruit nectars malt syrup molasses raw sugar sucrose Sugar is hard on your body. It adds calories but has almost no nutrition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), eating a lot of ...
Summer’s almost here. It’s the perfect time to make some small changes in your daily routine to build better health habits. Small changes in diet and exercise are easy to start. They’re also easier to stick with than major, “all or nothing” goals. Over time, step by step, small changes can add up to big gains for your health. Here are a few to consider. Try something new Do you find yourself eating the same foods and drinks for breakfast, lunch, or dinner every day? A “new food challenge” can help you t...
You may be receiving Medicaid benefits through the State of Texas. But did you know that you can also get help buying healthy food when you need it? “Food insecurity” describes what happens when someone is not able to get enough affordable, nutritious food. Families may worry that they will run out of food or won’t be able to afford a balanced meal. They may skip meals or eat less than they feel they should. SNAP Benefits For many, it can be hard to pay for rent, utilities, transportation, and childcare...
Spring and summer bring picnics and eating outdoors. It also means you can find great deals on your favorite fruits and vegetables. However, hot days and nights can cause food to spoil more quickly. That can lead to throwing out food before you get to enjoy it. Eating spoiled food can also lead to food poisoning. How can you protect your food—and your family—during the warmer months? Take a look at the tips below for some easy ways to make food last longer. Check your refrigerator settings Your refriger...
As the weather gets warmer, you might notice that you get thirsty more often. However, when you don’t have enough fluid in your body—also known as dehydration—you can feel many other symptoms besides thirst. Dehydration can lead to: headaches feeling weak or dizzy mental “fogginess” nausea constipation kidney stones urinary tract infections According to Harvard Medical School , water helps your body to: keep your blood pressure stable cool down on hot days carry oxygen to your cells flush bacteria from ...
Do you want your family to be healthier in 2021? The good news is that every little bit helps. And building better health habits is easier than ever when you use health apps on your phone or computer. Whether it’s being more physically active, eating healthier foods or getting better rest, there is a free app to help. Here are five to consider: Sworkit Kids - Fitness Meets Fun Have children age four years or older? The Sworkit Kids app helps them—with your help—to make exercise a fun game. Workouts are ...
What does Living Well mean? It’s more than just a healthy diet and exercise. It includes all aspects of life. Our goal with the Living Well blog is to share information and resources to the community that will help you live your best life. We’ll be covering topics such as... Nutrition Fueling your body with nutritious foods is the first step in leading a healthy life. Eating on a budget doesn't have to leave you confined to mostly processed food, nor does it have to be a chore. We’re here to help you bu...