Organic Eco-Lunches

By Anni Daulter
Anni DaulterThe mornings in my house are hectic to say the least. I have 4 kids and 3 of which need lunches made, which means I have to be organized, prepared and quick. It also doesn’t help that all of my children like different types of foods in their lunches, but preparing good healthy tasty meals for my kids while they are away at school is very important to me. I know my children, and yours too, expend a lot of energy throughout the day and therefore need to have lunches that are filled with rejuvenating foods that give them the energy they need to play and learn throughout the day.

Take time to prep anything you can the night before. I like to chop vegetables for a stir fry or whip up a pasta sauce for instance the night before, so I can just quickly make it in the morning. It is also important to make sure to have all of your containers ready to go and your child’s lunch basket, bag or box all set to make sure the morning routine goes smoothly. There are some great companies that make eco-friendly containers and reusable carriers that I love and recommend. (more…)

Helpful Test Taking Tips

By Nathalie Kunin
Nathalie KuninGet those No. 2 pencils ready! Test taking season is coming. Each Spring, starting in about the 2nd grade, students throughout America will take a standardized test. These tests have different names depending on the state and school district, but they all test the same skills. Although these standardized tests are important, please remember that they are only one of the tools used to assess how your child is performing academically.

Taking standardized tests annually from a young age helps prepare students for when it is time to take admissions exams like the ISEE, SAT and ACT. The testing doesn’t ever stop – think about the LSAT, GMAT, MCAT and then Boards and State Bars…and then professional continuing education testing. (more…)

Does Your Child Have RSV?

By Peter S. Waldstein, M.D., F.A.A.P and Julia A. White, M.D., F.A.A.P
WaldsteinIn our practice the last 6 to 8 weeks, we have seen a large increase in both cases and questions about RSV. Infections caused by RSV spike every year during the winter and early spring months. Due to the recent increase in RSV activity, we thought discussion of the symptoms and treatment would be useful.

What is RSV, and what are the signs and symptoms of infection?
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a viral infection that is seen very commonly in young children. It is passed via contact with respiratory secretions or droplets of an infected person.

For most children, the infection will likely look similar to any other viral cold – runny nose, cough, congestion, and possible fever. The cough will typically worsen over the first several days often sounding very mucousy, sometimes slightly barking. Once it starts to improve, you may see a cough that lingers for around a week to 10 days. (more…)

Easy Crock Pot Recipes

By Catherine McCord
Catherine McCordIn our house, we’re big on weekend cooking. My kids love helping out and I find that if I make a few recipes on Saturday or Sunday to store in the fridge or freezer, I have a lot less cooking to do during the week when life gets overwhelming. That doesn’t mean that we spend the entire weekend in the kitchen. Far from it. Our recipes have to be quick and easy so we can get out and do other things together. I treasure our weekends because they often feel like the only time we can just relax and play, enjoying our favorite activities and not being on a schedule.

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Infant Care Essentials

By Sharon Von Der Merwe
SharonvanderMerweQ: If I am breastfeeding how can I make sure my baby is eating enough?

A: After the feeding, if the baby spits out milk, that will be a clear indication that your baby has consumed enough.

Q:How can I get my baby to sleep longer stretches in the evening?

A: After a complete feeding, your baby will sleep longer but try to feed your baby in a dark lit setting, so the baby recognizes that it’s nighttime and will naturally sleep a longer duration.

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The Value of Mathematics

The Importance of math and college acceptance.

By Ellen Richards
EllenRichardsStudents must have access to high level math classses and be encouraged to take four years of math during high school. Students who do not take and pass a rigorous math sequence in high school are ineligible for admission to many four-year colleges and universities.

  • Access to academically challenging course work in high school significantly increases the likelihood of a student successfully completing bachelors degree.
  • Access to and enrollment in challenging courses had a greater impact on admission to college than any other factor, including income level and parents’ level of education.
  • In 2004 an average applicant who passed Pre-Calculus increased his/her chance of gaining acceptance to college by 79%.
  • Completing a Pre-Calculus course is the equivalent of raising one’s GPA from a 3.1 to a 3.6 in terms of admission to college.

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Valentine’s Day Recipes

By Catherine McCord
Valentine’s Day may be all about the love, but for kids it’s all about the food! And while it’s easy to pick up a bag of candy hearts, why not make something special to really show how much you love someone. These recipes are not only naturally sweet they’re a perfect way to get in the kitchen with you kids making something simply delicious.

Raspberry Cream Cheese Heart Tarts (Makes 10-11 Heart Tarts)
heart tarts

  • 1/2 Cup Raspberries
  • 1/4 Cup Whipped Cream Cheese
  • 1 Tbsp Honey
  • 1 Double Pie Crust Recipe or 1 14 oz Pre-Made Pie Crust*
  • Water
  • 1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
  • 10 Raspberries for Icing or 2 Tbsp Juiced Raspberries
  • 1 Tbsp Milk or Water

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Raising Cavity Free Kids

By Dr. Shoreh Selki
ShohrehRaising cavity free kids is no longer an idealistic dream for parents. By following a few simple guidelines, we can make it an achievable reality. As a mother of three, I understand the challenges parents face in the battle against dental decay; shops full of attractive looking junk food, soda and snack machines in every corner, sugar loaded birthday parties and class parties. In the recent years, tooth decay has been identified as the single most common chronic childhood disease, yet 90 percent of all tooth decay is absolutely preventable. (more…)