We all know that yogurt should belong to meals labeled as “healthy”. Yogurt is widely used in the Mediterranean region and it still surprises me how versatile it is in its uses and applications. You can add it to vegetables, rice, fruit or eat it basic.

Yogurt, in its natural, organic state is indeed a very healthy thing to eat, it being rich in protein, calcium, riboflavin and vitamins B12 and D, as well as live active cultures that boost the immunity. Introducing it into your kid’s diet is also a wise decision because yogurt is called a “grow food”.

What is unwise, however, is that many parents disregard the fact that canned yogurt, and especially “fun food” yogurt for kids is not at all the yogurt everyone’s talking about.

Individually, yogurt and fruit are as healthy as it gets, but take a look at the label, and you’ll understand why so many doctors warn parents against purchasing yogurt cups for the kids. Yes, corn syrup and sugar. These are the culprits. Plus, of course, artificial flavorings and coloring. These are enough to get your child addicted to the sugar high, and the added flavor makes yogurt cups oh so tasty! For a responsible parent yogurts like that (even if they have fruit in them) are a big no-no.

Solution? Regular plain yogurt, no sugar added, natural and healthy. So how do you choose the best yogurt? This article can be your guide. Use these 4 tips t0 learn how to purchase the healthiest yogurt for your child.

1. Check the “Nutritional Facts” and “Ingredients” section. Look for yogurts that are plain, i.e. only contain live active cultures and milk. Turns out that the longer the ingredient list, the fewer chances you have of actually holding a good yogurt (what you do get is more calories and less nutrition). Be sure to read the protein and sugar values on the nutrition panel. The higher the protein and the lower the sugar content, the more actual yogurt you’re getting in the container.
2. Calcium content is a very important factor. The best yogurts provide 35 to 40 percent of the recommended dietary allowance for calcium in an 8-ounce container. Once the calcium gets below 30 percent of the DV, it’s a good bet that the container is filled with a lot of less-nutritious filler.
3. Watch out for this phrase: “heat treated after culturing”. Reading this on the label is a deal breaker, because heat treated yogurt doesn’t even have a right to be called yogurt. Once all the healthy stuff is pasteurized, it might as well be called pudding. Pasteurization deactivates the lactose and kills the live cultures, thereby obliterating two health benefits of yogurt. It prolongs the shelf life, but spoils its nutrition and health-food value. Lactose-intolerant persons who can tolerate yogurt containing live and active cultures may not be able to digest yogurt that has been heat treated.
4. Some other yogurt terms to watch for:

• Whole milk yogurt contains approximately 7 grams of milk fat per 8-ounce serving.
• Lowfat yogurt contains between 1 and 4 grams (0.5% to 2 %) of milk fat per 8-ounce serving.
• Nonfat yogurt contains less than 1/2 gram (less than 0.5%) of milk fat per 8-ounce serving.
• In Swiss or custard-style yogurt, fruit and yogurt are mixed together. To insure firmness, a stabilizer, such as gelatin, may be added. This is also called “blended yogurt.” Swiss yogurt is fermented in vats and then transferred to cups. This process breaks the gel, so that artificial binders and stabilizers must be added.
• Fruit-added or plain yogurt has a runnier consistency. The whey, the clear liquid at the top, should be stirred into the solids.
• Yogurt also comes in liquid form, called “kefir,” which may contain added sweeteners such as corn syrup.

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Perhaps even as short a time as a decade ago, a book like this wouldn’t have been published,certainly not one aimed towards children, teaching them about climate change and how it is affecting all of us. However, now the phrase “climate change” is one that most people and even most school aged kids are very familiar with, so a children’s book on the subject is a necessity.

As most of the Eyewitness books tend to be, it is full of age appropriate information, pictures and facts galore.  children can learn first about the Earth’s climate, the Greenhouse effect, the carbon cycle and the checks and balances of how the whole shebang works.

Then it moves on to the human impact on these natural cycles, the burning of forests, fossil fuels and our carbon culture.

Then environmental impacts are also explained, heatwaves, drought and how these affect that natural world around us, such as the plight of the polar bears.  Predictions as to what happen over the next century are also featured, along with adapting to these changes.

I think this is an important book for any classroom or home since the topic is so prevalent these days. It is also a good refresher read for adult readers and an excellent conversation starter about the subject for our children and ourselves.

Reading level: 8 – 17 years

Page Count: 72 pages

Publisher: DK Publishing

Publisher’s synopsis: The most trusted nonfiction series on the market, Eyewitness Books provide an in-depth, comprehensive look at their subjects with a unique integration of words and pictures.

An in-depth look at the phenomenon of global warming–what’s causing it, what it might lead to, and what we can do to fight back.

About the Author: Dk Publishing with John Woodward, John Woodward is a published author and an editor of children’s books and young adult books. Some of the published credits of John Woodward include Men And Masculinity (Opposing Viewpoints), What Lives on Other Animals? (What Lives), Climate Change (DK Eyewitness Books).

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It is, in fact, a totally cool book about numbers. I know that it seem to be a oxymoron, but this book is all about fun numbers.

The basics are explained, where numbers come from, how counting began and different ancient cultures that used numerical systems, such as the Mayans and Romans.

It then moves on to Magic Numbers , covering squares, natures numbers Pi and mathemagical tricks.

The Shaping Up section, of course, is all about shapes, 3 or 4 sided, 3rd dimensions, mirrors,  mazes and so much more.

The last part is the world of math, which covers subjects such as “freaky fractals”, Logic,  and the theory of chaos, which I found fascinating and was written so that the explanations were simple enough for the age bracket to understand.

It all shapes up to be one excellent book to entice and encourage your child to notice the “fun” in numbers, and perhaps an adult or two as well!

For more information on this book and others, you can visit DK Books at http://www.dk.com, and click the flag to choose your country.

Reading level: 8 – 17 years

Page Count: 96 pages

Publisher: DK Publishing

Publisher’s synopsis: Experience the mysterious and magical world of numbers as never before. This unique book investigates mathematical marvels such as why daisies always have 34, 55, or 89 petals, why the world’s phone numbers appear in pi, and other patterns and paradoxes that will make readers look at numbers in a whole new way.

About the Author: Johnny Ball has masterminded and presented more than 20 children’s television series about maths and science

Johnny Ball is best known for the hit BBC series Think of a Number, in which his unique blend of zany humour, boundless enthusiasm and expert knowledge turned maths and science into pure entertainment and totally transformed maths for a generation of children.

A former Butlins redcoat and comedian, Johnny presented Playschool for 17 years and has earned an EMMY nomination, a BAFTA, and 10 other awards. Johnny is also a fellow of the Mathematical Association and has written five children’s books as well as the hit educational musical “Tales and Maths and Legends”.

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An automated voice analysis machine called LENA, has been recently developed by researchers in hope to be able to identify autism in children at early stages of their development. After a research which involved 232 children (77 of them were already known to have autism) and required them to use a small device with a mic, specialists claim that certain voice patterns in autistic children can be picked up by this machine.  Once the voice recordings are downloaded onto a computer and analyzed by the automated system,  there is a way to separate voice patterns of normally developing children from the ones belonging to kids with a language delay. Although they claim that more research is necessary, that the research needs to be conducted involving younger children and that the researching team should have no knowledge of the kids’ condition, LENA is already the new buzz word.

You might want to check Lena Foundation’s website, it’s pretty interesting, but just to give you an idea about what these guys do, here’s their “about us”:

The LENA Foundation develops advanced technology for the early screening, research, and treatment of language delays and disorders in young children. Philanthropists Terrance “Terry” Paul and Judith “Judi” Paul formed the not-for-profit organization through a multimillion-dollar gift. Over a five-year period, the foundation created the LENA (Language ENvironment Analysis) System, the world’s first automatic language collection and analysis tool and the foundation’s principal technology. The foundation employs a team of scientists and engineers skilled in computerized speech and speaker recognition, microelectronics, statistical research, and children’s language acquisition and development; they are dedicated to helping the foundation enhance language development worldwide.

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Avocado may not be the first food that comes to mind when you’ve finally decided to introduce solids, but is actually great as a first food for your baby. Ok, you can’t serve it to your kid alongside corn chips and salsa, but it’s still delicious and full of nutrients.

In fact, it’s so nutritious and fatty (a medium size avocado contains over 300 calories and anything up to 30 gr of fat) that a lot of people just prefer to stay away from it. However, you should remember that a baby shouldn’t be on a low-fat diet unless your doctor says otherwise, so avocados are perfect in every way! The fat they contain is utilized in the baby’s brain development and the vitamins (A, C and B1, 2, 6) and the minerals are great for physical development.

Apart from their nutrition value, avocados are smooth and are easily turned into a mash. They don’t need to be cooked (removing the skin and slicing it up is enough), either. You can freeze them and serve them to your baby in parts.

If you’re wondering when you should be introducing avocados into your baby’s diet, 4-6 months old sounds like the right time.

Picking the right avocado is not that difficult – choose ones that are firm, yet yielding with some pressure.

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Another excellent book in the Eyewitness lineup from DK Publishing, Dance is an in-depth look into the ritual that is as old as time itself.

From the very beginnings of time, humans have danced, to celebrate, to bring luck to the hunt or ask for rain, to express emotion; whatever part it played, dance has always existed in one form or another.

Starting with the explanation of what dance is, (a series of movements performed in patterns and set to an accompaniment) we then learn about more than just dance.

The importance of costume and makeup is covered , with masks, footwear and body painting all included in these sections.

The book is not about the types of dance but more the elements of dance which I found absolutely fascinating and I highly recommend it for those interested in the subject.

For more information on this book and others, you can visit DK Books at http://www.dk.com, and click the flag to choose your country.

Reading level: 8 – 17 years

Page Count: 72 pages

Publisher: DK Publishing

Publisher’s synopsis: Relaunched with a new jacket and 8 pages of expanded text!

Here is an original and exciting new guide to the magic and beauty of dance around the world. Step-by-step sequences and glorious full-color photographs offer a unique “eyewitness” view of dance traditions including the magical performances, stunning costumes- and extraordinary talent of dancers. See a ballet costume designed by Picasso, dancers who balance on stilts, and headdresses studded with gemstones. Learn why male dancers sometimes dress as women, the stories of the great classical ballets, and why the tango was banned. Discover why Japanese dancers “flow like water,” see dance crazes from the last 100 years, witness the dervishes who whirl around in worship, and much, much more.

About the Author: Andree Grau

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What you’ll need:

1 12 oz. package couscous
1 14 oz. can chicken or vegetable broth

Pinch of salt (optional)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup finely mushed grapes

1/2 cup finely diced cooked chicken
1/3 cup fresh mint leaves (optional)

Instructions:

• Cook the couscous according to the directions on the package. Use either broth or water. Add a pinch of salt to the broth (optional).

• Drain any excess liquid.

• If more liquid is needed to cook the couscous, add water, a little at a time. Pour the couscous into a serving bowl.

• Add the oil and the lemon juice. Stir well to coat all the grains. Add the mushed grapes and chicken.

• Stir to combine all the ingredients – puree if needed. Serve warm or cold.

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This very informative article recently posted on CNN claims a simple, 5-minute talk with parents during their baby’s 9-month checkup can actually help their kid stop bottle-feeding. The results of the new research released on Monday are simply amazing and encouraging, as such an important decision is not always made easily by mothers and is very often put off until a later date.

Dr. Jonathon Maguire of St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Canada, in charge of the research, says that it is possible to change the “health trajectory of a child” in just five minutes, and all it takes is an informative motivating talk about the child’s health.

Maguire and his team followed 201 children until the age of 2 and found a 60 % decrease in prolonged bottle use when pediatricians made a point of raising the subject at the 9-month checkup.

The doctors started off giving the children’s parents standard health information during the visit. Half of the parents also had the five-minute conversation about the risks of continued bottle use. These parents were given a sippy cup and step-by-step instructions on how wean the child off the bottle and on to the sippy cup within a week.

(…)The study authors said the 9-month checkup is a good time to schedule this consultation because no routine vaccinations are scheduled, allowing for the time to have a conversation about nutrition in the second and third years of life.

The reason behind this motivation is the effect prolonged use of bottle may have, such as tooth decay and nutritional deficiencies in young children. The longer you wait, the longer it might take to make this transition and the harder it is to correct this behavior, doctors warn.

When a baby latches on to the bottle, breast or sippy cup, the tongue covers and protects the bottom front teeth, resulting in the decay pattern (…) in which the top incisors are decayed and the bottom incisors are not.

This type of decay occurs between 1 and 3 years of age, when a baby’s teeth start coming in. It develops rapidly and can cause severe dental pain and infection, according to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association.

This is why the pediatricians group recommends babies be weaned off the bottle and sippy cups by the time they are 1. Another reason for weaning babies is that they should be getting most calories from solid foods, to ensure proper nutrition.

According to the AAP, by the time a baby is a year old, the toddler needs to eat food from the same four basic groups as adults do: meat, fish, poultry, eggs; dairy products; fruits and vegetables; and cereal grains, potatoes, rice, breads and pasta.

It’s understandable why parents hesitate. Using a bottle is pretty convenient. It doesn’t spill and at a certain point babies start managing to hold it without any help. It also soothes them and helps them sleep.

However, allowing this to happen is not acting in the child’s best interests, and hopefully more doctors will be using educational talks to get this message through.

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1. Blueberries
2. Tofu
3. Tomatoes
4. Low-Fat Greek Yogurt
5. Cabbage
6. Salmon
7. Cocoa
8. Black Beans
9. Basil
10. Cinnamon

These 10,  according to an article published on CNN’s website, are supposed to be nutrition powerhouses absolutely vital for your kid’s diet. While blueberry, cocoa and cinnamon sound great, I’m sure a lot of parents would be skeptical about the remaining items on the list. There’s no denying all of them are healthy foods, but if you’ve ever dealt with a child that refused to eat tomatoes (or any other vegetable that was red), or fish, or beans, you’re not the only one.

The article advises pairing these products with dishes your child already knows and most importantly – likes. You can also try being a bit creative. There’s plenty of recipes online with step-by-step instructions on how to create little wonders with simple veggies on a plate.

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A lot of parents wonder when they should introduce grapes into their baby’s nutrition plan. Unless your pediatrician says otherwise, 6 months is a good age. If you’re considering an earlier start, consult your doctor, as babies under 6 months usually require pureed foods. Plus grapes contain their best nutritional value in their skins, and your baby’s stomach might not be ready to digest them at a very early age.

Now, back to nutritional value. Grapes are a very rich source of vitamin B, C, potassium and manganese. They also contain very crucial anti-oxidants – those that keep heart disease and cancer at bay. It’s helpful to know that you can actually choose grapes with a higher nutritional value by their color.

Grapes with redder skins contain anthocyanin, which is a very powerful nutrient, so choosing red or black grapes is most beneficial for your child. I recommend choosing red grapes also because they’re sweeter than white grapes. Mind you, this point is only valid if you haven’t peeled away the skins.

Try going for bunches that are not overripe, store them in the fridge and wash them only before you want to use them, otherwise they will go bad very quickly. Make sure the grapes you’re buying are seedless as seeds may be a choking hazard! As we’re on the subject of safety, always cut grapes into quarters if you’re giving them to your kid as a finger food!

Follow our blog for great recipes with grapes that your baby will love!

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