BMI Tracking Tool For Kids

By MAD21

Most parents are concerned about how healthy their kids are. We've all heard of the Body Mass Index (BMI), but the calculators are usually just for adults. I found one that was made for kids on the site Health Key.

They state, "...This tool can be used for children ages 2 through 19. Be cautious if you use this tool or any height and weight charts to assess your child's growth after he or she reaches puberty. Check with your doctor if you have questions."

As I've said in previous articles, never go by just one source or calculator. But this looks like a good one to use to start tracking your child's growth through their BMI.

Mayo Clinic Website

By MAD21

Looking for a good place for dependable medical advice and information? The Mayo Clinic has a terrific website that has "comprehensive guides on hundreds of conditions." Just type in a letter and it gives you some really good information. You can also look up symptoms you may be having, as well as tests and procedures and they give explainations so you know what you can expect.

"More than 3,300 physicians, scientists and researchers from Mayo Clinic share their expertise to empower you to manage your health."

General Mills And The ADA Partner To Help Kids Across US

By MAD21

"General Mills and the American Dietetic Association Partner to Help Kids Across the US Learn How to Eat Healthy and Stay Physically Fit."

"The General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids Program, in partnership with the American Dietetic Association, has awarded a half-million dollars in grants to community-based organizations across the U.S. for programs that support young people living healthy, active lifestyles.

The grants program awarded $10,000 to 50 nonprofits, schools and other organizations across the United States to develop fun, interactive programs that incorporate a fitness and nutrition component, and operate under the expert guidance of a registered dietitian."

Go and read about the three groups that were awarded the grants and the amazing work they are doing to help kids get healthy.

Recipe Search Engine

By MAD21

SUPER NATURAL RECIPE SEARCH

"Search for natural, delicious, whole food recipes."

Yes, a search engine just for recipes. This one is a really great one. On my first try, I typed in 'bananas' and at the top of the list was an amazing recipe for banana chip cookies (from 101 Cookbooks). You can also type in your favorite chef to see if they have any favorite recipes from them.

While the engine includes recipes from many different sources, Heidi Swanson, the creator of the engine, states: "This search engine will not query each of the sites in its index in its entirety. Instead, I went through each site page by page, cherry-picking the recipes I could imagine cooking in my own kitchen - again, the ones highlighting whole grains, natural sweeteners, a wide range of flours, and plenty of fresh produce. I populated the search engine with those. A couple thousand to start. And while I don't cook with, say, eggplant or okra very often, there are many cooks who I admire that do - this search engine allows me to highlight those cooks and their recipes here."

Just like some of the recipe sites I've talked about before, this one also includes comments from people. So when you find a recipe that looks interesting to you, you can look and see what other people have said about it. Whether it's a good one or not, and maybe some variations you can try until you find one just right for you.

Kids And Candy

By MAD 21

ABC News recently posted an article about a woman who is trying to get teachers an parents to stop giving out candy and sweets in school. Personally, I think what she is asking for is just a little over the top, but it gets you thinking.

I've been on a serious mission for the last six years to keep myself and my family healthy. I am a fan of playing  dress-up over watching TV and jumping on the trampoline or swimming over video games (well, the wii sports thing is kind of fun, but it still is a poor replacement for the real thing).

My husband and I have been very dedicated to teaching our kids healthy eating habits. In general, we don't keep unhealthy snacks in the house. That's not to say we never eat any 'junk food,' just that it's not something we keep around to have all the time. As a result, our kids love to eat vegetables and fruit, and will actually choose them over junk food most of the time even when it's available. Our kids never drink soda or sugary drinks, and they don't eat candy.

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