The right time to give your kids vitamins. Well it differs, of course.

Actually, when it comes to infants and young kids, there is no specific time to give them vitamins. Vitamins can be absorbed just as effectively whether taken in the morning or in the evening. Besides, babies sleep at daytime or nighttime, and they utilize their nutrients whether asleep or awake. If your baby has food sensitivities, check with your pediatrician to  make sure your meeting your baby’s daily needs.

A full-term infant who is breast-fed (or even formula fed for that matter) normally does not need any additional vitamins, save for Vitamin D, iron or fluoride. Breast milk contains all the needed nutrients the infant (up to six months old) needs. Formula milk is also loaded with vitamins and minerals, but still nothing beats the natural breast milk that helps strengthen a child’s immune system to fight against diseases.

Experts disagree on whether a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement is a good idea for all children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), for example, advises giving your child a supplement only if your pediatrician recommends one. Because so many common foods are fortified, most children don’t need supplements, the AAP argues. On the other hand, the AAP acknowledges that a multivitamin/mineral supplement won’t hurt as long as it doesn’t exceed the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for any vitamin or mineral. Other experts say that a daily supplement is a good way to fill in any gaps in your child’s nutrition.

Most experts do agree that:

• As long as you don’t overdose your child on supplements (exceed the RDA for any one vitamin or mineral), a daily won’t hurt.
• Some children — like vegetarians, or those with sensitivities to certain foods, for example — might need a daily vitamin/mineral supplement to meet their RDAs.
• Supplements are not a substitute for good food, and they should never be used to justify a poor diet. If your child isn’t eating well, give him a supplement, but also take steps to improve his eating habits.

The bottom line is that if you’re concerned that your preschooler isn’t getting a balanced diet by meeting all the requirements in the Food Guide Pyramid, a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement can’t hurt. Just don’t give your child more than one a day or neglect to focus on good nutrition at the same time.

Spending time with your kids cooking could be a very beneficial and enjoyable time the entire family can share! And hey, why not make it healthy as well! Use this time with your children to talk about the types of foods they like, what foods they would like to try, and encourage them to try items they might not even know they like. You never know if you will find their next favorite fruit or vegetable!

In order to be able to expose them to certain vegetables and fruits that they might not be familiar with, make some time with them to make playful snacks in which they can explore as many different flavors and textures as you can show them!

Why not try this: For a good ol’ twist on a regular sandwich, why don’t you try making it a stick-wich?

STICK-WICH RECIPE

Ingredients

• bread
• cheese
• lunch meat
• grape tomatoes
• lettuce
• cucumber
• pickles
• olive

Instructions

• Cut up cubes of bread, cheese, and lunch meat (order 1/2-inch-thick slices of ham and turkey at the deli counter).
• Slide the cubes onto a skewer with other foods your child likes, such as a grape tomato, a piece of lettuce, a pickle, or an olive.
• Set out a side of mayo or mustard for dipping.

** You can also switch it up next time by creating a dessert-on-a-stick, in which you can switch up the ingredients to fruits such as mango, pineapple, strawberries, kiwi, melon, and many many more!! The more fruit they can enjoy, the better! You can also have different non-fat yogurt flavors on the side for dipping.

Along with creating healthy meals the entire family can enjoy, cooking with your kids can help them practice their reading, do simple math, and organize their work logically!

So what are you waiting for? GET COOKIN”!!

Read this article on San Tan Valley Today

Day of play hopes to shape up AZ
By Zach Richter Today Publications

On Oct. 22, 2011, the Shape Up US program is coming back to Arizona in a big way. The 2011 Shape Up Arizona Day of Play event will give families an opportunity to exercise while having fun together and building healthy habits for the future.

Shape Up US a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation dedicated to preventing obesity. Shape Up US contributes to building a healthy future for America’s children by improving the health, fitness and overall well-being of youth and their families.

The corporation offers free state-by-state healthy lifestyle events designed to create awareness about heart disease prevention and a generally healthy lifestyle.

According to the event website, the 2011 Day of Play event will include Disney inflatables and appearances by SpongeBob, Dora the Explorer and local team mascots for the kids; and athletic challenges, a rock-climbing wall, health demonstrations and entertainment for adults as well.

A major aspect of the event, the 5K/10K run or walk will start at 8:00 a.m., with registration beginning at 7:00 a.m., Children and their parents are encouraged to participate in the run or walk, and to limber up beforehand with Dora and SpongeBob.

The 2010 Day of Play event saw over 5,000 attendees and 75 vendors, what’s more, according to their website, they gave away over $10,000 worth of raffle prizes.

Shape Up US Live Events, like the Day of Play, highlight three different comprehensive wellness education programs designed to help make the country a healthier place.

The first program, the Hip Hop Healthy Heart Program for Children, is a unique K-6 educational program created by Shape Up US to stem the tide of childhood obesity. Each event during the Day of Play will introduce the Hip Hop Healthy Heart Program for children through a day of fun for the entire family.

The program is comprised of eight modules that promote heart health and general fitness. These include information about heart health, positively expressing emotions, proper nutrition, exercise, dental health, the importance of teamwork, positive thinking and even basic financial advice.

These eight modules provide learning objectives, lesson plans and activities that are then integrated with core curriculum or other program content to help children learn and develop healthy habits at an early age. The goal of the program is to have learning flow from teacher to student, student to family members, and to the community through peer-to-peer interaction.

The Day of Play will also introduce children and families to a secondary school program where students are introduced to the importance of character, honesty, overcoming obstacles and more as they face the choices associated with growing up.

Finally, the Positive Psychology Training program helps adults incorporate positive psychology and implement it abroad.

The Shape Up US AZ Day of Play event will take place on Oct. 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Tumbleweed Park located at 2250 S. McQueen Rd. in Chandler. For more information, visit ShapeUpUs.org.

THANK SAN TAN FOR THE GREAT ARTICLE!

Thanks to Leslie Hicks and her students from Knox Elementary School for participating in Just CLAP!

It’s a cooking battle you have to see between Jason’s team Shape Up US and Mary’s Arizona Wholesale Supply Team! Check out the video to see which team comes out on top!

For more information on Shape Up US, call 602.996.6300.

Shape Up US is proud to announce Jyl Steinback was awarded the Community Leadership Award. This award was given for Jyl’s dedication to helping children and fighting childhood obesity. Thank you Jyl for your dedication!

Jyl Steinback, executive director of Shape Up US, was recently on Healthy U TV.

In the episode, Jyl explains what she is doing to prevent childhood obesity, a growing epidemic in the United States.

For more information on Shape Up US, call 602.996.6300.