Making healthy choices for your kids

Taking a look at the data over the past 50 years we can see that the percentage of overweight or obese children used to be less than 5 percent. Through the years, that percentage has continued to climb to the alarming rate of over 33 percent in 2010.

Health and wellness professionals have been warning us about this trend for decades. Yet we still see school districts limiting physical education and allowing children access to sugary, low/no nutrient foods at school.

We have all heard and probably recited the nursery rhyme “sticks and stones can break my bones…” You know the rest: “But words can never hurt me.” If only it were true. The fact is that words do hurt. Unlike a bruise or broken bone, we can’t see the wound on the outside. Most of us can recall instances from our own lives when words cut deeply, causing wounds that may still hurt. Since these wounds are not visible to others, we go through life exhibiting behaviors that come from how we deal with these old hurts. If we try to bury the wound rather than learn from it, we not only prevent healing but we are likely to inflict pain on others.

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Also seen on 

• mydailymoment.com,
• healthywealthynwise.com,
• DrLaura.com,
• hitchedmag.com and  
• wellness.com.

Mary Jayne Rogers Ph.D.

It’s been too long since I have reached out to talk about what is happening in the world of health and wellness.  I’ve been involved with the Women Economic Forum (WEF) which is a global association of women who come together to address some of the world’s problems the way women do best – connecting, problem-solving, and dynamically facilitating change.

Those who are newly single parents may find themselves in an unusual situation; dating with kids - how does that work? After all, traditionally and probably the last time you were dating, there were no pre-existing children. Making the decision to date involves a lot of consideration about your children and the situation you find yourselves in as a family. Your choices about dating will affect your relationship with your kids as well as the well-being of your family. As the daughter of parents who were each married three times and as a single parent for 15 years, I look back from a wellness perspective to offer a checklist of points to consider about dating and how to decide when it is time for your date to meet the kids.

Publish in beliefnet.com

According to the U.S. Census, in 2010 there were close to 12 million single-family households in America. Given these statistics, if you are a single adult, it would not be surprising that you find yourself attracted to someone who has children. As you read through these suggestions, remember that children come in all ages and some may not even live at home. The tips below will help you thread your way through some of the intricacies of dating a single parent.

Taking a look at the data over the past 50 years we can see that the percentage of overweight or obese children used to be less than 5 percent. Through the years, that percentage has continued to climb to the alarming rate of over 33 percent in 2010.

Publish in "She Knows Parenting"