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Is Fast Food Really All That Bad?

December 14, 2010
by Dr.Dolgoff
Harlem watup
Image via Wikipedia

With all the reports of how unhealthy fast food is, why is anybody still eating it?  The reality is, it is cheap, convenient and filling.  The problem is that just one fast food meal can pack enough calories, sodium and fat for an entire day or more!  Eating fast food on a regular basis can lead to a variety of different health problems including obesity.  A recent study from Reuters revealed that fast food companies are increasing efforts to market themselves to children and toddlers with television ads and websites geared to kids.  In fact, the fast food industry spent more than $4.2 billion in 2009 on marketing and advertising!  Why do companies spend so much money on child-targeted advertising?  Because it works!  These commercials cause our children to “hunger” for these unhealthy foods.  And with the average child exposed to over 40,000 commercials a year, there is no wonder children crave fast food!

Because of the childhood obesity epidemic, San Francisco passed a law regarding fast food. The law, which takes effect 12/1/11, restricts the fast food industry’s practice of giving away toys with children’s meals.  Kid’s meals must meet certain nutritional standards before they can be sold with toys.  They must be less than 600 calories, contain fruits or vegetables and include beverages without excessive fat or sugar.  Toys tend to lure children into buying these kid’s meals so certainly this law will help.

Eating fast food doesn’t have be a disaster.  There are ways to make healthy choices. A study conducted by Yale’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity looked into fast food and kids.  The study states that healthy side dishes and beverages options for kids’ meals are rarely offered as the default.  So while the healthier choices are there, it’s really up to the consumer to pay close attention while ordering. Here are a few tips to get started.

1.  Do your research.  Preparing before you go can make a huge difference.  You can check the nutritional guide of most chains online.  You would be surprised just how many calories many fast food items contain.  Choices made with knowledge are always healthier.

2.  Ditch the soda!  Choose to drink water instead.  Soda is a huge source of hidden calories.  One 32 oz cola packs about 400 calories!  Try water with lemon or order unsweetened iced tea for more flavor.

3.  “Undress your food”.  Be careful of calorie- and fat-packed salad dressings, cheese, sour cream, etc.  For example, ask for a grilled chicken sandwich without the mayonnaise.

4.  Special order your food.  Many menu items would be healthier if they were prepared differently.  Ask for vegetables and main dishes to be served without the sauce.  If the food is fried or cooked in oil or butter, ask to have it broiled or steamed.

5.  Avoid ordering “supersize” portions, regardless of the price difference!  An average fast food meal can run up to 1000 calories or more.  So choose a smaller portion size, order a side salad instead of fries and don’t supersize anything!

6.  Beware of some of those salads.  Just because it has lettuce doesn’t mean it’s healthy.  Some salads have over one thousand calories.  Order your salad without croutons, cheese, fried chicken, and fatty dressings.  Instead, choose a salad with grilled chicken and either low fat or fat free dressing.

The nations obesity epidemic has focused attention on fast food restaurants.  The good news is that many chains have begun offering healthier options.  But they don’t help unless you actually order them.  So while it’s not always the ideal choice to eat at one of these chains, with some knowledge and good common sense we can stay on track towards a healthy lifestyle.

Joanna Dolgoff, MD is a pediatrician, child obesity expert, and author of Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right.  Kids from 45 states and Canada are losing weight with DrDolgoff.com, her online child and adolescent weight management program.  Dr. Dolgoff sees patients in her Roslyn Heights and New York City locations.

–
Joanna Dolgoff, M.D.
Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right
Child and Adolescent Weight Management

www.DrDolgoff.com

Blog: www.DrDolgoff.com/blog
FB:   www.facebook.com/DrDolgoff
Tw:   www.twitter.com/JoannaDolgoffMD

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Should You Try A Detox Diet?

December 13, 2010
by Dr.Dolgoff
Simplifast lemon detox diet beverage
Image via Wikipedia

The body can do amazing things and we often underestimate its capabilities, especially when it comes to detoxifying itself.  Years of evolution have enabled our bodies to “detox” naturally; those who could not self-detox died out through Natural Selection and “Survival of the Fittest”.

Toxins enter the body through food or water, chemicals used to grow or prepare food, and even the air that we breathe. Luckily, our bodies have the ability to process those toxins through organs like the liver and kidneys and eliminate them in the form of sweat, urine, and feces.

The American diet is low in water and whole grains and too high in refined sugar, caffeine, unhealthy fats and protein.   Over consumption of the aforementioned nutrients can create food sensitivities, nutritional deficiencies, bacterial overgrowth, yeast infections, weak hair, skin, and nails, and a host of other conditions.

But does that mean we should all “detox” our bodies from harmful toxins?  From my perspective, the whole “detox” craze is just another money-making industry preying on the insecure and teaching faulty eating principles.  “Detox” diets aim to eliminate harmful processed foods and refined sugar a few times a year by limiting us to just a certain few foods for a period of time.  But our bodies are designed to function best with a healthy, well-balanced diet.  I do encourage a diet with minimal processed foods and refined sugar.  But we don’t need to fast to accomplish this goal.  And further, shouldn’t we aim to eat well all the time?  How effective can a few days of restriction really be when we are eating garbage the rest of the time?

Detox diets are designed for short-term use and require fasting.  If used for longer periods of time, they may cause health problems.  Further, significantly lowering one’s calorie intake during a fast will result in a slowing of the dieter’s metabolism, thus making long term weight loss more difficult.

The Master Cleanse (aka lemonade diet) requires limiting our food intake to water with lemons, laxative tea and salt water in order to “cleanse” the body.  Weight loss may occur from this diet but it is mainly from loss of water, not from fat loss.  If used over a long period of time, the body will begin to break down muscle mass for energy.  So while you may see a drop on the scale, it is from metabolically active (and much-needed) muscle rather than from fat.   This diet is nutritionally void and lacking nutrients.  Many dieters quickly regain the lost weight upon completion of the Master Cleanse.  It is clear that we were not meant to live on lemons and laxatives!

Many detox supplements contain herbs and laxatives designed to make the dieter “eliminate” often.  Over-elimination can cause dehydration and mineral imbalances and may permanently affect the digestive system if used for too long.  Make sure you read the ingredient list before beginning any cleansing regimen and research each ingredient so you know what you are ingesting.  These programs often utilize senna, a known laxative.  The other ingredients listed in many cleanse systems are herbs that are not FDA approved and have not been scientifically proven to do anything, let alone “cleanse” the body.  Everyone is different and we don’t know how our bodies will react to these untested/unresearched herbs so be very cautious when starting a detox diet.  If you want to try one of these cleanses, be sure to get your doctor’s approval!

Detox diets are NOT designed for those who have health conditions.  People who have diabetes, heart disease, eating disorders, other chronic medical conditions or are pregnant should avoid these regiments.

Detox diets are also NOT recommended for children or teens.  Kids and teens require nutrients, calories and protein to support their development.  Eliminating macro and micronutrients, even for a short period of time, may disrupt energy levels cause emotional imbalances.

Instead of following the newest trend or looking for a quick fix, try eating a wholesome diet all year round!  Make sure you eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.  Stick to lean sources of protein.  Drink lots of water.  And try to avoid processed foods as much as possible.  If you are feeling run-down or tired, speak to your doctor.  Unfortunately, there is no magic formula for good health or weight loss!

Joanna Dolgoff, MD is a pediatrician, child obesity expert, and author of Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right.  Kids from 45 states and Canada are losing weight with DrDolgoff.com, her online child and adolescent weight management program.  Dr. Dolgoff sees patients in her Roslyn Heights and New York City locations.

–
Joanna Dolgoff, M.D.
Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right
Child and Adolescent Weight Management

www.DrDolgoff.com

Blog: www.DrDolgoff.com/blog
FB:   www.facebook.com/DrDolgoff
Tw:   www.twitter.com/JoannaDolgoffMD

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Kid-Tested: The Best Toys and Gifts for Preschoolers

December 7, 2010
by Lori
iVillage.com
No mystery here — want to know what your three-year-old would love for the holidays? Let him play with every new toy on the market and see what he likes! We sent lucky kids ages 3 to 5 home with mountains of toys and instructions to report back what they thought (ok, Mom got to weigh in, too). Here are the best-of-the-best — kid-tested so they’re guaranteed to thrill!

bug toyBe a Bug Spy

Wait? Kids get to gawk at bugs all day without them coming loose in the house? Sign us up! This see-through — and magnified — ladybug habitat lets little bug-a-philes see the insects from all angles. Each kit comes complete with a fun-fact booklet and a coupon to receive ladybug larvae and food. ($17 at Amazon)


Dino Chatdinosaur toy

Kids don’t need to watch PBS’ Dinosaur Train to love these yip-yapping prehistoric creatures. Just push the button on their scaly backs and they offer up cool dino tidbits like where they used to live, how much they weigh and how tall they’ll grow. Each has more than 70 words and phrases in his vocab, including “roar.” The best part: Put two of these guys next to each other and they interact. (“Hi Tiny!”) Our kid tester, Becket, 3.5, “wound up taking the dinosaurs to school to show his friends and brought them to bed with him,” says mom, Keri. ($20 at Toys “R” Us)

space helmetOut-of-This-World Fun

Out-of-This-World Fun Super-excited kid to Mission Control, over. I’ve got an amazing toy here. It’s a space helmet with retractable visor that lets me talk — and listen — to you. And it doesn’t have a chinstrap, so I’ll never get stuck. “Nikhil was having such a blast pressing all the buttons, making the visor go up and down and listening to the pre-recorded messages,” says 4-year-old Nikhil’s mom, Niro. ($50 at Aeromax, Inc.)

Get Under Your Skin puzzle

This ingenious five-layer puzzle teaches the preschool set all about what makes up the body, including skin, muscles, the nervous and digestive systems. They’ll learn the proper names for all the bits and pieces along the way. Noah, our almost 4-year-old, tester, was enthralled. “He played with it all day! And I was pretty psyched that he was so interested in learning about the organs,” says mom, Cheryl. ($23 at Fat Brain Toys)

artColor Us Impressed!

Imagine a humungous novel, minus all the boring words, with your kid as the author. Just the kind of fun, creative, portable gift you’ve been looking for, right? Grant your doodler the gift of pictorial gab with this 170-page activity book, chock full of pages for scribbles, scrawls, and six -headed sorcerers — if that’s what floats his boat. P.S. Yes, that’s enough pages to last every single rainy day for the next year. ($20 at Chronicle Books)

Puzzle Playpuzzle

Giraffes are like the periscope of the wild: They’re so tall they see everything! What half-pint wouldn’t be obsessed with that? Feed the love with this gorgeous 12-piece wood puzzle. (It’s so sturdy it is virtually juice box-spill proof.) And with two removable backgrounds (color image and puzzle outline), kids can make the problem solving easier or harder. Four-year-old Ellie absolutely loved the giraffe puzzle, says mom, Jodi. “She tore it open and started playing with it as soon as I gave it to her. And proceeded to do it four more times.” ($14 at Amazon)

toyBig-Rig Romp

Boys, they love a garbage truck, and Stinky is the ultimate trash collector: It talks, jokes, eats, moves, sings and with his 90 phrases and sounds, the fun just keeps on rolling. The best part? Wait for it, “it farts!” 4-year-old Gavin told his mom, Debra. “He was also pretty excited the truck came with a DVD.” (On quieter days, it’s also a good ol’ push-along truck.) ($50 at Toys “R” Us)

Two-Wheelingbike

A first bike is like a first love: memorable, sweet and prone to breaking. Subtract the flimsiness, and you’ve got a bike a kid can love from 20 months until he’s four. With the two steering settings, flame detail, and faux-leather seat pad, we think we’re falling for it, too. By the looks of it, so did our child tester. “What a beautiful bike!” says Lauren, mom to Max, 4.5. “And it was easy to put together.” ($160 at Giggle)

toyiLove

Take back your iPhone once and for all! Your mini-me can have his own digital device with this amazing learning/media/all-around-fun center. It functions as a storybook, game player, MP3 player, art pad, photo album and more. Whether your kid knows it or not, it’s a stellar educational tool, too, teaching counting, vocabulary and phonics. “I liked the product the minute I opened it,” says mom, Niro. But what did her 4-year-old son Nikhil think? “He’s hardly put it down since we got it; I think it’s safe to say he loves it. The writing tool is his favorite. He’s so proud of himself after he writes his letters!” Sign us up! ($80 at Fisher Price)

Droid Delightrobot

Remember Alphie? The retro 80s robotic teaching pal is back! The newly revamped toy is ultra good- looking, can talk and has facial expressions. We give way more kudos to this little guy than to grandpa Alphie — his face only lit up back then. No wonder he gets vehicle-obsessed boys interested in educational play: “My 4-year-old was super interested in the card with a train, bus, boat and bike on it,” says Debra, of son Gavin. ($40 at Hasbro)

bookIt’s Rhyme Time

First things first: Mother Goose? She’s, like, so last century! C’mon Mom, who cares about “pockets full of rye” anymore. That’s why “Other Goose” is where it’s at. He makes those dusty rhymes super-hip again, and illustrates them with cool, cartoonish pictures. Our fave is “Blah Blah Black Sheep.” ($20 at Chronicle Books)

Monster Mashtoy

Dear Mom and Dad, your kid loves playing ball. That is, when he can actually catch that enormous sphere called a “ball” in his tiny hands. Good news: You can give your tyke power over his bouncing nemesis with these fun mitts that make catching ‘a whole lotta fun,’ instead of ‘a whole lotta searching in the bushes.’ “I was pleasently surprised, it allowed me and my 4-and-a-half-year-old to have a successful game of catch — something that can be hard with a non-sticky ball,” says Lauren, mom to Max. ($13 at Alex Toys)

cameraMovie-Making Madness

YouTube won’t know what hit it after your kid gets her hands on this video camera! It’s built to withstand drops and throws and it’s easy-grip design helps future Spielbergs keep a steady shot. Bring on the popcorn! ($60 at Fisher Price)

Bat Hathat

Attention, all Batmen and Batladies. A dashing seasonal addition is now available to all caped crusaders — the Bat-hat! This warm, woolen number is utterly essential for upcoming snow-filled, backyard adventures with Robin and Catwoman. Great for dress up and dramatic play time, too. When total anonymity isn’t required, we recommend folding up the eye flap to allow for better vision skills. ($45 at Estella)

bikeSweet Ride

‘Sup cool kids on the block? See me? I’m on my new, sweet ride, cruisin’ like a big kid. Yep, those are real pedals. And it’s got rubber-covered wheels, so I never slip and look dumb. P.S. Even if your kid doesn’t actually know how to pedal yet, he’ll enjoy looking cool while he pushes along.  ($126 at Starbright Kids Company)

Drive By Funtoy car

Suppress the desire to put this beautiful vehicle in a glass display case and instead watch your kid obsess over this year’s German-made, designer automobile from Automoblox. He’ll love putting it together, adding unique customized details, and storing stuff he finds on the floor and in between the couch seat cushions, in the trunk. P.S. Just like a real car, it comes with a unique VIN number — how cool! ($28 at Amazon)

playsetMini Mommy

Kids love pretending to be little mamas and dadas and this playset gives them the perfect backdrop for their inspired role-play. “Pure excitement!” That’s how mom Kelly sums up her 4-year-old’s reaction to this play center. “Mackenzie was thoroughly entertained by it, she played with it for an hour-and-a-half straight!” Bonus: It can also minimize sibling squabbles because there are multiple play areas (changing table, high chair, washing machine, etc.). (Baby doll not included.) ($80 at Step2)

Pony Expresstoys

Remote control planes just got rainbow-infused thanks to My Little Pony. The horsey fits perfectly on the cheery aircraft. All you have to do is load the batteries and steer with the remote. One of the best parts — besides her kiddos laughing hysterically while playing — says Kelly, mom to Mackenzie, 4: “It wasn’t overly loud, like I expected.” (Full disclosure: No pony actually leaves the ground, but there’s a lot of forward motion, twirling and action sounds.) ($23 at Hasbro)

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Gift Ideas For Toddlers

December 6, 2010
by Lori
A child running
Image via Wikipedia

Gift Ideas for Toddlers
by Rachel Paxton

As a mom of three small boys, we have gone through a lot of toys
in the past five years. Because we have a large extended family
who buys our kids presents for birthdays and Christmas, our boys
have had the opportunity to try out a lot of neat toys. Of course
they have played with some toys more than others, and some toys
cost enough that you would like to know if your child would like
them before you buy them so they don’t end up stuck in a box in a
corner somewhere.

Our youngest son is almost two years old, and he and our two
older boys have played with these toys since around their first
birthday. These toys have so far stood the test of time, and have
been loved by all.  These gift ideas would be great for girls
too, most are not gender specific toys.

Fisher-Price Laugh and Learning Letters Mailbox

A toy that my youngest son received for his first birthday is the
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Learning Letters Mailbox. This toy is
appropriate for both boys and girls, and is recommended for ages
6 months to 3 years. It is a mailbox that opens and closes. It
comes with several “letters” and a small package that your child
can place in the mailbox. There is a slot in the top of the
mailbox to put letters in, and a flag on the side that can go up
and down. The mailbox plays music when you open and close the box
and there are also several buttons that play music when your
child presses on them. My son absolutely loves this toy. He opens
and closes the door over and over again, and likes taking
the mail in and out, in and out. This toy is definitely a winner
in our book!

Little Tikes Discover Sounds Toolbox

The next toy I’d like to share is the Little Tikes Discover
Sounds Toolbox. This is the only toy that is more aimed at boys
than girls. It is also for ages 6 months to 3 years. This is a
toy we purchased for our twin boys when they were about a year
old, and they have passed it down to their 1-yr-old brother. This
toy is one of the most played with toys we own. We have tried
several different shape sorters, but this one is by far their
favorite. It is a toolbox that opens and closes. When you open it
there is a tray in the middle that has different shaped holes to
put the plastic shapes through. What’s neat about it is that the
tray flips back and forth so you put the shapes through the holes
on one side, then flip the tray to the other side and do it
again. All of our boys have played and played with this, pushing
the shapes through and flipping it back and forth. They love it!
The toolbox plays music and lights up when you push the shapes
through. The toolbox closes up so that your child can carry it
around with him. There are many great shape sorters on the market
you can choose from for both boys and girls.

Fisher-Price Little People Animal Sounds Farm

Another favorite toy is the Fisher-Price Little People Animal
Sounds Farm. This was a Christmas present that has also survived
the past five years. All of our children have played with it. It
is for ages 1 year to 4 years, but I think 1- to 2-year-old
children will play with it the most. (However, older children
can’t resist when playing with younger siblings!) There are doors
that open and shut that make animal sounds when open and closed.
My 1-year-old really enjoys opening and closing the doors and
putting the animals in the barn. We have collected a variety of
other animals and tractors, etc., during the past couple of
years, and the older boys like playing with the barn along with
the tractors and other farm accessories. This toy was well worth
the money.

Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Counting Friends Phone

We have tried out several toy phones during the past couple of
years, but the Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Counting Friends
Phone is by far our boys’ favorite. This phone, like many others,
makes lots of different noises when you push the buttons. The
difference in this one is that there is a “phone book” at the top
of the phone that your child can use to change the sounds the
phone makes. This is their favorite part of the phone. The
recommended age for this toy is 1 to 3 years, but it’s more for
1- to 2-year-old’s. Our son was able to change the pages of the
phone book when he was 9 or 10 months old. When they are old
enough to push the buttons, they will enjoy listening to the
different animal sounds.

There are so many different toys for 1- and 2-year-old’s on the
market today that it is hard to decide which one to buy for a
child’s birthday or Christmas present. If you are buying for
someone else’s child it is even harder! Hopefully these ideas
will help you get started.

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of
What’s for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick
easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, gardening, organizing tips,
home decorating, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative
Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.

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Bring Daddy Home….

December 6, 2010
by Lori

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