Tag Archives: children’s health

School Lunches: Trusting Kids to Make Healthy Choices

  By Donna DeForbes | October 1, 2013 - 5:30 am |
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Kids Making Healthy Food Choices | Eco-Mothering.com

Sofie went off to first grade this fall, and, for the first time ever, I do not have to pack her lunch. Hooray! However, this also means my six-year-old now makes her own lunch choices at school. Not so “hooray.” I now worry about my sudden lack of control in this area. What if Sofie eats nothing but bread and ice cream every day? Maybe peer pressure will take hold and she’ll decide it’s not cool to eat veggies. Anything could happen. The good news is that her school has a healthy menu of food selections. Every day there is a sandwich bar, a salad bar, soups and fresh fruit. Dessert is served twice a week, a parent-approved reduction from previous years. The other days, Sofie makes “rainbow yogurt” — vanilla yogurt mixed with fruits of her choice. The milk is local (Rhody Fresh), and we have reached an agreement … Continue reading →

Top 5 Additional Uses for Breast Milk

  By Donna DeForbes | August 23, 2013 - 5:30 am | ,
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Uses for Breast Milk | Eco-Mothering.com

We already know breast milk is tops for feeding your child, but did you know it has other uses, both medicinal and cosmetic? The immunologic agents found in human milk help fight against bacteria, viruses and parasites… with no wonky side effects. Here are a few home uses for breast milk recommended by moms (and some doctors) around the world. Treat an Ear Infection Those amazing antibodies in your breast milk can fight off ear infections, which occur most often in children ages six to 18 months. Put about 3-4 drops at the entrance of the ear canal every few hours. The infection should clear up within 24-48 hours. Some moms follow the breast milk with bottled garlic mullein oil. Clear Up Acne Lauric acid, a component of breast milk, has antibacterial, acne-fighting qualities without the side effects of drugs. Dabbing breast milk alone (or a mixture of breast milk … Continue reading →

Top 5 Natural Remedies for Children’s Allergies

  By Donna DeForbes | June 21, 2013 - 5:30 am |
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Natural Allergy Remedies for Children | Eco-Mothering.com

Many of us reach for the allergy medication during hay fever season, but we think twice before giving it to our kids. Here are some natural allergy remedies you’ll feel comfortable trying on your little ones. Local Honey This is a much-discussed remedy that has worked well for my family. The theory is that ingesting honey from local plants and flowers builds up your immune system to those same plants, sort of like a vaccine. I’ve used it myself before, and this year we tried it on Sofie when she began to exhibit signs of hay fever: sneezing and stuffy nose. You usually have to plan ahead for this and begin taking 1 teaspoon of locally grown honey about 4-6 weeks before allergy season. Typically, I have used commercial honey common in the stores or honey direct from a friend’s hive, but raw honey is supposed to be your best … Continue reading →

Top 5 Yoga Poses for Kids

  By Donna DeForbes | May 17, 2013 - 5:30 am | ,
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Yoga Poses for Kids

Kids love to move. Getting them started early with yoga feeds that need and offers a ton of benefits—both physical and mental—including: strength, flexibility, concentration, self-control, balance, expression, confidence and relaxation. Who doesn’t want all that for their child? Below are five poses (four easy, one challenging) that are great for introducing kids to yoga. Tree Pose (Vriksasana) This classic is the first yoga pose my daughter latched onto, and she still loves it. Tree pose teaches self-control and concentration while it improves a child’s balance and lower body strength. Kids “become” a tree by planting their feet into the ground for stability and noticing the sway of their bodies. Many often find they have better balance on one side more than another, which is perfectly normal. Downward-Facing-Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) An excellent and invigorating pose for kids and adults alike, Downward Dog is good for relieving tension and energizing the … Continue reading →