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Throughout the school year, I teach an interactive nutrition class to a group of middle and high school students. The focus is on introducing new foods and adding a healthy touch to some of their favorite meals or snacks. While talking to the kids, I was surprised to find how many of them love salads. But many of their favorite toppings are high in fat, high in calories and lack color. What they needed was a little education and taste testing to help them understand that not all salads are created equal. Fortunately, they were very eager to learn how to make their salads more nutritious without sacrificing flavor.

Our kids likely will be splashing in the water all summer long. Whether they’re diving in the backyard swimming pool, braving the ocean waves, or frolicking at local splash pads, water activities are how we Floridians manage this intense heat (and, of course, have a little fun!). As your kids enjoy all of these water activities, though, you may wonder about swimmer’s ear. We hear people talk about it frequently, but is it something you should worry about?

When you get ready to potty-train your little one, you may wonder about the “right” way to do it. The truth is, there isn’t only one “right” way. Potty-training is a learning process for both you and your child, and it takes time, effort and commitment. Some books or parenting gurus may promise you a step-by-step program for guaranteed success, but there is no easy or fool-proof way to do it. There will be accidents. It will take time, and that’s okay.

Hurricane Irma’s visit to Central Florida last year reminded us of the many ways tropical storms and hurricanes can wreak havoc on our everyday lives. These weather events become especially critical when there’s a family member with serious medical needs.

Few things can bring a smile to your face as quickly as a baby in a bathing suit. With chunky leg rolls exposed and a huge summertime grin on their faces, babies lounging at the beach or the pool are just the cutest. But as you dress your little ones in their beachwear, you may wonder whether you should slather on sunscreen before going out in the sun.

One of the most frequent concerns of new parents is getting their baby to sleep. And when it comes to this topic, there is no shortage of advice offered by family members, products to buy to make sleep easier, and advertisements to convince you of your need for these things. 

Sickle cell disease is the name of an inherited problem with red blood cells. Most people have red blood cells that are disc-shaped and move easily through blood vessels, but those with sickle cell have red blood cells that are C-shaped (like the farm tool called a sickle). The unusual shape of red blood cells, as well as their tendency to harden and become sticky as they travel through blood vessels, causes a variety of problems.

May marks the 30th anniversary of National Trauma Awareness Month. To celebrate this milestone, let’s get to know one of the team members who

Eight years ago when my son was in pre-kindergarten, we received a flyer from the moms of two classmates. A local sports association was signing kids up to play soccer (starting at age four), and these moms wanted to create a team.  This was an opportunity for fun and learning, the sort of activity we had been looking for. Our son, an introverted only child, had shown interest in playing soccer so we jumped at the opportunity to increase his little social life and get some exercise. It helped that Dad had almost twenty years of experience playing soccer himself and was willing to coach our son and the nine other preschoolers who were signed up to play.

Flu season is here, and it is packing a big punch this year. In late December and early January, experts documented a surge of influenza illnesses throughout various parts of the country, and Florida is no exception. Experts predict this trend to continue for the next several months, and here’s why: