Carbohydrates, Sugar, and Your Child

Carbohydrates are the body's most important and readily available source of energy. Even though they've gotten a bad rap lately and are sometimes blamed for the obesity  epidemic in America, carbs are a necessary part of a healthy diet for both kids and adults.

The two major forms of carbs are:
   1. Simple sugars (simple carbohydrates), such as fructose, glucose, and lactose, which also are found in nutritious whole fruits
   2. Starches (complex carbohydrates), found in foods such as starchy vegetables, grains, rice, and breads and cereals

Calcium and your child

Milk and other calcium-rich foods have always been a must-have in kids' diets. After all, calcium is a key building block for strong, healthy bones. But most kids ages 9 to 18 don't get the recommended 1,300 milligrams of calcium per day.

That's not surprising when you consider that many kids now drink more soda than milk, which is one of the best sources of calcium. And teens who smoke or drink soda, caffeinated beverages, or alcohol may get even less calcium because those substances interfere with the way the body absorbs and uses calcium.

Why Read to My Baby?

You may wonder about the benefits of reading to your baby. An infant won't understand everything you're doing or why. But you wouldn't wait until your child could understand what you were saying before you started speaking to him or her, right? And you wouldn't bypass lullabies until your baby could carry a tune or wait until he or she could shake a rattle before you offered any toys.

Reading aloud to your baby is a wonderful shared activity you can continue for years to come — and it's an important form of stimulation.

Reading aloud:
    * Teaches a baby about communication
    * Introduces concepts such as stories, numbers, letters, colors, and shapes in a fun way
    * Builds listening, memory, and vocabulary skills
    * Gives babies information about the world around them