Is Your Preschooler Eating Enough?

Your child’s appetite changes.
Children don’t grow as fast in their preschool
years. That’s why your child may have a smaller
appetite now. That’s normal. If he or she isn’t
hungry or doesn’t finish a meal, relax. Take the
food away.
Your child probably is eating enough if he or she is
full of energy and is growing and seems healthy. If
your child is losing weight or has special food
needs, get help from a health professional. This
isn’t the time to figure out the problem by yourself.
Most young children do best when fed four to six
mini-meals a day.



NIBBLES FOR HEALTH 18 Nutrition Newsletters for Parents of Young Children, USDA, Food and Nutrition Service

Now Available at the Library

The 2012 Minnesota Grown Directory is now available at the library. This publication lists Minnesota Grown products and services that are available direct from the growers. You can search by area, product, and farm or market name.

Drop in and pick one up. They are free while the supply lasts.

Fruits and Veggies

Here Are Fruits, Veggies That Offer Best Bang for Your Buck

Strawberries, pineapple, spinach, broccoli and mustard greens are in season and good for you, experts say.  See the MedlinePlus article for full details.

MedlinePlus: Trusted Health Information for You

Young Americans Need to Cut Calorie Intake

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has set a goal of reducing the childhood obesity rate to 14.6 percent by 2020, and to do so children aged 2 to 19 would need to eliminate an average of 64 calories a day.

See this HealthDay article for more information.

Best Time of Day to Work Out

“The best time of the day is when you will do it most consistently, because the benefits of physical activity are tightly linked to the amount you do on a consistent basis,” said Russell Pate, M.D., professor of exercise science in the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina in Columbus.
See the American Heart Association website for more details.

Create a Healthy Living Space

It is time for some spring cleaning.  Here ate some tips from USA.gov to help you make your living space healthier:

• Mold can grow easily in places you use every day, such as the sink, bath tub, heater or AC unit. It’s important to stay on top of cleaning these areas as soon as you notice the mold. Left untreated, mold can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your home, and lead to health problems.
• Household products such as disinfectant, cleaning supplies and polishes can help make your cleaning duties much easier, but it’s important to remember they can be hazardous to your family and home too. The EPA offers guidelines on being smart when storing, using and disposing of your household products.
• Dust can pile up during the winter months when your windows stay closed, adding to allergies and other health problems. Increased dust could also mean you need to change your furnace or air purifier filters more often. Find out the ways dust can enter your home and ways you can remedy the situation.
• Unfortunately, unwanted rodents can show up in your basement, attic and other spots throughout the house any time of the year. Learn the appropriate steps for cleaning and disinfecting the areas and furnishings they’ve contaminated, and how to dispose of them properly.

Never to Late to Start

Exercise has benefits at all ages. 

See this Medline Plus article for great tips on exercising at any age.