Good Eating Habits

Good nutrition and a balanced diet help kids grow up healthy. Whether you have a toddler or a teen, here are five of the best strategies to improve nutrition and encourage smart eating habits:

1. Have regular family meals.
2. Serve a variety of healthy foods and snacks.
3. Be a role model by eating healthy yourself.
4. Aviod battles over food.
5. Involve kids in the process.

But it's not easy to take these steps when everyone is juggling busy schedules and convenience food, such as fast food, is so readily available.

Here are some ways to incorporate all five strategies into your routine.

Family Meals

Family meals are a comforting ritual for both parents and kids. Children like the predictability of family meals and parents get a chance to catch up with their kids. Kids who take part in regular family meals are also:

• more likely to eat fruits, vegetables, and grains
• less likely to snack on unhealthy foods
• less likely to smoke, use marijuana, or drink alcohol

In addition, family meals offer the chance to introduce your child to new foods and to act as a role model for healthy eating.

Teens may turn up their noses at the prospect of a family meal — not surprising because they're trying to establish independence. Yet studies find that teens still want their parents' advice and counsel, so use mealtime as a chance to reconnect. Also, consider trying these strategies:

• Allow your teen to invite a friend to dinner.
• Involve your teen in meal planning and preparation.
• Keep mealtime calm and congenial — no lectures or arguing.

What counts as a family meal? Any time you and your family eat together — whether it's takeout food or a home-cooked meal with all the trimmings. Strive for nutritious food and a time when everyone can be there. This may mean eating dinner a little later to accommodate a child who's at sports practice. It can also mean setting aside time on the weekends, such as Sunday brunch, when it may be more convenient to gather as a group.

Stocking Up on Healthy Foods

Kids, especially younger ones, will eat mostly what's available at home. That's why it's important to control the supply lines — the foods that you serve for meals and have on hand for snacks. Follow these basic guidelines:

• Work fruits and vegetables into the daily routine, aiming for the goal of at least five servings a day. Be sure you serve fruit or vegetables at every meal.
• Make it easy for your child to choose healthy snacks by keeping fruits and vegetables on hand and ready to eat. Other good snacks include low-fat yogurt, peanut butter and celery, or whole-grain crackers and cheese.
• Serve lean meats and other good sources of protein, such as fish, eggs, beans, and nuts.
• Choose whole-grain breads and cereals so kids get more fiber.

Essential Tip For Baby Diet

There are so many questions that arise in a mother's mind regarding her baby. One of the most confusing ones would be regarding feeding. How can you tell whether your baby is hungry and needs feeding or is crying for some other reason? When do you stop feeding? How many times in a day do you need to feed? Is breastfeeding better than formula milk?

Well, don't worry! No mother is an expert and no one expects you to be one. Each baby is unique and has different needs when it comes to their feed and the quantity they require to satisfy their hunger pangs. A mother, after some experience will learn to sense her baby's needs and act on them. Meanwhile, here is some information to get you going.

Breastfeeding is considered the best for a new born baby as the mothers' milk has antibodies which protect the baby and gives them increased resistance and immunity against colds and allergies in the later days to come. It has been observed that children who are breast-fed are stronger, healthier and more intelligent than ones who have not received any. Breast milk has all the essential nutrients required for a baby and should be given for at least six months. While breastfeeding, a mother should be careful about her diet as it affects the baby directly. If for some reason, a mother is unable to breast feed, then formula milk can be given.

Always feed your baby on demand and not on a schedule that has been laid out by anyone. On an average, a baby requires up to eight feeds in a day. But there is no need to worry if your baby is taking less or more than this amount. If your baby is gaining weight proportionately, it means that the food requirements are being met. You need to sense when your baby is full by recognizing when they pull away. Likewise when they are hungry, they will definitely show some signs of discomfort which given time, you will learn to associate with hunger. If you are bottle-feeding your baby, ensure that the bottles are always sterilized so as to avoid any kind of infection. The milk should also be warm and not hot. It is essential to burp the baby after every feed and it is normal for them to bring out some of the milk after feeding is over.

The process of starting babies on solid food is called as weaning. After four to six months, babies can be given carbohydrates like mashed bananas to start with. When the baby completes ten months, they can be given other fruits, vegetables and meats as well. It is good to introduce food items one at a time so as to notice any reactions or allergies to the same. If any reaction occurs, it is advisable to contact your doctor immediately as it should not be ignored.

Feeding is the time when mothers can bond best with their babies. It is a highly satisfying experience and should be cherished. So enjoy this time together and don't think of it as a hassle.

Hand Are Exposed To Bacteria

Do you know what your hands could be carrying?????

Germ are lurking in far mores places than many of us realize and touching everyday object or even just shaking hands can make us sick.

many people mistakenly believe that they pick up most of the germs that make them sick through the air,when someone else sneezes or coughs.In reality,80% of the germs that cause illness are spread by contact.

Prevent Infection?????
Easy Way.....Just Wash Your Hand!

Proper Hand-Washing Techniques...

• Rub your hand vigorously together for atleast 15 second
• Srub all surface,including the backs of your hand,wrist, between your finger and under your fingernails
• Wet your hand under the warm,running water and use a clean bar soap or liquid soap,lather well
• Dry your hand with clean or dispable towel
  
• Use a towel to turn off the faucet.

When shoud you wash your hand????think about it...

Always wash your hands..

• After using bathroom
• After changing a diaper
• After touching animal or animal waste..
• Before or after preparing food,especially before and immediately after handling raw meat,poultryor fish.
• Before eating
• Before inserting or removing contact lanses.

protect your baby from germs.....

• keep house spic and span
• flush it down,flush it right...(for toilet)
• keep pet clean
• clean baby"s nursery
• handle dirty diaper s with care