Author Archives: Nicole Brigham, RD
Play With Your Food: Sensory Activities at Mealtime
Introducing foods to your little one can be such an exciting experience! Finally, you are able to offer something along with breastmilk or formula! It’s a huge milestone and can be quite an adventure. Many moms are surprised to find that foods are important for reasons other than nutrition. Food actually provides a great way for your child to learn and explore their five senses. Sensory activities are extremely helpful for encouraging brain development, fine motor skills and language. The following sensory activities provide an easy and fun way to introduce your … (read more)
Tips to Determine Toddler Meal Portions
Is my child eating enough?
If you have ever wondered about this, you are not alone! As a pediatric dietitian, I get this question often from concerned parents of toddlers and children who seem to have little to no appetite. The first thing I do is encourage parents to start by describing the portion sizes their children consume at each meal and to list all their daily hydration. Drinks with added sugars, such as milk, juice and other sugary beverages, … (read more)
Healthy Ideas for Entertaining
Last month my son turned one! His birthday was a bittersweet day for me and my husband, but it was also an exciting milestone. Our baby had transformed into a curious and active little boy, and we had survived our first year of parenthood! It definitely called for a celebration, and I took on the party planning like I was preparing for my wedding all over again. I decided that we were going to have a little man themed party full of bow ties and mustaches. I … (read more)
8 Simple Juice Tips for Toddlers
Is your child drinking too much fruit juice?
Trying to encourage your kids to eat a balanced diet can be a real challenge. Some days are more difficult than others, and on the difficult days, juice can really help to make sure your kids are getting some of the vitamins they need. But how much juice is too much? This has become a concern for pediatricians across the country as childhood obesity rates increase at alarming rates. Could excessive juice intake … (read more)
Fun Food Activities That Turn Mom Into a Magician
Have you ever had one of those days (or weeks) where your perfect little angel won’t eat any of the perfectly healthy foods that you have painstakingly made for them? Well, you are not alone! This is a very common concern among parents of toddlers and preschoolers, and here are a few fun food ideas that will help make foods disappear while incorporating learning activities, making you Mommy the Food Magician.
- Layering – Let your child build their own … (read more)
