Eating Nutritional Foods Can Help Children Be at Their Best Academically
The start of the school year also means the return of school lunches, and the choice of brown-bagging or eating in the cafeteria. A nutritionist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center says that it may seem contrary to perception, but a lunch from home may be the better choice, nutritionally.
“Lunches served in school cafeterias are not always the best choice and I recommend that sometimes lunches need to be packed,” says Mary Pat Alfaro, MS, RD, CNSD, education coordinator in Nutrition Therapy at Cincinnati Children’s. “Although The Healthy School Lunch Campaign is urging schools to serve more balanced, lower fat meals, a packed lunch means the parents are in control of what children eat, including their portion size.”
New Recommendations for Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination
Hearing bacterial meningitis mentioned on the evening news can strike fear in any parent, especially if their child is in a high risk setting such as a high school or college dorm. Although rare, this illness can be life threatening, and is particularly alarming because it appears suddenly and can progress rapidly even in healthy children and teenagers.
Managing Asthma in Children
Asthma is the No. 1 cause of hospitalizations among children, but with proper management, children can have full participation in school and sporting events.
Experts estimate nearly 20 million Americans have asthma, ranging from 7 percent to 12 percent of children. Among African-Americans the rate of asthma is even higher.
China Limits Teenage Internet Gaming
The Chinese government has launched a campaign to limit the number of hours teenagers spend online playing games.
Under new rules that took effect Monday, Chinese Internet gaming companies must install a program that requires users to enter their ID card numbers. After three hours, players under 18 are prompted to stop and “do suitable physical exercise.” If they continue, the software slashes by half any points earned in the game. All points are wiped out if players stay on more than five hours.
