Tips for Celebrating National Nutrition Month

Image courtesy of Eatright.org

It’s time to put your best fork forward in honor of National Nutrition Month! This year, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reminds us that by making small changes this month and over time, you can easily help improve your health now and for the future!

Not sure where to begin? See below for some nutrition tips for the whole family:

Make eating fruits and veggies fun! Trust us, it’s easy. On your next pizza night, add spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, or broccoli as a topping. For breakfast, treat yourself to a healthy smoothie — with strawberries and a banana. Get saucy with fruit — puree berries or apples in a blender and use the thick, sweet sauce on pancakes or meats. Enjoy a loaded baked potato — with beans, tomatoes, and low-fat cheese. For 16 additional tips, download this handout! 

Choose smart snacks. Eating the right snacks throughout the day helps keep you energized and focused between meals — necessary for kids in school and even adults at work! Try making stuffed pita pockets: whole-grain pita, stuffed with ricotta cheese, granny smith apple slices, and a dash of cinnamon. Spread celery sticks with smooth nut butter or low-fat cream cheese, top with raisins for the traditional “ants on a log.” For more sacking tips, download this handout!

Cook more, eat out less. Eating right isn’t impossible, even if you’re on a budget. All it takes is a little extra planning before you shop! In fact, when you prepare meals at home, they end up being cheaper and more nutritious. So before your next grocery run, plan your meals for the week, check recipes, and consult your kitchen cabinets to create a list of must have items. Additionally you’ll want to:

• Shop for foods(fruits and vegetables) that are in season. Since they’re easier to get, they tend to be less expensive.
• Focus on nutritious, low-cost foods! Foods like beans, peas, white potatoes, eggs, peanut butter, canned tuna, brown rice, quinoa, and frozen vegetables are all nutritious and often less expensive.
• Consult your newspaper and look online for sales and coupons — especially when it comes to the more expensive ingredients like meat or seafood. Compare prices while shopping as well! Different brands may increase the charge.
  

Reduce sources of added sugars! Too much sugar is bad for your health — and for you teeth! Choose water over sugary sports drinks, juices, or sodas. Add cinnamon or dried fruit to plain oatmeal instead of instant flavored oatmeal. Switch to unsweetened or no sugar added applesauce or jams/jellies. Small substitutions go a long way!

Just as a balanced diet is good for our waistline - it's just as necessary for a healthy smile! If you have any questions about how to improve your child's oral health please give our offices a call. We specialize in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and welcoming environment. Contact us today at one of our three convenient Long Island locations!

Celebrate National Nutrition Month

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

 

It’s National Nutrition Month! We know it's not always easy to get kids to eat healthy, but sticking to a nutritional, well-balanced diet is essential for tooth-health! Make sure to incorporate the below foods this month, and always:

High fibrous foods: Fruits, vegetables, and grains help to scrub teeth and stimulates saliva, your mouth’s first defense in fighting mouth monsters. Saliva helps neutralize any acids that may attack tooth enamel. 

Building Blocks: Make sure to serve up plenty of foods that are rich in essential vitamins and minerals like vitamins A, C, D, and calcium and phosphorous. These nutrients help to protect and rebuild tooth enamel and can be found in beef, eggs, whole grains, poultry, fish, tofu, and many nuts! 

Dairy: Dairy products like milk and yogurt are known to provide the calcium and phosphate needed to help strengthen teeth. Cheese is also a great source of calcium and helps to stimulate saliva as well! Do keep in mind though, that the lactose in milk can attack teeth if left lingering in the mouth. That’s why it’s best to put baby to bed with a bottle of water.

Water: Absolutely the most tooth-friendly beverage, water will rinse away food particles and sugars left behind in the mouth. Fluoridated water in particular, has the most benefit for tiny teeth! 

If you have any questions about how to improve your child's oral health please give our offices a call. We specialize in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and caring environment. Call (516) 798-1111 or visit our website to schedule an appointment. Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for updates and industry news.

#WellnessWednesday - National Nutrition Month

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

Preparing healthy foods for a large family can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to break the bank. Help your family bite into a healthy lifestyle during National Nutrition Month! Save time, money and stress by following the below tips from ChooseMyPlate: 

Keep it simple: Don't worry about making things complicated. Healthy and creative meals can be simple - saving you money and stress.

Enlist little helpers: Divide jobs among family remembers - remember kids love being in the kitchen! With their help you can get more done and have more time to enjoy with your family.

Enjoy yourself - Feel yourself becoming stressed? Take a step back and remember to have fun and enjoy the company of those closest to you.

Holiday options - Consider your menu options around the holidays (Passover and Easter are around the corner after all). Choosing to serve brunch can save on food costs as eggs are less expensive and make a great protein for the main dish. For another fun idea opt to offer a yogurt parfait bar where everyone cam add their desired toppings to their yogurt.

Make it a potluck - Great option for large family gatherings - prepare a side dish and ask each family member to make the rest! Now there's less work on you and everyone can enjoy trying each other's creations.

Just as a balanced diet is good for our waistline - it's just as necessary for a healthy smile. We encourage you to also work some of these smile friendly options into family meals as well!

If you have any questions about how to improve your child's oral health please give our offices a call. We specialize in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and caring environment. Call (516) 798-1111 or visit our website to schedule an appointment. Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for updates and industry news.

Healthy Foods For Teeth - National Nutrition Month

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

Since we’re more than halfway through March we wanted to check in and see how you’ve been celebrating National Nutrition Month. We know the importance that smart food choices and sound eating habits have on the body as a whole, but they also play a big role in the health of the mouth, teeth, and gums.

Just as a balanced diet is good for our waistline - it’s just as necessary for a healthy smile. So to finish off the month strong, we wanted to provide some key foods for your oral health that you should be incorporating into your meals:

• Cheese: The casein protein found in cheese (or other milk products) helps to fortify the tooth’s surface and protect against cavities. It’s low in sugar and acid, and high in calcium!
• Leafy Greens: Rich in folic acid, this food group supports cell growth and regeneration.
• Cucumber: Did you know gum disease can be effectively treated with cucumber juice? Consuming raw cucumber can increase saliva and will serve to neutralize the acid and base in the oral cavity. These veggies also contain a photochemical that fights the bacteria in the mouth that causes bad breath.
• Ginger: Have a toothache? The anti-inflammatory properties found within ginger root serves as a pain killer and can aid in minor infections, swelling, and discomfort usually associated with a minor toothache!
• Carrots: Eating raw carrots helps stimulate the mouth’s natural cleanser, saliva. Not to mention they are rich in vitamin A - which is necessary for healthy tooth enamel.
• Strawberries: A natural tooth whitener due to the malic acid found inside this delicious fruit.
• Sesame Seeds: These little seeds are rich in calcium which helps to keep teeth healthy. They work to dissolve plaque buildup on teeth as well as strengthening tooth enamel.

Smart Snacking Tips and Tricks for National Nutrition Month

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

We know that it’s not always easy to keep your kids from snacking on candy, chips and ice cream.  However, we are encouraging parents to help their kids snack smart this March in honor of National Nutrition Month!  A balanced diet full of nutritious foods can help keep your child’s smile healthy and beautiful.

Here are a few tips to help make healthy snacking a little easier:

• Set An Example – Kids mimic what you do.  Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables instead of sugary snacks.  Remember to set good brushing and flossing example too.
• Be Creative – Healthy snacks can be fun too.  Try a fruit smoothie or a yogurt sprinkled with granola and bananas.
• Shop Together – Ask your kids what kind of snacks they would like from the supermarket. Help them read the nutrition facts label and learn how to check the sugar content. 
• Eat Well-Balanced Meals – Healthy meals are just as important as healthy snacks.  Make sure that your kids have well-balanced lunches and dinners.

Kids don’t have to give up on dessert, but make sure that most of the food they eat is healthy and nutritious.  Try to limit sweets to once a day, rather than snacking on them throughout the day.  Choose fresh fruits, raw veggies, grains, nuts, seeds, meats, and dairy snacks that are low in sugar instead. 

Read more about smart snacks for healthy smiles by clicking here.  We also invite you to contact our office for more information or to schedule your bi-annual cleaning and exam.