Pediatricians San Diego

New parents are faced with the decision of how to feed their newborn. The options include exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding and supplementing with pumped milk or formula, pumping and feeding breastmilk in a bottle, giving donor milk or giving formula. Oftentimes circumstances require making changes to the feeding plan, despite an already agreed upon method. For mom’s who choose to breastfeed, it’s very important for them to receive adequate support. The feeding method families choose is a personal choice. My recommendation is that families discuss the options with their pediatrician prior to the birth of their baby. (For those families who do not yet have a pediatrician, this is a great time to make that choice!) However, you may still have questions. Here are some points to consider. Breastfeeding offers health benefits for mom and baby. Babies get important antibodies that prevent infection in the early months of life. Babies who are breastfed may have decreased risk of dev...

Moms and dads are busy and pressed for time, and trying to pack a healthy lunch during hectic school day mornings can add to the frustration. But the bento box provides a perfect solution! Bento is a meal concept originating in Japan, consisting of food items held in different containers within a box. A traditional bento consists of rice or noodles, meat or fish, and vegetables, all inside a box. These items can be easily substituted by any healthy carbohydrate, protein, dairy, fruit and vegetable entrée. You can even get creative and arrange the different items in a bento to resemble animation characters or objects! Even the kids can get involved and help prep the bento boxes, making meal prepping fun and engaging. A few added bonuses? You won’t be using multiple plastic baggies, and the individual compartments are a good reminder about portion sizes. Here are 5 easy bento box lunches that take only five minutes to make: Bento box #1 Hummus with white wheat crackers Cucumbe...

Messages suggesting that teens need to change their physical appearance are everywhere – on social media, on television, in magazines and in movies. Those messages are often reinforced with comments from friends, family members, coaches, and even strangers. As a result, teens can develop distorted perceptions about body image, attitudes about food and physical activity, leading to increase in dieting in an attempt to lose weight. In a recent report from the Center for Disease Control, almost 38% of teens ages 16 to 19 said they had tried to lose weight within the past year (McDow et al, 2019). This number is up almost 24% from previous years. Far more girls than boys reported trying to lose weight: around 45% compared to 30% of boys. However, dieting during the teenage years is harmful and can have potential, negative long-term side effects. There is an increased risk of eating disorders, alcohol, and weight-related issues later in life (Yang et al, 2014). In addition, teens tend to ...

If you’re a busy parent like me, the last thing you want to do during the back-to-school morning rush is find time to put together a healthy lunch for your kids. I’ve found that taking the time to prepare easy, nutritious breakfasts and lunches is a better option. Spending a few hours to plan ahead, shop and prepare food in advance will make hectic mornings a thing of the past. In addition, you will guarantee your child will have enough fuel to get through a full day of school. Breakfast We know breakfast is the most important meal of the day, however, when grabbing a quick bowl of cereal it can be one of the least healthy meals of the day. To help get your child fueled for a full day of school it is important to include a good source of protein and complex carbohydrates like whole grain or fruit. Some quick and healthier alternatives to cereal are easy to prepare and there are even healthy grab-and-go options for eating in the car: 1. Scrambled eggs and cheese with a side of berrie...