Wellness Wisdom: Activities for Building Happy, Healthy Families

Tips for Picky Eaters

Picky eating is common in young children, especially toddlers and preschool aged kids. As a parent or caregiver, you may find it hard to break your child’s picky eating habits. Remember, it is the parent or caregiver’s decision as to what, when and where food is offered at mealtimes. It is the child’s decision to choose to eat the food that is offered and how much of the food they eat.    

Tips to help improve picky eating:

• Get your child involved in the meal. Let your child help cook the meal, set the table, or plate their meal.
• Offer colorful foods and cut or arrange them into fun shapes.
• Be a role model for your children. Allow them to see you eating a variety of foods and the foods they do not like.
• Create a healthy meal environment. Turn of electronics and have positive, fun conversations.
• Offer new foods with foods that you know they enjoy.
• Create a set mealtime schedule so that your child has a regular mealtime routine.

For more tips, read here!

Breastfed From the Start: Helpful Tips for Mastering Breastfeeding

Proper Ways to Store Breast Milk

• Room Temperature (77 ºF (25 ºC) or colder): Freshly pumped milk can be stored at room temperature up to 4 hours.
• Refrigerator (40 ºF (4 ºC) or colder): Freshly pumped milk can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Freezer (0 ºF (-18 ºC) or colder): Freshly pumped milk can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months. In a deep freezer it can be stored for up to 12 months.

Thawed Breast Milk: Breast milk that has been thawed from the freezer can be stored at room temperature for 1-2 hours or stored in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Thawed breast milk should never be refrozen.

To thaw breast milk, place it in the refrigerator overnight or run it under warm water. Always remember to test the temperature of the thawed milk before giving it to your baby. Do NOT microwave or boil breast milk.

Read more about pumping and storing breast milk here!

Source: Human Milk Storage Guidelines. Centers for Disease Control. 2022.

Delicious & Nutritious Recipes: Simple, Kid Approved Dishes to Try at Home

Veggie Pizza

This is a great recipe to make eating veggies fun for your kids!

Ingredients:

• 1 large onion
• 2 bell peppers
• 2 medium tomatoes
• 8 ounces mushrooms
• 6 ounces mozzarella cheese
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 frozen, refrigerated or fresh whole wheat pizza dough (defrosted if frozen)
• Cooking spray
• ¼ teaspoon dried basil
• ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 can (8-ounces) tomato sauce no salt added

Directions:

1. Wash prep surfaces, your hands, and all fresh produce. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Peel onion. Dice onion, peppers, and tomatoes into ½-inch pieces. Slice mushrooms ¼-inch thick.
3. Grate cheese.
4. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Add onions, mushrooms, and peppers. Cook for 3 minutes.
5. Transfer vegetables to a colander. Stir in tomatoes. Let sit 3–5 minutes to drain excess liquid.
6. While veggies are draining, shape dough into a 12-inch pizza round. Use your fingers to stretch and spread the dough.
7. Coat a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Place pizza dough in center of sheet.
8. Mix dried basil and dried oregano into tomato sauce. Spread a layer of sauce across dough.
9. Sprinkle cheese evenly across the dough.
10. Bake pizza until cheese is melted and crust is browned on the sides and bottom, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven.
11. Add vegetable mixture. Return to oven and bake until pizza is cooked through, 5–10 minutes more. Remove from oven.
12. Let rest for 2 minutes. Using a sharp knife, cut into 8 pieces.