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April 15, 2013

Did Government Panel Ignore Parent's Role in Obesity Report?

The Ontario government has targeted child obesity as a problem and has set a goal of reducing childhood obesity by 20 per cent over the next five years. 

To do so, the Healthy Kids Panel outlines three key ways to get kids healthier:

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April 1, 2013

Many Babies Are Being Fed Solids Too Soon, Says Study

I was so excited to feed my first baby solids. I waited and waited until I couldn't wait any longer. He was five and three-quarter months old. I set up the high chair, the splat mat, the bib, the shiny new utensils and the rice cereal and then ... nothing. He didn't want it. Sure, a little bit went in, but more came out. I had waited until he showed signs of eating. He watched our utensils with hungry eyes. He mimicked eating. I hoped it would make him sleep. But he wasn't ready.

But I couldn't wait.

I am sure that sense of impatience, the bad information and mistaken belief in old wives tales is what is behind the new research that says 40 per cent of babies are fed solids too soon. Both American and Canadian pediatric societies recommend starting solids at six months of age. But almost half of babies are being given solids before six months of age, with some being fed solids at the age of four weeks.

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March 28, 2013

Dinnertime Is Not Screentime

When we travelled to France a couple of years ago, I noticed that there were kids in every nice restaurant. But these kids weren't chatting nicely with their parents while eating their salade chevre and foie gras, they were all playing on a device.

I wondered if that was a worthy trade-off: kids get a  sense of a formal restaurant and have to eat the food, but they get to immerse themselves in their screen so the adults can have a conversation without disruption.

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March 25, 2013

Junk Food Is Not A Sports Snack

It is 10 am and my daughter is being given a Kool-Aid and a packaged Rice Krispie square for a snack from a lovely, well-meaning parent after her ball hockey game.

And I'm, like, really?? 

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March 18, 2013

Gwyneth On Motherhood, A Miscarriage and Marriage

Oh, Gwyneth.

You have a new cookbook out based on a restrictive diet, and in order to get people to buy into your clean eating regime you are hitting up the media with some news to get people talking.

You, like so many other women out there, suffered a miscarriage that understandably scared and saddened you. It sounds like it was a terrible experience that has obviously left some psychological scars. It can't be easy having your kids ask for a baby and not feel that you are able to have another one. Sounds like your relationship with Blue Ivy helps ease the burden a little, even though it makes you a little "broody".
 

 

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February 25, 2013

How I Ended Up On The Oscars With Galen Weston

To be honest, I sort of imagined my Oscar debut to come with a rush of excitement and a thank-you speech in hand, with me saying something like: "Thank you for loving my script. I can't forget my husband and kids who have stood by me," blah blah blah.

But instead, I was talking about quinoa with Sharon DeVellis, and Galen Weston from Loblaws and on a national commercial. But that's okay because it was still on the Oscar broadcast. And it was a really exciting experience to be in some commercials too! (You can see them here.)

But how did it happen?

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February 12, 2013

Should Restaurants Give Discounts To Well-Behaved Families?

A Washington state family of five got a surprise on their restaurant bill -- but it was a good one -- the owner had given them a well-behaved children discount.

Or at least that is what he typed on the bill. The discount actually came in the form of a bowl of ice cream for the kids to share. 

Laura King says her kids ages two, three, and eight, are comfortable in restaurants. She said they were just behaving as they normally do when eating out. She was surprised and delighted by the receipt and a friend put a photo online.

And then it went viral. Along with the question, should restaurants offer well-behaved kid discounts?

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January 16, 2013

January 6, 2013

Earls Restaurants Doesn't Want Kids And Doesn't Care If You Know It

A couple and their nine-month-old baby met some friends at Earls Restaurant in North Vancouver. They were fans of the fun atmosphere and food at the chain, and thought it would be a good place to rendezvous. 

But when the group asked for a high chair, they were told that the restaurant did not stock them. When the mom took her baby to the washroom to change him -- surprise! No change table either.

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November 14, 2012

Mom Wants To Ban Acorns To Protect Her Allergic Kids

You know when someone starts a sentence with "I’m not a crazy mom...", that something crazy is about to happen.

Donna Giustizia is asking the city of Vaughan to have the oak trees next to her child's high school torn down because the acorns may pose a risk to kids who suffer nut allergies. [I'm sure there is appropriate squirrel joke to add in here.]

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Emma WavermanEmma Waverman

Emma Waverman writes five days a week about the chaos of modern family life here at MSN.ca. She is the co-author of the family cookbook Whining and Dining: Mealtime Survival for Picky Eaters and Families Who Love Them and is hoping to one day to finish her certification as a parenting coach. She lives with her three kids, ranging from tween to grade schooler, and husband in Toronto. Emma has written for a variety of national parenting and lifestyle magazines and papers. When she’s is not making typos, telling you what she thinks, and thinking about dinner - you can find her on Twitter at @emmawaverman. You can contact Emma at embracingchaos@hotmail.ca

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