Great news!
Spring is right around the corner, and you know what that means… Easter Candy!!
Kids love Easter, from the brightly decorated eggs to the chocolatey treats.
Unfortunately, excess sugar and fructose are linked to multiple health concerns including childhood obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and tooth decay.
No one wants to be the monster parent, depriving their children of holiday fun, but at the same time, your child’s health is important.
So, what to do?

Are artificial sweeteners the answer?

The safety of artificial sweeteners has been hotly debated for decades, and, while nothing has been conclusively proven, there have been numerous studies linking artificial sweeteners to obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Essentially, the same effects as sugar minus the tooth decay…
Results may not be conclusive, but why take the risk?

Fortunately, there are natural solutions available.

Recently, some manufacturers have started using fruit juice or honey in their sweet treats. Although they contain sugar (glucose) and fructose, studies indicate that fruit juice and honey do not contribute to diabetes or obesity. This may be because, unlike sugar which is refined (i.e., no nutrient value) fruit juice and honey are natural, wholefood sweeteners which still contain healthy nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and bioflavonoids.
Other natural alternatives include stevia and monk fruit. Both are zero calorie, natural sweeteners that do not spike insulin and therefore do not contribute to the health risks mentioned previously.
In studies, stevia is shown to have numerous health benefits, and it acts as an antioxidant in the cells.
Monk fruit has been used in Asia for hundreds of years. It is extracted from the luo han guo fruit. In Chinese medicine, luo han guo is prized for its ability to support the lungs and is often used for respiratory disorders.
Monk fruit sweetener is usually a mix of monk fruit and erythritol (a sugar alcohol). Neither of these substances is absorbed by the body (we don’t have the enzymes to break them down).  Erythritol acts as an insoluble fiber and may be beneficial for constipation. An excess can cause temporary indigestion so don’t overdo it! Monk fruit sweeteners work well mixed with stevia, fruit juice or other natural sweeteners to assist in increasing the sweetness of sugary treats.

So, all this information is great but what is the practical application?

Luckily there are several health-conscious companies that strive to make healthy food available and convenient.
Sprouts, Wholefoods, Amazon and Thrive Online Market are great resources for these products.

Recommended Sweet Treats

1. Smart Sweets- gummy worms, gummy bears and sweet fish. All are sweetened with a mix of fruit juice and stevia
2. Heavenly Organics Chocolate Patties- sweetened with honey
3. Lily’s Chocolate- sweetened with stevia
4. Lakanto Chocolate- sweetened with monk fruit and erythritol

Be careful when sourcing candies or chocolates and always read the labels. Many companies advertise as being “fruit juice sweetened” and still contain significant quantities of refined sugar. The quality of “healthy” sweets can easily be assessed by scanning the ingredients list. If sugar is one of the first ingredients listed, then the product is unlikely to contain a beneficial amount of fruit juice and should not be considered as a healthy alternative.

Currently, companies are not manufacturing sugar-free, naturally sweetened, holiday-themed candies, but there is a simple solution.

Tools and Ingredients
 1.Silicone Easter egg candy mold (purchase from Michael’s, Amazon, Target or Walmart)
 2. Lily’s stevia-sweetened chocolate chips
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Instructions
Fill Easter themed molds with chocolate chips and microwave until melted.
Press down chocolate and shape to mold
​ Refrigerate overnight or until hard
ENJOY!


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​Note: Monk fruit can be used in recipes as a sugar substitute on a 1 to 1 ratio and is easily adapted into any traditional candy recipe.
Life is a balancing act. Do you want to be the “fun” parent or the “responsible” parent? Luckily with these healthy Easter tips, you can be both!

During the holidays, there is an uptick in talk about depression. A topic covered far less is depression in teenagers. Often dismissed in younger kids without a thought and dismissed in teenagers as being moody or having an attitude, quite often, mood changes, and yes including that of the 'typical teenager' are often signs of depression that should be addressed rather than punished.

The first thing to remember is that while teenagers are often almost full grown on the outside, their minds still have up to ten years or more to develop fully. Many teenagers are going through chemical changes in the body and brain which cause stress all by itself. Yes, mere existence is stressful for a teenager based on biological changes.

Next, there are outside factors. We see things that cause teenager stress and anxiety and often laugh at the 'simple problems' of teenagers, ignoring two significant considerations: The first is the chemical changes in the brain that make things more stressful. A teenagers brain is more akin to an adult brain coming off of a 100 hour work week. With the workload of school, combined with puberty causing sleep disruptions alone, a teenage mind is in a constant state of exhaustion. Remember those days when you fly into a rage at something simple like forgetting to empty a dishwasher after an unusually long day? The teenage brain is like that for five years straight.

Another thing to consider is the impending doom of adulthood soon. As we talked about above, we have the teenager seemingly unable to cope with the simplest of choices such as what to eat or wear. Now imagine this level of stress on such a small issue and then apply it to the problems of adulthood. In just a few short years, this child who can barely manage waking up and getting dressed in an orderly fashion is going to have to be working and paying bills and managing their own house. We parents stop and reflect on this throughout our lives in terror with years of experience. Now image the prospect of being thrown into the void as a child.

Teen suicide and other dangerous behaviors are at all-time highs. We no longer have the luxury of ignorance and ignoring our children's mental well being. It is crucial to be mindful of your teen's mood and to take steps to help rather than ignore or punish depression and its related behavior.

The main things to look for are many of the same signs you see in adults. Loss of appetite or sleep, an increase in wanting to be alone, weight changes, low self-esteem and problems at school are all common signs.

It is also important to remember that exhibiting some signs of depression may not necessarily mean they are depressed. Recognizing the symptoms is why it is critical to talk to your kids. Having an open and honest relationship with your child is important as they reach the teenage years. If you do not have a positive relationship, trying to create one when you get worried is too late. Before you make any assumptions, it is good to find out why behavior changes are occurring. Sometimes there may be perfectly reasonable explanations for some behaviors which you will not know without conversation.

If your teen is facing depression, it is essential for them to feel safe and secure in talking to you and finding a responsible remedy. Some depression is normal in teens, but if this is an ongoing or severe problem that can cause further problems, help may be needed. It is critical that we raise our children to understand there is no shame in getting help before it is too late. If you are worried about your teen and are not sure how to approach the situation, please call our office, and we can discuss how to help.

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If there is one constant problem parents seem to have, it is getting a child to eat anything healthy. Children tend to learn that health food is not as tasty as other foods. Many children will shun any food they see as healthy. Before, we discussed how to deal with children who are picky eaters, now we will discuss your child’s veggies in particular.

Hide It In Other Foods

The first very effective method for getting a child to eat vegetables is to hide it in other foods when cooking. Spinach shredded and placed in ground beef is rarely discovered. Cauliflower in your starch is always a winner. shredded and mixed with rice or mashed potatoes, and the child (or adults!) will never even know! Mixing some vegetables into scrambled eggs may help as well. There are even veggie pastas you can buy and the kids have no idea each serving includes vegetables! There are so many ways you can sneak in veggies into your children's food. Pizzas are great as well, very few children refuse pizza. Add a blend of meat and vegetables to the pizza and make sure they get all or nothing works almost every time. Also, do not forget the power of sauces!  Variety being the spice to life starts early. If you continue to introduce a variety of foods into your child's meals, they will be less resistant as you introduce them with regularity. You can even make it a special event, one day per week or month, or have a special food night. If you can get the child excited over the event, with a balloon on his chair, a candle in the food, and dessert night with the new feature food, your child will be more likely to expect the excitement and even welcome the new food or veggie night!

Mess With Their Reality

Double up the amount A child needs to have 3 servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit per day. A good psychological trick is to give them double the servings of vegetables for a meal and then tell them they only have to eat half. This works as a great negotiation tactic, especially when there is something else they do not care for. They do not like the meat, they can hold off on the meat or starch if they eat the other serving of vegetables.

Make Eating Fun!

Making a game out of eating is not ideal, but works as a last resort. If you make eating fun, they are more likely to finish the game. Make animals and smiley faces out of the food. Another fun game is to tell them the broccoli is a tree, and the dinosaur nugget needs to eat the trees. Making eating fun takes some of the attention off of the taste and helps clear that plate.

Smoothies Are A Treat And Are Nutritious

Smoothies are an almost guaranteed winner for fruit and veggie intake in large amounts all in one shot. In one smoothie you can pack two servings of fruit and two vegetables in one glass, making that final vegetable serving a snap. There are so many smoothie recipes out there, it is almost impossible for your child to oppose them all. Here is a handy list of kid friendly smoothies 

In the end, with these tips alone, you can have the child drink a smoothie in the morning, hide one serving in food, and then make them eat one serving a day. You can provide all the vitamin nutrition necessary for a healthy child. Remember, variety is key. three servings of only cauliflower per day is almost as bad as nothing at all. If you are ever having difficulty with your children’s vegetable intake, be sure to give us a call or schedule an appointment. We can figure out a plan together to help your child’s healthy food and vitamin intake.

​Before your child starts school, you may need to get your child vaccinated. While there seems to be some debate among people on vaccine effectiveness and causes and effects, outside the rumor mill, the science is reasonably sound and reliable. This office is dedicated to a safer community in Austin through regular immunizations. Vaccines are beneficial and save lives. Please get the proper vaccines for your children before starting school.
A total of seven vaccines are needed throughout school years in Austin, Texas. Here is a list of what is needed for local schools:
Note: Vaccine list and notes have been copied directly from Texas DSHS Website for clarity. Please see https://www.dshs.texas.gov/immunize/
And https://www.dshs.texas.gov/immunize/school/school-requirements.aspx for full information)
DTaP(Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis):
For K — 6th grade: 5 doses of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine; 1 dose must have been received on or after the 4th birthday. However, 4 doses meet the requirement if the 4th dose was received on or after the 4th birthday. For students aged 7 years and older, 3 doses meet the requirement if 1 dose was received on or after the 4th birthday.
For 7th grade: 1 dose of Tdap is required if at least 5 years have passed since the last dose of tetanus-containing vaccine.
For 8th — 12th grade: 1 dose of Tdap is required when 10 years have passed since the last dose of tetanus-containing vaccine. Td is acceptable in place of Tdap if a medical contraindication to pertussis exists.
Polio:
For K — 12th grade: 4 doses of polio; 1 dose must be received on or after the 4th birthday. However, 3 doses meet the requirement if the 3rd dose was received on or after the 4th birthday.
MMR(Measles, Mumps, and Rubella):
For K — 12 grade: 2 doses are required, with the 1st dose received on or after the 1st birthday. Students vaccinated prior to 2009 with 2 doses of measles and one dose each of rubella and mumps satisfy this requirement.
 
Hepatitis B:
For students aged 11 — 15 years, 2 doses meet the requirement if adult hepatitis B vaccine (Recombivax®) was received. Dosage (10 mcg / 1.0 mL) and type of vaccine (Recombivax®) must be clearly documented. If Recombivax® was not the vaccine received, a 3-dose series is required.
Varicella:
The 1st dose of varicella must be received on or after the 1st birthday.
For K — 12th grade: 2 doses are required.
MCV4(Meningococcal) :
For 7th — 12th grade, 1 dose of quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine is required on or after the student’s 11th birthday.
Note: If a student received the vaccine at 10 years of age, this will satisfy the requirement.
Hepatitis A: The 1st dose of hepatitis A must be received on or after the 1st birthday.
For K — 9th grade: 2 doses are required.
Remember, vaccines are not just for your child, but for the other children that are not able to vaccinate. Vaccines are for the safety of all children and adults in the community, not just your own. If you have any questions regarding vaccines, please feel free to call our office with your questions and to schedule your immunizations to prepare your child for school.

"Summertime and the living is easy." That is unless watching your children during summer has become a full-time job. We all do our best to keep our children happy and safe always, and especially during the summer. But, we all also know that it can take two seconds of averted eyes to lose a child forever. Another thing we all know is as parents, reading that line made your heart sink and your eyes water in fear. Nobody wants such a thing, and we do not want it for you as well.
Summertime events and festivals are all over Austin this summer. We have compiled a list of some lesser known ideas for safety.
 
Children In Public
When bringing your child to a significant event, with the large volume of people in such a small area, losing a child can happen in the blink of an eye. No matter how hard you try or what you do, unless you chain your child to yourself, it is going to happen. You can lose a child by digging for your wallet to get them a drink. It happens, it is not your fault. Yet, there are steps we can take to keep your child safe.
The first thing to do is find a meeting place. You will want to find a spot that is easy to see from a distance to meet your child at if lost. When this writer was a child we went to Disneyland every year, I was told to go to Disneyland Castle if lost. I was also told no matter where they were the first thing to do was to locate one of the Disney characters. I did get lost once with my aunt, I ran to Disney Castle, and my aunt was there a minute later to save me. It works. Landmarks and certain people such as security are easy to locate for small children. It is helpful to take advantage of what they do know.
Write their name and phone number on their wrist, along with a phone number. Next cover it with liquid band-aid so it will not wash off. This way, even a fearful child may get the phone number wrong under stress. Having a number written on the child eliminates the problem of forgetfulness.
 
Hiring A Sitter
An alternative to safety at an event this summer is to hire a babysitter. These are not the days of old where finding referral is needed for a sitter, and often someone you did not know. Today, there are apps available with proof of certifications, references; you name it. They are even location specific so that you can search for not Austin, but by zip code and distance if you choose.
Make sure your sitter is well trained in first aid, CPR and emergency protocols.
Make sure you have a stocked emergency kit, go through it with the sitter, locks, first aid, flashlights, etc.
Finally, remember everyone's safety is essential. Make sure your sitter has a safe system of transportation to and from your home as well. Security is for everyone. Offer a ride or Uber home if necessary.
 
Stranger Danger
Stranger Danger is another thought that comes to mind when it comes to keeping children safe. Recently there has been more talk about rethinking stranger danger. What is now taught is WHICH STRANGERS are a danger.
The key to keeping children safe is to teach and point out to your children which strangers are safe. Law enforcement officers and other parents are safe. Adults alone are not. If you are at a mall, make a game with your child where they locate the employees. Teach your child that if they get lost, to find the right stranger. A store employee or authority figure is better than avoiding all strangers.
We hope you will remember these tips for keeping your child happy, healthy and safe this summer. While adventuring with your child in the local Austin area or even outside of Texas, these tips will be of help.