August 11, 2022 yourHEALTH body / mind / fitness
wellness With a focus on
How to pack healthy food your children will actually eat
By Eric Christensen In theory, packing a nutritious lunch for your children should be simple. In practice, it can be stressful for many parents. After all, par ents have to balance nutritional recommenda tions against picky eaters, food allergies, school policies and shortened lunchtimes. Sadly, reality often falls short of our imagined ideal. But don’t use that as an excuse to give up. Instead, by making small changes, parents can pack more nutritious, and more affordable, lunches that their children will actually eat. Asha Dornfest, founder of the website Parent Hacks and co-author of “Minimalist Parenting,” says, “My first rule of thumb is to not put too much pressure on yourself to make it perfect.” Dornfest advises parents to aim high but realize that they can offer nutritious meals during the rest of the day to balance out any midday mistakes. A good place to start when aiming high is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate dietary guidelines, which you can find at ChooseMyPlate.gov. Dr. Robert Post, associate executive director of the USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, says MyPlate guidelines “are a simple, powerful visual cue to consumers to think about choosing healthier foods during meal times.” Post stresses that the icon is “suggestive of portion sizes, not prescrip tive,” but he thinks the icon can easily be applied to school lunches. He also notes that ChooseMyPlate.gov contains many tips on healthy meal planning and cooking nutritious meals, which helps parents analyze and improve their family’s diet. What’s in that lunchbag Once you know what the ideal lunch should look like, Dornfest says parents should focus on “the really big nutritional categories: something with protein, a fruit or a vegetable, something crunchy, maybe an optional treat and milk or water to drink.” Use these groupings to standardize lunches. Dornfest says, “If I can come up with two or three lunches that my kids like, and I keep those items on my grocery list, I’m most of the way there. ... A lot of time, kids like to have the same thing over and over again for lunch.”Next,use small tricks to ensure that your children will eat the food you pack for lunch.
The best trick, Post and Dornfest agree, is to involve your children in the lunch packing pro cess. “I think the sooner the better,” suggests Dornfest. “You’d be surprised what a preschool er can do. I’m not talking about making lunch from start to finish, but giving you ideas about lunch, getting the napkin and putting it in their lunchbox. It’s about including them in the pro cess as reasonable.” Post adds, “Kids are more likely to enjoy the foods when it’s their choice,” so he advises taking your children grocery shopping and letting them pick some items for lunch. He also notes that these trips can be a great opportunity for teaching children about nutrition. Pack it wisely Additionally, parents often overlook a com mon reason children do not eat all of their packed lunch: an inability to open food contain ers. This is particularly the case with small chil dren whose dexterity is still developing. If a child who is pressed for time at lunch can’t open a container, he or she is likely to get frus trated and not eat what’s in the container. Dornfest noted on her blog that she practices opening lunch containers with her child before usingFinally,them.many parents want to also an afford able lunch. Many parents save money by pur chasing reusable containers instead of singleuse plastic bags. Dornfest notes that containers should be easy to clean in addition to easy to open. She adds, “A lot of wasted money is in wasted food.” Don’t pack food just because it’s nutritious if it goes uneaten. Both Dornfest and Post suggest spending some time during the weekend preparing and portioning various snacks. Store them as appropriate, and then you can grab them and go during the week. Dornfest believes these tips should help reduce decision-making, and automatic lunch packing will be less stressful.
Photo: Back-to-school time is the perfect opportunity to reinforce healthy eating habits.
NewspapersCommunityHerald-HealthYour—202211,August 2 1181202 Lunch that packs a punch
Healthy outlook
Healthy habits set children up for success inside and outside the class room. With back-to-school season in full swing, it’s important to create rou tines that are easy to maintain throughout the entire school year — not just the first few weeks. Help your family establish a healthy, manageable lifestyle by incorporat ing the following habits into your routine when school is back in session.
Get Outdoors Establishing an outdoor routine throughout the school year, especially when the temperatures are still warm, can help your child stay active and healthy. Plan a specific hour each day where your child can engage in free play activities outside. If you don’t have an outdoor space, something as simple as sitting on the porch and writing down observations about their surroundings can help boost their imagination and curiosity. By reducing the time spent on electronics and replacing it with outdoor activities, your child will be more motivated when the school bells ring each morning. Make Homework Fun Motivating your child to complete their homework each night may not always be an easy task. This year, try creating a special homework place to help them conquer their assignments. Work together to decorate and design a space that makes them feel comfortable and focused.
Above photo: Healthy habits need to start early on. Now, more than ever, our daily behaviors are the key to maintaining wellness — today and in the years ahead.
For younger children, try using charts and stickers throughout the year to encourage them to commit to their homework. Reward them with one of their favorite activities such as a trip to the park or a game night!
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate: Plan Time For Hydration
3 202211,August—NewspapersCommunityHerald-HealthYour
T he past two-plus years have brought about a new perspective on health. Healthy living is no longer a few jumping jacks and some bean sprouts. Healthy living is about fortifying your health, and that of your family, from the inside out. The toughest part of this equation is making sure that you, the parent, are on the right track and providing the right guidance for your children.Assummer break comes to an end, there’s a lot to accomplish as the new school year gets underway. The two most important things to do may seem fairly routine, but that doesn’t make them any less of a priority: sched ule annual physicals for you and your family and get up to date on immunizations. Routine wellness checks are essential to your family’s ongoing health and are an inte gral part of children’s healthcare. In fact, visiting a provid er for regular preventive care is one of the best ways to help identify and treat health issues before they become serious.This includes visiting your dermatologist annually to check for any skin health issues, including any suspicious or unusual spots that could be cancerous, as well as any other skin health problems that you may think are harm less. After a long, hot summer, there’s no better time to ensure you’re doing your part to help your skin stay healthy.When scheduling check-ups, don’t overlook vision screenings and mental health screenings, including depression screenings for 12 years and up. Eye health and mental health are both vital components of overall health for both children and adults. As we all are aware, the pan demic has taken a toll on our mental health — kids just as much as Annualadults.physical exams also allow your child’s pedia trician to confirm their vaccinations are up-to-date and answer any questions you may have about your child’s health. Staying up to date on vaccinations and health concerns is not just vital for children, though. Vaccines for adults are recommended based on several factors, so you should ask your primary care provider which vaccines you may need. And the Covid vaccine — and boosters — are at the top of the list. Be sure to ask your family’s provider about vaccines for illnesses like flu, meningococ cus and human papillomavirus (HPV) and others. And bring up any health-related issues you may be currently experiencing personally as well. Here are a some more tips to get your family on the right path for a healthy and successful school term. Eat well and stay active Healthy students are better learners. That’s why it’s crucial for children to eat nutritious meals and maintain a healthy weight. In addition to getting the nutrients their bodies need, experts recommend children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day to help reduce stress and increase focus. Make sleep a priority A lack of sleep can lead to a variety of health issues for both students and parents, including memory problems, difficulty focusing, weakening of the immune system, com mon heart problems, depression and even obesity. Healthy sleep hygiene can contribute to better weight manage ment, improved mood and increased productivity. Regularly wash your hands and prevent the spread of germ Since the pandemic, hand washing has taken on new importance. It’s well-known that the school year can introduce an assortment of colds, stomach bugs and other transmittable illnesses — besides Covid. One of the most effective ways to defend against germs is hand washing, so always wash your hands before eating, after using the bathroom and after blowing your nose, cough ing or sneezing. Don’t smoke E-cigarettes are the most used tobacco product among youth in the U.S. The nicotine found in these popular smoking devices — like nicotine found in other tobacco products — can harm the developing adoles cent brain — specifically areas of the brain that are responsible for learning, memory and attention.
Get started on a successful school year
Above photo: To reach their full potential in and out of the class room, students need to be as healthy as possible — both physically and mentally.
Children are prone to dehydration faster than adults. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children drink six to eight glasses of water each day, depending on age, weight and gender. To help your child stay energized throughout the school day, make hydration fun (and healthy) by packing colorful fruits and veggies as snacks in your child’s lunch. They provide nutrition and are excellent sources of water. After school, popsicles and slices of watermelon are refreshing — and flavorful — ways to boost hydration if your child wants something more than water. Create Healthy Sleep Patterns A sleeping routine is one of the most important parts of a healthy life style. When children follow consistent sleeping patterns, they are more likely to be attentive and productive with their school activities. If bedtime is a struggle every night, try developing a “pre-sleep” routine to help your child slow down from the day’s activities. Use an activity they enjoy, such as reading or listening to music, to create a calm environment. Reduce noise, block out light, and refrain from using electronic devices an hour before bedtime.
Create a routine this school year — and all year round
Practice Positivity If you’re looking for ways to increase communication with your child this school year, try creating a routine that promotes positivity each day. For example, dinner is a great time to ask your child to share three positive things that happened to them that day. Children will follow your lead, so if you’re not sure how to get the conver sation started, write down your favorite moment from the day. When they hear you express your gratitude, it will spark some of their own ideas. This is a helpful way to stay in tune with social and emotional wellness.
Family matters
About Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, which is headquartered in New Hyde Park, is a leading provider of Short Term Rehabilitation and Long Term Care. At the forefront of innovation in patient-centered health care and technology, the Institute is a leader in teaching and geriatric research. Parker Jewish Institute features its own medical department, and is nationally renowned as a skilled nursing facility, as well as a provider of community-based health care, encompassing Social Adult Day Care, Home Health Care, Medical House Calls, Palliative Care and Hospice.
Queens Long Island Renal Institute • 271-11 76th Ave., New Hyde Park • (718) 289-2600 MEMO
• Gastroenterology • Head, Face, and Neck Plastic Surgery
• Pulmonology • RadiologyMountSinai South Nassau is accredited in pediatric transthoracic echocardiography by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission.
Queens Long Island Renal Institute provides dialysis patients care, safety and convenience
Walk-up COVID-19 vaccinations as well as Paxlovid treatment are available at theVaxmobile.ForVaxmobile locations, visit the hospital’s Facebook page.
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Health memos are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff.
In addition to a thorough physical exam and assessment, physicians use the checkup to ensure that the child’s vaccine schedule is up to date. This includes the vaccine for Covid-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone six months and older get a Covid-19 vaccine to help protect against serious illness and hospitalization.MountSinai South Nassau’s Vaxmobile continues to provide Covid-19 vaccination to individuals ages two and above. More information can be found on the hospital’s website, www.southnassau.org, or on Facebook @MountSinaiSouthNassau. Organizations interested in scheduling a Vaxmobile visit may call Community Education at (516) 377-5333 or send an email to vaxmobile@snch.org. The annual checkup also gives parents and children an opportunity to address social, emotional, and developmental concerns. “This has been a difficult two years for many children, but teenagers especially have been greatly affected by the isolation and reduced time for socialization with family and friends during the pandemic. The well-child visit with your family pediatrician is an ideal time for you and your teenager to express concerns related to stress, anxiety, and bullying,” said Dr. MountFerguson.SinaiSouth Nassau is the only hospital on the South Shore of Nassau County with a Pediatrics Department that includes an inpatient pediatric unit. The 12-bed unit includes a staff of pediatric registered nurses and a Special-Care Pediatric Room that is equipped with advanced patient monitoring medical technologies to provide the specialized care needed for any pediatric emergency or serious illness. Under the leadership of Dr. Ferguson, the Pediatric Department’s physician staff includes pediatric specialists in: • Anesthesiology • Cardiology
Transthoracic echocardiography is the first-line tool for diagnosis and follow-up of pediatric and young adult patients with congenital heart disease. The hospital’s Pediatric Asthma program is recognized by the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) Quality and Patient Safety program. For more information or a physician referral,call (516) 632-3000 or visit mountsinai.org/southnassau. a well visit at the top of your child’s Back-to-School list
Put
NewspapersCommunityHerald-HealthYour—202211,August 4 H as your child missed a routine medical visit? You are not alone. A study published in the May 2022 edition of Preventive Medicine found that 41.3 percent of 2,074 U.S. parents surveyed with children 12 years and younger reported that their youngest child missed a routine medical visit due to the Covid-19 pandemic.Thesedata, combined with vaccine registries reporting decreased vaccination rates, are concerning to Lincoln Ferguson, MD, Chief of Pediatrics at Mount Sinai South Nassau. “If these rates remain as they are and don’t start improving, children will be at increased risk for exposure to preventable infections, such as measles or whooping cough, which are as dangerous as Covid-19,” said Dr. Ferguson. “I strongly encourage parents to make an annual well-child visit their No. 1 back-to-school priority.”
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One Healthy Way Oceanside, NY 11572 • 877-SOUTH-NASSAU (877-768-8462) • www.mountsinai.org/southnassau
T he award-winning Queens Long Island Renal Institute focuses on care, safety and convenience for kidney dialysis patients in the New York metropolitan area. Located in the lobby level of Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation with its own entrance, the center provides care to Parker’s residents and patients as well as to the general public. Queens Long Island Renal Institute offers the finest quality of care, state-of-the-art technology and uncompromised dignity, in a bright, ultramodern and comfortable setting.
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The center is a certified 5-Diamond Status Facility, and is recognized for its demonstrated commitment to quality improvement by building and promoting a culture of patient safety. To earn this status, dialysis facilities must apply for the recognition each year. They must complete the program’s Culture of Safety module each year. A facility’s entire staff - including dieticians, management, nurses, medical directors, social workers and technicians - must participate in the program in order to qualify. Licensed by the New York State Department of Health, QLIRI is led by a dedicated, interdisciplinary team of experienced nephrologists and dialysis registered nurses, a renal social worker, and a registered renal dietitian. The team is ready to meet the individual needs of dialysis patients and families, and provides individual and family health education, as well as nutritional counseling and social work services.QLIRI is outfitted with an in-center chronic hemodialysis. It features comfortable, state-of-theart, private treatment stations with personal TVs. There is also a homelike reception area with a large-screen TV as well as free wireless access. It accommodates stretchers, and offers valet parking.“With Queens Long Island Renal Institute conveniently located in Parker’s first-floor lobby, we continue to safely and comfortably meet the needs of our patients and residents, as well as members of the New York community who also benefit from our services,” said Michael N. Rosenblut, President and Chief Executive Officer of Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation.
Parents often struggle to get their children to forgo unhealthy snacks in favor of healthy options. With nearly a third of kids and teens overweight, childhood obesity is now a top health concern among parents in the United States, according to the American Heart Association.Healthy snacks are just as important for kids as healthy meals, as a nutritious lunch can easily be offset by the empty calories of junk food snacks.Atschool, kids will be tempted with all sorts of unhealthy snacks while you’re not around,” says Edmond Sanctis, co-founder of Sahale Snacks, a producer of healthy, all-natural snack foods. “But once kids get into a healthier eating routine, they’ll take those habits with them wherever they go.”
Even if your children scoff at carrot sticks and reach for the cookies instead, there are simple ways to motivate them to snack better.
Above photo:Snacking doesn’t have to be unhealthy. Help your kids find choices that are nutritious and tasty.
Be a role model: Eating habits start at a young age and are strongly influenced by par ents. If you chow down on chips or candy in between meals, your child will learn to do the same. Eat healthy snacks in front of your kids. Clean the pantry: The easiest way to get your child to stop eating highly processed junk food is to stop supplying it. Replace chips with natural snacks that are just as easy to grab on the go. Opt for snacks low in saturated fat and high in nutrition. Get creative: Healthy snacks don’t have to be bland. Make healthy snacking more delicious by adding nuts or granola to yogurt to give it an added boost of protein, fiber, healthy monoun saturated fats, vitamins, nutrients and antioxi dants. Or make veggies more appealing by pairing them with dips like salsa and hummus. Don’t give up: Your kids may complain at first, but stay strong. Once their taste buds get used to the new foods, they won’t miss the junk food at all. For more healthy snacking tips, visit www.sahalesnacks.com.Withsomedirection and a little creativity, healthy snacking will become second nature to your child.
5 202211,August—NewspapersCommunityHerald-HealthYour
Replace that potato chip Making snack time healthier
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“Today’s celebration of health care excellence is part of UHF’s broader work to build an effective and equitable health care system,” said UHF president Anthony Shih, MD, in his opening remarks. “We have some of the best health care institutions in the world, many represented in this room, but we all recognize that we must relentlessly continue to improve quality.” The tribute was created to recognize and nourish this essential work, he said. “Parker Jewish Institute is so proud of Dr. Israel, whose guidance, expertise and empathy complement our mission at Parker, where are team members are inspired every day to provide top-quality health care with dignity and compassion to our residents and patients,” said Michael N. Rosenblut, Parker’s President and“ICEO.am honored to be recognized by the United Hospital Fund as a Quality Improvement Champion along with my esteemed peers in health care,” Dr. Israel said. “Together, we are making a difference in the region.”
Terry Biener, CCH Certified Clinical Hypnotist in private practice since 1992 HypnoShe@aol.com a phone
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Dave A. Chokshi, MD, former Commissioner at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, gave the keynote address. Dr. Israel and his fellow honorees — physicians, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists and a broad range of other health care workers — were each selected by a senior executive at their institution. They represent New York City, as well as Long Island, Westchester, the Hudson Valley, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, and were drawn from hospital systems, long-term care facilities, home care organizations, independent practice associations, federally qualified health centers, medical groups, and behavioral health organizations.
Parker SeniorVice President of Patient Care Services, ColleenAriola; SeniorVice President of Nerken Center for Research Lorraine Breur;President & CEO Michael Rosenblut;Chief Medical Officer Dr.Igor Israel;Vice President of Corporate Engagement Lina Scacco;andAssociate Medical Director Dr.Arpan Philip at theTribute to Excellence in Health Care event.
N early 10 percent of people over the age of 65 skip a heartbeat on a regular basis. ‘A-Fib’ (atrial fibrillation) is an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) that can lead to various heart-related complications such as blood clots, stroke and heart failure. Perhaps the most disheartening fact about A-Fib is that it can occur without any signs or symptoms and, if left untreated, can result in lifethreatening complications. A-Fib is the most common arrhythmia diagnosed in clinical practice. Abnormalities or damage to the heart’s structure are the most common cause of atrial fibrillation. You’re more likely to develop A-Fib if you have high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, heart defects, rheumatic heart disease or pericarditis. Hyperthyroidism, obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, sleep apnea and a family history of A-Fib are also contributors. Now comes the sobering news: A-Fib might increase the risk of dementia. Researchers at the University College of Medicine in Seoul Korea noted that the link between A-Fib and dementia was found even among people who hadn’t suffered a stroke. In an interview, Dr. Joung noted “We found that the people who developed atrial fibrillation had a 50% increased risk of developing dementia compared to those who did not develop the condition; this increased risk remained even after we removed those who suffered a stroke from our Thecalculations.”silverlining though is that people with A-Fib who took blood thinners to help prevent a stroke appeared to reduce their risk for developing dementia. Maintaining a healthy heart, a healthy lifestyle and addressing the associated medical conditions of dementia, i.e. treating hearing loss, can all go a long way to helping more people prevent dementia. your heart skip a beat? MEMO memos are supplied by advertisers and not written by the Herald editorial staff. (516) ilovehearing.com788-7830
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Cary A. Kravet, a UHF board member and trustee of Northwell Health, was the event chair, and TD Bank was the Lead Sponsor of the Tribute.
Does
NewspapersCommunityHerald-HealthYour—202211,August 6 HYPNOSIS CAN HELP! One-on-one Hypnosis for Adults and Teens Now offering Private, Customized Virtual Sessions Convenient & Safe (And YES, it works!) Weight Control · Smoking · Stress · Covid-related Concerns · Unwanted Habits · Fears · Phobias · Grieving & Loss · Confidence · Focus & Memory · Starting Over · Relationship issues · Self-Esteem · Study Habits · Test Anxiety · Procrastination · Sleep Issues · Clutter · Sports Improvement ...and much more
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UHF Honors Parker Jewish Institute’s Chief Medical Officer Igor Israel, MD, as a Quality Improvement Champion
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P arker Jewish Institute is proud to announce that Chief Medical Officer Igor Israel, MD, was honored recently by United Hospital Fund as a Quality Improvement Champion. Dr. Israel was recognized for his efforts to improve quality of care, patient safety, and the patient experience at Parker. The fourth annual Tribute to Excellence in Health Care event was held in person at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City, after two years of virtual events due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
7 202211,August—NewspapersCommunityHerald-HealthYour TO GIVE THEM THE BEST THEY GAVE YOU THE BEST NOW IT’S YOUR CHANCE PARKER CARE. THE BEST. FOR THE BEST. Short Term Rehabilitation | Long Term Care | Home Health Care | Hospice | Palliative Care Inpatient And Outpatient Dialysis | Medical House Calls | Managed Long Term Care | Medicare Advantage Plan 271-11 76th Avenue New Hyde Park, NY 11040 | 877-727-5373 | parkerinstitute.org 1181192 1181561 1180017 MEET OUR TEAMAt I Love Hearing, we use a special process to ensure that our clients receive the ideal hearing loss solutions for their needs. 30 Merrick Avenue North, Suite 109, East Meadow, New York 11554 (516) ilovehearing.com788-7830 RestoreHearingYour at I Love Hearing Dr. Amy Sapodin, Au.D., F-AAA, CCC-A Dr. Alison Hoffmann, Au.D., F-AAA, CCC-A Seth Dank, ClinicalM.A.,Audiologist,F.A.A.A 3 Hearing aid fitting 3 Hearing aid repair 3 Hearing testing 3 Hearing protection 3 Tinnitus therapy 3 Ear wax management 3 Auditory therapy & rehabilitation
NewspapersCommunityHerald-HealthYour—202211,August 8 Find a doctor today mountsinai.org/southnassauat One of the best. Once again. Right here Oceanside.in 1173996