Search Results for: blog food for thought

Could Fast Food Increase Allergy Related Conditions?

We have heard, many times, about a connection between fast food and obesity. Could it also link to childhood asthma and eczema? That is what a group of researchers have determined after taking a close look at global disease and dietary patterns. I don’t think that there are any parents out there who truly believe that fast food is a healthy, wonderful, choice for dinner every single night. (Or, at least, there shouldn’t be). We have all heard it said that too much fast food can cause several different types of health problems, in both adults and children. One of … Continue reading →

Extending the Life of Your Food

I really hate to throw out good food, but it happens so often. Leftovers get forgotten in the back of the fridge, produce is bought with good intentions and then not used in time or food is left out too long on the counter. One time, we had to toss a whole bag of frozen food because both my husband and I had thought each other put the food away. Sigh. Minimizing food waste is a good way to reduce the food budget. Here are some of the ways that my family now minimizes food waste. Having a Plan If … Continue reading →

A Book to Help Kids Cope With Food Allergies

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How do you explain food allergies, and how dangerous they can be, to young children? One way for parents to do that is to read a book called “Pixie’s Food for Thought”. The main character is a little girl named Pixie who has food allergies and self-confidence. Being different from all the other kids can be hard. When it comes to food allergies, kids can “blend” into their peers fairly well – until lunchtime. Situations that involve food, like lunchtime, birthday parties, and school celebrations, quickly reveal that kids with food allergies are different, even though you can’t tell it … Continue reading →

Pets Leaving Food: Should You Worry?

My cats have caused so many food-related problems this year. I went from giving my cats food once a day to twice a day, then three times, having to split up normal portions into weird smaller amounts. My cat’s gluttony, food thievery, mischievous behavior, and sudden desire to eat people food all prompted my decision. As spring progressed and melted into summer, I thought I’d finally sorted things out. No, now my cats have changed their eating habits again. It all started when Jon and I left for a weekend. I put out two days’ worth of food; we weren’t … Continue reading →

Salmonella in Dog Food Infects Humans

Remember that giant Diamond Pet foods recall from earlier in the year? It stretched from December through May, and covered a staggering variety of pet foods. It wasn’t just that hundreds of specific bags of pet food were affected, but also that so many different brands of kibble were all infected. I thought the story was finally over in May when it seemed like we’d heard the last of the recalls. I’m not writing today to inform you that another recall has been announced, but to update the story. At the time although some dogs were reported as coming down … Continue reading →

Silly Gourmet Pet Foods

While on a walk with my dog in a nearby town I discovered a doggie cafe. I thought that perhaps this establishment was a cafe that, if it didn’t cater to dogs, at least allowed owners to take their dogs inside. I knew this was unlikely, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to take a look inside. What I found, to my disappointment (but not to my surprise) was a pet supply store. The reason it called itself a cafe was tucked into a side room. There, stretching along the entire back wall, was a bakery display case filled with … Continue reading →

Finger Food

Would you rather have your child give the finger or get it? Neither is ideal, especially if said finger is sandwiched between thinly sliced roast beef and a toasted sesame seed bun. U to the G-H! Parents are programmed with a natural instinct to protect their offspring, but when you are up against random human fingers popping up in your child’s fast food sandwich, even the most seasoned mom or dad may be at a loss for words. Just ask Jamie Vail. The Michigan mom nearly fainted last week when her 14-year-old son found a piece of a human finger … Continue reading →

Grain-Free Food Can Improve Behavior and Allergies

I started an experiment the day I took Chrestomanci to the vet: I put all of the animals on grain-free food. I’ve always wondered about whether or not I ought to take my pets off of corn-filled kibble, but the extra expense has always given me, and especially my husband, pause. When I asked the vet about Chresti’s dandruff problem she said that wetter grain-free food might help. A locally-owned store next to the veterinarian’s office sells a variety of such foods, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to at least go in and get a bunch of samples. I … Continue reading →

Special Needs Blog Week in Review – March 11 – 17, 2012

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The Special Needs Blog Week in Review gives you a quick and easy way to find out about everything that hit the blog this week. You may have missed something that you wanted to read, but didn’t end up having the time to do it. Just click on the link to any of the blogs that catch your attention, and you will go right it. The Special Needs Podcast Roundup went up on March 12, 2012. This week, I’d like to point out an episode of a podcast called “The Power of Moms”. It features Mary Jenkins, the mother of … Continue reading →

Survey Shows Emotional Impact of Food Allergies

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A new survey reveals the emotional impact of food allergies. The survey asked parents of children who have food allergies about their own feelings in regards to their child’s food allergies. It also asked the parents about their perceptions about how their child feels when dealing with his or her food allergies. A survey was done by FAAN and Galaxy Nutritional Foods. FAAN stands for Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network. They are a non-profit organization that is dedicated to increasing public awareness of food allergy and its consequences, to educate people about the condition, and to advance research on behalf … Continue reading →