A yearly physical exam by your family physician or pediatrician is an important part of your child’s health care. As children get older, back to school check-ups are sometimes the only visit kids and teenagers have with their doctor every year. An annual check-up gives the physician a chance to give the child a thorough physical examination. It also presents…
August is Kids Eat Right Month, founded by The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to emphasize ways to help kids eat right and be more active. It’s no surprise that attention is being placed on children’s eating habits after the news has been filled with headlines about the current childhood obesity trends. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 17%…
Flowers are a go-to when it comes to giving gifts and decorating your home, but they can also dress up your favorite recipes. Whether used in a salad, decorative drink or main dish, there are many flowers you can incorporate into your diet. With spring on the way, here are some flowers that will add a pop of color and…
A healthy take on campfire s’mores, try this simple recipe for a sweet snack. If you’re at the end of your camping trip, you can still use slightly ripe bananas for this recipe. The riper the banana, the better. Bananas are particularly high in Vitamin B, potassium, manganese and Vitamin C, all necessary daily nutrients. If you are backpacking, bananas…
Minimalism is about living more with less. Incorporating that idea into a family dynamic can be difficult. How do you get kids – who always want the newest, best, and next – to scale down and simplify? Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, authors of the book Everything That Remains give the advice “spend half the money and twice the time with…
The problem of food waste in the United States is big. About 20 percent of what ends up in landfills is made up of food, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. On a personal level, that equates to about one pound of food wasted for every person in the country every single day. And, the healthier your diet, the more likely you are…
Looking for a patriotic dessert or side dish to bring to your next summer get-together? Look no further because we have five unique recipes that will wow your family and friends. Not only are these recipes kid-friendly and fun but many of them contain antioxidant-packed blueberries and calcium-filled cheese. Here are some of our favorite recipes to add some red,…
The Surgeon General has declared e-cigarette use among youth “an epidemic” after recent studies showed a drastic surge in use. Between 2017 and 2018, e-cigarette use increased 78% among high school students, from 11.7% in 2017 to 20.8% in 2018. In 2018, more than 3.6 million U.S. youth – including 1 in 5 high school students and 1 in 20 middle school…
By: Dr. T. Jann Caison-Sorey, associate medical director at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan There are many health benefits associated with being outdoors and enjoying summertime activities. However, the season does pose its own set of risks for injury, so it’s essential that families are well-prepared. Taking preventive action can help ensure everyone enjoys a safe, happy and healthy summer.…
Summer is just around the corner, and motorcyclists are taking to the road now that the weather is heating up. Motorcycling is a popular summer activity with 472,000 motorcycles sold in just 2017. But sharing the road with a motorcycle isn’t like sharing the road with other cars, which is why motorcyclists and motorists alike need to be especially careful…
If you’ve made the switch from disposable water bottles to a reusable one, give yourself a pat on the back! U.S. landfills are overflowing with two million tons of discarded water bottles, so getting one you can refill again and again is a huge deal. But while reusable water bottles are handy and much better for the environment, they aren’t always…
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic debris, less than five millimeters in length. Unfortunately, our reliance on plastic in all forms, including microplastics, makes it “the most prevalent type of marine debris found in our ocean and Great Lakes”, again from NOAA. Despite their small size, the effects from microplastics loom large as…
According to a study by Pew Research Center, 57% of American fathers believe fatherhood is central to their identity. Fatherhood poses unique challenges for men. From raising children to keeping themselves healthy, parenting is unlike any other experience. Andy Hetzel, VP of Corporate Communications at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan sat down with other fathers to discuss the joys and struggles…
Researchers estimate that up to 15 million Americans have food allergies, including 5.9 million children under age 18. This equates to one in 13 children suffering from food allergies. Offices, classrooms and even restaurants often have signs that warn of food allergies. These signs, which were once isolated, are now commonplace. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the prevalence…
From work to household chores and children, it can be difficult for moms to find time throughout the day to focus on their health goals. For many, the easiest time of the day to try and fit in exercise is when the children are sleeping either early in the morning or at night. However, with days already filled with…
