Metro Detroit Mommy strives to have an overall balanced out-look on family and personal life; which we believe includes personal health, nutrition and fitness. Healthier, happier moms equates on healthier, happier families! As moms our personal free time is in short supply, but we hope we can share some of our tips for meal planning and easy healthy recipes the whole family will love. Along with quick & easy ways to fit in exercise for busy moms. We will share tips, tricks and motivation in order to educate & inspire our readers. Lastly, sharing our personal journeys and struggles on how to “fit it all in” and to find balance in your life which will lead to an overall healthy outlook on your life.
Chicco MyFit Combination Seat Review
We’ve been using the Chicco MyFit for a few months now, and since installed it quite a few in different vehicles, so I thought it’d be the perfect time…
Your Kid Should Sit in the Back Seat Because Airbags
Sitting in the front seat of the car is often viewed as a rite of passage. It feels like a very adult thing to do, and there’s so much…
Is the Opioid Epidemic Making America’s Roadways More Dangerous?
We’d probably all like to think of ourselves as safe drivers, but the data tells a different story. Traffic deaths on U.S. roads are still incredibly high — and while…
Secondary Crashes: What You Need To Know
A friend of mine and fellow CPST was involved in a major crash a month ago. She was driving to the airport with two other adults in the car as…
12 Forgotten Winter Fruits and Veggies
Butternut squash and sweet potatoes aren’t the only produce that grow when temperatures drop, try these uncommon fruits and veggies during this chilly winter season to keep you warm and…
New Year’s Resolution Check-In: Get Back on Track!
It’s been almost three months since you set your resolutions at the beginning of the year, but don’t lose heart if you haven’t accomplished everything you wanted to! You…
The Dangers of Crash Dieting
By: Grace Derocha, registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator and certified health coach at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan If diets worked, why do so many people try a new one…
A Beginner’s Guide to Exercise
By: Grace Derocha, registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator and certified health coach at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Although many people aspire to exercise more in the new year, nearly 80 percent of adults fail to meet the recommendation…
Avoid Winter Workout Woes with These Safety Tips
Michigan winters mean snow, ice, freezing temperatures and darker days. Even though staying active during these conditions may not seem ideal, there are many health benefits, both physical and mental, to working…
National Soup Month: Crockpot Lasagna Soup
Warm up this winter and celebrate National Soup Month with our healthier version of lasagna. This soup recipe will still satisfy your pasta cravings and leave you feeling full…
No Gym Membership? No Problem! 5 Exercises That Don’t Cost You a Dime
Let’s admit it, not everyone has the extra $20 a month or more to spend on a gym membership. But don’t let the cost hold you back from exercising —…
Winter Car Seat Safety Tips!
When driving in the car with small children, most parents and caregivers will naturally do everything they can to ensure the children in their care are safe. Fortunately, today’s vehicles…
How Children with Disabilities can Benefit From Yoga
Yoga benefits everyone. Centuries ago, men in India were only doing yoga. It has slowly become available to everyone and once it hit developing countries in Europe and North America,…
Michigan January Bucket List: 10 Healthy Ideas to Make the Most of the New Year
If you live in Michigan, your feelings about January probably depend on whether you love or hate the snow. Snow bunny or hermit, there’s plenty of ways for you to…
Healthy Holiday Dessert Recipe Roundup
Holiday parties are filled with family, friends and usually a range of desserts from cakes and cookies to ice cream and candy. This holiday season, try a healthy dessert that will…
Infant Ibuprofen Recalled
Tris Pharma, Inc. has announced that it is voluntarily recalling three (3) lots of Infants’ Ibuprofen Concentrated Oral Suspension. The recalled lots of the product may have higher concentrations of…
Recess is Important-No Matter the Weather!
When you ask an elementary aged student what their favorite subject in school is, inevitably the majority will say “recess” or “lunch.” Occasionally you may hear “gym” or another special…
The Rise in Childhood Diabetes
Diabetes is no longer just a problem for adults. In fact, the disease is being diagnosed in children with even greater frequency today than ever before, and is now considered to…
Thanksgiving Leftovers: Turkey and Stuffing Breakfast Cups Recipe
We’re all so used to having traditional leftovers around Thanksgiving that it can be hard to think of creative ways to repurpose things like turkey and stuffing. This year instead…
Apps and Food Storage Tips to Organize Your Fridge
We all do it. You come home with a load of groceries and cram it all in the refrigerator, pushing older items to the back. Two weeks later, after some…
Five Benefits of Massage Therapy
Massage therapy has been a significant part of many cultures for many centuries. It has been practiced by ancient civilizations in China, Egypt, and Greece. It was originally devised only…
How to Practice Gratitude
How often do you reflect on and give thanks for everything that is good in your life? Turns out, taking the time to practice gratitude not only feels great, it’s…
Tips for a Healthier (and Safe) Halloween
Halloween can be a fun time of year for kids and parents alike. As families gear up for parties, trick-or-treating and spooky fun, the Healthier Michigan team has some tips and…
Five Simple Stroller Exercises for New Moms
As a new mom, finding time to exercise can feel almost impossible. How are you supposed to find time to go to the gym when you can barely find time…
Healthy Recipes and Tips for Game Day Tailgating
Fall means it’s time for football, but tailgating food choices aren’t always the healthiest. With a few modifications, it’s easy to make healthier choices without sacrificing the game day fun. Whether you…
5 Healthy Fall Activities for Families
The advent of autumn brings with it so many fun traditions – trick-or-treating, going to the state fair, attending fall carnivals, and let’s not forget Mom’s favorite, sipping on a…
Baby on Board: Safe Driving Tips For Drowsy Parents!
Metro Detroit Mommy has written a lot about the importance of car seat safety. But that’s hardly the only thing you can do to keep your kids safe in the…
Fighting Breast Cancer With Food
It’s been said before, but the simple truth is that a well-balanced diet is instrumental to long-term health. Though healthy eating cannot completely prevent every kind of disease and illness,…
A Healthier Coffee: 4 Alternatives to Flavored Creamer
In honor of National Coffee Day (Sept. 29), here’s a look at how you can make your coffee healthier with simple alternatives. There are a lot of articles out there telling you…
Car Seats, Costumes, and Coats, Oh My!
The costumes are starting to appear in stores, spooky decor is popping up everywhere, and kids are getting excited… it’s official: Halloween is almost here! Whether you go around your…
10 Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is arguably one the most magical period of any woman’s life, filled with glorious anticipation, fascinating physical developments, and an overwhelming flood of hormones which crave for the strangest…
Spotting Common Food Allergies in Children
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…
Cooking with Children: An Age-by-Age Guide
In honor of National Kids Takeover the Kitchen day on Sept. 13, what better way to spark your kid’s interest in healthy eating than to get them involved in the kitchen? Starting…
Five Easy Exercises New Moms Can Do with Their Babies
One of the biggest challenges that new moms experience is the difficulty that comes with trying to find time to exercise. When you have a new baby who requires your…
Virtual Reality Introduced To Michigan Senior Living Community
Senior living communities offer a plethora of perks: there’s no work to do, no food to prepare, and no stress to manage; it can be surprising to know that nine out…
Back-to-School: Backpack Health
Back-to-school season means new responsibilities for students, and more than likely, an over-stuffed backpack. What many parents may not realize is that a too-heavy backpack can lead to serious back,…
How to Recognize and Avoid Drunk Driving Behaviors This Labor Day
Although the Labor Day holiday should be all about savoring the end of summer with friends and family, it has an unfortunate dark side. The period between Memorial Day and…
Back to School Checklist
By: Dr. Caison-Sorey, associate medical director at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan As summer ends, the thought of back-to-school to-dos can be overwhelming. In fact, a recent study…
How Screen Time Affects the Eyes
By: Dr. Gina Lynem-Walker, physician consultant at Blue Cross Blue Shield of MichiganDr. Gina Lynem-Walker A national survey found U.S. teens spend about nine hours in front of screens every…
Michigan Falling Short in Protecting Kids in Hot Cars
It’s no secret that there are a lot of dangers associated with vehicles. In fact, there are about 5.5 million car accidents each year in the U.S. alone. But during the hot…
Mom Warns Dad About Car Seat Positioning, Saves Baby’s Life in the Process
“Overprotective mom” is a loaded term. We’ve learned so much about parenting and safety in recent decades, and there’s nothing wrong with putting this knowledge into practice. Case in point:…
Back to School Back Pains
Busy moms everywhere are looking forward to the start of a new school year. The August and September months bring a rush of meet-the-teacher events, back to school nights, school…
Back to School Parenting Hacks
By: Grace Derocha, registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator and certified health coach at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Despite their best effort to prepare for the back-to-school season, more…
What Can I Do if My Child is Afraid of the Dentist?
It is not always possible to identify why a child has developed a fear of the dentist. It is possible that they have been talking to friends who have had…
Blue Cross Promotes National Sneak Zucchini on Your Neighbor’s Porch Day (Today)
National Sneak Zucchini on Your Neighbor’s Porch Day, which occurs annually on August 8, was created by Pennsylvanian farmers, Tom and Ruth Roy, to help prevent food waste by sharing excess…
Fun Ways to Get Active as a Family for Exercise with Your Child Week
Bring back these classic games and activities to help your family get up and get active while having fun!
Eight Tips for Parents Suffering from Chronic Illness
Are you one of the 133 million Americans who currently suffer from a chronic illness (a disease that lasts longer than three months)? If so, you know how debilitating these…
Tips to Find the Right Extracurricular for Your Child
Help your children explore hobbies and interests through extracurricular activities.
My How You’ve Grown: Adjusting Car Seat Straps
Children grow. They grow and they grow and they grow. Around this time of year we’re thinking about buying new school clothes, new shoes, getting eyes checked, etc. I’m here…
Five Tips for Exercising Outdoors During Summer
To reap the many physical and mental benefits of getting active outdoors, safety should always be top of mind.
Sleep Makeover with AllerEase
AllerEase provided me with (1) AllerEase Maximum mattress protector, (2) AllerEase Maximum pillow protectors, (1) pillow and (1) comforter in exchange for this promotional post. When my daughter was first diagnosed…
Reusable Water Bottle Care and Infused Water Recipes
Get answers to the most common questions about reusable water bottle maintenance as well as yummy fruit and vegetable infused water recipes.
Is Gymnastics Right for Your Child?
Have the school-free summer months reminded you of just how much energy your child has? You might be considering gymnastics as an outlet for them to both exercise, work on…
Benzocaine Teething Products: What You Need to Know
The FDA is urging parents, caregivers, retailers and the general public to take precaution and raise awareness around the risks associated with all benzocaine oral health products.
A Healthier (But Tasty) Independence Day
Everyone is in the spirit to celebrate America’s birthday, but over-indulging in food should not ruin the fun. Check out this list of festive, yet still healthy, recipes to kick your party up a notch:
Summer Safety Tips for the Whole Family
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…
Everything New Parents Need to Know about Repetitive Strain Injuries
Brought to you by Vive Health. There are a lot of things no one warns you about when you become a parent for the first time. If there’s one subject…
Mosquito and Tick-Borne Diseases
On Friday, June 22nd we were able to interview Jorge Parada, MD, MPH, infectious disease specialist and medical advisor for the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) about mosquito and tick-borne…
Five Summer Safety Tips Every Mom Should Know
Brought to you by Vive Health. Summer is here, and, if you’re like most parents, that means you and your kids are going to spending a lot more time…
Tips to Keep the Family Safe from Ticks
By: Dr. Gina Lynem-Walker, physician consultant at Blue Cross Blue Shield of MichiganDr. Gina Lynem-Walker Michigan’s tick population is reportedly on the rise. While it’s important to spend time outdoors…
Ten Exercise Activities for Non-Sporty Kids
My oldest son has never been “sporty”. He never wanted to join soccer and he couldn’t care less about football or baseball. If it’s competitive, he’s not interested. He has…
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Launches “MI Blue” Skill for Amazon Alexa
Wellness information, one-minute meditations, general information about health insurance, healthy recipes and more are now available for free to all Michigan residents with an Alexa-enabled device thanks to the new…
Five Tips to Help You Lose the Baby Weight
Brought to you by Vive Health Studies show that the majority of new mothers (75 percent) weigh more one year postpartum than they did before becoming pregnant. However, just because…
DIY Spa Recipes to Help You Relax
Balancing work and personal life is stressful; from responsibilities to family time, to meetings and more, we hardly ever have a minute to ourselves. Our days are consistently overscheduled, but…
Eating for Energy and Health | 3 Tips for Moms
brought to you by Vive Health Are you looking for natural, healthy ways to boost your energy levels? With the end of another school year looming over you, you may…
Two Birds, One Mom: 8 Ways to Get Healthier With Your Kids
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…
Five Best Exercises to Help New Moms Avoid Back Pain
As a new mom, your day probably seems like a never-ending stream of bending over and picking up your baby from the floor, their crib, and their car seat. And,…
National Women’s Health Week: Women’s Health 101
By: Dr. Patricia Ferguson, MD, medical director and physician consultant at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan The Institute for Women’s Policy Research grades the overall health of Michigan women as…
Athlete’s Foot or Something Else?
Heading into summer with kids means lots of sweaty shoes and trips to the pool. It’s tough to know sometimes if an itchy, bumpy foot could be athlete’s foot or…
4 Ideas for a Healthier, Happier Mother’s Day
May 13, or Mother’s Day, is an opportunity for us to honor our mothers for all they’ve done, and it’s also the perfect time to just celebrate life with your family. A…
How To Properly Harness Your Rear-facing Child
To start: I like to begin from the child’s bottom and move up, but as long as all these steps are fulfilled whichever order you choose is just fine. 1)…
Five Self-Care Tips for Mom
There never seems to be enough hours in the day for a busy mom. In fact, 56 percent of women find it difficult to balance work and home life. Though…
Five Things Every Parent Should Keep in Their First Aid Kit
Brought to you by Vive Health Whether they’re toddlers or teenagers, there’s no denying that kids are accident prone. While there are, of course, times when accidents require a doctor’s care, the…
Filtered Water Systems: Which Models are Most Effective in Removing Lead?
There’s no disputing that lead is bad for the human body. Unfortunately this was not known when the original water delivery systems were put into place. The result was that…
Identifying Childhood Stress
Like adults, children can experience physical, mental and emotional stress that impacts how they think and act. Recognizing abnormal stress in a child can prevent him or her from developing…
Ten Health Rules You Can Toss!
When it comes to health and diet there is so much information out there; it’s easy to get confused and hard to know what to follow. So many “rules” exist,…
Three Ways to Help Your Toddler use their Power for Good
Toddlers have a growing sense of autonomy while still needing reassurance from a familiar caregiver. They discover the world through their eyes, at their own pace and rarely within your…
Hit Drums, Not People! Helping Your Child Get in Rhythm
We have all been to playdates, preschool classrooms and playgrounds where one or all children resort to hitting, swatting, pushing and eventually screaming. Emotional regulation is a developing skill in…
How to Get 10,000 Steps a Day
Ever since I started using my Garmin as a step counter, I’ve realized I don’t get as many steps a day as I thought I did. 10,000 steps is a…
Twenty Random Acts of Joy
A smile, card or a bit of active listening could change the mental health outlook of a suffering person. Before someone walks into my office they have to at least…
Managing the Mental Side of a Health Journey
So you’re thinking about getting healthier, but not sure you are ready… You’ve been making healthy changes, but you still feel like you are struggling… Often times it’s the mental…
Sesame Place® Becomes the First Theme Park in the World to be Designated as a Certified Autism Center
Certification readied for April’s Autism Awareness month and start of new season Sesame Place®, the nation’s only theme park based entirely on the award-winning show Sesame Street®, in conjunction with…
10 Ways to Make a Healthy Habit Stick
It’s 3 months into the new year and many of us start with a resolution to get healthier; whether it’s to start a new workout regimen or eat better. …
How to Choose a Primary Care Physician
Selecting a new doctor, or primary care physician isn’t as easy as it sounds. While you can ask around for recommendations much like you would for a barber or plumber,…
Bathroom Safety Checklist for Busy Moms
Over the years, bath time for babies and kids often transitions from “Oh no, don’t wet my head!” to “Oh yeah! Time to play with my bath toys!”. While necessary…
Six Foods That Improve Mental Health
Nearly one in five Americans struggle with mental illness each year. While many people know a healthy diet is great for the body, not many are aware it’s also beneficial…
A Mom’s Guide to Sprains
The bumps, bruises, and goose eggs that come with raising children don’t seem to stop until about the kids enter high school; and by that time you’ve moved on to…
Turning Teen: How To Talk To Your Tween About Puberty
If you have a child near puberty age then I’m sure you already know what I’m about to tell you: it’s awkward. But it doesn’t have to be… well, for…
What You Should Know About High Heels and Back Pain
Brought to you by Vive Health Do you experience regular episodes of lower back pain, leg muscle tightness, or hip discomfort? If you like wearing high heels often, then it could be…
The Risk of Musculoskeletal Problems in Mothers
Brought to you by Vive Health As a mom, you know that nothing whatsoever will hinder you from wanting to give the best care and quality of life to your…
Healthy Ways to Mix Up Valentine’s Day
By: Grace Derocha, registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator and certified health coach at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Americans spend an average of 400 million dollars on candy the…
What To Expect From a CPST
One of the most common refrains that I hear when finishing up a seat check is “I didn’t expect there to be so much information!” I choose to take it…
Car Seat Safety – Outside of the Car
We all know that car seats are life savers. We’ve seen the viral photos of seemingly unscathed car seats pulled from the wreckage of a crash; grateful parents praising the…
What Moms Should Know About Tendonitis
Brought to you by Vive Health As a mother, you are not new to joint aches and discomforts brought about by multitasking and juggling parenting, a job, and household chores…
At-Home Workouts For Busy Moms
Brought to you by Vive Health Almost everyone wants to exercise but few actually manage to stick to their fitness goals and programs. It’s the start of the new year…
Eleven Healthy Habits for Winter
By: Grace Derocha, registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator and certified health coach at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Throughout the winter months, it’s normal to feel a change in…
Kitchen Safety Tips for Families
A kitchen is a fun place where families and their children can bond. From whipping up simple recipes to preparing lunch boxes, it’s usually associated with happy memories. The kitchen,…
Is Your Vehicle Under Recall? Probably
In July of 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced a recall of over 34 million vehicles due to a defective airbag mechanism. This faulty mechanism can cause the…