At this month’s SMArt Kids share medical appointment (SMA), we learned how very imPORTant PORTions are!

Last month, the SMArt Kids learned the importance of preparing a healthy breakfast, and in October, we added to our healthy eating knowledge and focused on keeping portions appropriate for the kids’ ages and nutritional needs. This is not an easy task at home or when eating out. But the answer is right at your child’s fingertips…literally!

Back to school mornings too busy for you? No time for a healthy breakfast? Well, the reality is that skipping breakfast can be a bad idea and can actually lead to weight gain, not weight loss. But don’t swing by the drive-thru for an Egg McMuffin, a Dunkin Donuts egg wrap or Burger King’s Double Croissan’wich – instead make a healthy delicious egg sandwich at home, thanks to the recipe below from our SMArt Kid’s nutritionist,

Imagine you’re seated at work when you receive a call from the school nurse who tells you your son hit his head during recess. Thankfully, he didn’t lose consciousness, so no concussion, right?

Not necessarily.

Elementary-aged students do not lose consciousness as easily as teens or adults do. They also may not yet have the language skills necessary to convey the pain or symptoms they are experiencing.

You may have heard about or even read the recent (published June 29, 2015) American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) updated recommendations regarding pediatric obesity prevention. It affirms the message we have been consistently teaching at our SMArt Kids Shared Medical Appointments over the last four years – that children and families should embrace healthy habits each and every day, including eating a well-balanced diet, increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviors.

Need a helper at the grocery store? Tired of doing all of the shopping alone? Grab a SMArt Kid! After this month’s SMA, they are now well informed about the healthiest ways to shop at the local grocery store. They will remind you to keep in mind these simple rules before you and your family head out to the supermarket:

• Be prepared (have a list and plan recipes for the week)
• Don’t go hungry (you’ll avoid being tempted by free samples,

Happy 2015 from the SMArt Kids Shared Medical Appointment at Burlington! We have had a successful fall with four informative and fun sessions with our SMArt Kids. We have been fortunate to have our nutritionist Linda Germaine-Miller and Chip Wilder from behavioral health present each month to work with our families.

In September, we kicked off the school year with an introductory lesson about our SMArt Kids’ goals, myplate.gov and portion distortion.

While at Disney World for his brother’s wedding in December 2012, Erick noticed that the rides’ seat belts fit snugly around his waist.

With a family history of diabetes and obesity, this was the final push Erick needed. He realized that it was time to take control of his health or face a myriad of health problems later in life.

On June 13, 2014, my medical team with Flying Doctors of America flew from the comforts of our homes to meet in Amman, Jordan. There we began our medical mission to help Syrian refugees. The team included doctors, nurses, dentists, engineers, physical therapists, and other volunteers from all over the United States. We also had a social worker who specializes in post-traumatic stress, since the children had left a war zone.

The SMArt Kids at Burlington are SMART! They can answer the following questions correctly – can you?

Question #1: How many hours of screen time per day is recommended?
(Answer: Less than 1-2 hours per day and no screen time for children under age 2 years)

Question #2: What room should you make TV-free?
(Answer: The Bedroom! And also consider making the kitchen TV-free so you aren’t tempted to watch during meal time.)

The SMArt kids were not only correct but quick to answer these questions.

The recent April showers haven’t slowed down our SMArt Kids. They are full of energy and enthusiasm when it comes to embracing our SMArt Kids’ goals. See if you can work on some of their goals this spring and into the summer: