Why is it some people can ingest foods containing lactose, while others are plagued by even a trace of it? The American Academy of Pediatrics says, “Lactose intolerance occurs in people who can’t digest lactose. Lactose is the sugar found in milk and other dairy products.”
Dr. Deb Winburn, pediatrician with Premier Pediatrics, says, “Lactose intolerance affects many children each year.” Children who don’t naturally produce the enzyme lactase, which is responsible for digesting lactose, may have symptoms ranging from nausea, bloating, diarrhea, and cramps, to actual vomiting, skin rash, nasal congestion (less specific) and/or bloody stools.
According to Winburn, no single, simple test exists to prove or disprove that a patient has lactose intolerance. “Most often, elimination is tried and results are subjectively monitored to see if there is improvement,” she says. “The elimination technique should ideally be done for at least three weeks before a conclusion is drawn.”
For those who are still uncertain, Winburn says a trip to the GI specialist may be warranted. “To date, the most ‘objective’ test for lactose intolerance is via a breath test,” she says. “The child’s cooperation is needed, and the equipment is costly.”
Melissa Mereghetti, a Kansas City pediatric registered dietitian says, “The most common sources (of lactose) include milk, cream, ice cream, cheese, butter, pudding and yogurt. Lactose can also be found in processed foods that have milk products added to them such as bread, waffles, pancakes, baked goods, instant potatoes, soups, breakfast drinks, salad dressing, margarine, luncheon meats (hot dogs, sausages) and candy.”
Other hidden names for lactose-containing foods are whey, curds, milk by-products, dry milk solids or not-fat dry milk powder, according to Mereghetti. Lactose free milk (such as Lactaid) and fortified soy milk both contain calcium. “Lactaid milk is made from cow’s milk but contains an enzyme that breaks down the lactose to make it easier to digest,” Mereghetti says. “Calcium fortified orange juice, broccoli, spinach, beans and tofu are also rich in calcium.”
Winburn cautions that rice milk is lactose free but is nutrient poor in both zinc and protein, making it the least desirable substitute commercially available. “In either case, children should consume 1200-1500 mg of calcium and 400-800 IU of vitamin D daily for adequate bone ossification,” she says.
Dietitian Mereghetti agrees, “Make sure your (lactose intolerant) child has adequate intake of vitamin D (because) most of our vitamin D comes from dairy products.”
Stacey Hatton is an Overland Park pediatric nurse, mother of two preschoolers and a freelance writer—and is craving ice cream for some reason.
This is a powerful story I read on the Love & Logic website by Dr. Charles Fay. His father invented this parenting behavior model which is internationally renowned for successful methods of raising children. The website can be found at:http://www.loveandlogic.com
by Dr. Charles Fay
I’d like to share a relevant and much unexpected experience I had bicycling home from work one day. While I was peddling down a peaceful pedestrian-only path, a woman in a minivan jumped the curb, screeched to a halt in front of me, and screamed, “I’ve lost my child! He’s autistic and he ran away from us at the pool! Have you seen him?”
Of course I agreed to help her look for the boy. As I did, she warned, “He’s 13; he’s really big, and you won’t be able to get him to come with you.”
About two miles down the path, there he was. Yes, he was very big, and very agitated! I decided to use one of my favorite Love and Logic techniques, The One-Sentence Intervention.
I said to him, “Look at that watch.” He suddenly stopped and raised his arm to show me his Batman time piece. I countered with, “And I noticed that your shirt has a motorcycle on it.” He looked at his shirt. “And I heard you like to swim,” I continued. He stared at me with a combination smile and “what-planet-are-you-from?” look.
In our book, Teaching with Love and Logic, we teach that relationships are the key to reaching challenging kids. The One-Sentence Intervention involves noticing unique and special things about children.
After noticing these small things about the boy, I said, “Just follow me. I’ll take care of you.” To my amazement, he followed me all the way back to his mother.
This boy gave me a great gift. He reminded me that kids are human beings not diagnoses. He also reminded me that each of them has the fundamental human need to feel noticed and valued.
(A family member sent this one to me in an email. This one is still cracking me up!~Nurse Mommy)
From the diary of a Pre-School Teacher:
My five year-old students are learning to read. Yesterday one of them pointed at a picture in a zoo book and said,
“Look at this! It’s a frickin’ elephant!”
I took a deep breath, then asked…”What did you call it?”
“It’s a frickin’ elephant! It says so on the picture!”
And so it does…
‘Tis the season of sending your children back to school, and according to the local officials, you don’t even need a license to do so! You spend weeks getting them prepared: new wardrobe, a proper scrub-down (mud is ever so hard to get out from finger nails without a good soaking), reminding them they must listen to other adults/teachers, and ingrain an overall “manners” recheck and relearn program.
SIDE NOTE: Every time I send my children to their grandparents, I have to remind them to clean up their language. Not that I have raised sailors for girls, but potty talk is not funny to old people (not that YOU are old, Mom!) and especially has no place at the dinner table. So many things to teach, so little time…
It seems everywhere I glance; mothers and fathers with relieved looks on their faces appear. Some are even beaming! “My kids went back to school today,” they spout out as if they can’t keep it contained any longer. On the other hand the teachers who have been smiling ear to ear all summer have a look of terror or sometimes a blank stare, which can only be seen the first week of school and the day after Halloween, when all the kids are bouncing off walls from their sugar high.
My point is…everyone in my school district is back to school, except for MY two preschoolers. They don’t return to school until after Labor Day. Now this is only 2 weeks away, but it is TWO WEEKS AWAY!!!
Don’t worry, we will find fun and educational things to do alone without any other children around – because everyone else’s children are all in school. And I’m sure by the end of these 2 weeks, my kids won’t be tired of me, and I sure won’t get tired of them running around naked, screaming at the top of their lungs and trying to escape out into the yard. Who would get tired of that game, right?!
So we will head to the pool a couple more times (preferably with suits on), maybe take in the zoo again, and then head to my preferred mega shopping store. I will get them a new lunchbox and pick through the reject school supplies…but will we have to wait in line behind other manic parents searching for their items on their school supply list? I think NOT! As long as they have something pink to sell me…we should be just fine!
Now next season will be another story. Call me manic now or wait until August next year?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 20, 2010 – Hillandale Farms of Iowa is voluntarily recalling shell eggs because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis, or arthritis.
Eggs affected by this recall were distributed to grocery distribution centers, retail grocery stores and foodservice companies which service or are located in fourteen states, including the following: Arkansas, California, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.
There have been laboratory-confirmed Salmonella enteritidis illnesses associated with the shell eggs; the investigation is ongoing.
Eggs are distributed under the following brand names: Hillandale Farms, Sunny Farms, and Sunny Meadow in 6-egg cartons, dozen-egg cartons, 18-egg cartons, 30-egg package, and 5-dozen cases. Loose eggs are packaged under the following brand names: Wholesome Farms and West Creek in 15 and 30-dozen tray packs. The loose eggs may also be repackaged by customers.
The only eggs effected by this recall have plant numbers P1860 or P1663 and Julian dates as follows:
P1860 – Julian dates ranging from 099 to 230
P1663 – Julian dates ranging from 137 to 230
Only eggs with these plant numbers are effected – even though the brand name may be the same
Julian dates and plant codes can be found stamped on the end of the egg carton or printed on the case label. The plant number begins with the letter P and then the number. The Julian date follows the plant number, for example: P1860 230.
Consumers who believe they may have purchased these shell eggs should not eat them but should return them to the store where they were purchased for a full refund. Consumers with questions should contact Hillandale Farms at (866) 262-4208.
Hillandale Farms strives to provide our customers with safe, high-quality eggs – that is our responsibility and our commitment and why we are fully cooperating with FDA’s investigation and are undertaking this voluntary recall. Additionally, as a precautionary measure, we are also diverting our existing inventory of shell eggs
Now that the kids are getting back to school, here are some great snacking tips for parents! Snacks aren’t just a good idea for kids, but as adults, if we are keeping up our energy by eating healthy snacks, the urge to “let loose” decreases.
These tips from this nutritionist in this YouTube video are quantities for adults. For most toddlers, you want to only give them half of the adult serving. (i.e. 1/2 c. cereal with 1/4 c. milk) Toddlers are only to get 1000-1200 cal per day as most adults need approximately 2000 cal/day.
Close your eyes and think back to any summer of your youth.
Didn’t you love to hear the calliope music faintly at the end of the block? You would stop dead in your tracks, gasp and stridently whisper to your friends, “Did you hear that?” And in unison everyone yelled, “It’s the ice cream man!”
Then pandemonium! In a frantic, wild disbursement of children, short legs sprinted inside to their piggy bank or their mom’s purse. There was boisterous begging for spare change or last week’s allowance so they could be first to get to the truck ladled full of pure sugar, chocolate and food coloring. The Bomb Pop was the “bomb,” the Drumstick was “banging,” and there was nothing funny about missing a Good Humor bar.
Oh, memories of a simpler time when children were allowed to run the streets with friends and chase trucks stocked with high-fat dairy products. Life was good!
But it’s not the same world now. There are recommendations to refrain from high-fructose corn syrup and high-fat dairy. And I’m sure some study somewhere indicates that food coloring causes behavioral problems in children from Dayton, Ohio. It’s enough to shut down the ice cream business all together. And if that isn’t bad enough, there are documented cases of children being accidentally run over by the trucks!
I have been researching how to resolve this summertime trouble, and an acquaintance in the Chicago area mentioned that she and her young children call the ice cream truck the “music truck.” Her children have no idea the truck is filled with glorious cold snacks. They think it’s nice that a truck periodically comes down their block to provide some music while they are out playing. What a nice person to fill the neighborhood with circus music! She will let them know when they can cross the street carefully.
I know another woman — let’s call her Miss Popular — who for years kept her basement freezer swollen with a variety of icy treats. Every time the ice cream truck would approach her home, her children and those playing with her kids would stop what they were doing and run to her basement. It was their cue to grab a free dessert. My guess is the ice cream man in her neighborhood wasn’t fond of her.
Now, I am not trying to close down the mobile ice cream business. Far from it. I love a good Bomb Pop when the heat index starts climbing. I just advise parents to educate young kids that even though the ice cream truck can be a sweet summer experience, they are no different than any other vehicle driving down the street. It’s best not to run in front of one.
So may your family have a safe summer, and remember to supply your children with the appropriate ice cream requirement mandated by the USDA’s food pyramid. You might have to squint to see it, but I’m pretty sure it’s there. At least that’s what I tell my family.
Stacey Hatton is a pediatric nurse and freelance writer in Overland Park. Her blog can be found at http://nursemommylaughs.com.
Since I am only fluent in English, I hope when this is translated, isn’t offensive to my readers! If it is, please write me back and give me the dirt! ~ Nurse Mommy
Reprint from The Kansas City Star news (11/04/2009)
Brace yourself for perfect princess party
By Stacey Hatton
Wednesday,November 4, 2009
Edition: METROPOLITAN, Section: JOHNSON COUNTY, Page 2
With my daughter’s fourth year approaching, all anyone heard from her for two months prior was her upcoming party, the presents she desired and the cake…oh, yes, the pink cake!
As a first time mother, I wasn’t aware how important these three things were, but fortunately, since she reminded me every 13 minutes, I was prepared. A young girl’s fourth birthday, in terms of life importance, is comparable to your first new car, senior prom, your wedding day and the next book in the “Twilight” series all tied into one. It’s that big. Now our daughter’s party request was a surprise to my husband and me, who thought she was enough of a tomboy to barrel through the princess phase unscathed, but boy, were we mistaken.
Tip No. 1: If you have a girl who is 3 years old, start saving up for next year’s party because she will demand:
It must be a princess party — a perfectly precious princess party.
50 balloons, pink and off-pink.
Huge pink cake with pink icing and princesses on it. (Translation: Every Disney princess that has ever been created.)
Every guest must be dressed as a princess, preferably in what? Yes, pink.
A pink princess piñata. I know what you are thinking. Yes, they do make these scary contraptions, but you don’t have to beat a princess over the head with a baseball bat anymore. You can buy a pull-string piñata, but it still felt odd having every child grab a ribbon from the perfectly pink underskirt and seeing copious amounts of candy fall on the floor. We opted for a pink tiara piñata. It’s just as effective for the kids without all the adult jokes.
Tip No. 2: Do not mention this party to your child again until the morning of the big day. If you think it’s a bonding experience to involve your child in the party planning, you are wrong.
So how many girls get invited?
Tip No. 3: Many invitation and party kits come in sets of eight. Whatever you do, don’t invite nine girls. It will rock your planning world.
Tip No. 4: Are there any big sporting events on this day? If you want the men in your family to be present, don’t schedule the big event during a Big 12 or Chief’s football game. They will be irritated and resentment might ensue. This is no way to start off a princess party.
Next, do you have any friends who owe you a big favor? Any friends you can hit up to help on the big day with an “I might need a little help with a teensy, tiny art project for a few girls”?
Promising cake can help if they hesitate, but I told my friend she could keep her tiara and that was enough.
The big day arrives and I was prepared. My friend showed up early, grabbed a tiara and we stood post for the “carriages” to arrive.
Here’s a quick version of the party: introductions and greetings in formal dining room, art project, opening of presents, piñata string spectacular, dance break and a reading of Cinderella.
Things were going great! Then I leaned into my friend and whispered, “We only have cake and ice cream to do, and over an hour and a half left!”
Tip No. 5: Have much more planned than you think you have time for. This can include such improvised games as pin the pink ribbon on the door or pick up the piñata candy with a spoon and put it in your princess purse. Or the best one we came up with: turn up the radio and have a princess dance fest!
The princess party was perfectly precious!
The girls had a great time and after I awoke from my sugar induced coma, I realized all the effort was worth it. My daughter remained in her dress and heels until bedtime, requesting to wear them to sleep (denied). However, she got over it quickly, told me how much she loved her party and was asleep before her head hit her royal pillow.
And I’m pretty sure my big 4-year-old princess dreamt in “pink” that night.
Stacey Hatton is a freelance writer who lives in Overland Park.
