Melissa Donovan
Dr. Chad McRae said he went into pediatrics to take care of “our most vulnerable population” and enjoys working with his patients for their humor, their honesty, and their innocence.
Having practiced for 25 years, the Nemours Children’s Health pediatrician said he sees nutrition as an outlet for success in paying attention in the classroom, having energy for physical activity and maintaining overall health.
“I take the opportunity to discuss nutrition at every well-child visit when I am reviewing a child’s growth chart and will also discuss it at a sick visit if I feel it is appropriate,” McRae said. “Our diet is a critical part of our health, and a healthy diet can prevent many chronic diseases.”
Returning to the classroom, McRae said families should incorporate fruits, vegetables, proteins such as meats and/or fish, beans, lentils, eggs, nuts and seeds, milk (not chocolate) and non-flavored Greek yogurt. Focusing on those food groups, he offers the following suggestions for parents to pack in their little one’s lunchboxes:
- Turkey roll-ups on tortillas
- Roasted chickpeas with your seasonings of choice
- Hummus with pita chips
- Carrots, cucumbers, or celery
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Baked tofu with teriyaki sauce
- Greek yogurt with frozen blueberries or other frozen fruit of choice
- Tortilla spread with peanut butter and wrapped around a banana
Similarly, Dr. Alicia Turner, pediatrician at Nemours Children’s Health Primary Care Oviedo, offers recommendations such as consuming actual fruits instead of fruit juices, giving children five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, as well as for older children and teens to drink half their weight in ounces of water.
“Pediatrics is a unique field of vulnerability, growth, and opportunity to arguably have the greatest impact on a child’s well-being and health,” Turner said. “I love teaching children about their bodies and how to take care of themselves. I also love guiding parents as they navigate how to best nurture their child’s greatest capacity.”
When making things a bit easier day-to-day, Turner suggests being cautious with packaged quick snacks holding lots of sugar and to prep mini portions of produce in containers at the start of the week for “quick grabs.”
At the heart of McRae and Turner’s suggestions are the hope for healthier and more well-rounded patients, as they said they feel nutrition is key in development.
“A well-balanced and nutrient-rich diet is important for growth and development. It allows children to learn at their greatest capacity in school and in their extracurricular activities such as sports, music, and theatre,” Turner said. “A healthy diet supports good gut health, can build immune systems, and promote better sleep. Having meals at the table together without devices or screens promotes stronger families and social networks. Children who eat better feel better both physically and mentally.”
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