Cool for School – Taming the Lunchbox
Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I used to bring my lunch to school. Invariably tucked inside my “Peanuts” lunchbox was a sandwich, a few carrot sticks, a piece of fruit, and a couple of home-made cookies, usually oatmeal. Although I loved oatmeal cookies, I’d been seduced by TV commercials and would covet [...]
Standing Together For Real Food In Schools
As students head back to school this year, many of them are also heading back to new school food as new meal standards begin to be implemented in cafeterias across the country. With a third of American children being overweight or obese, over 31 million children participating in the National School Lunch Program, and 15 [...]
Encouraging Healthy Lifestyles and Improving Learning Outcomes for our Nation’s Children: School Nurses Know How to Make it Fun
Imagine planting a garden full of vegetables, fruits and fruit trees…in the backyard of your child’s school. In Florida, school nurses spearheaded a project to do just this. Thanks to the support of school staff and community members, students have an opportunity to learn about nutrition, physical activity, math and science “hands on” – [...]
My Child’s Perfect School Lunch
A few weeks ago my daughter took her first steps into formal education, kindergarten. I have been a little surprised to find this has involved a transition not only for her, but for me, too. Not only does her mother and I want her dressed comfortably and ready to learn, we have to plan or [...]
The School Day Just Got Healthier
It’s that time of year again. Kids are heading back to school, but they aren’t heading back to the same school lunch. In 2010, moms, advocates and Congress worked together to pass the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act and as a result, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has updated the nutrition standards for school lunches. [...]
Don’t Forget Your (Kid’s!) Lunch
It’s back-to-school time! School supplies? Check! Medical forms completed? Check! Clothes for the first day? Check! School lunch?. . . This year as you prepare to send your kids to school, consider checking out more than the math and reading lineup for the year. Take a look at what is going to be served in [...]
New Rules for Preschools: How Can We Get Kids Off to a Healthier Start?
This weekend, I spent some time at the park with my two-year old daughter and two friends from my mother’s group who also have two-year olds. We’re all working mothers, working both because we want to work and because we have to work – and the conversation quickly circled around to the hot topic of [...]
Bag the Junk!
Many of you may have heard about some big changes coming this Fall to the school lunch and breakfast programs. As a result of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has updated the nutrition standards for school meals for the first time in fifteen years! The [...]
Lunch Boxes: Good Food On a Tight Budget!
Are you looking for ideas for healthy, affordable and brown-bag-ready lunches? As kids head back to school, the Environmental Working Group wants to help you get the year started right. Here are five lunch ideas that come in at less than $2! Our staff nutritionist put them together based on the formula we used for [...]
It’s Bigger Than Just School Lunch
As many blog posts as I have written bemoaning school lunches and nutrition for kids, it’s refreshing to share good news. Here’s an updated menu with the proposed USDA changes for better nutrition for school meals. It’s much improved and I was even surprised to see jicama on the ingredients list. What I like most [...]
#RADIO – Breastfeeding – The Controversy and the Reality
Breastfeeding. By now, we all know that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg supports it due to his recent policy to make breastfeeding a priority in New York City hospitals. We also know that with his support, he ignited a firestorm of controversy that made headlines across the nation. What could possibly be so controversial [...]
Uninformed Consent, Unshared Decision-Making in the ICU
Imagine yourself the son or daughter of a grievously ill octogenarian. Your mom or dad suffered a catastrophic event and has been in an ICU, barely conscious, for two weeks. You understand organs are shutting down, but you struggle to understand the medical jargon or the purpose of tubes and machines attached to every orifice. [...]
Childhood Cancer on My Mind
September has arrived. I’ve been so caught up with back-to-school preparations for my children that I haven’t had a chance to think about much more beyond the chaos in my house: setting new routines, figuring out car pools and bike routes, and helping with homework. It’s a hectic time. But those thoughts vanished after I [...]
IWPR Recommends Thorough Assessment of DC’s Paid Sick Leave Law
In honor of Labor Day and the 44 million workers around the country who lack paid sick leave, IWPR released a briefing paper that recommends the Auditor of the District of Columbia conduct a thorough and complete review that shows the impact of the city’s paid sick leave policy. In March 2008, the District of [...]
Labor Day: A Time to Take Stock of Women’s Progress
This blog was cross-posted from Womenstake, the National Women’s Law Center’s blog. By Emily Martin, Vice President and General Counsel, and Liz Watson, Senior Advisor, National Women’s Law Center Labor Day provided a moment to take stock of how women are doing in today’s economy. For many, it’s not a pretty picture. This might seem [...]
The National Women’s Law Center’s Labor Day Index
This blog was cross-posted from Womenstake, the National Women’s Law Center’s blog. In honor of Labor Day, here’s a snapshot of how working women are faring in today’s economy, by the numbers. Percentage of college graduates earning bachelor’s degrees who are women: 57. Percentage of students earning master’s degrees who are women: 60. Years of [...]
Lack of Paid Sick Days for Immigrant Caregivers Risky For Workers, U.S. Economy
SAN CARLOS, Calif. – Considering that Paula Osorio has multiple jobs and no paid sick days, the nosebleed could not have come at a worse time: right before her shift caring for an elderly woman in a private home. In a nursing home or hospital, she would be able to lean on other caregivers. But [...]
10 Tips for Becoming an Office Politics Rebel
The other day, I read an article on Forbes called “Tips For Dealing With Lazy Co-Workers.” It’s a fun topic, isn’t it, because we all love to feel like we are the only ones working hard. And it’s such a hardship to put up with lazy old Joe in the next cube over. Ugh! Time to review one of [...]
BPA and Babies Don’t Mix!
Moms made waves this summer for kids’ health! Your hard work helped push the FDA to remove BPA from baby bottles and sippy cups. Help us keep up the MOMentum by demanding that the FDA also ban BPA from infant formula packaging! Why ban it from infant formula packaging? We know Bisphenol-A (BPA) is dangerous: More than 200 scientific studies show that BPA exposure [...]
The GOPs Mixed Message to Mom
The Republican National Convention concluded last week after Mitt Romney accepted his party’s nomination and not before Republicans made a desperate attempt to court women voters. The convention featured an impressive lineup of female speakers including former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez and of course, [...]