The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines break down nutrition recommendations by age, though, of course some themes span across the lifespan. The best nutrition for kids follows along a similar vein as that for toddlers -- eat lots of fruits and vegetables, aim for enough dairy or soy (or alternative) to ensure enough calcium and vitamin D intake, and keep the sugary drinks to a minimum (ideally none at all). Of course what kids should eat and what they willingly choose is often not the same. As parents our job is not to force them to eat but rather offer the healthy stuff often and in different ways ..read more

Building on last week's post on the new Dietary Guidelines, which for the first time include recommendations for ages 0-2 as well as the 2+ population, here are the key points for the best nutrition for toddlers ..read more

I am now officially the proud mother of a teenager and get to experience firsthand the highs and lows in trying to raise a healthy teen. To celebrate, I thought I’d bring back and update a post I wrote a few years ago on the topic. I am going to share 7 tips that evidence and research suggests will help us, along with a bit of a reality check. Just like with trying to get toddlers to eat their vegetables – the more invested we as parents in getting our adolescents to make the healthy choice, in many (but not all) cases, the more defiant and rebellious they become. Teens aren’t well known for t ..read more

Question How do I help my picky eater try more healthy foods? 9/24/2021 Natalie D. Muth, MD, MPH, RDN, FAAP Answer ​​Picky eating in childhood, especially between 2- and 4-years-old, is very common. It can cause a lot of mealtime conflict, with parents highly invested in children eating their vegetables and children highly invested in refusing to do so. Recognizing that pickiness is normal and usually short-lived can make mealtimes more enjoyable. A low-key approach to picky eating can help kids come around and try a wider variety of foods. Here are some basic strategies to try. Read more ..read more

I'm thrilled to share this Shout Out that the SD Voyager published, highlighting the work that I am doing with great friend, partner, and creator of amazing recipes - Dr. Mary Saph Tanaka... Hi Dr. Muth and Dr. Tanaka, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation? “Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” – Ralph Waldo Emerson We are pediatricians at Children’s Primary Care Medical Group La Costa (Carlsbad). We share an office where this quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson is framed and a daily reminder. to us that just because things have always been d ..read more

The New York Times recently published what I think is a very informative guide to help parents choose the "right" pediatrician. I definitely recommend checking it out. Here are some of the highlights ..read more

One of my favorite parts of being a pediatrician is knowing my patients from when they are newborns. And now that we are more than 9 months into COVID, the full-term pandemic babies are here! Just in time for the fresh-off-the-presses release of the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The Dietary Guidelines are updated every 5 years offering advice on what the science supports is the best way to eat for optimal health. Until now, the Guidelines only applied to those of us ages 2 and older. But for the first time, we now have guidelines for infants and toddlers. And with that, I am post ..read more

The COVID-19 quarantine has inspired many families to spend more time in the kitchen making home-cooked meals together. Now that summer is upon us, try this delicious 'veggie'ful hamburger cooked on the grill or in a pan ..read more

Wow, it's been a long time since I posted. As for many people, the COVID-19 pandemic has knocked me off my feet and totally disrupted my usual routines. My family and I thankfully have been healthy, and I am so grateful that my patients and kids have generally fared well during this crisis. I feel like this week is my week to finally get back on schedule and get a new routine and a new normal in place. As part of the WELL clinic I direct at Children's Primary Care Medical Group we've created this handout for patients and families to help get routines back in place. I am following it myself (as ..read more

Every month exciting new research comes out that helps us figure out what steps work best in raising healthy eaters. This past month the American Heart Association published a scientific statement highlighting what we know in how parents can best set the stage for young kids to be healthy eaters. Thankfully much of what is recommended based on the latest research is very consistent with what I have advised on this site and in my books, practiced with my own kids, and share with families every day in my pediatrics practice (phew!). That doesn't mean it's easy, though. As parents we have a natu ..read more