Pro: “So how much sugar do powdered chocolate mixes add to milk? About 17 grams per serving. To put that in perspective, a cup of apple juice has 26 grams of sugar and a 12-ounce can of Coke has 39 grams.”

Con: “I don’t recommend that kids drink chocolate milk in schools,” says Bauer, because the added sugar provides unnecessary extra calories when so many kids are already struggling with their weight and unhealthy eating. (Joy Bauer, RD, nutrition and health expert for the Today show and Everyday Health.)

A recent study confirmed parents are uncomfortable discussing weight with their children.  No other topic, not drugs, sex or alcohol made them more uncomfortable.  Clearly, we don’t want our children developing a complex about their body, so how do we talk about weight?

“Jack Spratt could eat no fat, his wife could eat no lean. And so between the two them, they licked the platter clean.” You might be surprised to find out what some experts are saying about low-fat these days.

The BBC reports that researchers from University College London analyzed 12,000 children born between 2000 and 2001. The 3-year-olds studied were 34 percent more likely to be overweight if their grandparents cared for them full time.  What happens when other family members aren’t on the same nutrition page?

We’ve been taught since we were young that fluoride is the key to healthy teeth.  Just when you thought you had dotted all your “i’s” and crossed all your “t’s,” the experts are telling us to put the brakes on fluoride efforts.

 It is my understanding that most schools would likely earn a D+ for their food choices while there are some schools that are setting the bar über high by charging extra for organic and sustainable “green” lunches or going so far as to outlaw applesauce for snacks in exchange for whole fruit or veggies.

Recently one of our Mama’s was told that applesauce was no longer an acceptable snack for kids to bring to school.  Upon hearing this I had to scratch my head and re-think all the times I thought I was “winning” when I got my daughter to eat applesauce with her meal and felt better that my picky eater was getting more than just Goldfish Crackers and a slice of American cheese that day.

This week’s TomAto, TomatOH! examines the Timeout Method. 

It can be extremely intimidating getting children to eat healthy, but it is absolutely possible. It’s not always easy, so we have to get creative and have some laughs along the way! Relax, Vivi LeDish™ has got your back!

Meet Vivi LeDish! Vivi inspires children to learn in a whimsical way designed to establish healthy habits and warm memories that will last a lifetime.