Volume 11, Issue 4
April  2009   

 

 
   Dr. Brottman serves on the board
   of "Prevent The Bite", a non-profit
 

 
     Beat the rush! If you need a Kindergarten, 6th 
     Grade, 9th Grade or College physical you can
     make your appointment today as times fill up
     fast over the summer months.
   organization, which was started by one of his own
   patients, Kelly Voigt. Kelly and her mom created
   this award-winning program after Kelly sustained
   a dog attack when she was seven years old. As
   part of her therapy and recovery, Kelly decided to
   teach children how to avoid being bitten by dogs.
   For more info about this program, click here. 
 
 
     To schedule a physical
     this April, May or June
     please call our office
     at (847) 398-0400.
     You'll be glad you did!

   
     On March 26th, Kim Mack, a registered dietician at St. Alexius Medical Center, gave an enlightening
     presentation at APL’s Algonquin office entitled, "Healthy Families, Healthy Kids". (This was one of our
     many scheduled "Speakabout" talks where families can learn valuable information absolutely free.)

     This practical talk, doused with Kim’s wonderful sense of humor, covered topics ranging from identifying
     components of a balanced meal or snack, understanding food labels and identifying strategies to
     establish healthy and positive eating experiences.

     The physicians of APL were so impressed with Ms. Mack that they will be inviting her back to speak
     again in the future. Dr. Grady felt that “this was the most practical talk on nutrition that I have ever heard.
     Every single APL family would have benefited from hearing this talk.”

     DID YOU KNOW...
     - That 16% of children and adolescents (aged 6-19 years) are classified as overweight (BMI > 95th
       percentile). 
     - That obesity increases a child’s long term risk for heart disease, adult onset diabetes, some cancers,
       asthma and sleep apnea.
     - Most methods to achieve weight loss are unsuccessful over time, therefore PREVENTION continues
       to be the best option for weight control.

     FOOD FOR THOUGHT...
     If you want to decrease the amount of sugar in your child’s cereal bowl in the morning:
     - Choose healthy cereals where sugar is not the first or second ingredient listed.
     - Mix cereals together 50/50 (i.e. half Fruity Pebbles and half Rice Crispies). Pre-mix these cereals in
       a re-sealable container.
 

If you want to increase the amount of fruit and veggies your child consumes make sure you buy them and buy less “snack foods”. There is nothing nutritionally redeeming about Gold Fish Crackers. They are not healthy or nutritious. Choose
low fat pretzels, fruit or low fat yogurt. Make snacks a “mini meal” with multiple food groups, rather than half a box of Cheez-Its or Ho-Ho’s.

Do you want a real eye-opener, go watch your child(ren) “eat their lunch at school”. You will be amazed at what actually occurs. Most school children only have 20
     minutes to eat. Since this is also their socialization time with their friends, little eating is actually going
     on. The fact that your child’s lunchbox comes home empty does not equate with the fact that they are
     actually eating it. The garbage can may be the final resting place for most of the lunch you send. No
     wonder they are “starving” when you pick them up from school. Give them fun food for lunch, that they
     can assemble and eat. This is why kids love Lunchables. But prepare them yourself, as one Lunchable
     contains enough sodium for the whole day.

    (Kimberly Mack specializes in children less than 6 years of age with special nutritional needs and can
     be contacted via e-mail at: kimmack@stalexius.net ).
 

At APL, no question is too silly and remember the first five-thousand are free.

 


 
 
     It takes calcium to build strong bones. Unfortunately, most children and
     adolescents in the United States do not get enough calcium in their diets.
     This can lead to increased risk of fractures and osteoporosis later in life.
  
     Milk is a great source of calcium. It also has other important nutrients that are
     good for bones and teeth such as vitamin D. Milk can be low fat or fat free,
     so it is easy to get enough calcium in the diet without adding the extra fat.
     Children aged one to two years old should drink whole milk. After age two,
     low fat or fat free milk are good options. How much calcium a child needs
     depends on their age. Children aged nine to eighteen years of age have the greatest calcium
     requirement because their bones are growing most rapidly. They require 1,300 mg of calcium daily,
     which is four servings of milk or dairy. Younger children need 800 mg daily, which is three servings of
     milk or dairy.

     The best sources of calcium include the following:
       - Milk, yogurt, cheese and other milk products
       - Flavored milks, such as chocolate and strawberry, have as much calcium as plain milk but may
         have more calories
       - Dark green, leafy vegetables such as kale and turnip greens are low in calories and high in calcium
         (however, spinach is not a good source of calcium)
       - Broccoli, tofu, chickpeas, lentils, split peas, and canned salmon and sardines are also good sources
         of calcium
       - Calcium-fortified juices and cereals can add calcium to the diet, but it is advisable to drink no more
         than 8 ounces of juice per day

     The following can hurt your bone health:
       - Drinking a lot of soda – Studies show that this may make you more prone to bone fractures. This
         could be because sodas often take the place of milk and other calcium-rich drinks
       - Caffeine, alcohol and tobacco – All of these can cause you to lose calcium from your bones
       - Certain medicines and diseases – Some medicines along with kidney and intestinal diseases can
         cause calcium loss from bones
 

 
We have made it easy for you by
centralizing calls for both offices.
To make an appointment, talk to
a nurse or to contact a physician,
dial our main office number.
 
(847) 398-0400 Main Number
(847) 398-9590 Fax
 
algonquinpediatrics.com
arlingtonpediatrics.com
 

   Below is a list of topics regarding healthcare for
   children. Please check the box or boxes you are
   interested in or submit a topic of your own.
 

 
               Immunizations and Autism
               How to Childproof Your Home
               Internet Safety Tips
               Other    
 
             (Thanks for your input!)

 

Our motto: "We treat our patients like our own children and grandchildren."

      ^ Top of Page