In support of the USDA’s recently updated nutrition initiative “MyPlate”, Learning ZoneXpress (LZX) is now offering a variety of Kids MyPlate products to promote the Dietary Guidelines for children.

“We are excited to release a kid-friendly version of MyPlate. With high rates of childhood obesity, it’s important for children to learn how to build a healthy plate,” said Melanie Nelson, President and CEO of Learning ZoneXpress.

Healthy food characters that are friendly and fun deliver the message of balancing food with physical activity. The new products from LZX, include:

• Kids MyPlate Poster – 18” x 24” A colorful poster featuring kid-sized portions of healthy food choices shown from each food group.
• Kids MyPlate Tablet – 8 ½” x 11” These handouts include an empty plate for kids to write or draw in their favorite foods. It also includes tips for parents for making the best food choices for their kids.
• Kids MyPlate Bookmark –These appealing bookmarks feature key MyPlate messages representing each food group. (PRWeb)

Incoming search terms for the article:

• myplate for toddlers

Consumers looking for unique and helpful baby items will love the newest Parent Tested Parent Approved award winners. Whether it’s a SwaddleDuo™, a Peek Away Nursing Pillow or a Bumbo Table Companion, you can feel confident in your purchases when choosing PTPA tested products. These, among others, have recently been awarded the coveted PTPA Seal of Approval.

PTPA Media is North America’s largest parent tester community – a credible third party resource for parents with over 40,000 volunteer parent testers.
“Seeing the PTPA Winner’s Seal on a product package or website helps parents identify products that have been tested and recommended by other parents. It’s like shopping with your best friend,” says PTPA Founder and CEO, Sharon Vinderine.

Since 2008, PTPA has evaluated thousands of products and services from leading manufacturers and emerging brands. Because independent parents evaluate these products in their own homes, PTPA winners are chosen based on merit and consumer experience – not on commercial considerations.

PTPA Media is a recognized source by the media for credible and reliable recommendations for their audiences. Recognized TV personality, PTPA Founder and CEO Sharon Vinderine has presented PTPA Award winners on over 40 morning shows including the Rachael Ray Show, Fox and Friends and Canada AM.

Here are just a few of the innovative new products to receive the PTPA Winner’s Seal of Approval for their most recent 2011 campaigns:

Baby Gourmet Organic Baby Food – Great for growing taste buds this 100% organic and conveniently packaged baby food offers healthy meal variety for on-the-go babies.

Huggies Little Movers Slip-On Diapers – Proven leakage protection made especially for squirmy, wiggly babies at changing time. Easy, fast changing time you’re going to love.

EmBelle Baby Bibs – Drool in style with these adorable bibs! These well-made character bibs will have your doctor or ballerina-to-be looking too cute.

Gummi Mat – The knobby texture allows young children to be able to easily pick up first foods from their trays. The non-slip mat reverses for seasoned diners.

Aleva Naturals™ Sleep Easy™ Baby Wash – Soothing and relaxing blend of lavender and chamomile oils to help baby into a restful sleep.

ErgoPouch Sleeping Bag – Babies love sleeping soundly in their sleeping bags. They help prevent entanglement in covers while preventing overheating. (PRWeb)

WELLINGTON (Xinhua) — New Zealand is among the top 20 countries in the world and considered one of the best places for children to receive health care, according to a new index released by the international Save the Children charity on Tuesday.

The analysis ranked the best and worst countries for a child to fall sick in – with Chad and Somalia at the bottom and Switzerland and Finland at the top.

It showed children living in the bottom 20 countries were five times more likely to die than those further up.

New Zealand ranked 17th out of 161 countries, said a statement from Save the Children.

The index was part of Save the Children’s Every One campaign and was released two weeks ahead of the Sept. 20 UN General Assembly to assess progress on global women and children’s health.

Chief executive of Save the Children New Zealand Liz Gibbs said the organization wanted world leaders to do more to ensure a health worker in reach of very mother and child, everywhere in the world.

“A child’s survival should not depend on where he or she is born. For countries at the bottom of the index, two health workers for every thousand people means that their children are five times more likely to die,” Gibbs said.

“This is not acceptable. No mother should have to watch helplessly as her child grows sick and dies, simply because there is no one trained to help.”

The campaign aimed to reduce child mortality by two-thirds and maternal mortality by three-quarters by 2015.

To make your own vegetables for dear baby, simply peel if necessary and boil them just as you would if you were preparing them for an adult. You can also steam them or bake them. Just make sure that however you are preparing them, you don’t use too much oil as these are just calories that baby doesn’t need. When they are prepared to the point of being very soft, simply place them in a food processor or blender and mix until you have a delicious puree ready for baby’s tummy. Fruits can be prepared the same way, but these should really just be boiled. If necessary, you can add some water to the puree but fruits and vegetables rarely need this.

Meats are prepared in the same way. Broil, bake, boil, or steam the meat and then place in the appliance of choice to create a puree. Due to the lack of moisture in cooked meat, you will probably need to add a little bit of water to make a meat puree.

Once the food is prepared, you can place it in single-serve food storage dishes and put them in the freezer. They will be good there for six months. This means that you can spend one weekend making baby food and have enough in the freezer until your baby is no longer eating purees.

Written By: Kate Beswick

[tags]baby_expenses, fruits_and_vegetables, food_storage, baby_food, puree, food_processor, diapers, freezer, calories, babies, clothes[/tags]

We all remember the famous sitcom Doogie Howser M.D. While we all know that such a feat would be impossible for any child to accomplish, there is now a 10 year old child who was able to earn her degree. Yes you read it right; she is just 10 years old.

I myself was shocked at the age she was able to get her degree. Normally people would have to be in their late teens to get one. But the secret was accomplished through an online degree course that made Courtney Oliver, a certified Veterinarian assistant.

It does look like a weird situation but the secret to her success was really more on her thrive towards knowing what she really wanted. The only funny thing is that she needs a guardian to go to work since she is still a minor at 10!

[tags]veterinarian_assistant, degree_course, guardian, 10_years[/tags]