Healthy Labor Day Snacks for Kids

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Happy Labor Day!  As you celebrate with your family today, keep your smile health in mind.  There are plenty of healthy snack alternatives for you and your kids to enjoy.

Healthy Labor Day Snacks:

• Frozen Greek yogurt with berries – Mix 6 oz plan fat free Greek yogurt with ¼ tsp vanilla extract and place it in the freezer for about 2 hours.  Serve with 1 cup berries or fresh fruit.
• Shrimp cocktail – Serve 7 medium shrimp with 1 Tbsp cocktail sauce.
• Cucumber pita pocket – Slice ½ medium cucumber into thin circles, combine with 2 Tbsp tzatziki sauce and add to a whole wheat pita.
• Baked peaches – Cut a medium size peach in half and scoop a small circle in the middle.  Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon cinnamon and bake at 350 for 10 minutes.  When cooled, fill the middle of the peach with ¼ cup low fat cottage cheese.
• Berry smoothie – Mix ½ cup of skim milk or fat free plain yogurt with 1 cup of berries and ½ a cup of ice in a blender.

Read this Time magazine article for more tips on how to stay healthy this Labor Day weekend. You can also contact our office with any questions you have about how to keep your teeth healthy!  Call 516-222-5100 to contact our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to contact our Glen Cove office.

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our YouTube channel!

Beware of These "Healthy" Snacks That Are Bad for Teeth

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

When you reach for a healthy snack, you probably think about the fat content, calories, and nutritional value.  However, many of the snacks that we consider healthy are actually bad for your teeth.  Here are a few “healthy” snacks that can be bad for your smile.

Beware of these “healthy” snacks:

• Smoothies and Fruit Juices – While they contain a lot of vitamins, these drinks can also be very high in sugar and acid.  Some contain more sugar than soda!  If you give fruit juice to your kids, dilute the juice and only offer it during meals. 
• Dried Fruit – Although natural sugars are better for you than refined sugar, they can still cause tooth decay if snacked on frequently.  Whether you are snacking on raisins or caramels, these sugary and sticky snacks can cling to your teeth for a long time.  Try fresh fruit or vegetable sticks instead!
• Cereal Bars – Many cereals contain a lot of sugar to boost the flavor.  Remember to read your labels!
• Yogurt – Many flavored yogurts are low in fat, but contain a lot of sugar.  Add fresh fruit to low fat natural or Greek yogurt to add flavor instead.

Read more about bad snacking habits on MSN. 

Contact Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove for more healthy smile tips or to schedule your child’s bi-annual cleaning and exam.  Call 516-222-5100 to contact our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to contact our Glen Cove office.

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Green Foods for Healthy Teeth!

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 

We understand that it’s not always easy to get your kids to enjoy eating nutritious foods.  However, green foods can be high in fibers and vitamins that keep teeth healthy and strong. Celebrate the healthy way with some green snacks that keep your smile healthy this Monday. 

• Green Apples – Apples are water rich.  This means that they increase salvia production and keep bacteria in check.
• Celery – High fiber foods like celery have a scrubbing effect.  They can clean the surface of your teeth as you eat!
• Kiwis – Kiwi has a high concentration of vitamin C.  This vitamin helps keep your gum tissue healthy by preventing collagen from breaking down.  Without collagen, gums can become tender and susceptible to periodontal disease.
• Spinach – Green leafy vegetables are nutrient rich and support healthy cell growth.
• Pears – The high water content of pears dilutes the effects of the sugar.
• Green Tea – Some studies have shown that people who drink green tea regularly are less likely to exhibit periodontal disease or tooth loss later in life. 

If you are feeling more adventurous, here are some healthy, green St. Patrick’s Day recipes.  Try making green macaroni and cheese with spinach puree or a Leprechaun Cake with avocado, kiwi, and lime.  There are lots of healthy, green recipes for you and your kids to try.

Visit www.pediatricdentistryofgardencity.com for more information on how you can keep your smile healthy or call 516-222-5100 to contact our Garden City office and 516-759-7000 to contact our Glen Cove office.

Healthy Smile Snacks for National Nutrition Month

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Celebrate National Nutrition Month with some smart snacks for healthy teeth!  We recommend that parents keep healthy snacks around the house for kids to eat in between meals.  Eating the right foods can protect your child’s smile from tooth decay and other diseases.

These are just a few healthy snack ideas:

Photo Source: Wikipedia

• Oranges
• Melons
• Broccoli
• Celery
• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Unsweetened fruit and vegetable juices
• Pretzels
• Low or Non-fat Yogurt
• Low or Non-fat Milk
• Sunflower seeds
• Nuts

Choose after school snacks that are low in sugar and fat.  A well-balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, meat, nuts and seeds is beneficial for your child’s overall growth and development.  Be sure to read your labels!  Candy bars aren't the only foods high in sugar.  Pizza, breads and other starchy foods can break down into sugar too.  Remember to limit snacking throughout the day and remind your kids to brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste afterwards.

Read more about how to snack healthy by clicking here.  You can also like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more smile tips.  We are happy to answer any questions you may have about your child’s teeth.  Contact our Garden City office by calling 516-222-5100 or our Glen Cove office by calling 516-759-7000.

Healthy Lunch Box Editions

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Photo Source: Lunch Box Poems

School is back in session! A new school year brings along a lot of new responsibilities for both parents and children. Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove wants to encourage all students to pack healthy lunches and snacks this school year!

Here a few healthy snack ideas, courtesy of one green planet. Let us know what kind of snacks you’re packing for your children this school year on our Facebook wall.

Hummus & Crackers: This is a great snack to pack in a lunchbox or to feed your children when they arrive home. Pair your child’s favorite type of hummus with multigrain crackers or the veggie of their choice.

Nut butter with apples or celery: Apples or celery paired with almond butter or peanut butter is a nutritious, protein packed snack. And what child doesn't love good old peanut butter?!

Trail Mix: Mix up a combination of your child’s favorite trail mix ingredients and add it to every lunchbox you fill. Try pairing almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds and dried fruits in a small snack bag. Trail mix is protein packed and fiber rich and is sure to give your children the energy they need to get through the school day.

Popcorn: If your child has a nut allergy or nuts aren't permitted in the cafeteria of their school, organic popcorn is a great, low calorie alternative. Air popping is much healthier than microwaving it. Air pop a batch of popcorn in the morning or the night before and pack it up in your child lunchbox. You can always add a touch of your own spice or herb to flavor it.

Fruit: Having fresh fruit in the house for snack time or a packed lunch is always a great alternative. Pack your child a fresh fruit salad or a yogurt and some fresh fruit to add in. Squirting lemon juice on fruit salad made the night before will preserve its freshness. Adding an apple, orange or bag of grapes to your child’s lunchbox is also a quick and easy option.