Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/48724
live with family Schuster's Haunted Forest Healthy Meal Boosters Power up family meals with UW Health Registered Dietician Laura Isaacson's recommended easy additions to everyday dishes Berries Toss a few bags of frozen ber- ries into your grocery cart to reap the benefits throughout winter. Naturally satisfying for those with a sweet tooth, berries make a tasty stir-in to yogurts, salads, cereals, baked goods and smoothies while adding a dose of vitamins, Salmon Teeming with omega-3 fatty acids, this lean pro- tein can boost heart health and your immune system. Try adding fresh or canned salmon to pasta dishes or casseroles, or swap out those hamburger patties for salmon patties and enjoy a healthier burger. minerals and antioxidants to your diet. Ask Doctor Mom Cooling fever fears By Dr. Carleen Hanson I'll admit, just like any other mom, I've done it. One of my children will come up to me with a vague complaint, such as, "My tummy feels funny," or "My throat hurts," and what do I do? With a sense of dread, I'll put a hand to his or her forehead to see if he or she feels warm, hoping it isn't a fever. Why this fear of fevers? Obviously, fevers are almost always a sign of infec- tion. Sometimes they are the only sign. However, many times parents fear the fever more than the illness itself—even giving medication around to clock to keep a fever away. I try to remind parents that a fever is Ground Flax Seed Loaded with big nutrients (including antioxidants, fiber and omega-3 fatty acids) in a small, grain-like form, flax seed works healthy wonders for your body. Sprinkle on yogurt and cereal, add to the batter of baked goods and chicken breading, or even mix in with Beans For a delicious serving of fiber and vitamins, swap out half the meat in protein-based dishes for beans (¼ cup cooked beans = 1 oz. meat). Try kidney beans in your chili, black beans in Mexican dishes such as enchiladas or tacos or even chickpeas in your salads. ground beef to give any dish a boost. Picky eaters won't notice a change in taste, but their bodies will feel the difference. a natural response to infection. It's one of our bodies' weapons to fight what is causing the illness. Just as we may not recommend antibiotics for certain infec- tions, we should consider sometimes not giving medication to take a fever away. Unless your child has an elevated temperature due to heat stroke, a fever is not harmful and, contrary to urban legend, will not cause brain damage. But there are times to call your child's doctor due to fever, including if you have an infant less than 3 months of age with a temperature above 100.4 degrees, any child with a fever for more than four to five days, and any time that a fever is associated with other symptoms you find worrisome. It's also OK to consider treating a Shredded Carrot A clever add-in to spaghetti sauces, muffins or even cookies, shredded carrot is a sneaky choice for the veggie- phobic child! Containing carotenoids, which protect the heart and against certain types of cancer, carrots also offer several vitamins that promote eye health and nourish skin. 22 BRAVA Magazine November 2011 fever with over-the-counter medica- tion when your child is clearly feeling miserable. If this is the case, go ahead and give some medication to help, but remember: Your child's temperature may not return to normal. This is OK and even expected. Remind yourself that your child's body is just doing its job (even if your sick child keeps you away from yours). Treating your little one with lots of rest and hugs and kisses is sometimes the medicine they need most. Carleen Hanson is a Meriter Medical Group pediatrician at Meriter West Washington. She is the mother of two. Photo by Brittney Scharine