In 2010, the President put together a Task Force on Child Obesity. These so-called “experts” who reformed school lunch guidelines decided to offer only low-fat milk or skim chocolate milk (with its added sugars) at school and removed whole milk from the menu. Guess what? Not ONE member of the Obesity task force was an MD, let alone a pediatrician. Five of the 9 members were lawyers!
First and most important, the child needs to actually be hungry. In all honesty, they need three solid meals per day. They do not need a constant barrage of crackers in Ziploc bags, dried fruit, yogurt tubes, and those squeezable packages while on the go. Snacking frequently causes cavities and prevents children from experiencing actual hunger, setting them up for weight difficulties in the future. I tell parents if there is a long period of time between lunch and dinner than a small snack is acceptable but it should follow the rules below.
I believe in parent choice and do not believe in mandates when discussing healthcare. Patients must have autonomy. I use an alternative vaccination schedule when my vaccine-hesitant families request it. Mine evolved over time to complete most of the required vaccinations by the time a child is 2 years old. It is not “evidence-based”, the catchphrase we use to say something is scientifically proven safe and effective. However, it is rooted in something I value highly as a pediatrician – trust, open communication, and compromise.
I am a mom of four and pediatrician who has been in practice for 15 years in the town in which I was born and raised. MommyDoc is a blog where moms, physicians, or other health care clinicians can come to read articles about pediatric topics.
