As families are preparing to get back into the school routine, they are often searching for ideas on what to pack into the lunch box. With a little bit of planning, lunches can be appealing and healthy for your children. Essential things to consider are: Plan ahead of time; Involve kids in the planning and preparing Include a variety of … Read More
Preventing Pregnancy after Sex
Missed pills? Broken condom? No protection? When accidents happen you’ve got a back-up plan! It’s called emergency contraception, also known as the “morning after pill” or Plan B. You risk an accidental pregnancy when condoms break, when birth control is taken incorrectly, or if you were unprepared for sex. Unprotected sex, even if it’s just once, can lead to an … Read More
Are you Informed or Unaware? Safe or At risk?
For the world’s eighth biggest killer, viral hepatitis is remarkably neglected. Viral hepatitis kills 1.5 million people each year, that’s as many as HIV/AIDS. Viral hepatitis is also the leading cause of liver cancer, which is the second biggest cancer killer. Despite these statistics hepatitis largely remains ignored and does not receive the same level of awareness or political priority … Read More
Summer Fun for Families
Summer is finally here! It does not need to cost you a lot of money to have fun with your family this summer. Visit Chatham-Kent Inter Urban Transit for transit fares and times. Free movies in the park are presented in various parks throughout Chatham-Kent during the summer, as well as many opportunities for families to swim together for free! Check out all … Read More
World No Tobacco Day
This Sunday May 31st, is designated “World No Tobacco Day” by the World Health Organization. “World No Tobacco Day” is a day to discuss the dangers of tobacco use and the business practices of the companies that produce products that kill half of all users when their products are used as directed. This year alone, tobacco use is estimated to kill … Read More
Installation Tips for Car Seats
Picks and Pointers for Installing Car Seats Correctly Read, read, read the car seat installation manual and the child restraint section in your vehicle owner’s manual. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for installation. If you have misplaced your manual, contact the manufacturer for a replacement manual or go online to download. Expiry dates range from 5 to 12 years depending … Read More
How to get your Well Water Tested
Do you have a well, have you checked your well water lately? Pick up a water bottle, free of charge, from the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit or one of your local municipal service centres. Keep the bottle closed until the moment you fill it. Take the sample on the day you are planning to return it to the Health Unit. … Read More
Tasty treats, and yummy sweets: Managing pre-dinner cravings on long workdays
Do you ever find yourself feeling ravenous by the end of the day? It can be hard to make healthy choices when you work long days. You are tired, hungry, and have little energy or effort to resist unhealthy foods in our environment. We know that eating home-made healthy foods is better for our health, but there are many barriers … Read More
Your Baby’s Feeding Cues
New parents receive a lot of advice about how to feed their baby. Current research and feeding guidelines recommend that new parents follow their infant’s cues when it comes to feeding. All healthy full term babies show hunger cues that tell parents it is time to eat. Some of these cues include: an increase in sucking movements sucking on their … Read More
Let’s move to a new beat: Increasing physical activity and reducing sitting time at work
“Sitting is the new smoking” Physical activity, or rather physical inactivity, in the workplace has received a lot of attention over the past few months. A report by the Conference Board of Canada has started a new wave of concern around low activity in Canadians. This report is responsible for the catchy new saying, “sitting is the new smoking”. What … Read More
Dietitian? What is That?
Who are Registered Dietitians? We are the regulated experts, (like nurses or doctors) in food and nutrition! The term “Registered Dietitian” is protected, and only those who have received specific university and internship training are allowed to call themselves Dietitians. Be wary- anyone can call themselves a Nutritionist! Dietitians can help you navigate all the confusing nutrition research, and make … Read More
Shifting Gears – Managing Healthy Eating on Shift Work
Did you know that shift workers are at a higher risk for a number of diseases? Some research has found that shift workers are at a higher risk for sleep disorders, Type 2 diabetes, stomach upset, some cancers, injury at work, and heart problems (heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure)! Shift workers also report more indigestion, diarrhea, heartburn, and constipation. … Read More