Charish Barry, MD Charish Barry, MD

Month: July 2011

Getting to Know MyPlate

Posted on by Charish Barry, MD in ,

MyPyramid logo Any parent who has tried to navigate a well-stocked grocery store with a hungry child in tow knows it is a challenge. Weaving through endless aisles of candy, frozen pizza, chips, soda, and sugary cereals without at least one incident of pleading or bargaining is considered a major accomplishment.

But on a daily basis, where is the proper guidance to steer through the numerous food choices?

Getting to Know MyPlate

Since 1894, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been providing Americans with dietary guidelines. In general, they have focused on eating from specified food groups and emphasized moderation, proportionality, and variety. An updated version of the USDA’s guidelines is called MyPlate. It shows the image of a dinner plate divided into colored sections:

  • Orange—grains (eg, wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley)
  • Purple—protein (eg, meat, chicken, fish, beans, eggs, soy products, nuts, seeds)
  • Red—fruits (eg, apples, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, oranges, peaches)
  • Green: vegetables (eg, broccoli, romaine lettuce, spinach, corn, carrots)

Plus, there is a blue cup to the right of the plate to symbolize dairy foods (eg, milk, cheese, yogurt).

An important feature of MyPlate is that each section is a particular size. This is to highlight the proportions that Americans should aim for when planning their meal, for example:

  • Half the plate should be fruits and veggies!
  • About a quarter of the plate should be grains (especially whole grains).
  • The rest should be protein.

Before Your Next Shopping Trip…

MyPlate provides parents with important concepts that virtually all experts agree on: making healthy food choices and practicing eating in moderation. So before hitting the grocery aisles with your little one, take the time to catch up on the suggestions found on MyPlate! The USDA’s main messages include:

  • Encourage your child to enjoy his food, but to eat portions that are right for his age and activity level.
  • Fill half of your child’s plate with fruits and vegetables.
  • Have your kid drink fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.
  • Read food labels! Find out how much sodium is in packaged food. Choose lower sodium options!
  • Encourage your child to drink water. Leave the sugary drinks behind.

Schedule an Appointment at Petite Pediatrics

Dr. Charish Barry offers concierge-style care that is designed to provide highly personalized care to infants, children, and teens throughout the Santa Barbara area. She and her team of highly trained nurse practitioners will take the time to answer any questions you may have. Schedule an appointment at Petite Pediatrics today! Call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 845-1221.

Announcing New Crib Standards

Posted on by Charish Barry, MD in , ,

Beginning June 28, 2011, new federal safety standards prohibit the manufacture or sale of drop-side rail cribs. Crib safety standards have not been updated in nearly 30 years and these new rules are expected to improve the quality of cribs and make them safer for babies.

But drop-sides are not the only changes. The new regulations also require that all new cribs have stronger slats and mattress supports, better quality hardware, and to undergo more rigorous testing.

Since 2007, over 11 million cribs have been recalled. In addition, drop-sides were associated with 32 infant suffocation and strangulation deaths since 2000. These new standards will help prevent these tragedies and keep children safe in their cribs.

Child care centers, family child care homes, and places of public accommodation, such as hotels and motels have until December 28, 2012 to comply with these new rules.

What Parents Can Do

Please consider getting a new crib for your baby. If that is not possible, the AAP and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) encourage you to check the crib frequently to make sure that all hardware is secured tightly and that there are no loose, missing, or broken parts. Also be sure to:

  • Check CPSC’s crib recall list to make sure that your crib has not been recalled.
  • Stop using the drop-side rail of your crib. If the crib has been recalled, see if you can get a free immobilizer from the manufacturer or retailer (immobilizers vary depending on the crib).
  • Consider using a portable play yard, so long as it is not a model that has been recalled.
  • As always, keep items like pillows, cushy bumper pads, quilts, comforters, stuffed toys, and positioning devices out of the crib.

Re-sale of Cribs

Keep in mind that these new rules also apply to the re-sale of cribs, including at garage and rummage sales, on online auction sites, or even by donation to thrift stores. Unsafe cribs should be disassembled and thrown away.

For more information on choosing a safe crib for your baby, click here.

You can also find more details about the new regulations from the CPSC here.

Schedule an Appointment at Petite Pediatrics

Dr. Charish Barry offers concierge-style care that is designed to provide highly personalized care to infants, children, and teens throughout the Santa Barbara area. She and her team of highly trained nurse practitioners will take the time to answer any questions you may have. Schedule an appointment at Petite Pediatrics today! Call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 845-1221.

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