36 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • JANUARY 2, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
health
Refresh your child’s diet with low-sugar options
Many families look to the new year as a
time to reset their eating habits and focus
on making healthier choices. However,
adults aren’t the only ones who could use
a menu refresh as children may also need
to focus on healthier food choices.
A study by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention revealed children
Belonging and Aging
In this article I will be examining the
concept of belonging, i.e. relationships
with family, friends, and community as it
relates to the aged individual.
Th ere is a classic study by the researchers
Lowenthal and Haven who qualify the
importance of a caring relationship as a
buff er against, what they declare “agelinked
social losses.”
Th e above study reminds me of a
patient who epitomized the concept of
age-linked social losses with the following
remark: “I feel so incomplete and without
my mother or wife, I wonder how oft en
I have made a fool of myself and no one
would tell me.”
Maintenance with a stable and intimate
relationship is more closely associated
with good health and high morale than
a high level of activity or an elevated role
status. In other words, one seems to be
able to manage stress if the relationship is
close and sustaining. But if it is not, then
prestige and keeping busy may not always
prevent depression.
An intimate, confi ding relationship can
be a buff er against stress and illness. Social
bonding increases health status through,
as yet undetermined, physiologic pathways.
Belonging suggests a network of kin,
friends and acquaintances that can sustain
the old and give life meaning.
I recently found an analogy that can be
applied to the subject of old age, and as it
relates to the concept of belonging. It pertains
to a tree that withstands storms and
drought through an extensive root system
which provides stability and nourishment.
However, in order to keep it thriving, the
ground around the tree must be continually
tended.
Role reversal can, however, erode that
social support if and when an adult child
is oft en reversing their role with parents
and when that parent becomes fragile and
dependent in their later years. Th is can
eventually have a demeaning eff ect and
where the elderly parent can become, in
the eyes of an adult child, a child again.
Th e research declares that more than
six million people need and get some form
of assistance from family and friends that
allows them to live at home. In fact, relatives
provide 85% of all care to elderly
males and 79% to females. More than 1
in 3 elderly men need assistance and are
cared for by a wife, while only 1 in 10 disabled
elderly women are cared for by a
husband.
If an aged parent is beginning to need
help, the following suggestions to family
members may be useful:
Involve the parent in all decisions that
aff ect their care.
Assist the elderly parent to remain as
independent as possible.
Provide only for those things that are
especially stressful or depleting.
Seek resources that provide options
between independent living and facility
placement.
If an adult child is planning on welcoming
an aged family member to their household,
the questions that need to be considered
and that may be fraught with confl ict,
might be the following:
How to respect everyone’s privacy such
as use of bathroom facility and its availability
without causing a scheduling confl
ict.
How to designate space allocation in
that home.
What furnishings can be fi tted into the
living space provided, such as a favorite
chair, books, etc.
Louise Aronson, professor of geriatrics
Dr. Sheldon Ornstein is a
registered professional nurse
with a doctoral degree in
nursing organization. He
has specialized in the care
of older adults and has
published many articles on
the subject. He has done
post-graduate work in gerontology
and has taught
at several universities. In
2013, he was inducted into
the Nursing Hall of Fame at
Teachers College, Columbia
University.
at the University of California succinctly
stated in a recent New York Times article,
“Life is diff erent in our old age and that old
age can be just as meaningful and enjoyable
as earlier adulthood, but even better.”
Th e literature declares that those who
are more positive about growing old are
signifi cantly less likely to mentally decline
over the next fi ve years. If the statement
truly “holds water,” it is important to foster
in our lives “the power of positive thinking.”
Consider: brighter tomorrows are
always possible!
Quotable quote: “When we seek to discover
the best in others, we somehow
bring out the best in ourselves” – Wm.
Arthur Ward.
Sheldon Ornstein Ed.D, RN, LNHA
consume an unhealthy amount of
added sugar every day. Researchers found
nearly all of the toddlers in their study
ate an average of 7 teaspoons of added
sugar daily - the equivalent of a candy bar.
Additionally, according to the American
Academy of Pediatrics, excess sugar consumption
can lead to an increased risk of
obesity and type 2 diabetes.
“Small children have small stomachs,”
said Courtney Hines, a nutritionist for
KinderCare Learning Centers, which care
for more than 165,000 children around
the country every day. “You want them to
fi ll up on nutrient-dense foods, not empty
calories in the form of added sugar. When
children consume lots of sugar, their palates
get used to overly sweet fl avors. Th ey
may not accept other, less sugary fl avors
or learn to appreciate the natural sweetness
of a piece of fresh fruit.”
Th e American Academy of Pediatrics recommends
against the consumption of added
sugar for children under the age of 2. Children
ages 2-18 should aim for less than 25 grams,
or 6 teaspoons, of added sugar per day.
For families that want to cut down
on the amount of added sugar in their
diets, Hines recommends cooking more
at home, relying less on processed, packaged
foods and serving only water or milk
for beverages.
Consider these low-sugar ideas for
meal and snack times to help control the
amount of added sugar you and your family
consume.
Dip Smart
Herbs, spices, citrus and fresh fruit add
fl avor without relying on the added sugars
found in many popular sauces and
dips. Consider making your own low-sugar
alternatives at home so your family can
still enjoy favorite fl avors like these:
Ranch Dressing: In a bowl, combine
mayonnaise, buttermilk, parsley, garlic
powder, onion powder, salt and pepper
for a kid-tested, nutritionist-approved
take on a favorite dip. Serve over salad or
as vegetable dip.
Honey Mustard: Popular on a variety of
sandwiches and as a dip or salad dressing,
combining plain yogurt with milk, honey
and regular or Dijon mustard can create a
more family-friendly version.
Teriyaki Sauce: Perfect for serving with
healthier options like lo mein, chicken
wraps or fried rice, a homemade version
can be created using water, soy sauce, honey,
ginger, garlic powder and cornstarch slurry.
Swap Out Syrup
Pancakes are a popular breakfast
option at KinderCare centers and in
many homes, but even the healthiest
whole-grain pancake becomes a plateful
of sugar if it’s doused in syrup. Hines
recommends these toppings that are
sweet and savory without the added
sugar:
• Nut butter or seed butter (such as peanut,
almond or sun) and banana slices
• Warm fruit compote (mix of warmed
berries)
• Applesauce (no-sugar-added variety)
and cinnamon
• Nut butter swirled into plain yogurt;
mix in 1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract to
add a sweet fl avor
Snack Sweet
Opting for less added sugar doesn’t
mean avoiding sweet snacks altogether.
Th ese alternatives can still help satisfy
those cravings:
• Applesauce with baked cinnamon pita
triangles for dipping
• Toast topped with nut or seed butter,
smashed banana and sprinkle of cinnamon
• Frozen fruit smoothies
• Plain yogurt topped with granola, nuts,
seeds or fruit
• Apple slices with nut or seed butter
— Courtesy of Family Features
/WWW.QNS.COM
