Blog Posts by Teens Health

Winter Safety Tips for ChildrenAs the weather turns chilly, new dangers for kids ar appearing; but these winter safety tips for children can help keep them safe, warm and healthy through the coldest months of the year.

Why Winter can be Dangerous

Winter weather can be dangerous in several ways. The dropping temperatures and wind chills create climatic hazards, while the general indoor lethargy of winter can create health hazards due to overeating and less activity. Winter sports, holiday gifts and winter nutrition also present unique hazards that parents should be aware of in order to safeguard their children's health and well-being. With careful planning and supervision, however, children can enjoy the fun and freedom of playing indoors or outdoors on chilly winter days without substantial risk.

Types of Winter Safety Tips for Children

Not every type of winter hazard is applicable to every child, but understanding the basic risks and how to minimize them can help parents protect their children

Sit-down restaurants aren't always the healthier alternative to fast-food establishments. We peeked inside 13 of the country's favorite chains to see what's cooking-and what's making Americans gain weight. Read on and unlock the secrets restaurateurs are trying to keep hidden.

Long John Silver's

In response to public outcry, most fast-food restaurants have switched to trans-fat-free cooking oils. But Long John Silver's still fries everything in artery-clogging trans fats. Their 2 Fish Plank Combo packs 12.5 grams of the stuff-more than five times what the American Heart Association recommends you eat in an entire day! If you're held hostage and forced to eat at LJS, avoid anything on the menu that's fried.

Every drink in its regular line of shakes contains at least 1,000 calories, 92 grams of sugar, and 1.5 grams of trans fat. Order a larger size and you'll get up to 2,010 calories and 4 grams of trans fat!

Its muffins are worse than its

You're a smart cookie when it comes to your health, so you know that regular exercise is one of the best ways to cut your risk of disease, boost your immune system, and maintain a trim body. But flat abs, bigger biceps, and fewer colds are just the beginning. Mounting research suggests that regular sweat sessions can help keep your brain fit, too.

Science shows us that aerobic activity can improve mental processes such as planning, multitasking, focusing without getting distracted, and making and remembering associations (e.g., banking away the name and face of a new acquaintance or remembering where you left your keys), says Michelle Voss, PhD, a researcher in the department of psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

"So far, there is the most support for light aerobic exercise, like walking three times a week for 45 minutes to an hour," says Voss, adding that according to research, resistance training two times a week also may enhance brain function.

Back to school shopping was always one of my favorite activities as a child. Although I cringe to think about it now, I remember picking out a pair of neon spandex shorts as a TK-year old that I absolutely had to have. Thankfully the days of psychedelic colors and skintight fits are over. Here are some of the fall fashion trends for school kids that should last longer than hair crimping. (Yes I was an 80's child)

1. The Graphic Tee: Last year graphic tees were all about rock 'n' roll. This year's versions have a much more refined Parisian look. J. Crew offers this chic trompe l'oeil long sleeve cardigan/tee for the budding fashionista for $39.50

Less subtle in its message, this Old Navy tee is printed with a chic mademoiselle. It's only $16.94

2. Ruffles: While they've been around for a while, ruffles are still a huge trend. At Gap, you can find this adorable and oh-so-feminine cardigan for $32.95.

If you prefer ruffles on a skirt, try this one from

It's a scene that plays out daily in homes everywhere. Kids come in from school and head straight to the kitchen looking for something to eat. How can you can make sure your child gets nourished but still has room for a healthy dinner? Read on.

Though kids need less frequent snacks as they get older, it's not surprising that most are hungry after school. Many kids eat lunch early - 11:30 or even before - and then have an afternoon of classes and maybe even an after-school activity before their next chance to eat. It's no wonder the snack food vending machine looks so appealing at the end of the day.

Depending on your child's age and after-school routine, you may not always be able to control what he or she eats in the late afternoon. But don't throw in the towel just yet. Take these steps to guide your child to good after-school snacks that will be satisfying and still leave room for a nutritious dinner.

• School Lunches

Figure Out the Timing

Put yourself

Most kids generate a little chaos and disorganization. Yours might flit from one thing to the next - forgetting books at school, leaving towels on the floor, and failing to finish projects once started. You'd like them to be more organized and to stay focused on tasks, such as homework. Is it possible?

Yes, it is. A few kids seem naturally organized, but for the rest, organization is a skill learned over time. With help and some practice, kids can develop an effective approach to getting stuff done. And you're the perfect person to teach your child, even if you don't feel all that organized yourself!

Easy as 1-2-3

For kids, all tasks can be broken down into a 1-2-3 process.

1. Getting organized means a kid gets where he or she needs to be and gathers the supplies needed to complete the task.

2. Staying focused means sticking with the task and learning to say "no" to distractions.

3. Getting it done means finishing up,

If you let your hardworking teen snooze late into the afternoon on the weekends to catch up on missed weekday sleep, you might want to reconsider: Collecting those extra hours isn't beneficial according to a new study from South Korea. In fact, students who use the weekends to make up for a lack of sleep during the week perform worse on attention tests than teens who do not.

The 2,600 Korean high school students surveyed averaged five hours and 42 minutes of sleep on school days, and reported an extra three hours on the weekends. The "sleep debt" that accumulates during the week might be to blame for teens' poor school performance.

Although the results of their study don't prove causation, the findings could not be attributed to difference in age, sex, depression or snoring, according to Dr. Seog Ju Kim of Gachon University of Medicine and Science in Incheon, who conducted the study.

Dr. David Gozal, an expert in childhood sleep problems, who was not part of the study, says that

The Buzz on Energy Foods

Energy drinks and nutrition bars often make big promises. Some say they'll increase energy and alertness, others offer extra nutrition, and some even claim to boost your athletic performance or powers of concentration.

But once you cut through the hype and look past the flashy packaging on energy products, chances are what you're mostly getting is a stiff dose of sugar and caffeine.

So should you eat or drink these products? The occasional energy drink is probably OK, and a protein bar in the morning is a better choice than not getting any breakfast at all. But people who have about three or four energy drinks and a couple of protein bars every day are overdoing it.

Make Smart Choices

With so much going on in our lives, lots of people feel tired and run down. And many of us find ourselves skipping a meal sometimes. So it's not surprising that nutrition, protein, and energy drinks and food bars have flooded the market, offering the