Blog Posts by MadeInSpanglish

According to Spanish psychologist Dr. Silvia Olmedo, the coming-of-age of single mothers and their daughters can be a daunting process. But if problems are nipped in the bud, the relationship can turn into a camino de rosas.

With a large percentage of Hispanic families being single-parent homes and nearly 52% of Latina teens getting pregnant at least once before age 20 (almost twice the national average), raising a child as a young parent comes with its fair share of obstacles. Faced with the same conflicts as anyone else, single Latin mothers face unique challenges stemming from trying to grow up themselves, as well as the cultural differences with their child.

"During the teenage years there is a disconnect between physical and emotional growth," explains psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Olmedo. "Teens seem to be in a hurry to grow up, but their brains, (specifically the frontal lobe, the part in charge of self-control), do not complete their development until age

Latino athletes are taking the advertising world by storm with their good looks and fashion sense (and bodies!). These are 10 multi-talented chicos that have traded a sports uniform for high fashion. For content that speaks to you, visit Shine Latina.

Discover the real story behind this US-adopted holiday, and why it's about more than margaritas and tacos.

Most Americans take Cinco de Mayo as their cue to indulge in nachos, tacos and tequila, mistakenly interpreting the occasion as Mexico's Independence Day celebration (actual date: September 16). While nowadays it's more celebrated in the US than in Mexico itself, Cinco de Mayo is really a story of courage and inspiration that shouldn't be forgotten.
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Mexico had already gained independence from Spain in 1821, but two costly wars during that time had left the country indebted to Spain, England and France. When Mexico stopped making loan payments, France decided to assume control of the country by installing Maximilian of Austria as emperor of the land. Ahead of the new ruler's arrival, the 6,500 troops of the French army invaded the port of Veracruz and marched towards Mexico City. But, once they got to the town of Puebla they encountered strong resistance from a small

You may be used to celebrating "Cinco de Mayo" in a Mexican restaurant surrounded by inflatable corona bottles and chile string lights, but its done a bit differently across the border. In Mexico, the event marks the defeat of the invading, heavily-outfitted French army by the people of Puebla; it was an underdog victory and today the Battle of Puebla gets reenacted every year in the streets of Mexico City, as well as remembered across U.S. cities.

"Green" fashion has come a long way; today's Latino designers are staying ahead of the curve by getting behind eco-friendly styles with sustainable clothing. Check out some of today's environmentally-conscious looks featuring beautiful design and sensual fabrics. For content that speaks to you, visit Shine Latina.

Spanglish- a friend and enemy

When it comes to the second most spoken language in the US, Spanish phrases sometimes bear the brunt of the grammatical evolution as they become part of everyday English usage. But other languages often get misused, too, as we continue growing into a cultural melting pot.

We take a look at some of the most misinterpreted phrases that have become the norm and what they really mean.

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No problemo: The reason why this phrase became the Spanish-American version of "No problem" stems from the generalization that all masculine gender words in the language end in "o". But as many Spanish 101 classes will tell you, there are exceptions to every rule (words ending in "ma" are always masculine). So, if you ever want to say "no problem" with a Spanish accent, try No hay problema or Ningún problema.

Es caliente: If you were trying to say "It's hot", as in the weather, try hace calor instead. If you're trying to compliment a sexy chica, you may want to

Courtesy Nohelia SiddonsWith a growing obesity epidemic in children, fitness expert Nohelia Siddons recommends discovering what motivates our kids in order to find new and fun ways to encourage healthy habits.

Nutrition: How can parents make eating healthy an appealing choice?

· Play with your food!: Make meal time fun. Be creative when putting dinner together; try making animal shapes or funny objects; make "carritos" (or cars) out of a piece of lowfat cheese with a piece of fruit or vegetable on top. Siddons likes to play "Who's the biggest rabbit" with her 5 year- old son: whoever eats the most veggies at dinner, wins.

Fun and games to help your child learn about nutrition

· Cook with your child: Involve your children in the food preparation process. Not only will they learn new skills, they will also relate food and cooking to a good family memory.

· Make smart choices in restaurants: Pick the healthier items on the menu for yourself and your child, and enjoy what you eat during your

A recent CDC study revealed that Latino children are becoming obese at an alarming rate, with Hispanic boys ages 2-19 more likely to become obese than children of other US ethnic groups. We reached out to Miami-based family and children fitness coach Nohelia Siddons to find out more about this growing problem and what steps families can take to fight obesity at home.

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Possible explanations:

· The gorditos philosophy: The Latin American notion that a plump child is a healthy one ("los niños gorditos son niños saludables") may have have its roots in that many years ago the skinniest children got sick frequently or even died from malnutrition. We know now that's no longer the case, yet we've got some tias who still love to pinch our cheeks and abuelas who insist on keeping you fed at all hours of the day.

· Lack of physical activity: According to a recent study, Hispanic kids spend more time in front of the TV than playing outside with their friends. Add to that the