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Replacing candy with better-for-you snacks

Healthy Options Headed for Local School Vending Machines Fat-free and soy yogurts, granola bars, fruit and grain bars, and soy crisps may become standard fare at some Polk County public schools this upcoming school year. The snacks will be offered under a new contract with Central Florida Healthy Vending in Orlando. Some 200+ healthy snacks…
Pop Quiz: Finding your child’s fitness level

Do you know activity level your child should be at and what are the best kid-approved activities? We all know that we need to get in shape and stay in shape for the summer, but what about our energetic bundles of activity known as our children? Kids to teens need to have regular physical activity…
5 reasons your child should see a pediatric dentist before school starts

At the start of a new school year, it’s common practice for parents to schedule routine physicals, which include vision and hearing testing. What should also be added to back-to-school preparations is a routine dental checkup. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), dental checkups are as important as booster and immunization shots. Unfortunately, some…

Word of Mouth: How to get a great smile for the New Year

SMILES ARE IMPORTANT. They say a smile can look like a million bucks or can make another feel like a million bucks … the advantages are endless. Whichever saying you choose, a healthy and beautiful smile can make you feel happier and increase your confidence. The start of the New Year is the perfect time…
Pediatric Health: Staying on schedule with your child’s vaccinations

VACCINATIONS PROTECT against many infections, including pertussis, mumps, measles, and even polio and diphtheria. Despite the fact that many of these diseases now seem archaic, it is important that your child receive vaccines in accordance with the schedule set out by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Association of Pediatrics.…
Medical Advice: Influenza A (H3) strain update

WE DO NOT LIVE in a sterile environment. There are germs all around us. In fact, you carry more germ cells on your body than human ones. Most of these germs are harmless and actually beneficial by helping us digest food and aid our immune system. However, there are others that can make you sick…