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As a parent, you want your child to eat healthy and nutritious foods that give them the energy they need to play and grow. A plant-based diet is one of these options. Spending a week at camp is a tradition that many children love – it provides new adventures, fun friendships and a chance to enjoy activities independently from their parents. If your child follows a vegetarian or vegan eating style, you may worry he or she will go hungry at sleepaway camp. Melinda Wivell, RDN, LD, a registered dietitian with the Lake Health Integrative Medicine team, gives her top tips for sticking to a plant-based eating style away from home:

Childhood obesity is on the rise in the United States. Even the prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes is increasing in children. Families are busier than ever, while also more sedentary than previous generations. School lunch choices are mostly processed, fatty, sugary foods.

Melinda Wivell, RDN, LD, a registered dietitian with the Lake Health Integrative Medicine team, discusses how a plant-based diet for elementary aged children can be a healthy alternative to the traditional American diet:

Myth: I should look for foods with “protein” on the packaging because it is probably better for me. 

It might be time to upgrade your game-day offerings and go beyond potato chips and fruit chews. So if you're next on snack duty for your child's sports team, don't sweat it!  Melinda Wivell, RDN, LD, a registered dietitian at Lake Health, shares her short list for healthier, shareable snacks that can fuel your young athlete: 

Summer can disrupt your normal routine. Summer break for kids, yard work, fairs and festivals, picnics, reunions, family vacations and a chance to enjoy longer days – summer is chock full of unique activities you don’t want to miss. This can certainly add stress as we try to fit everything in! That’s why it’s important to manage your time well during the summer, so you can focus on enjoying the season. Emma Giardini, a wellness coach with the Lake Health Integrative Medicine team, gives her top tips for getting the most out of the season with less stress:

One of the most common questions bariatric patients ask is, “Will I regain my weight?" Everyone considering bariatric surgery naturally has this concern. Certainly, the answer is complicated.

After weight loss surgery, one common side effect is occasional constipation. Most patients agree the benefits of weight loss surgery outweigh the challenges. One of the most frequently asked questions after surgery is about avoiding constipation. Bariatric surgeon Dr. Aviv Ben-Meir shares his tips for avoiding constipation and other gastrointestinal issues after weight loss surgery:

Weight loss surgery patients find that success comes from not only the surgery, but from lifestyle changes that their bariatric surgery center help them achieve. Exercise is an important component of healthy living and weight management after bariatric surgery. How soon can you start exercising after weight loss surgery? Bariatric surgeon Dr. Aviv Ben-Meir shares what he recommends for his patients. 

Running can be both challenging and exhilarating at the same time. Brad Morgan, MEd, AT, ATC, with Lake Health Sports Medicine, offers some important tips to ensure your runs are also safe: 

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month! Did you know early colon cancer often has no symptoms?