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 Benz, 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:

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. Lake Health Integrative Medicine wellness coaches share their top tips for getting the most out of the season with less stress:

The risk of concussions worries athletes, coaches and parents. Every time an athlete takes a blow to the head, quick evaluation is vital. Concussions have been on the forefront of medical research and media attention for over a decade, and concussion clinics now provide state-of-the-art care for a variety of patients who may have suffered a concussion. Learn more about the Lake Health Concussion Clinic, which operates full-time at the Brunner Sanden Deitrick Wellness Campus in Mentor: 

Healthy breakfasts and lunches can help kids get the nutrition they need. Our Lake Health Integrative Medicine team shares their favorite ideas for healthy breakfasts and school lunches: