The most common question I hear from new breastfeeding moms is, “How do I know if my baby is getting enough to eat?" Lactation consultant Michelle Carlson, RN, IBCLC, shares how you can tell with your new baby: 

Eating out at restaurants with friends and family is a popular way to socialize and enjoy the company of others. The good news is you can still find dishes at most restaurants that fit with your post-surgery diet! Caitlin McCullough, RD, LD, clinical dietitian with the Lake Health Bariatric Surgery Center, gives her top tips for ordering at restaurants after weight-loss surgery:

A common question from people considering weight loss surgery is what foods they can and cannot eat after surgery. Caitlin McCullough, RD, LD, clinical dietitian with the Lake Health Bariatric Surgery Center, describes what a typical diet includes (and excludes) after bariatric surgery. 

Whether or not you've had weight-loss surgery, you should always be eating healthy, balanced and whole foods. Here's a day's worth of recipe ideas to enjoy the flavors of fall. 

As we venture through life, we may start to notice that we tend to break bones easier than before. This is due to the loss of bone density. Bone density is the amount of calcium and other minerals found in your bones. We start to lose that density over time.

Melinda Benz, RDN, LD, a registered dietitian with the Lake Health Integrative Medicine team, give tips on foods and other sources that are enriched with calcium and vitamin D to help maintain your bone density.

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 Benz, 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 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:

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: 

Valentine's Day celebrates sweethearts - and sweet treats! Special treats can fit into a healthy diet, especially with a few simple swaps. Alyssa Tyler, MS, RD, LD, a registered dietitian at Lake Health, gives her favorite ideas for healthier Valentine’s Day treats to share with your loved ones.