The Blog of P.U.R.E. and Sue Scheff

Help Your Teen Find Healthy and Energetic Snacks Life is perhaps the most difficult when you’re a teenager; of course, being an adult brings its share of worry and responsibilities, but you also have the maturity and hindsight that a teenager lacks. They’re caught between their parents and their friends, they’re torn between doing what is right and what comes instinctively, and most of all, they battle the bulge as they struggle to remain slim (because it matters more than anything in their world) even as they’re tempted by lure of fast food and sugary sodas. It’s up to you as a parent to ensure that they look and feel great by helping them find and eat the right snacks. It’s not too hard to prepare and provide them with healthy snacks that boost their energy and keep hunger pangs away; the most difficult part is getting them to avoid junk food and eat healthier options. While adults are forced to exercise and stick to healthy diets because they’re worried about their health, to a t...

Guest Blogger, Susan White, from Radiology Technician Schools, has provided an educational article for parenting your kids towards good health! Give Your Children the Gift of Good Health By Susan White The best legacy we can pass on to our children is not money or wealth; it’s good health, and the only way we can do that is to instill in them the value of eating the right food and leading an active life right from childhood. With all the varieties of junk food and flavors of soda crowding the market and jostling for space in your cupboards, it’s hard to get your child to eat vegetables and fruits, but the only way to ensure that they are not obese children who grow up into unhealthy, pasty and fat adults with high levels of cholesterol who are at risk for diabetes, cardiac diseases and strokes is to make them understand that their food choices at an early age dictate who they become when they mature into adulthood. Your job is made more difficult by the c...

It is not a secret, being healthy is good for you. Society dictates that being thin is in, however we need to understand that being healthy is priority. Thin for one person may not be the same as it is for another. Teenagers surf the net more than ever and what they are finding can be educational but it can also be harmful to their health. There are actually sites that promote anorexia and show your teens how to hide this deadly disorder. Parents should also be aware of what their kids may be exposed to online - and the websites that promote dangerous and destructive dieting. The best Internet filter is the one that runs in teens' heads - not any filter a parent may install on a home computer. Talk with your children about dangerous and inappropriate sites and keep the lines of communication open so that they might come to you when they encounter destructive information and images online. - Connect with Kids The National Eating Disorders Association offers these tips for kid...

We are hearing more about childhood obesity and teen obesity . More and more teens and kids are technically connected however not getting outside and exercise! Summer is almost here and it is time to get involved in physical education. During Physical Fitness Month, take the time to learn more about staying healthy and eating right. The Guard Fit Challenge and the Physical Fitness Month Did you know that May is National Physical Fitness and Sports month? What better time than the present to begin to help your teens understand the value and benefits of being physically fit. And thanks to the Army National Guard's Guard Fit Challenge, helping your teen set and achieve fitness goals has never been easier. Fitness Resources for Students, Young Adults, Teachers, and Parents Whether you are a student who is starting to think about fitness, a young adult passionate about reaching your fitness goals, a teacher who is looking to inspire students, or a parent looking for additional resource...

Fitsmi is a place for teen girls who are struggling with their weight and ready to make a change and they have now expanded into a place for parents to help their teens.  Here is a note from the founder who was recently featured on Dr. Oz . Dear Moms (and Dads), Welcome! My name is Linda Frankenbach and as a formerly overweight teen myself, I know how difficult it can be both to lose weight and to live with the social stigma that is so often an additional burden. So I founded Fitsmi.com, a website for teen girls struggling to lose weight, and a companion site, Fitsmi for Moms. Because when a teen decides to make a difference in her life, no one is in a better position to help her succeed than her mom. Unfortunately, many moms feel helpless to affect change in their daughters' lives. They often blame themselves, encounter dubious advice and feel isolated. And with a fast-food joint on every corner, the world can seem stacked against them. But it doesn't have to be that w...

Many parents that grew up a generation or two prior than today, will remember looking in the bread box and seeing those Hostess snacks . Whether you had Twinkies, Yodels, Coffee cakes, or those delicious Chocolate Cupcakes (with chocolate frosting), it was rare that our parents ever discussed healthy eating habits. Today the headlines about overweight teens and children are screaming at us. If you turn the news on or even talk shows, they are discussing healthy eating habits - for both adults and kids. Today even Hostess snacks are promoting their new products: 100 calorie treats . They even offer " Twinkie Bites " for those of us who still love their Twinkies. The percentage of overweight children in the United States is growing at an alarming rate, with 1 out of 3 kids now considered overweight or obese. Many kids are spending less time exercising and more time in front of the TV, computer, or video-game console. And today's busy families have fewer free moments ...