Fun Thanksgiving Food Crafts Looking for some fun and easy Thanksgiving-themed food crafts this year? These simple crafts are easy to set up and sure to add some joy to your family's celebration! Whether it's arranging the morning waffles to resemble a cute turkey or tucking some fresh veggies into a crescent roll for a festive cornucopia, these fun Thanksgiving crafts are sure to bring some smiles this holiday season. 

Thanksgiving Guide for Picky Eaters Feeling a bit tense about how your picky eater is going to feel this Thanksgiving? Have no fear - our dietitian, Emily, has some excellent advice on how navigate the holidays with a picky eater. 

Halloween Themed Food & Snacks Halloween brings out the kid in all of us! While dressing up your child or adding decorations to your house, don’t forget to have fun with food too. Here is a list of super cute ways (and easy!) ways to bring the spooky holiday to your plate! 

Everyone has moments when they do not speak smoothly. It is developmentally normal for children to experience disfluency, or difficulty speaking, during the first few years of speech and language development. Stuttering, on the other hand, is a speech disorder that is characterized by disruptions in the flow of speech that are often accompanied by behaviors or frustration, or negative associations with speaking or embarrassment. People who stutter may experience repetitions (repeat parts of a word), prolongations (stretch a sound out for a long time), or blocks (struggle to get a word out). These are known as disfluencies . But, stuttering is more than disfluency. Stuttering may also include tension, anxiety or negative feelings about talking. While there is no "cure" for stuttering, there are plenty of treatment options available to help individuals who stutter. A speech language pathologist can utilize several strategies to help reduce the frequency and to cope with stuttering. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), stuttering usually begins in early childhood, with onset typically beginning between the ages of 2 and 5. However, data shows that up to 80% of children who stutter will not stutter in adulthood. Because stuttering is often a more complex issue than disfluency, it is vital to seek evaluation from an experienced SLP. Research demonstrates that early intervention programs can make a huge difference in whether stuttering carries over into adulthood. When performing an evaluation for stuttering, the SLP will look at: Types of disfluencies The number of disfluencies How your child reacts when they stutter (do they get upset) Does your child try to “fix” their speech (do they start a sentence of or stop talking) An important difference between stuttering and disfluency is that stuttering is often accompanied by negative emotions around speaking and communication. An SLP will look for signs of discomfort or tension when your child is speaking. They will also take into consideration your child’s age and how stuttering affects their daily life. Especially with young children, it is critical to evaluate the differences between stuttering and developmental disfluencies. In preschool-age children, for example, stuttering is often accompanied by various behaviors , including facial tension, eye blinking, frustration or reduced verbal output. If your child struggles with stuttering and you are unsure whether you should seek treatment, here are some guidelines for when to reach out to a speech/language therapist: The stuttering persists longer than six months and occurs frequently during the day The child shows tension, a facial grimace, or struggle behavior during speech The child avoids talking situations or expresses concerns about speech The child avoids saying certain words or sounds The family has a concern about their child’s speech The child has shown signs of frustration or embarrassment during or after a stutter event Treatment methods for stuttering can include promoting confident communication, practicing mindfulness, modifying speech and facilitating desensitization for stuttering. An important part of treatment may also include self-advocacy, and promoting acceptance of stuttering so that children can reduce the negative feelings that accompany instances of stuttering. Examples of treatment techniques include: Breathing exercises Stretching exercises Fluency-shaping techniques Slow speech production Overall, disfluency should be considered normal as everyone does it occasionally. Oftentimes, it is simply a part of development for children. Working with an SLP can help with both disfluency and stuttering, however, they cannot “cure” stuttering, but rather assist a child with strategies for reduction and acceptance of it. If you are looking for treatment for stuttering, please reach out to our office today to learn more about how PMC’s speech therapists can help you.

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It wouldn't be fall without pumpkins! In addition to being a classic autumn decor on your front porch; pumpkin is also delicious and so healthy for you. Whether you eat it as a fruit or a vegetable, it is a wonderful addition to your diet.

Apples are a delicious and very portable fruit that are fabulous in the fall! Fresh apples are full of nutrients, including fiber and vitamin C, and are a great option to add to a grab and go breakfast, enjoy as a snack on the run or in your favorite recipe for dinner. Be sure to rinse them under water, but eating the skin will provide additional fiber (for a healthy gut and keeps you full!) as well as vitamins and minerals!

Making small adjustments to your daily coffee, juice or soda can make a huge impact on your health. Cutting back on sugary syrups, limiting caffeine and drinking more water are just a few examples of healthy habits you can incorporate into your daily routine. Make Coffee at Home Instead of buying your extra large coffee with lots of syrup add-ins, opt for making a similar tasty treat at home. Some "fun" drinks have 2-7 pumps of syrup in them. Each pump of syrup contains roughly 20 calories. It will take you approximately 15 minutes of walking to burn off a small drink. To jazz up your morning drink, think flavored beans, flavored syrups, light whipped cream, or a splash of sugar. You will save yourself money and calories! Consider Decaf Too much caffeine can cause dehydration, restlessness, anxiety, headaches, dizziness, and dependency. Some caffeine can have a positive effect on alertness and cognitive function, but often we find ourselves indulging in too much. Don't be quick to give up coffee altogether as it is a great source of antioxidants. Try switching your morning cup of joe or tea to decaf instead of the caffeinated version. Be sure not to go "cold turkey", but reduce your intake slowly. To modify, start by substituting one scoop of regular ground coffee to decaf and every week or so, switch out another scoop. You will soon be enjoying decaf in no time with little to no side effects of the change! Drink More Water Water keeps you hydrated throughout the day. It brings nutrients to your cells, takes waste away, regulates body temperature, and protects your joints and organs. Make sure you are getting your fill of water will help your body run and make you feel better. Not sure how to incorporate more water into your day? Try drinking a cup before your meal, fill a water bottle and sip on it throughout the day. Try tracking your intake on an app. Not a water fan? Spruce it up with fresh fruit or you could try sparkling water or club soda. Add Calcium Adding a 4-8oz cup of milk/1 serving of calcium-rich food can make a huge difference in your bone health. Drinking and eating calcium-rich foods when you are young, will help make your bones stronger, and help to ward off osteoporosis as you get older. Research has shown that many adults do not get enough calcium. Calcium must be consumed, as it cannot be made in your body. Not only is calcium important for maintaining and building strong bones, it is also important for your heart, muscles, and nerves to function properly. To boost your calcium intake - enjoy a glass of fat-free or low-fat milk, switch to calcium-fortified juices, blend up yogurt in a smoothie, or use unsweetened almond milk in your morning cereal. Juice Jam When you are thinking about juice, moderation is key! Be sure to enjoy 100% fruit juices and be mindful of how much you are drinking. Making sure that it is "fortified with vitamin D and calcium" ensures you are getting extra vitamins and minerals too. If you are looking to reduce your intake, try cutting your juice with some seltzer or club soda. If juice is your child's jam, enjoy a small glass with meals instead of drinking it throughout the day which may fill them up and not allow them to be hungry at meals. Swap Out Soda Most sodas contain high levels of sugar. Added sugar is linked to weight gain which can lead to obesity and diabetes. Studies have also shown high intake of added sugar has a high correlation to heart disease. Simply limiting or reducing your daily soda intake can be substantial. Consider swapping out your regular soda with a healthy alternative, such as a flavored sparkling water. Treat soda like a special treat, rather than your main beverage. Energy Drinks Energy drinks are all the rage. They are promoted with labels that indicate they are energizing, reduce fatigue, keep your energy levels high for hours, and increase your concentration. These drinks often contain large amounts of caffeine, added sugars, and legal stimulants. The amount of caffeine will likely be listed on the label, however, the quantity of all the other ingredients might not be. While the guideline for adults is no more than 400 mg (2-3 12 oz cups of coffee), that number drops down to 100 mg for adolescents. If your teen is looking to energy drinks for alertness and increased concentration, perhaps increase their sleep time at night or work with their pediatrician to figure out the root cause.

What you drink is just as important as what you eat! When choosing a beverage, don't forget to check the label for added sugars and caffeine. At the end of the day, sometimes the best thing is just a plain glass of water. For kids, consider milk or unsweetened seltzer waters. Only offer 100% juice drinks on occasion, as they are full of sugar! If you are looking for some advice on how to choose better drinks for your health, reach out to us today to schedule a meeting with Emily, our registered dietitian.