Healthy Eating with ChefMD – Spectacular Meatloaf

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA I’m still waiting for my friend, John La Puma, MD, ChefMD to make a house-call.  He can leave his stethoscope at home; all he needs to bring is his culinary tools. I’m waiting for some first rate cooking lessons, and I’m holding John to his words when he says, “Gee…I’d make a house call for you, Barbara, any day.”  I’m waiting… Meantime, while I’m waiting, I’m kicking up my…

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Active Healthy Kids and Outdoor Play- Preparing for Life’s Little Mishaps

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Preparing for Life’s Little Mishaps While Engaging Your Kids in Outdoor Play “Play, Incorporating Animistic and Magical Thinking Is Important Because It: Fosters the healthy, creative and emotional growth of a child; Forms the best foundation for later intellectual growth. Provides a way in which children get to know the world and creates possibilities for different ways of responding to it. Fosters empathy and wonder.”  – Rachel Carson, “A…

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Healthy Eating? Find Out What Could Be Hiding In Your Foods

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Do we need to be a detective to find out which foods are healthy? Maybe… In yesterday’s Washington Post,  Jennifer LaRue Huget, blogger for “The Check Up” writes about the new unhealthy line of Kraft Lunchables. Kraft calls the new line “wholesome,” but are they? Turkey and Cheddar Sub Sandwich seems like it could be a healthy choice, but actually it is filled with fat, sodium and sugar.  Here’s…

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Wash Your Hands With Elmo: Stay Healthy, Wash Your Hands!

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA (Updated 2/24/20) Elmo helps kids to protect themselves and to keep germs away. Elmo the adorable Sesame Street character who has been a house-hold staple for many years, teaches children about the importance of hand washing and staying healthy. In an effort to prevent the spread of the swine flu, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), teamed up with the popular children’s show Sesame Street to help…

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What Does Shingles Have To Do With Your Doctor?

It’s Time to Talk Prevention A Guest Blog by Kevin Soden, MD I ran into an old friend this past week and, as all of us over 60 do, we began talking about our health and the various ailments afflicting us as we age. He shared with me that he was currently dealing with a bad case of the “shingles” (known as Herpes Zoster in medical circles) at age 65 and how terribly painful they…

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