Diet & Nutrition

The Skinny on Pediatric Obesity

Every visit to the pediatrician results in a check of some critical factors for health – specifically your child’s weight and height. This information is checked to monitor their growth and as a glimpse into their overall health. Pediatric obesity is a significant problem in North Carolina – a problem that we are addressing head-on […]

Childhood Obesity is a Growing Problem in North Carolina

There is a growing plague impacting children across the country. And one of the most prevalent places it can be found is in North Carolina. Childhood obesity is a significant problem in the US. The stigmas and prejudices placed on children with obesity are only a part of the problem. The bigger concern is the […]

How Your Child’s Sugar Cravings Are Making Them Sick

Does your child have a sweet tooth? Do their sugar cravings create issues with mealtime? If you’re trying to instill good health habits in them by encouraging them to play sports, eat their veggies, and drink water, then don’t let their desire to eat sweets undermine those efforts. This year is already becoming a doozy […]

Navigating the Baby Formula Shortage: Resources for Parents and Caregivers

The current baby formula shortage has created a lot of stress and concern for our families. To help provide the most up-to-date information and resources available, we put together this article which includes information and recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the NC Department of Health and Human Services. We hope you […]

Rainbow Pediatrics Opens Strong Kids Nutrition Clinic in Fayetteville, NC

Make Food Your Strength, Not Your Weakness. As parents and caregivers, we want the very best for our children. But there is a rising number of children who are overweight or obese in North Carolina, and that number has been growing steadily since 2012. The latest data shows that 19.8% of youth ages 10 to […]

Understanding Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in Kids and How You Can Help

We want our kids to be healthy and strong. However, some are prone to stomach issues. While almost every child will get a stomachache, constipation, or diarrhea, kids with irritable bowel syndrome, also known as IBS get it more often. What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)? IBS is a digestive disorder that can happen in […]

Heavy Metals in Baby Food – Is Your Baby Safe?

When it comes to feeding your baby, it’s essential to make sure you’re giving them healthy food that will help them grow. Throughout recent years, we’ve learned that many leading brands of prepackaged baby food contain high levels of heavy metals—including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. This isn’t what you want for your baby. As […]

Boobies for All! How Breastfeeding Benefits Everyone

If you’re reading this, you are probably a new mom, expecting, or are just curious. Depending on where you are in this, you may have heard that breastfeeding is good for the baby. But breastfeeding isn’t just good for the infant; it is good for the mother too. In honor of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, […]

The Signs of Formula Intolerance and What to Do About It

When breastfeeding your baby is not an option for you, mothers can often rely on formula to keep their babies adequately fed, hydrated, developing, and growing both naturally and nutritionally. Yet, for an estimated 2 to 15 percent of babies, formula intolerance can make feeding time difficult – at least until the causes are identified […]

Helping Your Kids Eat Healthier, Combat Pediatric Obesity During a Pandemic

As we reach the one-year anniversary of our lives being significantly disrupted by COVID-19, it’s important to recognize the significant impact pandemic-related lifestyle changes have had on our children. From stay-at-home orders and school closings to, for many, limited access to nutritious food and regular exercise, the pandemic has likely exacerbated another epidemic that our […]

The Significance of the First Five Years for Healthy Pediatric Development

As parents, you want what is best for your child. Health and happiness are at the top of virtually every parents’ wish list. Did you know that the first five years of your child’s life are critical for setting the foundation for healthy growth and pediatric development? This article will discuss three foundational elements you […]

Understanding Diabetes in Children

You’ve undoubtedly heard that our body uses the food we eat as energy. That’s why it is so important to eat the right foods – so we have sustained energy and the nutrients needed to fuel our activities. But what about in a body that has diabetes and more specifically, diabetes in children? Diabetes is […]

Six Tips to Help You Safely Introduce Solid Food to Babies

Your baby is the apple of your eye, and when it comes time to introduce solid foods, you have a lot of questions. The desire to help your kids get off to the right start nutritionally is priority one. After months of super nutritious breastmilk (or formula), the idea of introducing solids is exciting…and scary. […]

Why Vitamin D Will Be Your Best Friend This Winter

Ahh, the sunshine. It is packed full of a vitamin critical for building strong bones. But when the cold weather arrives, our ability to pull vitamin D from the sun drastically decreases. So we give our kids lots of milk and cheese to bridge the gap. However, that isn’t enough for everyone. Research suggests that […]

Pediatric Obesity Rates in North Carolina are Not Adding Up

According to the State of Childhood Obesity, pediatric obesity rates have declined in North Carolina. But what is being reported state-wide doesn’t correlate with what many pediatric providers are seeing in their offices. “I am seeing patients every day who are morbidly obese,” said nutritional medicine expert, Laurie Powers, PA-C. “Often, when I look back […]

Four Answers to the Most Common Questions About Managing Reflux in Babies

Babies spit-up. That is just a part of their job. But when the spit-up causes other health issues, it can become a bigger concern for parents. Gastrointestinal reflux (GER) can happen to anyone, at any age. It happens when the contents within the stomach back up into the esophagus. In an infant, this causes them […]

Identifying and Addressing Eating Disorders in Kids

My daughter and her friend were talking in the car last week about a girl in their circle who they believe has bulimia. They spoke about how they have talked with her about their concerns to no avail and were curious about what they should do next. They didn’t want to compromise their friend’s trust […]

3 Top Questions Parents Have About Calcium for Kids

Calcium builds strong bones. We get it. For kids, however, getting enough calcium is critical because their bones are developing and getting enough early in life helps protect them from bone loss as they age. In addition, calcium (and vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium) can help prevent Rickets, which is a disease […]

The Skinny on Childhood Obesity

One in six children in the United States has been diagnosed with obesity. In North Carolina, childhood obesity rates are continuing to climb. According to the State of Obesity, current data shows over 13% of 10 to 17-year-olds and 15% of high school kids being obese and 15% of 2 to 4-year-olds are obese as […]

Depression, Inflammation, and Diet: How Rainbow Pediatrics is Addressing Pediatric Mental Health

Infection and disease have an interesting effect on the human body: inflammation. This can be a wonderful thing because healing isn’t possible without an inflammatory response, but when it comes to pediatric mental health, too much of a good thing isn’t so good. Depression, according to a Duke University study, is likely to contribute to […]